Maple Roasted Parsnips

These maple roasted parsnips are an elevated side dish that’s perfect for your Thanksgiving menu! Freshly roasted parsnips roasted with a maple thyme glaze and topped with chopped pecans and a hint of heat. Finish off your menu with any of our other simple yet elegant Thanksgiving recipes!

If you’re looking to try a new easy vegetable side dish this Thanksgiving, then consider these maple roasted parsnips. They’re an easy seasonal root vegetable that roast quickly. They’re similar to carrots in texture and probably closer to turnips in flavor. The maple, thyme, and pecans help tame that turnip flavor.

Ingredients needed

To make these easy maple roasted parsnips, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pound fresh parsnips
• 3 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. fresh Thyme – chopped
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

How to make maple roasted parsnips

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Slice the parsnips lengthwise into thin slices. Place onto a baking sheet.
3. Drizzle the parsnips with the olive oil and maple syrup – then using your hands toss to coat.
4. Season with salt, thyme, and red pepper flakes, toss one more time. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the parsnips.
5. Bake for 30 minutes or until soft – serve warm.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

What do parsnips taste like?

Truth be told, this was my first time not only cooking but also trying parsnips. They were always one of those vegetables that I wasn’t quite sure if I’d like, so I just avoided them altogether. But, this year, I’ve been a part of the Woman’s Day Live Longer & Stronger Challenge, and one of our challenges was to try new vegetables. So, parsnips it was! Parsnips have a similar taste and texture to carrots, but don’t taste quite like them. To me, they taste closer to turnips than carrots.

What are parsnips good with?

Parsnips have a fairly mild flavor, and pair well with just about any roasted beef or poultry.

Are parsnips healthy?

Parsnips are filled with vitamins and minerals and are also a good source of fiber. You can read more about their nutritional benefits here.

Do you have to peel parsnips?

No, just like carrots you do not need to peel parsnips. However, if they are very large parsnips, you may consider peeling them lightly. Also, if they have a thick core, you’ll want to cut that out.

Recipe tips

• Time-saving tip – cut the parsnips the day before and refrigerate in an air-tight container overnight.
• Swap in dried Thyme if you do not have access to fresh thyme.

Recommended kitchen resources for this recipe

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Maple Roasted Parsnips