With this easy-to-follow recipe, you can learn the secrets to making perfectly roasted carrots every time. Delicious and healthy, these 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.
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.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Carrots: uniform in size if possible
- Olive: Extra virgin
- Seasonings: salt, black pepper, ground cayenne pepper, fresh herbs like thyme and parsley
- Butter: salted or unsalted. If using salted butter, reduce the amount of added salt.
- Honey: pure
How to make Honey Roasted Carrots
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
Start by peeling and slicing your carrots diagonally into thick slices. Then, add the carrot chunks to a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, 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.
Preparations Tips
- Peel the carrots for aesthetic purposes. 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 you can substitute dried herbs in a pinch.
Recipe Variations
- Spices: kick it up a few notches with a 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.
More Vegetable Recipes
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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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.