Learn the secrets to making perfectly roasted carrots every time with this easy to follow recipe. Delicious and healthy, these roasted carrots make the perfect side dish for any meal. First, the carrots are drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. Then, they are roasted to perfection to bring out their natural sweetness and glazed with butter, honey, and a little cayenne pepper.
Perfectly Roasted Carrots Everytime
Discover the secrets to perfectly roasted carrots with a variety of tasty seasoning options. This recipe and great tips will help you create the most flavorful and delicious side dish. Honey roasted carrots are the ultimate side dish for roasted turkey, grilled chicken, and pan fried pork chops. I love to serve them at Easter with baked ham, pineapple casserole, zucchini au gratin, and roasted asparagus.
Honey Roasted Carrots Ingredients
For this recipe, you need carrots, extra virgin olive oil, salt, freshly ground black pepper, butter, honey, ground cayenne pepper, and fresh herbs like thyme or parsley.
How to make Honey Roasted Carrots
Start by peeling and slicing your carrots on a diagonal in thick slices. Then, add the sliced carrots to a bowl, drizzle with olive, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place them in a single layer on a large sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Roast for about 20 minutes or until fork tender.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the honey and cayenne pepper and stir to combine, cooking for several minutes. Add the roasted carrots to the skillet and toss to coat. Sprinkle the carrots with fresh thyme.
Recipe Tips
- For aesthetic purposes, peel carrots. You will appreciate that you did. The bright orange color is aesthetically pleasing. Don’t peel them if baby carrots are used.
- Cut the carrots into 2-inch segments. Cut thick ends in half.
- The little bit of cayenne pepper in this recipe does not make it spicy or hot. It adds a bit more flavor dimension.
- Roast the carrots just until they are fork-tender.
- Fresh herbs like thyme, parsley, and rosemary take these carrots over the top, but in a pinch, you can substitute dried herbs.
Recipe Variations
- Spices – kick it up a few notches with a little bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, chili powder, or ground cloves.
- Nuts – add some toasted pine nuts, chopped pecans, or almond slivers
- Sweeteners – substitute maple syrup, brown sugar, or even Mirin (which is sweetened sake) for the honey
- Colorful Carrots – look for bright, beautiful colored carrots like Lunar White Carrots, Solar Yellow Carrots, Cosmic Purple Carrots, and Atomic Red Carrots.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat at reduced power in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.
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Honey Roasted Carrots
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. carrots peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks see notes
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons honey
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ tablespoon fresh thyme or fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- In a large bowl, stir together the carrots and olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place them on a large baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Roast for 20 minutes or until fork tender.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the honey and cayenne pepper and stir to combine, cooking for several minutes. Add the roasted carrots to the skillet and stir to coat. Sprinkle the carrots with fresh thyme. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- For aesthetic purposes, peel the carrots. You will appreciate that you did.
- Cut the carrots into about 2-inch segments. Cut thick ends in half.
- The little bit of cayenne pepper does not make it spicy or hot, it adds a little more flavor dimension.
- Roast the carrots just until they are fork-tender.
- Fresh thyme really takes these carrots over the top, but in a pinch, you can substitute dried thyme leaves.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat at reduced power in the microwave.
Nutrition
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Kelly B
These honey roasted carrots are amazing. Only way to eat them.
Beth Pierce
I agree, Kelly!
Rosemary
What a splendid way to cook carrots! The flavor was outstanding! These will be on our Easter menu!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Rosemary! Enjoy!
Louise S
I love these carrots. They are perfect with so many main course but I particulary like them with baked ham, grilled ham steak, and your London broil recipe! I could eat them twice a week for the rest of my life. They are that good!
Beth Pierce
I feel the same way, Louise!
Sue Moorehead
This is my favorite way to prepare carrots! It really brings out their natural sweetness! I made them with your ham steak recipe and baked mac and cheese. Not a low meal but a delicious one. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Sue!
Tamara
So simple yet always so good! I love these honey roasted carrots. They are fabulous with ham any kind of beef roast.
Beth Pierce
I agree, Tamara!
Lavanda
Just used your recipe and safe to say this may be the new family go-to!! So delicious.. My daughters couldn’t get enough!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lavanda! I am so glad that everyone likes the roasted carrots!
Rebecca
This is pretty much identical to how we do our carrots. A honey roast makes them taste so much nicer, such a treat with a roast.
Beth Pierce
I agree, Rebecca!
Danielle Franklin
These honey roasted carrots are so yummy. We love carrots here and roasting them just makes the sweetness come out even more, perfect with the honey and the salt and pepper.
Muriel
We love these honey roasted carrots. They are such a treat with so many entrees. I love serving them with your air fryer salmon and your grilled pork tenderloin.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Muriel! So glad that you like them!
Mabel Adams
These were sooooooo good. My kids loved them and asked me to make them again! Guess they’re going to be a regular addition to our dinner table now!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Mabel! So glad that the kids liked them!
Katherine Dean
I made your Honey Roasted Carrots for dinner last night, and they were a revelation! The honey brought out the natural sweetness of the carrots, and roasting them made them perfectly tender!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Katherine! So glad that that you liked them!
