Melting Beets with Maple Butter Is the Fall Side Dish You’ll Make on Repeat

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These Melting Beets with Maple Butter are a sweet-and-savory side that transforms humble beets into a showstopping dish. Roasting brings out their natural sweetness, while the maple–sherry vinegar glaze adds depth and a subtle tang, perfectly balanced with butter. Simple enough for a weeknight dinner but elegant enough for a holiday spread, these tender, melt-in-your-mouth beets are sure to delight everyone at the table.

Active Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
55 mins
Servings:
6
  • The beets caramelize in a sweet maple butter glaze, creating a side dish that pairs with any protein.
  • Beets are rich in antioxidants and nitrates for healthy blood pressure.
  • Multicolored beets would look beautiful. The juices may stain the other colors, but the result will be stunning.

These Melting Beets with Maple Butter pair perfectly with your favorite protein. Earthy, antioxidant-rich beets become candied and caramelized on the outside and buttery smooth on the inside after soaking up the sweet maple butter. The leftover sauce becomes concentrated, perfect for drizzling over the beets before serving. This is one dish that even beet-avoiders will get on board for. Keep reading for our expert tips, including ingredient substitutions. 

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • Multicolored beets can be quite beautiful. The juices from the red beets will likely stain the other colors, but this mixing can create some pretty colors, too.
  • To avoid staining your hands, it’s a good idea to wear gloves when working with red beets. If you happen to stain your fingers, try gently rubbing them with a paste of baking soda and water, then rinsing. You can also use a cut fresh lemon half.
  • For added flavor, incorporate crumbled goat cheese or feta. To provide a satisfying crunch, consider garnishing the beets with toasted nuts.
  • Chop the beets and serve them over a bed of greens for a hearty, healthy salad.

Nutrition Notes

  • Beets have blood pressure–lowering abilities, thanks to their nitrates and potassium. They’re also an amazing source of folate, a B vitamin necessary for fetal development and heart health. Beets’ fiber will help fill you up and keep things moving through your gut, while their antioxidants help reduce inflammation and prevent disease. Beets are especially rich in betalains, a type of antioxidant associated with fighting cancer.
  • Maple syrup not only sweetens the beets but also provides manganese, an essential trace mineral that’s necessary for numerous bodily processes, including activating enzymes that break down carbohydrates so they can be used for energy. This is perfect, since maple syrup also provides carbohydrates, which are used for energy.
Beets with green tops on a wooden board surrounded by small bowls containing various cooking ingredients

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall.

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • pounds medium red beets (about 5 beets), trimmed, peeled and sliced 1-inch-thick (about 6 cups)

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper

  • cup lower-sodium vegetable broth

  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 500°F. Toss beet rounds with 2 tablespoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Arrange in a single layer in a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan (do not use a glass dish, which could shatter). Roast until browned around the edges and tender, flipping halfway through, 35 to 40 minutes.

    A person mixing halved beets in a bowl with a wooden spoon

    Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall.

  2. Meanwhile, whisk ⅓ cup broth, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 tablespoon vinegar and ½ teaspoon mustard together in a small bowl. Carefully pour the mixture into the pan with the beets. Continue roasting, uncovered, until the liquid has slightly thickened and the beets are very tender, about 8 minutes.

    Roasted beet slices on a baking tray being topped with butter or sauce

    Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall.

  3. Transfer the beets to a serving platter and drizzle with the remaining pan juices. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon thyme.

    Recipe image of Melting Beets with Maple Butter.

    Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall.

To make ahead

Roast beets through Step 1 and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat and continue with Step 2 when ready to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What variety of beets should I use?

    In addition to red beets, you can use any variety you prefer for this recipe, including Chioggia (striped) or golden beets.

  • Do I have to peel the beets before roasting them?

    Yes, although the skins are edible, we suggest you peel the beets for this recipe. After peeling, cut the beets into 1-inch thick rounds before roasting. This allows the delicious glaze to infuse the flesh of the beets and helps them caramelize beautifully.

  • Is the maple butter just for beets?

    No. This savory maple butter glaze would be delicious on other root vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes, and it would also be perfect for Brussels sprouts. Additionally, it’s a quick and easy way to elevate the flavor of chicken, pork chops and salmon.

  • How should I store leftovers?

    It’s best to use beets on the same day they are cooked. If that’s not possible, refrigerate them as soon as they have cooled down after roasting. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Leftover cold beets are delicious in a green salad or served as a side dish.

  • What should I serve with Melting Beets with Maple Butter?

    Serve these flavorful beets as a side dish alongside our Air-Fryer Pork Tenderloin or Oven-Fried Pork Chops. They also pair well with our Crispy Roast Chicken or a convenient store-bought low-sodium rotisserie chicken. Additionally, these beets complement seafood dishes like our Walnut-Rosemary Crusted Salmon and Sheet-Pan Lemon-Garlic Cod with Roasted Vegetables.

Recipe developed by Marianne Williams

EatingWell.com, October 2025

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

174 Calories
9g Fat
23g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size about ⅔ cup (about 2 slices)
Calories 174
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 5g 19%
Total Sugars 17g
Added Sugars 4g 8%
Protein 3g 6%
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 10mg 3%
Vitamin A 57µg
Vitamin C 10mg 11%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 1mg 6%
Folate 206µg
Vitamin K 4µg
Sodium 345mg 15%
Calcium 41mg 3%
Iron 2mg 9%
Magnesium 46mg 11%
Potassium 641mg 14%
Zinc 1mg 7%
Vitamin B12 0µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.