Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm (2024)

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If you’ve never had pan roasted carrots, then look out because this simple recipe is perfect for any occasion and comes packed with a lot of flavors.

Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm (1)

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This is THE recipe for Glazed Carrots!

Today, we’re making skillet carrots as you’ve never had before. While most recipes call for brown sugar we are using a combination of honey and thyme to give us a sweet and earthy flavor that pairs well with the naturally sweet veggies.

This flavorful combination will work great for holidays like Easter or Thanksgiving and also do well for a nice Sunday evening meal with the family. While these skillet roasted carrots may seem fancy, they’re really just another easy side dish to serve along with your meal and one that takes very little effort.

Glazed Carrots Stovetop Ingredients

  • Carrots: You will need about 1 pound of chopped carrots. This can be from baby carrots or long carrots from the garden (or grocery store).
  • Water: Adding in water or broth will help to steam cook the carrots so that the insides are cooked perfectly and a nice sauce is created.
  • Butter: Adding a little butter will help to make the sauce much richer in taste.
  • Honey: Use honey, agave, or even maple syrup. This makes the carrots sweet and perfect.
  • Thyme: Use fresh or dried thyme to help flavor your dish.
  • Salt and pepper: This is just added to taste so you can add in as much or little as you prefer.

Can I use any carrot for this Sweet Carrots Recipe?

Yes, any kind of sweet carrot that is used for eating can be used in this recipe.

How to make Glazed Carrots

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet about 12 inches in size until melted. Add in the carrots and cook lightly until they start to brown a little bit. This should be about 5 minutes.
  2. Add in the water or broth and the honey. Stir to combine and bring the liquid to a boil.
  3. Reduce the heat and allow to simmer on low for about 30 minutes, until the carrots become tender. Periodically check in on the water and make sure to add in more liquid if it gets too low.
  4. When the carrots are tender add in the remaining butter, thyme, salt, and pepper.
  5. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
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Caramelized Carrots Recipe FAQ

Can I make pan cooked carrots in a cast iron pan?

Absolutely! If you want to make some cast iron carrots, go for it. The cast iron may even help to cook the carrots more evenly if the chopped pieces are different in size. Just make sure that the pan size is large enough to accommodate all of your sliced carrot pieces and the liquid.

How long are leftover honey glazed carrots good for?

These carrots can be kept stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend eating them sooner rather than later so that the carrots don’t have a chance to dry out. Reheating them is easy in a bowl in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add in a tablespoon of butter as they cook to add back some nice rich flavor and moisture.

Can I freeze honey-glazed carrots?

Yes, this is a side dish that actually does quite well in the freezer. This means that you can prepare your favorite dish in advance of a holiday to cut down on kitchen usage or simply store leftovers for later.
Place the cooked (and cooled) carrots in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two months before thawing and reheating.

How far in advance can you make glazed carrots?

If you don’t want to have to reheat the glazed carrots, I recommend making them just prior to serving time. They will cool quickly. If you don’t mind reheating them, they can be made the day before.

Can you reheat honey glazed carrots?

Yes, reheat honey glazed carrots on the stovetop by warming up in a pan with 2 tablespoons of water. Alternatively, you can microwave them in a microwave-safe dish in 1-minute increments, stirring between, until heated through.

How to serve Sweet Carrots

This easy side dish recipe would pair very well with some homemade biscuits and oven roasted chicken. Maybe even add in a nice green salad with a homemade creamy salad dressing on top, oh yum! Can’t you just picture the delicious possibilities?

How to store Caramelized Carrots

The best way to store caramelized carrots is in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

More favorites from Longbourn Farm

  • Pumpkin Spice Layer Cake
  • Crockpot Short Ribs
  • Fluffy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • BBQ Chicken in the Oven
  • Tuscan Creamy Chicken
  • Smoked Turkey Breast Brine
  • Gorgonzola Steak Salad
  • Zucchini Bread with Buttermilk
  • Mixed Berry Cobbler Recipe with Frozen Berries
  • Chili in Dutch Oven
  • Blonde Butter Syrup
  • How to cook Canned Corn
  • Can Green Beans with Bacon
  • Garden Planter Boxes
  • Mexican Style Pork Chops
  • Dutch Oven Cheesy Potatoes
  • Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Tenders

Caramelized Carrots Recipe

These easy honey glazed carrots are made on the stovetop with a simple butter, honey and thyme recipe that is perfect for every day, or the holidays!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword caramelized carrots, honey carrots, honey glazed carrots

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 171kcal

Author Longbourn Farm • Alli Kelley

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound carrots chopped (see note)
  • 1 cup water or broth, extra may be needed
  • 3 tablespoons butter divided
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 4 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
  • salt and pepper to taste

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • In a large skillet (I used a 12 inch), heat 2 tablespoons of the butter until melted. Add carrots and cook lightly until they start to brown a little bit, about 5 minutes.

