Best Parsnip Recipes For Mains, Sides, Soups And More

Last Updated on August 22, 2024 by Sabrina Currie

I love parsnips and if you do too, I've gathered the top 20+ best parsnip recipes for mains, sides, soups, and more. Parsnips have an earthy flavor, natural sweetness, and lots of health benefits. I think they're one of the most underrated vegetables so next time you visit your local farmer's market, stock up on parsnips to make these delicious recipes!

Fresh parsnips are ready in the fall but get sweeter if left in the ground until after the first hard frost. They keep very well right through winter if stored in a cool, dry place OR left in the ground! Young parsnips can be scrubbed well but older, winter parsnips should be peeled like a carrot.

With a touch of sweetness and nutty flavor, these root veggies take well to many recipes. Roasting on a baking sheet brings out more of their natural sweetness. Cooking with fresh herbs and broth makes a wonderful, comforting soup and mashed parsnips are a great alternative to mashed potatoes. Or get fancy with the French fry treatment and make parsnip fries!

Scones

This collection of parsnip recipes wouldn't be complete without this easy recipe for parsnip scones. A great side for soup, stew, chili, and curries.

Savory Parsnip Scones (perfect with soup)

Savory parsnip scones are delightfully unique and pair incredibly well with soups and stew. Grated raw parsnip gets incorporated right into the dough, making these an easy (and super tasty) variation on scones. Highly recommended.

Savory Parsnip Scones

Soup + Stew

There's nothing more comforting than stew during a cold snap in the winter and parsnips were made for the job. With a natural, nutty, and sweet flavor, they add a great depth of flavor. Soups are a great way to use up leftover parsnips and older woody parsnips, too!

Roasted Cauliflower Parsnip Soup

Roasted cauliflower parsnip soup is one of the easiest healthy recipes for parsnips. White beans add creamy texture while roasting parsnips and cauliflower add rich depth of flavor. Roasted parsnip, cauliflower, & white beans make a smooth soup recipe that's easily made vegan!

Roasted Cauliflower Parsnip Soup

Carrot Parsnip Ginger Soup

This hearty soup is a great way to use up larger parsnips (just trim off the woody core), and makes a cozy lunch or light dinner. Super simple to make, it's a warming soup you'll make over and over and it works well in a slow cooker too.

Carrot Parsnip Ginger Soup

Winter Vegetable White Bean Stew

A filling white bean stew with hardy root vegetables, dried herbs, and creamy giant white beans. This makes a wonderful vegetarian Christmas dinner option paired with roasted Brussels sprouts.

Winter Vegetable White Bean Stew

Parsnip + Swede Soup

Parsnip and swede soup is a comforting and delicious easy weeknight dinner. It's got a slightly sweet, nutty flavour, and is packed with health benefits. (A swede is a cross between turnip and cabbage, sometimes called a yellow turnip or rutabaga.)

Parsnip + Swede Soup

Spiced Carrot + Parsnip Soup with Red Lentils

This souper (sorry) healthy spiced carrot and parsnip soup is the perfect cozy warming bowl to get you glowing this winter. With red lentils for extra fiber and protein, it's a great parsnip soup recipe to make on repeat.

Spiced Carrot + Parsnip Soup with Red Lentils

Fries, Crisps + Latkes

Crispy outsides with fluffy, soft insides, crispy parsnips in the form of fries, latkes, crisps or hashbrowns are always a crowd pleaser. These simple recipes are great as appetizers or as a side dish.

Air Fryer Parsnip Chips

These air fryer parsnip chips (crisps) are delicious and crispy! If making parsnips in the air fryer isn't an option, you can pop them in the oven on a sheet pan!

Parsnip Chips

Rosemary Garlic Parsnip Fries

Crispy rosemary garlic parsnip fries can be baked in the oven or made in the air fryer and for the most tender fries, use smaller parsnips. Either way, these crispy parsnips are a delicious alternative to potatoes!

Rosemary Garlic Parsnip Fries

Air Fryer Parsnips (Fries, Chips or Roasted)

Whether you want skinny parsnip fries (my favourite), chunkier parsnip chips or roasted parsnips, this will walk you through cooking up this root veggie in your air fryer. With a great seasoning mix, it makes a perfect side dish. Try a little fresh grated parmesan cheese over top of finished fries for a little extra umami!

