Honey Roasted Carrots

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Easy honey roasted carrots are a family favorite! This sweet and savory easy side dish only needs a handful of ingredients to prepare.

Carrots were the first vegetable I liked as a child, and all these years later they’re still a staple in my house.

Lately I’ve been loving all the different ways there are to prepare carrots, from maple glazed carrots to carrot fritters.

There’s just something about their natural sweetness that makes carrots the perfect side dish!

Plus, roasting carrots couldn’t be easier. I love to roast vegetables — it truly is one of the best ways to prepare them.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Honey roasted carrots are a go-to dish for multiple reasons.

• Minimal ingredients – You only need a handful of items to make this recipe… and you probably already have everything!
• Minimal prep work – This dish is ready for the oven in less than 10 minutes. If you use baby carrots, it’s less than 5 minutes.
• Family friendly – Kids love the natural sweetness of carrots, and with the added touch of honey they’ll be happy to try roasted carrots.
• A versatile side – Roasted carrots go with practically anything you’re serving. Whether you’re making them for Thanksgiving dinner or alongside burgers, they’ll fit in anywhere.
• Customizable – Want to change up the flavors? Go for it! Try adding your favorite spice blends or other vegetables alongside.

The next time you can’t think of what side dish to make, grab that bag of carrots and this recipe!

Ingredients

You only need a few ingredients to make roasted carrots in the oven.

Carrots  

Any variety will work here. I like rainbow carrots when I can get them. You can also make roasted baby carrots, no cutting required.

Olive oil 

Coating the carrots with oil will help them get perfectly roasted, while adding a bit of extra flavor. You don’t need a lot of oil here, just enough to evenly coat the carrots.

Honey 

Honey comes in many different varieties. Use whichever kind you have on hand. If you find that your honey has hardened in its container, you can microwave it in small increments until it is pourable again. 

Salt and pepper  

Salt and pepper are essential for roasted vegetables. Be sure to sprinkle it on before roasting for full flavor.

Fresh herbs  

Optional, but you can finish your honey roasted carrots with fresh thyme, fresh parsley, or even dill.

How to make oven roasted carrots

Preheat your oven to 400°F. 

You can use a baking sheet or casserole pan for roasting carrots. I prefer to use a baking sheet, which makes it easy to roast a lot of carrots or add other vegetables.

Peel your carrots if desired, and trim the ends. Then, slice into chunks. You want them to be about all the same size for even roasting. I prefer to make mine about 1-inch long. If I am working with thicker carrots, I cut them into ½-inch pieces.

Place the carrots either into a bowl or directly onto the baking sheet. 

Drizzle with olive oil and honey. Stir the carrots until they are evenly coated on all sides. 

If using a bowl, transfer the carrots to the baking sheet. Arrange carrots in a single layer, making sure to leave some space between pieces to allow for air flow.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper. You can add the salt and pepper in the bowl, but often a lot of it sticks to the bowl instead of the carrots, so I tend to add it after.

Place the pan in the oven and roast for 20-30 minutes, turning the carrots halfway through.

You are looking for the carrots to be lightly caramelized and fork-tender. They should not be mushy or burnt.

Transfer the carrots to a serving dish and sprinkle with fresh herbs.

Substitutions and variations

I love this recipe as written, but it’s also so easy to tweak it depending on what you have on hand.

Swap the honey with maple syrup or agave for a different flavor. You can also reduce or increase the amount used depending on how sweet you want the final dish.

Add other spices like chili powder or paprika. Or try a blend such as everything bagel seasoning or taco seasoning.

Include other vegetables with your roasted carrots, such as turnips, radishes, or parsnips. Parsnips are very similar to carrots (they even look like carrots in shape!) and are a natural pairing for sweet roasted carrots.

You can also roast whole carrots instead of chopping them, which makes for a beautiful presentation. Note that whole carrots might need more time in the oven to cook evenly.

Other carrot recipes to enjoy

• Mashed Carrots
• Carrot Cake Scones
• Carrot Salad
• Carrot Fennel Soup

These honey roasted carrots are absolutely delicious! You’ll love how easy it is to prepare for a weeknight side dish, Sunday brunch, or the holiday table.