This easy, stovetop glazed carrots recipe is the BEST! Lightly sweetened, delicately seasoned and perfectly glazed! These carrots make an amazing side dish that both kids and adults can’t get enough of!
Glazed Carrots bring to mind an expression that I heard used recently – “Dirt Candy”. To me, these glazed carrots are the epitome of what sweets growing from the ground would taste like – Just cooked enough to barely be tender, then finished with a lightly-sweet glaze tinged with lemon, and sprinkled with fresh thyme.
Anyways… I’m always on the lookout for side dish recipes that can be made simply with vegetables that aren’t super perishable, and can hold up in your fridge for a week. Quite often I’m guilty of putting all of my focus on the main dish, and leaving the vegetables as an afterthought.
For that reason, I like to keep the basic, hearty vegetables on hand – carrots, broccoli, brussels sprouts. All of these vegetables can be roasted or quickly steamed, and they seem to compliment a variety of dishes.
This sweet carrots recipe comes together quickly on your stovetop.
🛒 Ingredients Needed
- Carrots
- Salt
- Sugar
- Chicken Broth
- Butter
- Lemon Juice
- Thyme
- Pepper
You can use a pound of sliced carrots or baby carrots for this recipe. If using baby carrots, you will need to increase the carrot cook time from 5 minutes to 10-15 minutes. If using regular carrots, peel them then slice them on the bias (diagonally) about 1/4-inch thick.
📋 How to Make Glazed Carrots on the Stovetop
- Bring carrots to boil in chicken stock seasoned with salt and sugar.
- Simmer for 5 minutes, until barely tender.
- Remove cover and increase heat to high.
- Reduce liquid.
- Add butter and sprinkle in lemon juice.
🌟 Flavor Variations
- Maple Glazed Carrots: Swap out the sugar for maple syrup.
- Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots: Swap out the white sugar for brown sugar.
- Honey Glazed Carrots: Swap out the sugar for honey.
- Glazed Carrots with Orange Juice: Swap out the lemon juice for orange juice.
- Glazed Baby Carrots: Substitute baby carrots for the sliced carrots and increase the carrot cook time to 10-15 minutes
ℹ️ FAQs
Yes! Just increase the butter to 3 Tablespoons and melt in a small skillet. Add salt and sugar and stir to combine. Toss carrots with butter mixture and bake in a 425-degree oven for 20 minutes. Toss with lemon juice and thyme and serve. Note: You won’t use chicken broth for the oven method.
If your glazed carrots seem watery, you may need to reduce the liquid further in step 2 of the recipe instructions.
These carrots taste best when prepared fresh. However, if needed, they can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, add to a skillet and heat over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water if necessary.
🍽 What to Serve with Them
- Easy Roasted Chicken
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
- Slow Cooker Pork Chops
- Glazed Ham
- Shake N Bake Pork Chops
- Sous Vide Filet Mignon
- Ribeye Steak
- Red Wine Braised Short Ribs
Did you try these stovetop glazed carrots?
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If you love carrots, you’ve got to try my tasty Oven Roasted Carrots too!
Stovetop Glazed Carrots Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots (peeled, about 6 medium)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
- Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Slice the carrots, on the bias, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Bring the carrots, salt, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, and the chicken broth to a boil in a 12-inch skillet, covered, over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the carrots are almost tender when poked with a fork, about 5 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat to high, and simmer rapidly, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Cut the butter into 4 pieces and add it to the skillet along with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Toss the carrots to coat and cook, stirring frequently, until the carrots are completely tender and the glaze is light gold, about 3 minutes. Off the heat, add the lemon juice and minced thyme and toss to coat.
- Season to taste with pepper and serve immediately.
Nutrition
🥗 More Side Dish Recipes
- Easy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Sunchokes
- Smashed Brussels Sprouts
- Arugula Salad
- Thai Cucumber Salad
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Mojo Sauce
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Mustard and Parmesan
Note: This post was originally published in March 2015 – It has been updated with new photographs but the recipe remains the same.
Check out the web story here.
Mmm those sound delicious. And I love your NY story. My husband is from the “other” NY too (Rochester). He gets crap from people when he claims he’s from Upstate NY. Those from NY will say, “no, you’re not from Upstate, your from Western NY.” 😉
That sounds delicious! I was just thinking about carrots on their own as a side dish the other day!
I love the term Dirt Candy! It completely reminds me of beets too 🙂
Are these good reheated? Was thinking to make them ahead of time for dinner on Saturday and just reheat them. Thanks!
Hi Lindsey – I feel like these carrots are best eaten right away. They tend to get a bit too soggy when reheated.
We make veggie sides most every night in our house – and these are in my and my son’s top 2 of all-time! He’s 6 and we also make them together, which is fun. These carrots are so flavorful. We always eat every last carrot and usually spend most of the meal talking about how great the carrots are. 🙂 We like them the best when we leave out the lemon (although we both looove lemon, so that’s odd?), but otherwise we make no changes. Thanks for one of our favorite recipes! 🙂
Awww – Love this Kristin! Thanks so much for letting me know how much you and the little guy love these carrots!
Can baby carrots be sub for long carrots?
You sure can! If you leave them whole, they may just take a little longer to get tender.
These are so delicious! Super easy to make! My husband and I ate the whole batch. We will have to double the recipe next time 🙂
I’m so happy to hear that you both liked them Ali!
I don’t have any thyme😒
Basil is great also.
I wonder if I could substitute brown sugar?
That should work Betsy – Sounds delicious!
Love them. Easy to make. Lots of flavour!
I’m so glad you liked them!