Easy Maple Glazed Carrots Recipe (Honey Option!)
Published Sep 13, 2024
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My maple-glazed carrots are a quick and easy side dish that my whole family loves! Perfect for weeknight dinners or a beautiful addition to your holiday table. With a mix of vegan butter, pure maple syrup (or honey), garlic, and fresh herbs, this easy recipe is a hit even with picky eaters!
Why You’ll Love These Maple Glazed Carrots
Maple glazed carrots are the perfect side dish—easy to make with just a handful of simple ingredients that you most likely already have in your pantry! My kids love the natural sweetness of the carrots enhanced by the maple syrup mixture. These tender carrots are truly mouthwatering.
This delicious side dish is easy enough to make for weeknight meals, but stunning (and tasty) enough to make for the Holidays. It’s easy to prep ahead of time, and bakes in just under 30 minutes.
Carrots are a great side dish for almost any entree! Serve alongside a main dish like my beef tips and gravy over cauliflower mash, my easy blackened chicken recipe or this smoked turkey if you’re making Thanksgiving dinner!
Ingredient Notes
- whole carrots: You can use any kind of carrot, large or small. Keep in mind that larger carrots may require longer bake time.
- melted butter: I use vegan butter but you can use your favorite butter.
- olive oil
- maple syrup or honey (or a mix of both!) You can use your favorite real maple syrup or honey, OR combine the 2 depending on your taste preferences.
- minced garlic: Use fresh garlic for best results.
- fresh thyme
- salt and black pepper: I use sea salt but you can use whatever salt you have on hand!
- fresh lemon juice
- garnish with fresh parsley and thyme
See the exact ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Step 2: If the carrots are large, peel them and cut them into sticks of even size. If using small carrots, you can leave them whole.
Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, olive oil, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir well to mix everything together.
Step 4: Add the carrots to the large bowl with the sauce. Toss the carrots until they are evenly coated with the sauce.
Step 5: Spread the coated carrots in a single layer on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup. Roast in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the carrots are tender and slightly caramelized, tossing halfway through cooking for even roasting.
Step 6: Once the carrots are roasted, remove them from the oven. Drizzle with 1 tbsp of lemon juice and toss gently on the sheet pan to combine.
Step 7: Transfer the carrots to a serving dish. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and thyme. Drizzle a little extra honey or maple syrup over the top if desired before serving.
Mac’s Pro Tip
Expert Tips
- If you like some spice, add red pepper flakes to your maple-glazed carrots before baking.
- If you aren’t dairy-free you can use your favorite salted butter instead of vegan butter.
- These make a beautiful addition to holiday dinners!
- If you like nuts add some chopped pecans or slivered almonds to the top of your carrots after baking.
Serving Tips
- These carrots make a great holiday side dish! Take them to your Thanksgiving dinner or your Christmas dinner and they’ll be a sure crowd pleaser.
- You can also serve them with so many main course dishes like my easy blackened chicken recipe (with homemade spice blend), or my hamburger potato casserole.
Storage Tips
A lot of people prefer to reheat this recipe in the oven rather than the microwave as the microwave can make them limp and a bit soggy.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. I don’t recommend freezing.
To reheat, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and place carrots on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or foil (for easy cleanup). Once the oven is preheated bake, covered, until warmed through to your desired temperature (about 10-15 minutes).
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Follow steps 2 – 4 and then put your maple glazed carrots into a large bowl, cover, and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake them.
To make these carrots more savory use either maple syrup or honey; not both. You can also use less of whatever natural sweetener you choose. You can also add red pepper flakes to add more spice.
No! The carrots will soften while baking in the oven.
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Easy Maple Glazed Carrots Recipe (Honey Option!)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds carrots
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey (or a mix of both!) plus more to drizzle!
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ tsp fresh thyme
- Salt + pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Garnish fresh parsley and thyme, chopped (to garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare the Carrots: If the carrots are large, peel them and cut them into sticks of even size. If using small carrots, you can leave them whole.
- Make the Maple/Honey Garlic Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, olive oil, Maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir well to mix everything together.
- Coat the Carrots: Add the carrots to the bowl with the sauce. Toss the carrots until they are evenly coated with the sauce.
- Roast the Carrots: Spread the coated carrots in a single layer on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup. Roast in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the carrots are tender and slightly caramelized, tossing halfway through cooking for even roasting.
- Add Lemon Juice: Once the carrots are roasted, remove them from the oven. Drizzle with 1 tbsp of lemon juice and toss gently to combine.
- Garnish and Serve: Transfer the carrots to a serving dish. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and thyme. Drizzle a little extra honey or maple syrup over the top if desired before serving.
Notes
- If you like some spice, add red pepper flakes to your maple-glazed carrots before baking.
- If you aren’t dairy-free you can use your favorite salted butter instead of vegan butter.
- If you like nuts add some chopped pecans or slivered almonds to the top of your carrots after baking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. I don’t recommend freezing.
- A lot of people prefer to reheat this recipe in the oven rather than the microwave as the microwave can make them limp and a bit soggy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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