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BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips – The Unsung Hero Root Vegetable!

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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! Super tasty, budget friendly, kid friendly, and naturally paleo and vegan. EAT UP!

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! Super tasty, budget friendly, kid friendly, and naturally paleo/vegan. EAT UP!

Oh the rutabaga. I feel like this little cruciferous vegetable gets a bad rap. I mean, It’s kind of hideous. It’s the step sister the turnip, just a littler rougher around the edges. True story, rutabagas are said to be a cross between cabbage and turnips but a tad sweeter and lower in water content.  Yes I just went there. Nerded out on this vegetable. And I’ll get more into that in a minute.

Hang with me. This baked Rutabaga recipe will come to fruition. You’re perfect crispy BBQ veggie chip appetizer is on the horizon…

Gluten free BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips! Healthy flavorful side dish for Summer BBQ's or any time of year! Rutabaga is a root vegetable that's easy to bake and cook with! A great lower carb and paleo option for baked potato chips. #homemade #paleo #veggiechips #vegan #whole30

Just letting you know this BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips recipe was originally published in Spring 2015. I retested, rephotographed, updated content and URL. Now I am republishing it for you today. A Cotter Crunch oldie but goodie is now easier to make and better tasting! Thank you for supporting Y’all!.

The backstory.

You see, the Kiwi (a.k.a. the husband) is not a huge fan of squash or Sweet potato. Gasp! I know. I, on the other hand, am quite obsessed. It’s my starchy veggie of choice. Spiralized and all! Starchy root vegetables are also great for fuel and healthy resistant starch. That being said, I needed to find another “HEALTHY SWAP” that we could both like but with similar nutrient density. Regular potatoes, sure, those are tasty and perfect glycogen food for the muscles, but when it comes down to taste and vitamin rich components, we needed a better veg.

And then I realized that rutabaga might just be that runner up, or even better, a winner!

Here’s more of rutabaga nerding out part. You’re welcome.

Rutabaga may be white in color (like potato) but it is quite deliciously sweet and nutritious. It is EXTREMELY versatile to use, and like Cinderella at midnight, give it a sparkly slipper and it will be the beauty of the ball. Oh goodness, somebody please stop me with the analogies!

Gluten free BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips! Healthy flavorful side dish for Summer BBQ's or any time of year! Rutabaga is a root vegetable that's easy to bake and cook with! These chips are super tasty and quick to make. #paleo #vegan and #whole30 friendly EAT UP!

In all seriousness, Rutabaga is the unsung veggie hero of cold weather temps. A healthy lower carb swap for baked potato chips (ahem, baked rutabaga veggie chips), for baked or roasted potato recipes, mashed potatoes, and more! Rutabagas are also budget friendly., healthy, and usually found in the grocery store year round. WINNER! 

rutabagas

Gluten free BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips! Healthy flavorful side dish for Summer BBQ's or any time of year! Rutabaga is a root vegetable that's easy to bake and cook with! These chips are super tasty, kid friendly, and naturally paleo, vegan, and whole 30

Now I know taste is important, but so is its value, nutrition wise. Let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?

Why you need to get your hands on a rutabaga.

  • High in Vitamin C, like half the RDA worth! (hello ANTIOXIDANTS!)
  • Good source of plant based iron. Remember, when you have a food that is high in Vitamin C, it can help enhance it’s Iron (non heme) absorption. If you check out my Iron Rich meal plan, it goes into detail about that information.
  • It’s a great low carb alternative, as mentioned above. A light snack veggie chip or bake crisp . Heck, you can even make veggie fries! 
  • Rich in beta-carotene-rich (like my beloved starchy sweet potatoes)
  • Excellent  source of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and manganese. All super duper important minerals for ENERGY production in the body and your bones.
  • Good source of fiber (um, need i say more?)

See, I told you. It’s A WINNER! And if you are easily entertained, like me, then check out the world’s largest rutabaga ever grown here. That’s a lot of Vitamin C people!

