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

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.

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.

Why are my roasted carrots tough? ›

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. The texture will be firm-tender with just the right amount of caramelization on the outside.

What is the appropriate cooking method for carrots? ›

Carrots can be cooked using several methods. Some common methods are steaming, boiling, braising, roasting, sautéing, stir frying, and microwaving. Carrots should be cooked only until they are tender-crisp to ensure maximum flavor. Overcooking may also destroy some of the nutrients contained in carrots.

What 2 foods should not be eaten together? ›

8 Unhealthy Food Combos to Avoid
  • Banana and milk. Banana and milk - not a good combo. ...
  • Burger and fries. It's common for people to have fries alongside burger. ...
  • Beans and cheese. Cheese is a dairy product that's rich in protein. ...
  • Pizza and soda. ...
  • Food and water/juice. ...
  • Yoghurt and fruits. ...
  • Eggs and meat. ...
  • Potato and meat.

What makes carrots taste better? ›

For carrots, you can try steaming them instead of boiling or roasting them. Steaming helps to retain more of the nutrients and natural sweetness of the carrots. You can also add some fresh herbs, such as thyme or parsley, to the steaming water to infuse some extra flavor into the carrots.

How do you get the most flavor out of carrots? ›

Here's some of our favorites to sprinkle on carrots:
  1. Garlic (minced, powder or granules)
  2. Onion powder or granules.
  3. Black malabar pepper.
  4. Cinnamon (Cassia for sweeter, Ceylon for sweetness with some more complex savory and vanilla flavors)
  5. Nutmeg powder.
  6. Cayenne pepper powder.
  7. Ginger powder.
  8. Aleppo chili.
Mar 28, 2021

Is it better to roast or boil carrots? ›

Roasted carrots have the best texture, and the flavor is amazing. Roasting draws out the natural sweetness and you get a nice caramelized flavor. They're so much better than boiled carrots! Roasting is also easy; it's hard to overcook a roasted vegetable: if it gets too done, it's clearly burned.

Should you boil carrots before roasting? ›

Parboiling skin-on carrots and parsnips lets you soften them without them losing too much moisture. Follow up by browning in a 375°F (190°C) oven for about 40 minutes.

Do you flip vegetables when roasting? ›

Roasted vegetables aren't high maintenance, but they do need a little bit of attention. Leaving the pan totally unattended means that the bottom of your vegetables will burn, while the tops never crisp up. Flip halfway through, and you'll be rewarded with vegetables that are evenly cooked and golden all over.

What is the best temperature to roast vegetables in the oven? ›

The perfect temperature– 400 degrees Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature for most roasted vegetables. It allows for a crispy, perfectly browned exterior and a fork tender interior. But it will vary based on the types of veggies and oil used. If your veggies are not browning enough, try increasing the temperature.

How do you cut carrots for side dishes? ›

Using a sharp knife, simply crosscut each carrot into rounds of whatever thickness is desired. This is a good option for salads and simple carrots side dishes (for side dishes, it's best to cut the rounds thicker so the carrots don't snap in half easily once cooked).

What is the healthiest way to cook carrots? ›

The healthiest way to cook carrots depends on your priorities: Nutrient Retention: Steaming or microwaving with a little water are generally considered the best methods to retain the most nutrients in carrots, particularly vitamins and minerals like vitamin A and potassium.

Can you overcook carrots? ›

You should keep a watchful eye on blanching vegetables like carrots as they boil, setting a timer and having an ice bath ready to shock them the moment the timer rings. If you don't transfer them to an ice bath right away, they'll continue to cook, resulting in overcooked, dull, and flavorless carrots.

What do carrots cross react with? ›

Carrot allergens are highly cross-reactive with especially birch tree pollens and celery. The allergy might be prevented in carrot sensitized people by avoiding any intentional or un-intentional consumption of carrot.

What vegetables should not be mixed together? ›

Examples of Plants That Should Not Be Grown Together
AsparagusFennel, Garlic, Onions, Potatoes
CornBroccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Celery, Eggplant, Fennel, Tomatoes
DillCarrots, Tomatoes, Onions, Lettuce, Cabbage
FennelAsparagus, Beans, Cilantro, Corn, Cucumber, Peppers
GarlicAsparagus, Beans, Peas, Sage, Strawberries
21 more rows

When should you not use carrots? ›

If your carrots feel slimy and look discolored, are wilting or soft, or show signs of mold, they should be tossed. The white blush on carrot skin is OK to eat—it just means the carrots are drying out and need water.

What vegetables Cannot be put together? ›

Planting these two vegetables together can inhibit the growth of beans in their early stages, and produce smaller, weaker crops.
  • 02 of 14. Tomatoes and Potatoes. ...
  • 05 of 14. Cucumber and Squash. ...
  • 08 of 14. Peppers and Cabbage. ...
  • 11 of 14. Asparagus and Onions.
Jan 16, 2024

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