28 Delicious Rutabaga Recipes You'll Love
BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips
If you've never heard of rutabagas before, don't fret, you're probably not the only one!
The rutabaga (also known as "swede" or "Swedish turnip") is basically a large, round, yellow-fleshed root vegetable known as a type of Brassica napus. Rutabaga roots are often cooked and eaten and the leaves can also be eaten as a leaf vegetable.
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What Does Rutabaga Taste Like?
The rutabaga is a Brassica napus, which is a hybrid of a cabbage and a turnip and its taste reflects that. In its raw form, rutabagas are milder in taste than turnips and when cooked they taste a little bitter.
How to Cook Rutabaga
There are many different ways to cook rutagaba and it lends itself well to making rutabaga appetizers, sides and snacks.
But first of all, before you even cook it, you'll need to peel the skin off. Since peeling a rutabaga can be a little slippery, it's best to slice off the ends with a knife for a bit more stability.
Now that the rutabaga is peeled, you can cook rutabagas in the same way you would cook potatoes.
On the stovetop, you can boil it and then mash to make mashed rutabagas or fry it either in the deep frying, in a skillet or an air fryer (think rutabaga fries or chips or even a veggie hash!). If you're using the oven, you can either bake it, roast it or broil it. Alternatively, you can also make a creamy rutabaga soup.
Once you've tried cooking with this extremely versatile root vegetable, you'll want to add it to your repertoire all the time.
Best Rutabaga Recipes
From appetizers such as creamy rutabaga soup and rutabaga steaks, to side dishes such as mashed rutabaga and rosemary roasted rutabaga, to mains such as spiralized rutabaga—there's a whole world of rutabaga recipes to explore in this list!
Related: Best Turnip Recipes to Convince You to Cook with This Root Vegetable
Here are 28 of the best rutabaga recipes to add to your vegetable repertoire. Browse through them, make sure you save your favorites and let's get cooking!
Parade
This delicious root vegetable hash is a hearty vegetarian meal. Add an egg on top if you want to add extra protein!
Get the recipe: Root Vegetable Hash
Parade
This cheesy rutabaga gratin is rich enough to be a meatless entrée with a green salad and crisp white wine, such as Chardonnay.
Get the recipe: Cheesy Rutabaga Gratin
Yummy Addiction
Satisfy your desire for rich, indulgent comfort food while still eating healthier with this creamy roasted rutabaga soup. Filled with roasted vegetables and just a drizzle of cream, it’s a healthy addition to your favorite cozy soup recipes.
Get the recipe: Creamy Roasted Rutabaga Soup
Olives for Dinner
These roasted balsamic beets and rutabaga are perfect as a beautiful side dish.
Get the recipe: Roasted Balsamic Beets and Rutabaga
Caroline's Cooking
This tasty rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing is not your average dry, bread-heavy affair. It has a lovely mix of sweet and savory flavors, is juicy and rich and the perfect accompaniment to a festive dinner.
Get the recipe: Rutabaga Bacon and Date Stuffing
Bites of Wellness
Simple spiralized rutabaga noodles are a quick and easy side dish that everyone will love. Naturally gluten free, these noodles are vegan, paleo, Whole30 and lower in carbs than traditional pasta.
Get the recipe: Simple Spiralized Rutabaga
Flour on My Face
Rutabaga is a winter root vegetable that makes a great substitute for mashed potatoes. Cooks in less than 30 minutes when pressure cooked in the Instant Pot.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Rutabaga
Nerds with Knives
Whipped rutabaga is a fluffy, creamy side dish that will make your Thanksgiving sparkle – especially when paired with crisped shallots.
Get the recipe: Whipped Rutabaga with Crispy Shallots
Cooking Bride
Mashed rutabaga, loaded with bacon, cheese and green onions, is a healthy but delicious low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes.
Get the recipe: Twiced Baked Rutabagas
Stetted
Mashed rutabaga with parmesan is a simple way to prepare this root vegetable. It’s a great way to ease into trying a new vegetable.
Get the recipe: Parmesan Mashed Rutabaga
My Body My Kitchen
Roast rutabagas alongside honeycrisp apples make the an amazing side dish.
