Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm (2024)

| , Side Dish

Jump to Recipe - Pin Recipe

If you’ve never had pan roasted carrots, then look out because this simple recipe is perfect for any occasion and comes packed with a lot of flavors.

Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm (1)

Table of Contents

This is THE recipe for Glazed Carrots!

Today, we’re making skillet carrots as you’ve never had before. While most recipes call for brown sugar we are using a combination of honey and thyme to give us a sweet and earthy flavor that pairs well with the naturally sweet veggies.

This flavorful combination will work great for holidays like Easter or Thanksgiving and also do well for a nice Sunday evening meal with the family. While these skillet roasted carrots may seem fancy, they’re really just another easy side dish to serve along with your meal and one that takes very little effort.

Glazed Carrots Stovetop Ingredients

  • Carrots: You will need about 1 pound of chopped carrots. This can be from baby carrots or long carrots from the garden (or grocery store).
  • Water: Adding in water or broth will help to steam cook the carrots so that the insides are cooked perfectly and a nice sauce is created.
  • Butter: Adding a little butter will help to make the sauce much richer in taste.
  • Honey: Use honey, agave, or even maple syrup. This makes the carrots sweet and perfect.
  • Thyme: Use fresh or dried thyme to help flavor your dish.
  • Salt and pepper: This is just added to taste so you can add in as much or little as you prefer.

Can I use any carrot for this Sweet Carrots Recipe?

Yes, any kind of sweet carrot that is used for eating can be used in this recipe.

How to make Glazed Carrots

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet about 12 inches in size until melted. Add in the carrots and cook lightly until they start to brown a little bit. This should be about 5 minutes.
  2. Add in the water or broth and the honey. Stir to combine and bring the liquid to a boil.
  3. Reduce the heat and allow to simmer on low for about 30 minutes, until the carrots become tender. Periodically check in on the water and make sure to add in more liquid if it gets too low.
  4. When the carrots are tender add in the remaining butter, thyme, salt, and pepper.
  5. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm (2)
Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm (3)
Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm (4)
Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm (5)
Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm (6)

Caramelized Carrots Recipe FAQ

Can I make pan cooked carrots in a cast iron pan?

Absolutely! If you want to make some cast iron carrots, go for it. The cast iron may even help to cook the carrots more evenly if the chopped pieces are different in size. Just make sure that the pan size is large enough to accommodate all of your sliced carrot pieces and the liquid.

How long are leftover honey glazed carrots good for?

These carrots can be kept stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend eating them sooner rather than later so that the carrots don’t have a chance to dry out. Reheating them is easy in a bowl in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add in a tablespoon of butter as they cook to add back some nice rich flavor and moisture.

Can I freeze honey-glazed carrots?

Yes, this is a side dish that actually does quite well in the freezer. This means that you can prepare your favorite dish in advance of a holiday to cut down on kitchen usage or simply store leftovers for later.
Place the cooked (and cooled) carrots in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two months before thawing and reheating.

How far in advance can you make glazed carrots?

If you don’t want to have to reheat the glazed carrots, I recommend making them just prior to serving time. They will cool quickly. If you don’t mind reheating them, they can be made the day before.

Can you reheat honey glazed carrots?

Yes, reheat honey glazed carrots on the stovetop by warming up in a pan with 2 tablespoons of water. Alternatively, you can microwave them in a microwave-safe dish in 1-minute increments, stirring between, until heated through.

How to serve Sweet Carrots

This easy side dish recipe would pair very well with some homemade biscuits and oven roasted chicken. Maybe even add in a nice green salad with a homemade creamy salad dressing on top, oh yum! Can’t you just picture the delicious possibilities?

How to store Caramelized Carrots

The best way to store caramelized carrots is in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

More favorites from Longbourn Farm

  • Pumpkin Spice Layer Cake
  • Crockpot Short Ribs
  • Fluffy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • BBQ Chicken in the Oven
  • Tuscan Creamy Chicken
  • Smoked Turkey Breast Brine
  • Gorgonzola Steak Salad
  • Zucchini Bread with Buttermilk
  • Mixed Berry Cobbler Recipe with Frozen Berries
  • Chili in Dutch Oven
  • Blonde Butter Syrup
  • How to cook Canned Corn
  • Can Green Beans with Bacon
  • Garden Planter Boxes
  • Mexican Style Pork Chops
  • Dutch Oven Cheesy Potatoes
  • Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Tenders

Caramelized Carrots Recipe

These easy honey glazed carrots are made on the stovetop with a simple butter, honey and thyme recipe that is perfect for every day, or the holidays!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword caramelized carrots, honey carrots, honey glazed carrots

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 171kcal

Author Longbourn Farm • Alli Kelley

Get ad-free recipes in PrepearLearn more about Prepear here!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound carrots chopped (see note)
  • 1 cup water or broth, extra may be needed
  • 3 tablespoons butter divided
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 4 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
  • salt and pepper to taste

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • In a large skillet (I used a 12 inch), heat 2 tablespoons of the butter until melted. Add carrots and cook lightly until they start to brown a little bit, about 5 minutes.

  • Add the water (or broth) and the honey. Stir to combine and bring the water to a boil.

  • Reduce the heat and simmer on low until the carrots become tender about 30 minutes. Check the water throughout this time and add more if it gets low.

  • When the carrots are tender and the liquid is reduced and thick (about 1/3 cup left), remove from the heat and add the remaining tablespoon butter, thyme, salt, and pepper.

