Glazed Carrots

Glazed Carrots are a simple and easy side dish recipes perfect for holidays but quick enough any night of the week. Tender carrots that are coated with a buttery brown sugar topping. They take only 5 ingredients and 20 minutes to make!

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I love when a recipe is easy enough for a weeknight but fancy enough for holiday dinners and this easy glazed carrots recipe is one of them! Tender carrots coated with a brown sugar butter glaze are guaranteed to disappear off everyone’s plates – including the picky eaters!

I think I’ve made these brown sugar carrots for every big holiday meal. They’re just so easy! You only need a saucepan to cook the carrots and make the glaze. Plus, they’re ready in a total time of about 20 minutes, and only five minutes of that is prep time. For a busy cooking holiday like Thanksgiving, these are a dream!

Easy glazed are also a great simple side dish for regular weeknight meal for the same reason. They won’t take much time and will taste incredible! Sounds like the perfect a busy weeknights, right?

We love these with Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops and French Onion Meatloaf but they go great with chicken and steak, too.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe!

• There are only 5 simple ingredients needed in this easy side dish recipe. Brown sugar glazed carrots are quick and super tasty!
• This recipe is quick enough for weeknights, taking only 20 minutes to complete. But it’s also a great recipe for the holidays!
• Easily change up the flavor to make these more savory-sweet or just extra glazed and sweet. A fabulous base recipe to make your own.

What are glazed carrots made of?

• Carrots – Peel and slice large whole carrots. If you’d like to minimize the prep work, you can substitute baby carrots.
• Butter – Both salted and unsalted butter will work. If you use salted butter, then you may need to omit or reduce the amount of salt that the recipe calls for.
• Brown sugar – I usually use light brown sugar, but dark will work great. The dark brown sugar will give it more of a molasses flavor.
• Sea salt – Use a pinch of salt to balance out the sweetness.
• Black pepper – Add a bit of a warming flavor with some black pepper.

How to Make Glazed Carrots

1. Place the sliced carrots in a small saucepan and cover them with water.
2. Bring the water to a boil and simmer the carrots for 8 to 10 minutes or until they are fork-tender. Drain the water and keep the carrots in the pan.
3. Adjust the heat to low and add the butter and sugar to the pan with the carrots. As the butter melts it will create a sauce with the sugar.
4. Stir until the sauce comes together, about 4 to 5 minutes. Season the glazed carrots to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

How to Store Leftover Glazed Carrots

Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to three days.

How to Reheat Glazed Carrots

Microwave – Place the leftover carrots in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the carrots in one-minute intervals, stirring in between, until they are warmed through. I recommend doing this in one-minute intervals so you don’t overcook the carrots. They will turn mushy if overcooked.

Stove – Place the leftover in a saucepan. Add 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of butter. Heat the carrots over medium heat, stirring to coat them in the butter. Once they are heated through they are ready to serve. It’s a good idea to add the extra butter so the carrots don’t stick to the bottom of the pan while they cook.

Is it better to roast or boil carrots?

Both methods actually work great, it just depends on the recipe that you are using. For this glazed carrots recipe, it is best to boil the vegetables on the stove top so that they are tender and evenly cooked. Then you can add the rest of the ingredients and stir them together!

What are glazed carrots?

This tasty side dish is simply sliced carrots that are coated in brown sugar and butter and topped with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. They are a bit reminiscent of sweet potatoes, and are soft, sweet, and slightly savory!

You can change up their flavor by adding things like fresh herbs, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and other spices and seasonings. They’re super tasty!

What to Serve with Glazed Carrots

So many main dishes go with this easy side dish recipe!

For holiday dinners serve these brown sugar-glazed carrots with Honey Baked Ham or Roast Turkey for the main dish.

For weekday dinners they pair well with beef, chicken and pork. Try them with Cranberry Crock Pot Pork Loin, Whole Chicken and Rice Dinner and Cheesy Meatloaf.

These Glazed Carrots also pair well with other side dishes, so if you are planning your holiday menu you might like to serve them with Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole and Mashed Potatoes!

More easy Side Dish recipes!

Here are a few more side dish recipes that are quick enough for weeknights but delicious enough to serve for a special occasion!

• Creamed Peas – Only 5 ingredients and fifteen minutes to enjoy this side dish!
• Green Bean Corn Casserole – Creamy green bean casserole with the addition of corn!
• Crock Pot Creamed Corn – Quick and easy creamed corn made in your crock pot!
• Cheesy Carrot Casserole is a great holiday side dish! Everyone will clean their plates when you serve it.

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

5 from 16 votes

Glazed Carrots

A quick and easy side dish recipe for the weeknight or holiday entertaining! Tender carrots with a brown sugar glaze.

Prep:5 minutes mins

Cook:15 minutes mins

Total:20 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• ▢ 2 pounds carrots washed, peeled and cut into ½’’ thick slices
• ▢ 1 ½ cups water
• ▢ 3 Tablespoons butter
• ▢ ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper

Instructions

• Combine carrots and water in saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until carrots are just becoming tender when pierced with a fork.
• Drain water off carrots.
• Add butter and brown sugar to saucepan, stir to combine and cook on low until butter is melted and makes a sauce, about 4-5 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Tips

Substitute Baby Carrots

• You can substitute baby carrots in place of regular carrots. They make take a few more minutes to cook as they can be larger. 

How to reheat

• Microwave – Place carrots in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the carrots in one-minute intervals, stirring in between, until they are warmed through. I recommend doing this in one-minute intervals so you don’t overcook the carrots. They will turn mushy if overcooked.
• Stove – Place Carrots in a saucepan. Add 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of butter. Heat the carrots over medium heat, stirring to coat them in the butter. Once they are heated through they are ready to serve. It’s a good idea to add the extra butter so the carrots don’t stick to the bottom of the pan while they cook.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 113kcal (6%), Carbohydrates: 18g (6%), Protein: 1g (2%), Fat: 5g (8%), Saturated Fat: 3g (19%), Cholesterol: 11mg (4%), Sodium: 193mg (8%), Potassium: 373mg (11%), Fiber: 3g (13%), Sugar: 13g (14%), Vitamin A: 19077IU (382%), Vitamin C: 7mg (8%), Calcium: 46mg (5%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.