Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe - Easy Veggie Side Dish! (2024)

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Carrots might sometimes be the underdog of the veggie world, but these Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots are a game-changer! With just 5 simple ingredients, they’re easy to whip up and make a delicious recipe you won’t want to miss.

Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe - Easy Veggie Side Dish! (1)

These honey balsamic carrots are a simple yet flavorful side dish. The carrots are roasted until tender, bringing out their natural sweetness, which is enhanced by a glaze of honey and balsamic vinegar. This combination creates a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. A touch of garlic adds depth, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley gives a fresh finish. They’re easy to make and go well with a variety of main dishes, making them a great choice for an easy weeknight dinner or a holiday table.

    Why You’ll Love This Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe

    • So Much Flavor: Roasted carrots with honey are naturally sweet, and the touch of balsamic vinegar adds great depth and a touch of acidity. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and tangy!
    • Super Easy: Veggie side dishes shouldn’t take much time and this recipe is no different. You’ll have this whipped up in no time with only 10 minutes of active prep time.
    • Goes With Everything: Great veggie side dishes should be versatile and go with anything you’re making with dinner. These roasted honey glazed carrots go with any protein you can cook up from steak to pork chops to chicken! They can also make an interesting addition to any vegetarian meal.
    Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe - Easy Veggie Side Dish! (2)

    What You’ll Need

    • Carrots: I suggest using large fresh carrots and cutting them in half, longwise. You could also use rainbow carrots or baby carrots.
    • Balsamic Vinegar: Adds a rich, slightly tangy flavor. If you don’t have balsamic vinegar, use 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar mixed with 1/2 teaspoon sugar.
    • Olive Oil: Helps in roasting. Canola or vegetable oil could be used instead.
    • Honey: Pure maple syrup or agave nectar are good alternatives.
    • Garlic Cloves: Balances the sweetness in the recipe. Garlic powder is a good alternative.
    • Sea Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper: Seasoning to enhance all the flavors.
    • Chopped Fresh Parsley: Dried parsley or even fresh thyme or cilantro could also be used.

    How to Make Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots

    Each step in this process is designed to ensure that the carrots are perfectly cooked and flavored, making them one of your new favorite veggie side dishes. Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions.

    Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe - Easy Veggie Side Dish! (3)
    Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe - Easy Veggie Side Dish! (4)
    1. Prep: Preheat oven to 375˚F. Wash, peel, and halve your carrots lengthwise. Place the prepped carrots on a roasting pan or a rimmed baking sheet and set it aside.
    2. Combine: In a small bowl, combine your balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk everything together until it is thoroughly incorporated.
    3. Brush: Brush the carrots with about 2/3 of the glaze.
    4. Roast: Roast the carrots for 15 minutes.
    5. Flip: Flip the carrots over and brush with remaining glaze. Continue to roast your carrots for another 15 minutes or until they’re fork tender. The cooking time will depend on the size of the carrots.
    6. Serve: Remove the pan from the oven. Transfer the roasted honey glazed carrots to a serving plate, garnish them with chopped parsley, and serve.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Use Fresh Carrots: We’ve all been guilty of leaving carrots in the fridge a little too long. You know what they look like… They’re a little limp and bendy. Don’t use those! In fact, throw them in your scrap bag for making stock later on! You’ll get the best results by using fresh, firm carrots.
    • Don’t Overcook: Different sized carrots need different roasting times. Check out the FAQ section further down the page for my recommendations on how long to cook various sizes.
    • Cook the Rainbow: If you want to make this honey roasted carrots recipe really fancy, use a couple different colors of carrots! I love getting heirloom carrots at the farmer’s market when they’re in season and enjoy purple and white carrots along with the traditional oragen.

    What to Serve With Honey Roasted Carrots

    A great way to serve carrots is to top them with fresh chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese alongside a nice roast pork tenderloin, pot roast, or even roasted rack of lamb. I love to pair them with other sides, like potatoes and roasted sugar snap peas. Since carrots are sweet, a great side to pair them with is tart brussel sprouts.

    Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe - Easy Veggie Side Dish! (5)

    How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

    • Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep them refrigerated for about 2 to 3 days.
    • To reheat roasted carrots with honey, I place them on a baking sheet and pop them in a 325˚F oven for about 5 minutes, or until they are heated through.

    FAQs

    Do I need to peel the carrots before roasting them?

    This is up to you. I usually peel mine for a cleaner look, but it’s not a must – just give them a good scrub with a vegetable brush to clean off any dirt before you start cooking.

    How long should I roast carrots?

    I’ve found that roasting time for carrots or root vegetables largely depends on their size and thickness. For large whole carrots, 30 minutes at a higher temperature will do the trick. For baby carrots, 15 to 18 minutes is enough time. However, the best way to know they’ve been roasted long enough is to stick a fork into the thickest part of the carrot. If it slides in and out without needing any force, they are perfect.

    Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe - Easy Veggie Side Dish! (6)

    More Veggie Side Dishes

    • Easy Roasted Vegetables
    • Garlic Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes
    • Roasted Brussel Sprouts And Radishes
    • Easy Oven Roasted Potatoes

    Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe - Easy Veggie Side Dish! (7)

    Print Recipe

    5 from 13 votes

    Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots

    These Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots are the sweetest and easiest side dish around! Perfectly caramelized with a tender center, they're always a hit with everyone at the table.

    Prep Time10 minutes mins

    Cook Time30 minutes mins

    Total Time40 minutes mins

    Course: Side Dish

    Cuisine: American

    Keyword: honey roasted carrots, honey roasted carrots recipe, roasted carrots, roasted carrots with honey, veggie side dishes

    Servings: 4 servings

    Calories: 185kcal

    Author: Katerina | Easy Weeknight Recipes

    Ingredients

    • 10 large carrots, washed, peeled, and cut in half longwise
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced, or use ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
    • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    • chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 375˚F.

    • Place the prepped carrots on a rimmed baking sheet and set aside.

    • In a small bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper; whisk until thoroughly incorporated.

    • Brush the carrots with ⅔ of the glaze and roast them for 15 minutes.

    • Flip the carrots over; brush them with remaining glaze and continue to roast for 15 minutes more or until fork tender. Cooking time will depend on the size of the carrots.

    • Remove from oven. Transfer them to a serving plate, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 129mg | Potassium: 603mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 30071IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg

    balsamic vinegarcarrotshoney

    Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe - Easy Veggie Side Dish! (2024)

    FAQs

    Should you parboil carrots before roasting? ›

    If you try to roast them through in the oven 100% of the way, you end up with shriveled, wrinkled remains. Instead, I find it's much better to par-cook them in salted water, since they'll tenderize without shrinking. This step can be done in advance.

    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.

    Can you roast carrots ahead and reheat? ›

    How to Store & Reheat Roasted Carrots. The best way to store your baked carrots is to place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge after they have cooled down. To reheat them, simply spread the carrots out on a baking sheet and warm them up in the oven at 350°F until they're heated through.

    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

    What happens if you don't peel carrots before roasting? ›

    That's likely because carrot skins can turn bitter and dry when they're cooked. For some, the flavor difference is barely noticeable, but for others, the earthiness is a complete turn-off. Carrots' glossy exteriors may also turn dusty and dry in the heat of an oven.

    Why are my roast carrots soggy? ›

    As they cook, vegetables give off moisture, and when arranged too close together it results in a soggy outcome. Follow this tip: To achieve beautiful browning and crisp, roasted perfection, vegetables need some breathing room. Arrange vegetables in a single layer and don't overcrowd the pan.

    What makes carrots taste better? ›

    Roasting really brings out carrots' best qualities. To make them, just toss carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake until they're golden on the edges and tender throughout.

    What not to mix carrots with? ›

    Mixing carrots and oranges can be very dangerous. This mix has been known to cause heartburn and kidney damage.

    Can you reheat honey glazed carrots? ›

    To reheat, we recommend microwaving in a covered container at 30-second intervals. You may want to add a teaspoon of water to the container before heating, just to add some additional moisture that will prevent the glaze from getting too sticky while it's being reheated.

    Why are my roasted carrots still hard? ›

    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.

    How many carrots for 6 adults? ›

    Whether it's parsnips, sprouts, braised cabbage or carrots, 80g of each per person will do the trick.

    What enhances carrot flavor? ›

    Flavor Enhancements

    Use spearmint, marjoram, a small bay leaf, thyme, grated ginger root, chopped chives, dill or parsley.

    How to make old carrots taste better? ›

    If your carrots do go limp or develop a white blush, trim off the ends and soak them in a bowl of iced water before using to rehydrate and crisp them up again. You can then roast them to include in a warm couscous or rice salad – try this roasted carrot and grain salad recipe – ideal as a nutritious, filling lunch.

    How do you intensify carrot Flavour? ›

    Seasoning carrots is a great way to help bring out their flavor. For a simple and versatile seasoning, stick with salt, pepper, and garlic. For an herbier taste, add rosemary, parsley, cumin, or coriander. Or, to bring out their fresh, woody flavor, add some anise.

    Is it better to parboil vegetables before roasting? ›

    Sometimes I've burned vegetables when roasting them until they were tender. Blanching veggies before roasting them allows them to caramelize a bit without burning. So, try this — enjoy the bounty.

    How long to parboil carrots for? ›

    How long to boil carrots? It depends on the size, but it generally takes about four to five minutes to boil sliced carrots. If you boil bigger pieces, it will take longer. If you are par boiling carrots, it should only take about three minutes since you are not cooking them all the way through.

    Should you blanch carrots before cooking? ›

    Blanching is optional, but helps ensure that carrots retain their nutrients, texture, color, and flavor. You may absolutely skip it, but just be aware that your frozen carrots will be best enjoyed incopproated into a recipe verse on their own.

    Is it good to parboil vegetables before cooking? ›

    From a culinary standpoint, parboiling significantly enhances the taste and texture of many foods. For example, tubers such as potatoes and carrots often have a firm interior that takes longer to cook than their exterior.

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