Benson
These are tasty. Roasting is my favorite way to cook carrots because they get such a great caramelized flavor.
Beth Pierce
I agree, Benson
Elizabeth M
This is such a fantastic side dish! Everyone loved it! Can’t wait to make it again!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Elizabeth! They are delicious!
Katherine Williams
I made these honey roasted carrots, and they turned out wonderfully sweet and flavorful! I am so excited to make these again and again!
Beth Pierce
I am so glad that you liked them!
Amber Malone
These honey roasted carrots are absolutely delicious! The combination of sweetness from the honey and the slight kick from the cayenne pepper really elevates the flavor. Plus, they’re so easy to make! Definitely adding this recipe to my regular rotation 🙂
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Amber! I am so very glad that you liked them!
Sandee
This is my new favorite side dish to make! Loved the texture and it tasted really flavorful!
Beth Pierce
They are so tasty! Thank you, Sandee!
Regina
We love to have these with our weeknight meals – but I especially love all the ohhs and ahhhs I get when I make them for holiday meals with the extended family.
Beth Pierce
Same here, Regina! They are just that good!
Yeah Lifestyle
Nothing like adding a little honey to carrots to make them taste amazing! Loving your recipe! These would be perfect for Thanksgiving!
Jupiter Hadley
Ohh I remember having honey roasted carrots as a kid, but have not thought about making it! Thank you for the recipe.
Sue
Hubby just loved these carrots. He could not get enough of them. I have a feeling they are going to be on our regular rotation.
Christine H
My husband and son would love this recipe. I don’t think I have ever had honey roasted carrots before. This would be a great addition to our vegetable choices.
Mrs. Cherry
Yummy! This is one of my favorite dishes. I will be making this, thank you!
Melissa Dixon
My mom loves honey-roasted carrots. I will have to try to make this recipe for her.
Tammy
I love roasted carrots! Such a simple yet delicious recipe…these are so good. A perfect side for any Autumn dish.
Laura
Honey roasted carrots are the BEST! I love them so much!
Beth Pierce
So true!
Melanie E
I really love honey roasted carrots. It’s got to be one of my favorite sides. I sometimes make mine with sea salt and fresh rosemary too
Victoria
Great recipe. We loved them! Thank you for the inspiration!
Samantha Donnelly
I do love these honey roasted carrots. They are delicious with so many entrees.
Linda
I love this recipe. Good for any diet.Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth Williams
I love roasted carrots especially honey roasted but do not often do them but this recipe inspired me to make them tonight and they were divine, thanks.
Beth Pierce
Thanks. Elizabeth! So glad that you liked them!
Yaya
I think these look quite simple but absolutely delicious. I think I may give these a try this Thanksgiving.
Sherry
You have some of the ‘best’ recipes … I have a folder in my favorites with just your recipes and use them often. I made the honey roasted carrots today and they are delicious!!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Sherry! That is so sweet. You made my day.
Jennifer Prince
Ooh! I love honey-roasted carrots but have only had them at restaurants. I need to make these!
Sarah M
This recipe is delicious and quick to make. The best thing is all the ingredients are easily available and good for your health.
Jack
I’ve never thought of something like this but this looks so good. Thank you for sharing!
Heather
Lovely way to add sweetness to carrots. I love recipes with honey. Yum!
Kelly Bolen
Carrots are my favorite vegetable! And they sound amazing in this recipe! Pinned for later!!!
Melanie Edjourian
This is such a yummy recipe. I do love roasted carrots with meals.
Sheeba
This is such a great side dish will definitely give it a try.
Alita
Carrots are my favorite vegetables. I could make this every day since it’s easy, delicious, and simple.
Neely Moldovan
Such a great way to dress up some veggies!
Crystal Carder
I always end up with extra carrots that need to be used and this recipe sounds great for using them!
Heather Castillo
Roasted carrots are probably one of my favorite side dishes! I can’t wait to try this version!
Krista
My husband and I loved them. Next time I will add a bit of brown sugar and some almond slivers. Thanks!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you and your husband liked the carrots!
Sandra
This is such an amazing side dish! Everyone at my house loved it!
Krystle
These are just scrumptious, I Love the hit of spice for the cayenne. Made with your meatloaf and they were amazing.
Allyson Zea
This is one of my favorite sidedishes!!!
Amanda Livesay
My kids love these carrots! And they’re super easy.
Erin
Oooh, these Honey Roasted Carrots are looking heavenly!
Juliane
Looks really good! I have to try this!
Patricia
It does not get any better than this! What a great side to serve throughout the seasons. Love these golden treats!
Anaiah
Yum! These honey roasted carrots are the perfect side dish. They are so delicious and full of flavor! It has the perfect amount of sweetness to it. Definitely making this for the family more often!
Dannii
These are my favourite way to have carrots. You can’t beat roasted veg.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
These are gorgeous! I am bookmarking this recipe for Christmas as it looks perfect.
Petro
These carrots look so mouthwatering! I love how easy, simple they are and so quick to make! I’m bookmarking this recipe!