Roasted Parsnips

4.74 from 15 votes

This parsnips recipe features sweet and tender parsnips coated in an easy, homemade garlic-butter sauce and roasted to perfection.

Prep Time10

Cook Time25

Total Time35

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: roasted parsnips

Servings:

2 to 2½ pounds parsnips
5 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic pressed or minced
½ tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or any other fresh herbs that you prefer/have on hand
½ teaspoon salt or to taste
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
chopped fresh parsley for garnish
crushed red pepper flakes for garnish, optional

Prep. Preheat the oven to 450˚F and pull out a large rimmed baking sheet.
Prepare the Parsnips. Wash and optionally peel the parsnips. Cut the parsnips down the center, longwise. Then cut each half into 3 to 4 batons. From there, cut away any tough, woody core. Spread them out on your baking sheet and set aside.
Make the garlic butter. Melt the butter in a skillet set over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and cook for 20 to 30 seconds or until fragrant. Do not burn the garlic. Remove from the heat and stir in the rosemary.
Combine and roast. Pour the garlic butter over the parsnips. Season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Spread the parsnips out in a single layer and roast for 10 minutes. Stir the parsnips, then continue roasting for 8 to 10 more minutes, or until tender.
Finish and serve. Remove from oven. Taste the parsnips for salt and pepper, and adjust accordingly. Garnish with parsley and pepper flakes. Serve.

Choose Smaller Parsnips: Large parsnips can have tough cores. Smaller parsnips are more likely to be tender and require less prep.
To Peel or Not to Peel: While many peel their parsnips, if you have small, preferably organic ones, a good scrub is enough. I prefer leaving the peel.
Cutting: Clean and halve the parsnips lengthwise. Cut each half into 3-4 batons, and remove any tough core. Optionally, cut the pieces crosswise to get 3-inch long parsnip 'fries'. Cut the parsnips in uniform thickness so they cook evenly.
Arrange them in a single layer on the baking sheet, ensuring there's a bit of room between each for even heat distribution.
Don't forget to flip them midway during roasting so you get a nice, golden-brown finish on both sides.