  • Add the water (or broth) and the honey. Stir to combine and bring the water to a boil.

  • Reduce the heat and simmer on low until the carrots become tender about 30 minutes. Check the water throughout this time and add more if it gets low.

  • When the carrots are tender and the liquid is reduced and thick (about 1/3 cup left), remove from the heat and add the remaining tablespoon butter, thyme, salt, and pepper.

  • Taste and adjust seasonings.

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Notes

Baby carrots or whole carrots can be used.

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 157mg | Potassium: 375mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 19300IU | Vitamin C: 9.9mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @longbournfarm or tag #longbournfarm!

Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm (2024)

FAQs

What brings out the sweetness in carrots? ›

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 make raw carrots sweeter? ›

How do you make carrots sweeter? Cut your carrots lengthwise into four segments. Just cover them with water and sprinkle them with brown sugar. Boil them until the water boils off and your carrots will be sweeter than a virgin in Spring.

Why are my roasted carrots bitter? ›

High temperatures: Carrots thrive in cool to moderate temperatures. When grown in excessively hot climates, the heat can cause the carrots to become stressed. This stress can trigger the release of certain compounds, such as terpenoids, which contribute to the bitter taste.

How do you sweeten bitter carrots? ›

Whatever you do, you should cook the carrots. Carrots usually become sweeter when cooked. And you can alter the flavor slightly by cooking in a broth, sauce, roasting with other ingredients, etc.

How do you make carrots sweeter when growing? ›

Here are a few tips for growing the sweetest carrots:
  1. Plant Carrots Midsummer. Many root vegetables are considered “cool weather” crops—they grow lush and juicy when daytime temperatures are in the 70s, and are sweetest when harvested in cool weather. ...
  2. Choose the Sweetest Varieties. ...
  3. Nourish with H-G Sweet 'N Grow.

Do carrots get sweeter the longer they are in the ground? ›

Time spent in cool spring soil gives home-grown carrots a fresh sweetness that store-bought roots will never have.

How do you intensify carrot flavor? ›

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.

Why do roasted carrots taste sweet? ›

Roasting caramelizes and concentrates the sugars that naturally occur in the carrots, making them taste really yummy.

Why do my homegrown carrots taste like soap? ›

You don't have to throw them away, though, since that bitter, soapy flavor isn't a sign of the carrots going bad. It's simply the result of a chemical reaction that happens due to improper storage. Credit that reaction to the naturally occurring ripening agent, ethylene gas.

Why do cooked carrots upset my stomach? ›

While for some it may be due to an underlying intolerance, for most issues are mainly caused by the high levels of fibre that vegetables contain, a nightmare for those with sensitivities. Eating too much fibre can lead to the following symptoms: Diarrhoea. Excess gas.

How do you make carrots less bitter? ›

add lemon and a little more salt and sugar. Next time cook the carrots longer. You're going to pulverize them anyway so there's no need to worry about keeping them firm. Especially if they are old or mature carrots, the cores can be bitter.

Why are some carrots sweet and others bitter? ›

Usually terpenes give a desirable taste to carrots, but in high concentrations can give undesirable taste. Factors influencing undesirable taste include genetics, growing conditions, diseases and insects, post-harvest handling and storage atmosphere.

Is it OK to eat bitter carrots? ›

Carrots may taste bitter because of a substance called terpenoids. It is present in more quantity if the carrots are harvested earlier and some breeds of carrots contain more terpenoids so yes it is safe for you to eat those carrots.

What enhances the flavor of carrots? ›

Classic Spices and Herbs That Pair Well with Carrots
  • Garlic (minced, powder or granules)
  • Onion powder or granules.
  • Black malabar pepper.
  • Cinnamon (Cassia for sweeter, Ceylon for sweetness with some more complex savory and vanilla flavors)
  • Nutmeg powder.
  • Cayenne pepper powder.
  • Ginger powder.
  • Aleppo chili.
Mar 28, 2021

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.

Do carrots get sweeter? ›

Carrots are at their sweetest in the cold-weather months because of that cold. Their built-in defense against freezing is to convert stored starches into sugars, giving them a sweeter taste. Some folks say carrots harvested after a frost are “candy carrots.” Winter carrots also are good for you.

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