Print

BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips

★★★★★

4.6 from 8 reviews
  • Author: Lindsay Cotter
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 30 min
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Easy BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips. Healthy, paleo/vegan friendly.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 large rutabagas or 3 small to medium  (about the size of a fist)
  • 1–1.5 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil. For crispier chips, use a coconut oil or avocado cooking spray
  • 1 tbsp BBQ Spice Seasoning of choice (check ingredients for hidden sugars/gluten)
  • Dash of sea salt and black pepper
  • Optional 1/8 ot 1/4 tsp garlic or onion powder
  • Fresh cilantro and lemon/lime wedges to serve
  • optional toppings – Red pepper flakes. Grated hard cheese (omit for paleo/vegan)
  • Dipping sauce options: Paleo ranch dressing, tomato sauce, spicy ketchup, aoili

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450F. Wash and Cut rutabagas into fine slices. A mandoline slices works best to cut into about 1/4 to 1/2 in thick or slices. The thinner the slices, the faster they will bake.
  2. In a small bowl or ziplock bag, place all your spices and oils.
  3. Carefully coat your rutabaga chips in the bowl with oil and spices or in the bag.
  4. Lay them flat on a cookie sheet and spread evenly. Place in oven.
  5. If your chips are very thin, be sure to check on them often so they don’t burn. Bake for 25 minutes, turning them half way.
  6. After 25 minutes, reduce to 350F and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes until crispy. Cover if they start to burn on edges.
  7. Bake longer or shorter for texture to be more or less crispy.
  8. Remove for oven and let cool.
  9. Transfer to bowl or plate. Season with extra red pepper flakes or smoked sea salt if desired.

Notes

Sodium level depends on what type/brand of seasoning used

  • Category: snack, side dish
  • Method: baked
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 100
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Fat: 3g
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 12g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: rutabagas, baked chips, veggie chips, gluten free, paleo, whole30

Anyways, back to my story. Since the kiwi does not prefer sweet potatoes, I was determined to get him like rutabagas, for the sake of my nutrition nerd sanity. I put on my magic cooking hat and went to work in the kitchen. Just me and a few rutabagas.

Well what’d ya know, just a little slicing, dicing, and BBQ seasoning and you’ve got yourself… drum roll please….

BBQ seasoning for veggie chips

EASY BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips! Healthy flavorful side dish for Summer BBQ's or any time of year! Rutabaga is a root vegetable that's easy to bake and cook with! These chips are super tasty, kid friendly, and naturally #paleo #vegan! EAT UP!

Baked rutabaga chips that look like sweet potato chips and taste even better.

In my humble opinion.

Rutabagas are now welcomed with open arms in the Cotter household. . Which is a good thing because delicious recipes are more fun when you can share them with your loved ones, well sometimes share!Gluten free BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips! Healthy flavorful side dish for Summer BBQ's or any time of year! Rutabaga is a root vegetable that's easy to bake and cook with! These chips are super tasty, kid friendly, and naturally paleo/vegan! EAT UP!Gluten free BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips! A healthy flavorful side dish for Summer BBQ's or any time of year! Rutabaga is a root vegetable that's easy to bake and cook with! These chips are super tasty, kid friendly, and naturally paleo/vegan! EAT UP!

Next up, I’m gonna try to make a rutabaga mash or rutabaga rice. Ohhh watch our cauliflower, rutabaga is upping it’s game! Haha, cheers to Meatless Monday ya’ll!

Favorite root vegetable? Have you tried baked rutabaga yet? DO IT!

[clickToTweet tweet=”Give rutabagas a try with this EASY BBQ baked Rutabaga Chips recipe! #paleo #vegan #whole30″ quote=”Give rutabagas a try! EASY BBQ baked Rutabaga Chips.”]

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BBQ Baked Rutabaga Chips are a healthy and flavorful lower carb veggie 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! Super tasty, budget friendly, kid friendly, and naturally #paleo #vegan. PLus it's naturally #whole30 friendly.

Related Posts

Photo of Lindsay Cotter of Cotter CrunchHi, I’m Lindsay!  Gluten Free Nutrition Specialist, food photographer and author of Nourishing Superfood Bowls, and meal plan guru! I’d love to know you more! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and drop a comment below.

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  2. Tina Muir says

    July 20, 2015 at 5:13 AM

    Yummy Lindsay! I had a rutabaga a few weeks ago, but didnt think to use it for this, how clever! I wonder what other veggies can be used for chips…..hmmmm that might be a project 🙂 Have a wonderful Monday friend….hoping this links up to our meatless monday!

    Reply

  9. Blair says

    July 20, 2015 at 7:43 AM

    While I love sweet potatoes too, my husband is definitely like yours — a much bigger fan of the white rice and potatoes. Maybe he’d eat these chips?! I’ve never used a rutabaga in my cooking before, but I feel like I might need to try this. I bet my BBQ-loving boys would even eat these! Pinned. 🙂

    Reply

  10. Lisa @ RunWi says

    July 20, 2015 at 7:54 AM

    I’ve never eaten rutabaga! I always look at it in the store and wonder what I would do with it– now I know! I pinned it- because I’m in San Diego on vacation. I will have to order a few in my CSA box and will be making when I get home! xoxo

    Reply

  12. Cris says

    July 20, 2015 at 8:29 AM

    Rutabaga!!! I keep telling myself that I need to try this veggie, so there it is -the perfect healthy kick! Thanks, Lindsay! 🙂

    Reply

  15. Sarah says

    July 20, 2015 at 9:25 AM

    You had me at BBQ!
    I don’t know what got into me this past weekend but I couldn’t get enough BBQ sauce and was putting lots of it on almost anything I could and than made the mistake of looking at the nutrition label when helping my parents clean up from the reunion.

