Cook up some of the best roasted vegetables recipes for quick and easy side dishes that the whole family can enjoy. From roasted broccoli and carrots, to roasted zucchini and sweet potato, there are ideas here for all year long!

roasted-veggies-featured

Roasted Vegetables Recipes

The best roasted vegetables for kids, in my opinion, include broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, zucchini, squash, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peppers, and Brussels sprouts, though you can really experiment with anything your kids love.

This is a super easy side to go with any toddler dinner and they are particularly great since roasting brings out the natural sugars—making the veggies a little sweet and a lot delicious!

TIP: You can serve these as baby led weaning style foods and continue serving them as the kids grow.

Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

All of these recipes are made using a basic sheet pan. I like the ones from Wilton as they tend to be very durable and easy to clean, but any will work!

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broccoli florets on purple plates

Ingredients You Need

To make basic roasted veggies of any kind, you just need:

  • Veggie of choice
  • Olive oil (or other neutral cooking oil like avocado oil)
  • Salt

TIP: You can adjust the flavors as you like and serve with a range of dips and sauces.

broccoli-on-sheet-pan

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at the basic method for roasting veggies. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for additional information.

  1. Preheat the oven.
  2. Prep your veggies.
  3. Toss with oil and salt and arrange on a baking sheet.
  4. Roast until tender.

TIP: I usually line my pans with foil simply to make cleaning up easier.

How to Serve Roasted Veggies to Kids

If your baby or toddler has a hard time with any roasted vegetables, cut them into very small pieces, rather than offering a full carrot stick or potato wedge, for example.

This will give them the chance to chew instead of pushing a big chunk of food into their mouths.

And it will make it much easier for them to actually eat the vegetable!

TIP: If a vegetable isn’t soft enough cooked as directed, turn the heat down 25-50 degrees and cook a little longer so the veggies continue to become tender but they don’t burn.

carrot-fries-on-white-plate-with-ketchup

Carrot Fries

These are easy to make and so delicious to eat. Our family loves them with ketchup, but use any dip you prefer.

Easy Roasted Carrot “Fries”
These baked carrot fries are a simple side to go with burgers or chicken and pair perfectly with ketchup.
Easy Roasted Carrot “Fries”
baked carrot fries
Acorn squash slices on baking sheet.

Roasted Acorn Squash

Slice and roast the halves as directed, or cut the roasting time down by slicing into rounds first. The skin peels off easily after the squash is roasted and toddlers can pick up pieces and nibble away all on their own.

Easy Roasted Acorn Squash
Learn the easiest way to make Roasted Acorn Squash slices to serve as an easy side dish for the entire family. See the Notes for optional flavor variations.
Easy Roasted Acorn Squash
Acorn squash slices on baking sheet.
Acorn squash as puree and slices on plate.

Roasted Acorn Squash Baby Food

This method is easy as a baby-led weaning food or to serve as a baby food puree starting at 6 months and up.

Acorn Squash Baby Food
Learn the easiest way to turn fresh acorn squash into Acorn Squash Baby Food as a puree and a baby-led weaning finger food. This can also work as an easy side dish for the entire family, or you can easily freeze portions for future weeks.
Acorn Squash Baby Food
Acorn squash as puree and slices on plate.
roasted butternut squash shapes on plate

Roasted Butternut Squash

Turning winter squash into a fun and delicious side dish is so easy—and learning how to roast butternut squash means that you can turn it into fun shapes, serve them as “fries”, and even add additional flavors like brown sugar or rosemary. And all in less than 20 minutes!

How to Make Roasted Butternut Squash
Learn the easiest method for how to roast butternut squash. You can cut the squash into cubes, shapes, or "fries" based on what your kids may like to make this easy veggie side dish fun (yet still simple).
How to Make Roasted Butternut Squash
cubes of roasted butternut squash on baking pan.
roasted broccoli on purple plate

Roasted Broccoli

This recipe for roasted broccoli has a tahini sauce that adult may like, but the broccoli is really so good on its own that you can skip it! (Or, of course, offer some ketchup for dipping.)

Easy Roasted Broccoli
This Roasted Broccoli is tender, a little nutty, and a little sweet. Serve this as a simple side to go with dinner. Or make ahead and warm throughout the week to go with lunches.
Easy Roasted Broccoli
roasted slice of cauliflower

Roasted Cauliflower

This roasted cauliflower recipe is a staple in our house in the dead of winter when veggies aren’t always the best at our Midwestern markets, but the cauliflower usually looks good. It’s a little sweet and really yummy topped with a sprinkle of Parmesan.

