18 Fabulous Fennel Recipes

Updated on Feb. 27, 2024

Whether you're using fennel bulbs, stalks or fronds, you'll love these fresh recipes that incorporate this sweet anise-tasting veggie into your meals.

1/17

Roasted Fennel and Carrots

Total Time 55 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This addictive fennel recipe is a fresh take on one of my mother's standard wintertime dishes. I usually add more carrots—as many as the pans will hold. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 139 calories, 7g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 262mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 6g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 1-1/2 fat.
2/17

Pear ‘n’ Fennel Pork

Total Time 25 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Fresh fennel has a large bulbous base and pale green stems with wispy foliage. Often mislabeled as sweet anise, it has a sweeter and more delicate flavor than anise. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 431 calories, 16g fat (6g saturated fat), 90mg cholesterol, 390mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 2g fiber), 33g protein.
3/17

Fennel Carrot Soup

Total Time 55 min
Servings 8 servings (2 qt.)
From the Recipe Creator: This soup is perfect as a first course for a special-occasion dinner. It gets its delicious flavor from toasted fennel seeds—a pleasant complement to the carrots, apple and sweet potato. —Marlene Bursey, Waverly, Nova Scotia
Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 117 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 989mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 3g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 1 starch.
4/17

Warm Cabbage, Fennel and Pear Salad

Total Time 25 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This crunchy salad makes an elegant first course or side, but it's hearty enough to be an entree when paired with a crusty artisan bread. We love it served warm. —Grace Voltolina, Westport, Connecticut
Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 391 calories, 26g fat (7g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 810mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 8g fiber), 9g protein.
5/17

Pasta with Creamy Fennel Sauce

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: When pureeing fennel one day, I realized its velvety texture would make for a creamy, delicious pasta sauce—without all the guilt. My experiment worked, and now I enjoy this good-for-you pasta sauce all the time. —Deb Schwab, Moraga, California
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 309 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 690mg sodium, 51g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 5g fiber), 12g protein.
6/17

Dijon Pork Chops with Cabbage and Fennel

Total Time 1 hour 30 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: While living in Switzerland for a few years, my friends introduced me to an area renowned for their cabbage, pork and potato dishes. I decided to try a cabbage and fennel combination and believe they complement each other well. —Grace Voltolina, Westport, Connecticut
Nutrition Facts: 1 pork chop with 2 cups vegetables: 435 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 72mg cholesterol, 1533mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (25g sugars, 10g fiber), 36g protein.
7/17

Sunday Roast Chicken

Total Time 2 hours 15 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This recipe proves that comfort food doesn't have to be full of unwanted calories. Mixed with orange and lemon juice, my roast chicken is both flavorful and healthy. —Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island.
Nutrition Facts: 4 ounces cooked chicken (skin removed) with 1/2 cup vegetables: 292 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 470mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 4g fiber), 34g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable.
8/17

Fennel Soup

Total Time 55 min
Servings 5 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This filling soup is a favorite with our family and is often requested for company dinners. A hint of fennel accents the flavor of this quick-to-fix bean soup, while spinach and tomatoes add color. —Donna Quinn, Round Lake Beach, Illinois
Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 152 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 976mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 7g fiber), 8g protein.
9/17

Company Turkey Potpie

Total Time 1 hour 10 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Here's our smart spin on potpie, filled with turkey, autumn vegetables and a creamy herb sauce. Best of all, there's no crust to make—just top with prepared phyllo dough. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 275 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 62mg cholesterol, 544mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 5g fiber), 28g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch.
10/17

Cranberry Cornmeal Dressing

Total Time 1 hour 10 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This moist dressing is perfect when paired with poultry or even pork. The sweet-tart flavor of the dried cranberries really complements the dish's turkey sausage. —Corinne Portteus, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Nutrition Facts: 2/3 cup: 205 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 695mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 3g fiber), 9g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 lean meat.
11/17

Fennel Salad with Citrus Dressing

Total Time 20 min
Servings 5 servings
From the Recipe Creator: My family really enjoys crunchy fennel, which pairs well with citrus vinaigrette. The salad makes a nice addition to any meal.—Denise Elder, Hanover, Ontario
Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 160 calories, 15g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 273mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 fat, 1/2 starch.
12/17

Roasted Fennel and Peppers

Total Time 30 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Fennel makes for a tasty change of pace in this versatile side that goes nicely with grilled meats. Best of all, it's full of flavor and easy to do—and it doesn't seem light at all! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts: 2/3 cup: 67 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 240mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.
13/17

Italian Chicken Soup

Total Time 55 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This satisfying soup gets its Italian flair from fennel, thyme, basil and orzo pasta. If you don't start with a low-sodium or sodium-free stock, you might want to decrease the amount of salt called for in the recipe. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 279 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 829mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 4g fiber), 28g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable.
14/17

Winter Beet Salad

Total Time 1 hour 20 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: To save a little time on this sweet and savory beet salad, we recommend using packaged salad greens in this original recipe. The simple dressing is easy to assemble. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 213 calories, 15g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 80mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 6g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 3 fat, 2 vegetable, 1/2 starch.
15/17

Fennel-Jicama Salad

Total Time 20 min
Servings 12 servings (3/4 cup each)
From the Recipe Creator: This crunchy jicama salad contains no mayonnaise, making it a great dish to pass. Mint adds a refreshing flavor, but can be omitted if you don't have it on hand.—Stephanie Matthews, Tempe, Arizona
Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 167 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 112mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 3g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 fat, 1-1/2 starch.
16/17

Shaved Fennel Salad

Total Time 15 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This salad tastes even more impressive than it looks. It has an incredible crunch thanks to the cucumbers, radishes and apples. And the finish of fennel fronds adds just the faintest hint of licorice flavor. —William Milton III, Clemson, South Carolina
Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 55 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 138mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
17/17

Honey-Roasted Chicken & Root Vegetables

Total Time 1 hour 5 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: When my whole family comes over for dinner, I make a big platter of roast chicken with sweet potatoes, carrots and fennel. My dad leads the fan club. —Kelly Ferguson, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 432 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 99mg cholesterol, 543mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 6g fiber), 39g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 3 starch, 1-1/2 fat.