Honey Roasted Carrots

Course: Vegetable

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 20

Servings: people

Calories: 173kcal

Author: Platings and Pairings

These honey roasted carrots are everything you want in a simple side dish. They’re sweet and savory with just the right level of caramelization to make your mouth water in anticipation! With a quick toss of olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper, they roast up beautifully and are presented with a pop of color from the sprinkle of fresh dill.

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Equipment

Baking Sheet

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds carrots small to medium, peeled and halved lengthwise
3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons honey
1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons fresh dill or parsley, minced, to garnish, optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450-degrees.
Arrange carrots on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and honey, toss with salt & pepper.
Roast 15-20 minutes, until tender when pierced with a fork.
Arrange carrots on a serving platter and sprinkle with fresh dill or parsley, if desired.
Serve hot or at room temperature.
Enjoy!

Notes

Storing

These roasted carrots will always taste the best when served immediately. If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Leftovers can be enjoyed at room temperature, reheated in the microwave for a minute or two, or warmed through in a skillet over medium-low heat with a drizzle of olive oil or butter and sautéd for about 5–7 minutes. Add a splash of water or Parmesan Broth to rehydrate the carrots, if needed.
Leftover roasted carrots can also be added as an ingredient to a variety of dishes. Here are 30+ Recipes with Carrots you can try so that your roasted carrots never go to waste!

Tips and tricks

Use similar-sized carrots for even roasting. While halving the carrots lengthwise helps them cook evenly, it’s also important to use carrots that are similar in size so they roast at the same rate and don’t burn or undercook.
Avoid overcrowding. Use a larger baking tray if necessary to create enough space between the carrots which will help to prevent steaming. You may need to roast them on two baking sheets or in two batches to avoid overcrowding, depending on the size of your tray.
Don’t discard the leafy carrot tops. I’ve recently made the most delicious Carrot Top Pesto which would be the perfect addition to this dish!
Line your baking sheet with parchment paper. It makes cleanup so much easier by preventing the honey from sticking and burning on the pan.
Flip the carrots halfway through the cooking time to achieve a deep golden color on both sides with crispy edges.
Sprinkle fresh herbs over the roasted carrots just before serving. This preserves the flavor of the herbs and retains their bright color for serving.

Variations

Spiced honey carrots - Add a touch of spicy warmth by tossing the carrots with chili powder (or these chili powder substitutes), cumin, and garlic powder before roasting. The spices do a great job of balancing the sweet honey and contribute to the depth of flavor. ½ teaspoon of each of these spices will do the trick, but you can adjust them to your taste preferences.
Honey balsamic glaze - Replace 1 teaspoon of honey with 1 tablespoon of balsamic glaze to make a sweet and tangy glaze that’ll caramelize your carrots and add an extra layer of flavor complexity!
Use rainbow carrots - Rainbow carrots are the perfect choice if you want to impress your guests. The different colors (yellow, white, purple and red) add a vibrant pop to your table - ideal for holiday meals or to add some flair to a midweek dinner with little effort.
Roast baby carrots - Reduce the cooking time slightly if you decide to roast baby carrots instead of these regular sliced carrots.
Make roasted carrot fries with parmesan - Follow my Carrot Fries recipe and sprinkle some freshly grated parmesan over the carrots just before serving for a savory twist that’s sure to please any crowd as a tasty snack or party appetizer.
Other garnish ideas - Apart from the fresh herbs, you can top these roasted carrots with toasted pine nuts or pumpkin seeds for crunch, lemon zest, crumbled feta cheese, and a sprinkle of flakey sea salt.

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