How to Cook Cauliflower
Use this to prepare cauliflower steamed, boiled, sauteed, riced, or roasted. You can make as much or as little as you’d like, though one small head is usually a good amount for a family.
How to Cook Cauliflower
head of cauliflower
roasted sweet potato on white plate

Roasted Sweet Potato

These are a classic side that kids adore. (My daughter inhaled a version of these when she was just starting out with baby led weaning!)

Favorite Sweet Potato Baby Food
You can serve this as wedges, a thick mash, or a thinner puree to your baby or toddler. (Adults will love the wedges, too!)
Favorite Sweet Potato Baby Food
sweet-potato-baby-food-three-ways
pan of roasted sweet potato cubes.

Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes

With just 20 minutes of cooking time, you can serve up these Easy Roasted Sweet Potatoes as a simple family dinner side dish. Or, you can make a batch ahead of time and pack them in a kiddo’s lunch—they’re a perfect finger food!

Easy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Make this easy sweet potato recipe as a make-ahead lunch component or a simple side dish for family dinner.
Easy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
roasted-sweet-potato-in-white-bowl
roasted-zucchini-on-polka-dot-plate

Easy Roasted Zucchini

This is super soft and super simple and it’s an easy side for any time of the year.

Easy Roasted Zucchini (to Share with the Kids!)
Try this easy side dish for family dinner, or make a batch ahead and use it to add an easy veggie to lunches throughout the week.
Easy Roasted Zucchini (to Share with the Kids!)
roasted-red-peppers-on-white-plate

Roasted Red Peppers

With a simple sheet pan method and pantry spices, you can learn how to roast red peppers in the oven to use in tacos, sandwiches, and just as a simple side.

How to Roast Red Peppers in the Oven
Try these oven-roasted peppers in tacos, sandwiches, and just as a simple side.
How to Roast Red Peppers in the Oven
roasted-red-peppers-on-white-plate
Spaghetti squash on baking pan.

Roasted Spaghetti Squash

Learn how to roast spaghetti squash to serve to kids of any age with this easy method.

Spaghetti Squash Baby Food
With an easy cooking method, this Spaghetti Squash Baby Food is ideal for baby-led weaning or as an easy finger food. You can share this recipe with baby—just add more seasoning to your portion as you like.
Spaghetti Squash Baby Food
Spaghetti squash baby food with cheese on pink plate.

Tips for Making the Best Roasted Vegetables

  • Be sure to use enough oil so the vegetables don’t turn out dry.
  • Make sure they are cooked until soft for little kids.
  • Season to taste with salt or other spices (cumin is usually great on everything, cinnamon works well on sweet potato and butternut squash).

I’d love to hear if you try any of these recipes or if you have another roasted veggie that you love so please comment below to share!

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roasted-veggies-featured

Favorite Roasted Vegetables Recipes

This is a basic method for roasting vegetables that works with a wide range of veggies. See the Notes for links to the specific recipes mentioned in the post.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Cuisine American
Course side
Calories 69kcal
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound broccoli, cauliflower florets, cubed butternut squash or sweet potato (peel and any seeds) discarded), roughly chopped zucchini, carrot sticks, or pepper strips
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt
  • Optional dips like ketchup, Ranch, or other favorite sauces
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Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Add the veggies to a large bowl and toss with the oil. If they seem dry (which might happen with broccoli), add a little more oil.
  • Arrange on a baking sheet in one layer.
  • Roast for 12-22 minutes (broccoli and cauliflower will be done on the lower end, butternut squash, sweet potato, and carrots on the longer end), checking every few minutes after 12 minutes. The veggies are done when they are starting to brown and are soft when poked with a knife.
  • If the veggies are browning, but you want them a little softer for the kids, lower the heat to 350 and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with salt and serve with any desired dips or sauces.

Notes

Store any leftovers, once cooled, in an airtight container in the fridge. Warm to serve. Or serve roasted sweet potato, squash, or carrots at room temp or slightly chilled.
Leftovers work well in scrambled eggs, burritos, salads, or in pasta.
Make more or less as you like.

Nutrition

Calories: 69kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 37mg, Potassium: 358mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 706IU, Vitamin C: 101mg, Calcium: 53mg, Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

This post was first published December 2019.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Having kids eat potatoes is my fave ‘challenge’ because they love it when I do different types of homemade fries. They’re much healthier and better than having them eat the fast food ones.