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Honey-glazed carrots are such an easy side dish to throw together, and they taste amazing. Add this colorful, nutritious side to chicken, pork, or beef.
Featured with this recipe
- Ingredient in Honey Glazed Carrots
- Step-by-Step Instructions for Honey-Glazed Carrots
- Tips and Variations
- Cooking Variations
- Serving Honey Glazed Carrots
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storing Leftover Honey Glazed Carrots
- Main Dishes to Serve with Honey Glazed Carrots
- How to Make Honey Glazed Carrots
- Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe
This is the best carrot recipe for tender, flavorful carrots. Honey-glazed carrots a favorite go-to side for weeknight dinners. They are sweet enough that the kids will eat them, but also healthy enough that I feel good about serving them to my family. This sweet and savory side dish goes great with pretty much anything.
Ingredient in Honey Glazed Carrots
- Carrots – You can’t have honey-glazed carrots without the main ingredient of the carrots. These can be sliced in a few different ways depending on who and how you like to cut them.
- Butter – The butter gives these carrots the rich flavor they need.
- Honey – This adds a natural sweetener to the carrots.
- Brown sugar – Adds in sweetness and gives the carrots that glazed, carmelized look and taste.
- Orange juice – Balances out the flavors and gives the acidity balance to the honey and carrot combination.
- Thyme – Fresh thyme sprinkled overtop adds color and gives the honey-glazed carrots the perfect herb flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Honey-Glazed Carrots
Honey-glazed carrots are easy to prepare and taste delicious. You can add a little more flavor by sprinkling them with cinnamon, a drizzle of maple syrup, tossing them with roasted pine nuts, or adding some fresh ginger.
- Saute – Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add butter and cook until browned slightly. This gives the butter an amazing, nutty flavor that brings the glaze up to the next level. Then add your carrots and cook until tender.
- Cook – Add the carrots and cook until carrots are tender, for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Combine – Add honey, brown sugar, orange juice, and thyme. Stir to combine.
- Glaze – Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes or until the glaze clings to the carrots.
Tips and Variations
- Carrot options – Choose fresh carrots that are bright in color and firm. If using baby carrots make sure to wash and clean them once they are removed from the package. Rainbow carrots are also very pretty for special holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter.
- Clean – Wash and peel the carrots ahead of time to help with the preparation of the honey-glazed carrots.
- Fork-tender – To check to make sure your carrots are tender, carefully stick a fork into the carrots. The softer the carrot the more the fork will easily press into it.
- Herbs – Use fresh parsley or rosemary for other herb flavors.
- Honey – Make sure you have good quality honey for a rich and sweet flavor.
Cooking Variations
Try different cooking variations depending on the type of cooking and how fast you need these carrots to be done.
- Air fryer version – For another easy way to make honey glazed carrots, try them in the air fryer! Layer the carrots in a single layer before starting the air fryer. Our Air Fryer Baby Carrots couldn’t be easier to make, plus they are delicious with any of the glazes in the recipe card below.
- Steaming – Start by cooking your carrots. If you have a steamer, that is the easiest way to cook them. They should need about 15 minutes. If you don’t have a steamer, fill a small pot with water and boil the carrots on medium-high heat on the stovetop. Simmer for about 3 minutes. Drain and set aside while you prepare the glaze.
Serving Honey Glazed Carrots
These sweet honey-glazed carrots taste like candy! They are delicious hot or cold, tossed into a salad with pecans, lettuce, and any other veggies you like. We love serving these with ham, pork chops, or roast chicken. This honey-glazed carrot recipe is a bit more savory and pairs beautifully with any meat dish.
“These glazed carrots are so delicious and so tasty! I love serving this with our dinner and we absolutely love it! Excited to make these again!”
-Beth
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrots can be prepared by cooking in several different ways. Roasting, sauteing, boiling, and glazing are some of the ways you can cook honey-glazed carrots.
Try adding in more flavor using fresh herbs or seasonings. Garlic, onion powder,
Eating and enjoying carrots in moderation is best. Eating too many carrots can actually lead to a condition called carotenemia. Which leads to having yellowish-colored skin.
The five benefits are eye health, skin health, immunity, heart health, and diabetes management. Each of these benefits the body and helps sustain a healthy lifestyle.
Storing Leftover Honey Glazed Carrots
Make as little or as much as you desire with this side dish recipe! It is perfect for leftovers and easy to reheat when ready.
- Refrigerate – Place the honey glaze carrot leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three days.
- Heating – When ready to reheat, place the honey-glazed roasted carrots in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
Main Dishes to Serve with Honey Glazed Carrots
Now that you have the perfect side dish, you need a main dish to go with it! Complete your meal with a favorite main dish recipe to help balance out all the flavors. Try one of our favorites!
How to Make Honey Glazed Carrots
Honey Glazed Carrots
Ingredients
- 5 medium carrots peeled and cut into shape of your choice
For Traditional Glazed Carrots
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- Tablespoon brown sugar
For Balsamic Glazed Carrots
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 ½ Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
For Honey Glazed Carrots
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange juice or lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
Instructions
For Traditional Glazed Carrots
- Steam or blanch carrots until they are tender. (To blanch, cook carrots in boiling water for about 3 minutes.)
- In a small saucepan, over medium heat, combine butter and brown sugar. Cook until butter is melted.
- Add the carrots and stir. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the glaze clings to the carrots.
For Balsamic Glazed Carrots
- Preheat oven to 425.
- In a large bowl, combine balsamic vinegar, honey, brown sugar, and oil. Toss the carrots in the liquid until they are coated.
- Spread carrots out on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until carrots start to brown on the edges. Halfway through the baking time, stir the carrots.
- Optional: After you stir the carrots on the baking sheet, brush more of the balsamic mixture over the top.
For Honey Glazed Carrots
- Wash, peel and slice carrots on a horizontally.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add butter and cook until browned.
- Add the carrots and cook until carrots are tender, for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add honey, brown sugar, orange juice, and thyme. Stir to combine.
- Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the glaze clings to the carrots.
You better believe that we will be making all three! Glazed carrots are the best. We make them year round!
Such a great side dish. I like the honey version best.
These glazed carrots are so delicious and so tasty! I love serving this with our dinner and we absolutely love it! Excited to make these again!
I love carrots and can’t wait to try these recipes- especially the balsamic glazed carrots!
Made these with the balsamic vinegar and they are so delicious! Will definitely make again.