Roasted Parsnip Fries
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These Roasted Parsnip Fries are seasoned lightly with garlic, salt and pepper, then baked in the oven and roasted to crispy perfection. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces and dig in!
Roasted Parsnip Fries Recipe
These roasted parsnip fries are absolutely delicious, plus they’re super easy to make. They come out perfectly crispy when baked in the oven, so they’re the best healthy homemade alternative to french fries.
If you haven’t had them before, parsnips are a root vegetable, mildly sweet and earthy in flavor, and they hold up great to roasting.
As a bonus, parsnips are white in color. So if your kids automatically turn down anything that looks like a veggie, it’s way easier to sneak these than something like zucchini fries.
We love to serve our parsnip fries as an appetizer with zesty horseradish sauce, special sauce, Chick Fil A copycat sauce, ketchup, or any dipping sauce, or as a side dish with burgers, chicken, or steak.
Best of all, this recipe is Vegan, Gluten-free friendly, and Paleo and Whole30 compatible! Whip up a batch in just 3 simple steps today!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe is oh-so-easy and ultra delicious! You’re going to love adding it to your rotation.
- These roasted parsnip fries are perfectly crispy and flavorful, offering a healthier yet satisfying alternative to traditional french fries.
- The neutral white color of parsnips makes them easy to serve to kids who might otherwise avoid vegetables, making this kid-friendly recipe a hit with everyone.
- This versatile recipe fits various diets (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Paleo, and Whole30) and pairs well with a wide range of dipping sauces or as a side dish for different meals, making it both inclusive and adaptable.
Ingredients
Here’s what you will need to make this recipe:
- Parsnips: Choose parsnips about the same size as carrots, because the bigger ones tend to be woodier in texture.
- Olive oil: You can also use any neutral-tasting oil such as avocado oil or vegetable oil.
- Salt: Kosher salt or sea salt work well.
- Garlic powder: You can use a seasoning blend or garlic salt if you’d rather!
- Pepper: Some freshly-cracked black pepper is always a must in home cooking!
Substitutions and variations
No parsnips? If you can’t find parsnips or would prefer something different, you can totally substitute potatoes or do half potatoes and half parsnips! You could also swap other vegetables like zucchini, carrots, or turnips.
Spice it up! Feel free to substitute any other seasoning blends that you like. BBQ seasoning or Ranch seasoning would work great!
Make loaded parsnip fries for an extra kick (pictured below)! Plate the parsnip fries, then top with 4-6 slices of cooked crispy bacon, roughly chopped into bite-sized pieces. Drizzle the plate with horseradish aioli, and garnish with thinly sliced chives.
Make parsnip poutine for a fun take on the Canadian classic! Drizzle the plated parsnip fries with brown gravy and sprinkle with cheese curds.
How to Make Parsnip Fries
Let’s make this easy parsnip fries recipe!
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full step by step instructions! ⬇️
While the oven is preheating, prepare the parsnips. Wash them and trim the ends off. Peeling the skin is optional! Slice the parsnips into fry-sized pieces, about ½-inch wide by about 4 inches long. Try to make the pieces as uniform as you can. This will help the fries cook evenly.
Toss the parsnip fries with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. They should be evenly coated on all sides. If you’d like to add any other seasonings, add them now!
Save your scraps!
Save the scraps from your parsnips to make homemade vegetable stock!
Arrange the fries in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one. Set it in the oven and roast for 20-22 minutes, stopping halfway to flip the fries over. Near the end of the cooking time, watch closely and make sure you don’t burn the fries!
Once the fries are done cooking, transfer them to a plate. Season with salt and pepper and serve while they’re hot with horseradish aioli or ketchup for dipping.
Air Fryer Adaptation
Follow the steps above for preparing the parsnips in fry shapes. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (176°C). Lightly spray the basket with oil, then work in batches and add the parsnip fries in a single layer. Be careful not to overcrowd the air fryer! Cook for 15-17 minutes, stopping halfway to shake the basket and flip the fries. Once they’re crispy, remove the fries and serve!
Storage Tips
To store leftovers: Transfer leftover roasted parsnips to an airtight container, then cover and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, per USDA.
To reheat leftovers: Bake in the oven at 400°F for about 7-10 minutes, just until the fries are beginning to crisp up again. Remove and serve immediately.
FAQ
Parsnips are mildly sweet and earthy in flavor. Their taste (and look) is very similar to carrots!
Serve parsnip fries with horseradish sauce, special sauce, ketchup, or any other dipping sauce you like. Roasted parsnips go perfectly on the side of marinated salmon, a juicy steak, or roasted chicken to make a complete meal.
Parsnips are starchy vegetables. They contain about 24 grams of carbohydrates per cup, and they are not considered low-carb friendly.
Parsnips have about 100 calories, 6.5 grams of fiber, and 1.5 grams of protein per 1 cup serving.
More Delicious & Healthy Sides
- Shishito Peppers & Dipping Sauce
- Honey Roasted Parsnips and Carrots
- Pepperoni & Cheese Crisps
- Oven Baked Spaghetti Squash
- Cannellini Bean Salad
- Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
I’d love to hear about your experience making this recipe! Please leave a comment and rating below!
Roasted Parsnip Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6-8 medium parsnips
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoons pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Wash the parsnips and trim the ends off. Optionally, peel the skins.Slice the parsnips into uniform pieces, about 1/2 inch wide by about 4 inches.
- Toss to coat the parsnip fries with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Lay on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast for 20-22 minutes, turning once halfway through. Watch closely to make sure no pieces are burning as it gets close to the end of the cook time.
- Once the parsnips are done cooking, transfer them to a plate. Season with salt and pepper and serve while they're hot.