  • Taste and adjust seasonings.

Follow me on YouTube!Watch more videos and subscribe!

Notes

Baby carrots or whole carrots can be used.

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 157mg | Potassium: 375mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 19300IU | Vitamin C: 9.9mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @longbournfarm or tag #longbournfarm!

Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm (2024)

FAQs

Sweet Carrots Recipe • Longbourn Farm? ›

Add carrots and cook lightly until they start to brown a little bit, about 5 minutes. Add the water (or broth) and the honey. Stir to combine and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer on low until the carrots become tender about 30 minutes.

What makes a carrot sweet? ›

Carrots are considered sweet because they are approximately 10% sugar by weight. Onions are considered sweet too at approximately 5% sugar by weight.

Why do carrots get sweeter when cooked? ›

Cooking carrots also forms lipid droplets, which contain many of the flavour compounds, according to Mike Gordon, professor of food and nutritional sciences at the University of Reading: "As they move from cells into intercellular spaces, this could increase the flavour intensity." On the other hand, the "slightly ...

Can I cook carrots from frozen? ›

There is no need to defrost frozen carrots before cooking, in fact it is best to cook them from frozen. They can be thrown straight into dishes like stews, casseroles and pasta bakes, or added into a pan of boiling water with pasta for the last few minutes of cooking.

How do you eat frozen carrots? ›

Frozen carrots will not retain the crisp texture of their fresh counterparts. Best to use frozen carrots in cooked dishes, such as muffins, hot dishes, stir-fries, soups, or where their texture doesn't matter as much, such as smoothies. Frozen carrots are NOT going to be great for a lunch box or crudité platter.

What fertilizer makes carrots sweet? ›

H-G Sweet 'N Grow is a plant supplement designed to increase the quality and sweetness of your carrots as well as other fruits and vegetables.

How do you grow super sweet carrots? ›

I like to leave some of the carrots from the last planting in the ground until after the first few frosts as the cool temperatures will cause the sugars in the carrots to concentrate making for super sweet carrots. Carrots do not do well in very hot weather.

How do you make raw carrots taste sweeter? ›

Honey, butter, and brown sugar make these sweet baby carrots irresistible! It may not be the most nutritious recipe, but the carrots turn out so yummy, you won't care!

Why are my carrots not sweet? ›

What kind of soil are they in? Our carrots get sweeter the older they are. We grow in the summer season and then cover and store them right in the garden over winter. As winter goes on, they get more sugary.

Why are my frozen carrots rubbery? ›

This is actually due to moisture loss that occurs in the freezer. But the rubber-like texture of your carrots can also be influenced by a few factors such as slow freezing, using old and wilted carrots for storing, improper storage/container, or over blanching.

Does freezing carrots make them sweeter? ›

Loss of Water: Freezing can cause the vegetables to lose water content. This loss of water can lead to a more concentrated taste of the vegetable's natural sugars and flavors, making them taste sweeter when compared to their original state with higher water content.

Can I freeze carrots without blanching them first? ›

Yes, you can freeze raw carrots without going through the blanching process. However, they will lose their texture and quality more quickly if you skip blanching, compared to if you blanch them before freezing.

Should frozen carrots be thawed before cooking? ›

Defrosting Them Before Cooking

Unlike large frozen items, like a leg of lamb or a turkey, frozen veggies don't always need to be defrosted before cooking with them. In fact, doing so is not only an extra step, thawing before cooking can also lead to limp, droopy veggies.

Do frozen carrots taste as good as fresh? ›

Frozen Vegetables May Change in Taste and Texture

Like with many other frozen foods, you may notice that your frozen vegetables have a texture or taste that's different from the fresh option. If texture is important to your dish, we recommend choosing fresh vegetables instead of frozen.

Should I thaw frozen carrots? ›

Luckily, for many dishes, you can toss your frozen carrots right into whatever you're cooking. So not much waiting around for that 5-star carrot dish. However, if you do need to defrost those carrots, you can do so a couple different ways that don't involve a microwave, which will typically leave them mushy.

Why do fresh carrots taste sweet? ›

Carrot flavor and aroma are made up of sugars and terpenoids. The natural sugars—sucrose, glucose, fructose, and maltose—give carrots their sweet flavor. ... A carrot harvested too early can taste bitter and soapy.

Are carrots naturally sweet? ›

In the Clinic: Although naturally sweet, carrots are low in calories. An orange carrot that is 7 inches long and 1¼ inches in diameter contains 30 calories, mainly from carbohydrates, and 2 grams of dietary fiber. Orange carrots also contain potassium, important for blood pressure control and cardiac and renal health.

What's the difference between sweet carrots and regular carrots? ›

Lunar White carrots are very sweet, mild flavored and nearly coreless. This variety is decorative, with straight roots averaging 6 to 8 inches in length. White Carrots are typically sweeter than the orange variety and have a mild, natural taste making them perfect for eating raw.

Why are some carrots bitter and some sweet? ›

Usually terpenes give a desirable taste to carrots, but in high concentrations can give undesirable taste. Factors influencing undesirable taste include genetics, growing conditions, diseases and insects, post-harvest handling and storage atmosphere.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 5873

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Birthday: 1996-05-10

Address: Apt. 425 4346 Santiago Islands, Shariside, AK 38830-1874

Phone: +96313309894162

Job: Legacy Sales Designer

Hobby: Baseball, Wood carving, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Lacemaking, Parkour, Drawing

Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.