Easy Roasted Carrots Recipe = Side Dish Perfection! • The Simple Parent (2024)

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Roasted Carrots are one of the most versatile vegetable side dishes! You can go savory or you can go sweet. This roasted carrots recipe is all about classic flavor. Do you remember the glazed carrots from your childhood and from holiday meals? They’re perfect for weeknight dinners with the family too!

Whether you call them brown sugar carrots, carmelized carrots, or maple glazed carrots, you’ll call these delicious! Plus, they’re so simple to make! Use them for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Thursday night dinner!

Easy Roasted Carrots Recipe = Side Dish Perfection! • The Simple Parent (1)

SWEET ROASTED CARROTS

Carrot side dishes are often seen at the holidays, but they pair so well with a variety of main courses that I started serving them as part of our weekly meals too! I’m a huge fan of cooked carrots so I enjoy making them different ways.

When I am cooking for the holidays, I usually make my classic slow cooker carrots. While they cook, I can work on other dishes I’m in charge of making. On weeknights, I don’t often reach for my Crockpot for a side dish. If I’m breaking out the slow cooker, it’s going to be a one-pot meal night!

So oven baked carrots are a great solution. I get the brown sugar cinnamon carrots I love and still have a fairly convenient recipe going.

Easy Roasted Carrots Recipe = Side Dish Perfection! • The Simple Parent (2)

HOW TO COOK CARROTS

There are a lot of different ways to cook carrots. If you’re interested in trying some different methods, we’ve got you covered! Try Maple Glazed Carrots for a sweet recipe or Buttery Cooked Carrots for more savory flavor!

Most of my carrot recipes lean towards the sweet side of things and use ingredients like brown sugar, honey, and maple syrup. But you’ll find some garlic thrown in there as well!

For this recipe, you cook the carrots in the oven at 425°F to roast them. It’s easy to do and you can work on the rest of the meal while they bake!

Easy Roasted Carrots Recipe = Side Dish Perfection! • The Simple Parent (3)

DO YOU PEEL CARROTS BEFORE ROASTING?

The truth is you don’t have to peel carrots unless you want to do it. Some people don’t like the texture or the taste of carrot skin, so most people do peel them. If you peel them and have never tried a Y-shaped Peeler, I highly recommend trying one! You can get a Y Vegetable Peeler here!

I often use baby carrots to avoid peeling and doing a lot of chopping. But if you use whole carrots for this recipe (and you can!) then it’s up to you if you want to peel the carrots before roasting them.

HOW DO YOU CUT CARROTS FOR ROASTING?

If you’re not using baby carrots, I suggest you cut your whole carrots before roasting them with this recipe. There are a few options.

You can slice the carrots. If you slice them, I recommend slicing them into slices that are about 1-2 inches thick. You’ll want them all to be similar in size so you get more even cooking.

You can also chop them into chunks or slice them length-wise to make carrot sticks. No matter how you cut them, make sure the pieces are all about the same size.

If you’re using baby carrots but would like more bite-size carrots to serve, you can cut them in half too before roasting in the oven.

Easy Roasted Carrots Recipe = Side Dish Perfection! • The Simple Parent (4)

HOW TO MAKE BROWN SUGAR ROASTED CARROTS

To get started, prep your carrots if you’re not using baby carrots. Then heat your oven and line your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. You don’t have to do this, but it really helps make cleaning up easier when you’re glazing carrots.

Then mix all of the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Put the carrots in a larger bowl and once you’ve mixed your glaze, pour it over the carrots. Stir them around to get them coated with the glaze.

Easy Roasted Carrots Recipe = Side Dish Perfection! • The Simple Parent (5)

Spread the glazed carrots on the baking pan in a single layer and put them in the oven to roast! Cook the carrots for about 20 minutes or until they reach the desired softness and tenderness. I recommend flipping them over about halfway through the cooking time.

Easy Roasted Carrots Recipe = Side Dish Perfection! • The Simple Parent (6)

You can garnish them with parsley flakes and serve them with your favorite main dish!

SUGGESTED MAIN DISH RECIPES: Oven Roasted Lemon Pepper Chicken, “Fried” Chicken Legs, Crockpot Turkey Breast

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4 from 1 vote

Easy Roasted Carrots

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Calories: 158

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.

  • In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, melted butter, maple syrup, salt, and pepper together until smooth.

  • Put baby carrots in a large bowl and pour glaze mixture over them. Mix to coat.

  • Spread baby carrots in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until desired tenderness. Turn the carrots halfway through cook time.

  • Garnish with parsley flakes, if desired. Serve warm.

Notes

You can substitute whole carrots for the baby carrots in this recipe. Slice or chop your carrots into similar sized pieces before roasting.

Please note: All nutritional values are estimates. Exact values depend on the specific products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 158 kcal

Easy Roasted Carrots Recipe = Side Dish Perfection! • The Simple Parent (8)

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Easy Roasted Carrots Recipe = Side Dish Perfection! • The Simple Parent (2024)

FAQs

Should you boil carrots before roasting? ›

There is, however, a trick to getting roasted carrots right. Undercook them, and the texture is tough and dense. Overcook them, and they're dry and wrinkled. The secret is to soften the carrots slightly by boiling them briefly before roasting.

How to make Gordon Ramsay carrots? ›

Cooking instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan, then add the carrots and parsnips and toss to coat in the oil. Add the thyme, cinnamon, star anise and some seasoning. Cook over a medium heat for 15-20 minutes, turning the vegetables frequently, until golden brown and almost cooked through.

What is the healthiest way to cook carrots? ›

Another study showed both boiling and steaming increased levels of beta carotene. But try to cook carrots whole, as cutting can reduce nutrients by 25%. Wait and wash veggies just before cooking to preserve nutrients. In fact, cooking veggies whole is often the best choice to preserve nutrients.

What not to mix carrots with? ›

Also, fruits have more sugar content, something that can hinder the digestive process of vegetables. For the same reason, one shouldn't mix orange with carrot as when taken together, they may cause heartburn and excess bile reflux.

What makes carrots taste better? ›

Or, to bring out their fresh, woody flavor, add some anise. If you're roasting your carrots, toss them in olive oil first. This will help keep the moisture in them. To bring out the sweetness in your carrots, season them with orange or lemon juice or a little brown sugar and butter.

What brings out the carrot flavor? ›

Carrots are naturally sweet, cutting them doesn't affect the flavor. If you want them even sweeter, roasting is a good option. Toss them with some oil, and something sweet- maple syrup, orange juice or even a little honey. Then roast in a hot oven.

How do you balance carrot flavor? ›

too many carrots may very well be the cause of the sweetness. i recommend countering that sweetness with a bit of acid — a squeeze of lemon or some vinegar. you probably won't need too much, just add a bit and taste. if you need more, add gradually.

What herb is a companion for carrots? ›

Chives: When grown near carrot plants, chives improve the taste and texture of their carrot neighbors. Chives also deter aphids and other pests. 2. Leeks: Leeks make great companion plants for carrots because they deter carrot flies, and carrots repel leek moths.

What season is good for carrots? ›

Carrots are best planted in the spring and fall. They do not grow well during hot weather. For a fall crop, plant 10 – 12 weeks before the first frost.

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