Get the recipe: Roasted Rutabagas and Apples
Bowl Me Over
Sweet buttered rutabagas have always been a staple on our holiday table. They are super simple to make they are boiled until tender, drizzled with milk or cream and topped with rich, creamy butter, delicious!
Get the recipe: Sweet Buttered Rutabagas
Candy Jar Chronicles
Rutabagas mellowed out with sweet apples, brown sugar and cinnamon and covered in a sweet crumb topping.
Get the recipe: Rutabaga and Apple Mash with Crumb Topping
Spend with Pennies
These brown sugar roasted rutabagas, like turnips, are a delicious alternative to starchy root vegetables and have lots of flavor.
Get the recipe: Brown Sugar Roasted Rutabaga
Related: 26 Delicious Turnip Recipes
Low Carb Maven
Roasted rutabaga is a great lower carb potato substitute with an earthy sweetness and the faint peppery tang of radishes. Serve with roasted meats.
Get the recipe: Rosemary Roasted Rutabaga
With Spice
This is an extra flavorful, creamy mashed rutabaga recipe that’s filled with bright lemon zest, fragrant herbs and nutty parmesan. It’s balanced with a touch of cream and butter, then drizzled with a peppery, herbed olive oil topping.
Get the recipe: Mashed Rutabaga with Olive Oil, Lemon and Herbs
Here to Cook
A delicious and healthy low carb keto side dish–this oven roasted rutabaga recipe is ready in 20 minutes and can be enjoyed with the meat or fish main dishes of your choice.
Get the recipe: Oven Roasted Rutabaga
The Mom 100
This rutabaga and parsnip puree is earthy, with a touch of sweetness, and very simple to make.
Get the recipe: Rutabaga and Parsnip Puree
A Full Living
This rutabaga hash with cabbage, bacon and leeks is a delicious and easy to make low carb, keto friendly and gluten free side dish.
Get the recipe: Rutabaga Hash with Cabbage, Bacon and Leeks
Recipe This
Learn how to cook delicious Paleo rutabaga fries in the air fryer. So easy to make and the end result is tasty crispy rutabaga fries that you will want to eat over and over again.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Rutabaga Fries
Craft Beering
Easy recipe for oven roasted rutabaga, cut into ‘steaks’ and exquisitely flavored. Tender flesh inside and deliciously crunchy outside!
Get the recipe: Roasted Rutabaga Steaks
Related: 55 Easy Steak Recipes
Delicious Little Bites
Mashed rutabaga is a simple recipe that makes a great alternative to mashed potatoes. With only 4 net carbs per serving, it’s low in carbs and ideal for those following a keto diet.
Get the recipe: Mashed Rutabaga
Reluctant Entertainer
A lovely parsnips rutabaga sausage sheet pan dinner filled with vegetables, our favorite beef sausage, olive oil and fresh herbs.
Get the recipe: Parsnips Rutabaga Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner
It's a Veg World After All
Although this vegetable is commonly served cooked, you can eat raw rutabaga too! It tastes delicious in this rutabaga salad with fresh, crunchy apples, finely chopped kale and a honey vinaigrette.
Get the recipe: Raw Rutabaga Salad with Apples
Sprinkles and Sprouts
This easy cheesy rutabaga and carrot casserole makes the perfect make ahead side dish.
Get the recipe: Cheesy Rutabaga Carrot Casserole
Hip2Keto
A delicious low carb french fry alternative made from rutabaga.
Get the recipe: Keto Rutabaga Fries
Cotter Crunch
BBQ baked rutabaga chips are a healthy and flavorful gluten free side dish, appetizer or snack. Rutabaga is a root vegetable that’s easy to bake and cook with, so making the baked chips recipe is easy, too.
Get the recipe: BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips
Sprinkles and Sprouts
This roasted rutabaga recipe is a wonderful addition to your dinner table. The rutabaga is roasted in the oven and then finished with maple syrup to give it a wonderful crunch and sweetness.
Get the recipe: Roasted Rutabaga with Maple Syrup
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