    Reply

  21. Laur says

    July 20, 2015 at 11:09 AM

    I’m about to fire up the grill right now to make these! OMG these look so good! I never knew Vitamin C helped Iron absorption. As I was (maybe still am?) iron deficient, that’s good to know!

    Reply

  25. Miss Polkadot says

    July 20, 2015 at 11:30 AM

    Cauliflower is sitting in a corner crying right now ;). Really, though, wow. That’s a great new way to prepare the often overlooked rutabaga. I’ve only had it mashed so far and while okay wasn’t too impressed by it. But chips? And BBQ-flavour – a taste that isn’t found too often over here, much less in vegan dishes? Yes, please.

    Reply

  26. Laura @ This Runner's Recipes says

    July 20, 2015 at 11:37 AM

    I think I’ve tried every other cruciferous vegetable other than rutabagas – that will just have to change! These are going to make it onto the dinner menu this week. Adding rutabaga to the list right now. So simple and so flavorful!

    Reply

  30. Jody - Fit at 57 says

    July 20, 2015 at 3:14 PM

    Those look amazing & TJ’s has a seasonal BBQ spice blend exactly like yours so I would not have to even buy that! My dad used to put rutabaga & turnip in a stew he made us as a kind. I was fine with it in there with all the seasoning & it was so tender & better as leftovers! I love leftovers!!!

    Reply

  33. Giselle says

    July 20, 2015 at 10:15 PM

    I LOVE roasted root veggies! Although I tend to make them more often in the cooler months. However I may have to pick some up next week and roast up a batch. Yum!

    Reply

  35. Sam @ PancakeWarriors says

    July 21, 2015 at 8:09 AM

    Ok I pass by rutabaga in the store way to often, now that I know they aren’t that hard to work with, I’m picking one up. You had to make chips out of them. Now I want (healthy) chips, and it’s 9 am lol!

    Reply

  36. Jolene says

    July 21, 2015 at 11:35 AM

    Ok I am sold! I don’t think I have ever had one, how weird is that?! must try! and GASP that the Kiwi doesn’t like squash. how sad 😉

    Reply

  37. misszippy says

    July 21, 2015 at 4:33 PM

    Great stuff, Lindsay! I know I have some sort of fall recipe (probably soup?) where I use rutabagas, but I can’t remember what it is! I think i have made them mashed before, too. Anyhow, looking forward to trying this too!

    Reply

  38. Kirsten says

    July 21, 2015 at 4:40 PM

    Lindsay,
    My spouse wants me to turn any and all rutabagas into pasties . . . um, not that type of pasty. He’s from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan–that kind of pasty.
    I love the idea, though, and will try this with some of the many turnips that keep finding our way into the farm share.
    Thanks!

    Reply

  44. Barb Pawlik says

    July 25, 2015 at 10:39 AM

    Hubby actually planted some in the garden this year because he likes rutabaga in soups. I’m definitely going to try them for chips, too!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  50. Albert Bevia says

    January 16, 2018 at 5:50 AM

    First off, thank you for all the amazing information on rutabaga…in all honesty, I have never used it, but after reading this post, I am heading to the market now to buy some rutabaga and make these chips…thank you for the inspiration 🙂

    Reply

  51. Debs says

    January 16, 2018 at 8:59 AM

    My inner food nerd thinks your inner food nerd is the BEST! We’ve not got rutabagas here in the UK. Just turnip. But I’m gonna do these with parsnips. We’ve had a pretty cold winter and the colder the winter the sweeter the parsnip. So they should be perfect.

    Reply

  54. Emily Swanson says

    January 20, 2018 at 4:36 PM

    Already you have me wanting to have you sell these as a new item on the chip aisle; seriously why haven’t we done BBQ Rutabaga chips? The very first time I tried rutabagas was roasted in England, and I fell in love. I don’t know what has held me back from doing them since then. I need to write it down.

    Reply

  57. Healthy World Cuisine says

    January 8, 2019 at 8:46 AM

    Love this idea Lindsay! The lonely rutabaga does deserve a little love. How often we pass up this veggie at the market as the usual cooking preparation of this vegetable is so boring , but making them into chips is brilliant. Wishing you a super 2019!

    Reply

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