Easy Parsnip Fries
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Parsnip fries are an easy way to add more veggies that will actually be eaten onto everyone’s plate. They’re super simple to make, and these homemade fries work well as a side dish or appetizer. Pair them with your favorite dipping sauce!
Such a fan of these!!! My family and I so enjoy this recipe. Thank you for sharing!!!!!
–Lynne
There are only so many times you can make air fried broccoli or air fryer green beans for your kids in a week before everyone wants something “new”. That’s about when I bust out this roasted parsnips recipe!
They’re crispy on the outside like chips with a natural sweetness to them, so immediately kid-approved. And for me, they’re a side dish or quick snack that’s ready in under 30 minutes so I can’t even say no when I’m asked for them! I’ve used these parsnip fries as a side dish, after-school snack, or quick movie night app, and they’re always devoured.
Why This Recipe is a Family Favorite
These roasted fries are easy to make and come out of the oven crispy and ready to dip. Basically, they’re a veggie-forward alternative to traditional French fries.
No matter what sauce you serve them with, (our favorite being Big Mac sauce) kids absolutely devour them. And given that even their shape resembles a traditional fry, they will be halfway through the plate before they even realize they’re eating a veggie!
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my important mom-tested cooking tips for making parsnip fries! I’ve made them countless times, so I can save you from a failed attempt.
- When you’re slicing the fries, try to keep them the same size so that they cook evenly. About ½ inch thick and 4 inches wide is what we aim for.
- For extra crispy fries, avoid over crowding the pan. Leave a bit of space if possible, so the parsnips roast instead of steam.
Ingredients
You’ll want to add these ingredients to your grocery shopping list:
Parsnips are the star of the recipe here, but if you’d prefer something different, you could easily use carrots, turnips, or zucchini. We’ve even done a split of half potatoes and half parsnips to vary them a bit.
My kids love when the seasonings are basic, so we only use salt, pepper, and garlic powder. However, other blends like BBQ seasoning or Ranch seasoning would work great!
For an extra boost, you could make these into loaded parsnip fries by topping them with 4-6 slices of cooked crispy bacon, roughly chopped into bite-sized pieces. Then, drizzle the plate with horseradish aioli, and garnish with thinly sliced chives.
How to Make Parsnip Fries
For the full instructions, see the recipe card! ⬇️
Jump to RecipeTo speed things up, start by turning on your oven so it can preheat while you prep the fries.
- First, wash the parsnips in warm water, then trim off the ends. Peel the parsnips with a veggie peeler, then slice the them into fry-sized pieces. Ideally, we want to make them all the same size, but given their shape, it’s not likely to happen. 😉 Just give it your best effort.
- Once chopped, you want to toss the sliced parsnips with olive oil and the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Make sure that all sides of the “fries” are coated. Now is the time to add additional seasonings if you’re using them.
- Next, arrange the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure to leave a bit of space between each fry so that they crisp up.
- Halfway through baking, flip the fries over and cook until crispy. Keep a close eye on them in the final minutes so that they don’t burn! Serve them with something zesty like horseradish sauce and enjoy!
Helpful Tip
Save the scraps from your parsnips in a freezer bag with other veggie scraps. You can use them to make homemade vegetable stock!
Tips For Success
It’s up to you if you want to peel the parsnips or not. They’re delicious and will crisp up both ways, exactly like air fryer sweet potato fries.
Leftovers store really well; just let them cool, and place them in an airtight container and into the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat the roasted fries by baking them in the oven at 400°F. for roughly 7-10 minutes until they’re crisping up again.
Ways To Serve Them
Roasted parsnips work as both a side dish to a larger meal like air fryer meatloaf as well as an appetizer paired with Chick Fil-A sauce. They come together easily and taste great with everything you pair them with.
Parsnips Recipe FAQs
Naturally, parsnips are mildly sweet and earthy in flavor. Roasting them brings out their sweetness a bit more, and their taste (and look) is very similar to carrots.
Yes! To make them in an air fryer, first 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!
After you make this recipe, please give it a star rating below and comment to let me know how it went!
Parsnip Fries
Ingredients
- 6-8 medium parsnips
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoons salt
- ⅛ teaspoons pepper
- ¼ teaspoons garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Wash the 6-8 medium 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 2 Tablespoon olive oil and season with ¼ teaspoons salt, ⅛ teaspoons pepper, and ¼ teaspoons 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.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
2026 Update: This recipe is still a favorite of ours! It's been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and include extra cooking tips. We hope you love it as much as we do!
Other Roasted Vegetable Recipes
If you want to get more vegetables into your kids, we make honey roasted carrots and roasted cauliflower because they’re so simply delicious. Easy roasted broccoli is a frequent one also.
I can’t stop drooling!!!
Hi Erica, and haha! I’m so sorry about that, lol! 🙂 -Laura
Parsnips…who knew! I am excited to try this!
You’ll LOVE IT! It’s so good! -Laura
Such a fan of these!!! My family and I so enjoy this recipe. Thank you for sharing!!!!!
So glad to hear that! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂 -Laura
I really want to try that Jalapeño bacon!!!
You’ll LOVE IT! It’s so good! -Laura
The parsnips came out perfectly! I used regular bacon and it was tasty!
Omg this looks so good! I’ll definitely try this with my fiance! Thanks for sharing ♥️ ♥️ xx
Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