Air Fryer Parsnip Fries

Parsnip and Potato Fritters (Latkes)

Everyone loves those little potato fritters known as latkes and these parsnip fritters are just like those, but made with parsnips as well. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, as an added bonus, they are vegetarian and gluten-free. Top with your favorite latke toppings or enjoy as is.

Parsnip and Potato Fritters (Latkes)

Parsnip Hash Browns

Enjoy hash browns that combine the delicately sweet and nutty flavour of parsnips with potato, this is the best way to enjoy parsnips for breakfast, brunch or a main meal.

Parsnip Hash Browns

Mashed + Pureed

Chilly winter nights call for a comforting mash and mashed parsnips can't be beat. With an earthy flavor that's a little sweeter and richer than potatoes, these are easy recipes to pair up with roasts, stew, and grilled main courses. A little drizzle of brown butter or chopped herbs easily takes them to the next level.

Parsnip + Cauliflower Mash with Garlic Butter

Parsnips and cauliflower pair up for this tasty mashed parsnip recipe that is a delicious alternative to mashed potatoes. Topped with garlic butter it's a great side with meat or fish. Paleo-friendly

Parsnip + Cauliflower Mash

Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe

This creamy, fluffy parsnip mash is a simple way to enjoy this root veggie as the perfect side to a roast dinner with gravy. Easy to whip up, it uses plain yogurt to add tang and creaminess.

Creamy Parsnip Puree

Brown Butter Parsnip Puree

This silky smooth parsnip puree is a decadent side dish, complete with nutty brown butter and crispy fried shallots. A perfect holiday side!

Brown Butter Parsnip Puree

Creamy Parsnip Puree with Butter + Cream

Velvety smooth and creamy delicious, this parsnip puree is my favorite way to serve this earthy, nutty, and slightly spicy winter root vegetable. Flavored with simple ingredients like butter and heavy cream, serve this easy side dish with all of your favorite fall and winter favorites.

Creamy Parsnip Puree

Roasted Parsnips

Grab a sheet pan and throw some parsnips on it. Go simple with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper or add big, bold flavor with curry powder, maple syrup, garlic, paprika or herbs. Whichever way you go, these delicious recipes will round out any meal.

Maple Roasted Parsnips

A tasty recipe, especially in the colder months, parsnips are baked in a hot oven until golden brown. Maple syrup helps bring out the delicate, natural sugars of earthy parsnips for a great autumn or winter side dish.

Maple Roasted Parsnips

Roasted Parsnip Recipe

A classic recipe for oven-roasted parsnip. With seasoning options, easy how to process and ways to store your precious parsnip leftovers.

Roasted Parsnips

Spice Roasted Parsnips

Savory spice roasted parsnips make an elegant side dish for roasted or barbecued meat, poultry or seafood. Tossed with olive oil, garlic, paprika and more, they get baked in a single layer for lots of golden, sweet flavour.

Spice Roasted Parsnips

Roast Parsnips With Curry Powder

This easy parsnip recipe takes just 10 minutes to prepare! Golden and crunchy with a hint of warming spice, these roasted parsnips make a delicious side that is also vegan and gluten free.

Curry Roasted Parsnips

Honey Roasted Carrots + Parsnips

Honey roasted carrots and parsnips are a delicious, easy side dish with an easy glaze of honey, butter, salt and black pepper. Amazing alongside roast lamb, chicken or beef.

Honey Roasted Carrots + Parsnips

Roasted Root Vegetables

Roasted root vegetables combine a root veggie mélange of carrots, parsnips, beets, sweet potatoes, herbs and spices for an earthy side dish that is colorful and easy!

Roasted Root Vegetables

Cookies

Sweet roots hit the sweet spot in these candied parsnip cookies. Natural sweetness reigns supreme in this unique and delicious cookie recipe. These cookies are a crowd pleaser!

Parsnip Cookies (Dessert Parsnip Recipe)

A dessert parsnip recipe! Bakery-style parsnip cookies with cream cheese frosting and candied parsnip. One of my favorite parsnip desserts.

Parsnip Cookies

If you have any questions or comments, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I try to answer any recipe related questions quickly as I know you might be in the middle of making it.

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Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina