These delicious Roasted Carrots make the perfect side dish for just about any meal. Roasting them at a high temperature brings out their natural sweetness and gives them the perfect caramelized edges and tender-crisp texture. This post includes both a sweet and a savory recipe.
May I take a moment to share talk about how amazing carrots are? Carrots naturally develop a deep, concentrated flavor as they roast in the oven – this makes them taste spectacular all by themselves! I love this because that means they’re healthy and so easy to prepare. Carrots are also affordable and easy to keep on hand, making them a great side dish, snack, or addition to just about any meal.
Roasted Carrots
I’ve been participating in a neighborhood health challenge for the past couple of weeks which has been a difficult but rewarding experience. The challenge includes scoring ourselves based on certain healthy activities we do during the day (exercising, eating fruits and veggies, limiting screen time, not eating sweets, etc.) While I’m not in the running to win (I blame the following: creme brulee, lemon bars, and snickerdoodles!), participating in the challenge has definitely increased my health awareness.
One of the perks of this health challenge is that I’ve been able to experiment with many new vegetable recipes. Without a doubt, roasted vegetables are my favorite way to enjoy veggies. (This roasted vegetable medley is always a go-to in my home.) I’ll be sharing my favorite ways to individually roast vegetables over the next few weeks. That starts today with Roasted Carrots!
Ingredients
- Carrots: The star of the dish. Cutting them on the diagonal increases the surface area allowing it all to caramelize more.
- Olive Oil: Using good quality olive oil enhances the overall taste.
- Salt: Pulls out the natural sweetness of the carrots and seasons the dish.
- Savory Ingredients:I love using fresh thyme and parsley in this savory version, but you can substitute the thyme with oregano and the parsley with cilantro.
- Sweet Ingredients: Honey, butter, and cinnamon make the carrots sweet, rich, and a so flavorful, and they help the carrots get a nice, caramelized coating.
Below I’ll share the process for roasting carrots and then an overview of how to make both savory and sweet roasted carrots (additional detail in the recipe card).
How to make Roasted Carrots
- Prep the carrots: Peel and slice about 2 pounds of carrots (reference the photo above for how I like to slice them). You want to make sure the carrots are about 1/2 inch thick in the thickest part of the carrot. Cut the carrots at a diagonal to increase surface area which will also increase those gorgeous caramelized edges!
- Season: Add the carrots to a large sheet pan and toss with olive oil and seasonings.
- Roast: Roast in the oven, flipping the carrots at about the halfway mark.
- Finishing touches: Enjoy right out of the oven or add fresh herbs (for a savory version) or my cinnamon-honey mixture (for a sweet version).
There are two main ways to finish these roasted carrots–one savory and one sweet version. Both versions are delicious and, depending on what I’m serving them with, I’ll alternate between the two.
1. Savory Roasted Carrots
- Toss 2 pounds of cut and peeled carrots in olive oil and seasonings.
- Roast for 20 minutes or until caramelized and tender.
- Toss the carrots with fresh herbs and serve immediately. This recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of finely chopped parsley or 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme.
2. Sweet Roasted Carrots
- Toss 2 pounds of cut and peeled carrots in olive oil and salt.
- Roast for 20 minutes or until caramelized and tender.
- While carrots are roasting, prepare the sauce by whisking together honey, melted butter, and cinnamon.
- Remove carrots and drizzle the Roasted Carrots with the honey sauce and toss. Serve immediately!
I spend a lot of time in my kitchen (I know, surprising!) and have discovered a few tips to get your Roasted Carrots tasting their best every time:
Tips for perfect Roasted Carrots
- Cut the carrots evenly: If carrots are cut unevenly (with some thick and others thin) they won’t roast evenly and you’ll end up with some that are burnt and others that aren’t cooked all the way.
- Roast for the right time at the right temperature: I have found roasting carrots in a 425-degree oven yields the best results. You get that perfect caramelization while keeping the perfect crisp-tender texture.
- Flip carrots halfway: At the halfway point of baking the carrots, flip them around to ensure both sides are getting caramelized.
- Weigh the carrots: A skewed olive oil-to-carrot ratio will throw off the texture of the carrots. To ensure you’ve got the right ratio, make sure you’re using the right amount of carrots (2 pounds for this recipe).
- Use a large sheet pan: This is my TOP tip for perfect roasted carrots! The more space the carrots have (aka the less-crowded they are), the better they roast. When carrots are overlapping or jammed into a sheet pan, they end up steaming instead of roasting –which greatly affects the end taste/texture. I’ve started using this 15 x 21 inch sheet pan– which is practically the width of my oven.
Carrot FAQs
1Can you cook carrots in advance?
You can cook carrots ahead of time and they work great for weekly meal prep (like in this Moroccan Carrot Salad), but if you’re enjoying roasted carrots as a side dish to a meal, they are best right out of the oven!
2How do you steam carrots
It’s very easy.
Here is a great resource for how to steam carrots.
3Do you peel carrots before roasting?
Ultimatelyyoudon’t ever really have to peelcarrots. If they’ve been washed and scrubbed (to remove dirt/debris) unpeeled carrots are safe and delicious to eat.
However, I do not recommend roasting carrots with skin on. The texture becomes less than ideal and the taste is more bitter/earthier.
Cooks Illustrated goes more into depth about this here.
4What's the best oven temperature to roast carrots?
Oven-roasted carrots can be cooked at any temperature between 350 and 425 degrees Fahrenheit. I personally like to roast carrots at 425degrees F to get the best caramelization on them. However, if you are roasting other foods while cooking carrots in the oven, you can adjust the temperature, and reference the questions below to know how long they will need to roast at various temperatures. The times below are for peeled carrots cut into 1-inch slices. (If you are roasting whole carrots, you will need more time. If you are roasting baby carrots, the times below should work for you.)
Roasting carrots at 425:
It typically takes about 20 minutes to roast carrots at 425 degrees.
Roasting carrots at 400 degrees:
At 400 degrees, carrots will need 20-25 minutes to roast. I recommend checking them after 20 minutes by looking at the color and sticking with a fork to measure tenderness, and then adding time as needed.(Once you learn how long it takes your oven to roast carrots, remember the time so you can skip this step in the future.)
Roasting at 375:
Carrots generally need 25-30 minutes to roast at 375 degrees. I recommend checking them at 25 minutes adding time as needed.
Roasting at 350:
At 350 degrees, your carrots will need about 30-35 minutes to roast. Again, make sure to check for doneness early and add time as needed.
5What other veggies can I roast along with carrots?
Other root vegetables, such as potatoes, parsnips, and beets, should roast well with carrots at the same time and temperature. Roasted potatoes and carrots are a classic and delicious combo!
Make sure all vegetables are cut into roughly equal sizes. Carrots also typically roast well with onions, brussels sprouts, and broccoli. You can read more about how to combine and roast different veggies here.
Serve these roasted carrots alongside:
- Beef Ragu
- Shepherd’s Pie (Reader favorite!)
- Bruschetta Pasta
- Ham and Cheese Sliders
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Roasted Carrots
5 from 29 votes
- Review this recipe
With both a sweet and a savory option, delicious Roasted Carrots make the perfect side dish for any meal!Thesecarrotsareroastedat a high temperature, which brings out their natural sweetness and gives them the perfect caramelized edges and tender-crisp texture.
Print Recipe
Roasted Carrots
5 from 29 votes
- Review this recipe
Print Recipe
With both a sweet and a savory option, delicious Roasted Carrots make the perfect side dish for any meal!Thesecarrotsareroastedat a high temperature, which brings out their natural sweetness and gives them the perfect caramelized edges and tender-crisp texture.
Course Side Dish, Vegetarian
Cuisine American
Keyword roasted carrots
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 35 minutes minutes
Servings 4 -6 servings, as a side
Chelsea Lords
Calories 156kcal
Author Chelsea Lords
Ingredients
- 2 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced on diagonal
- 2 tablespoons good quality olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (I use Kosher)
Savory Carrots:
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley or 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
Sweet Carrots:
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Peel the carrots and cut off the tops.Slice carrots on the diagonal so each piece is about 1/2 inch thick at the widest part (each diagonal cut you make should be about 1 inch apart). Make sure carrots are all cut around the same size to ensure even roasting.
Add cut carrots to a very large sheet pan. (I use a 15-inch by 21-inch sheet pan. See Note 1.) FOR SWEET CARROTS: Add olive oil and salt. FOR SAVORY CARROTS: Add olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Toss to coat all the carrots.
Spread carrots into an even layer and roast in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and quickly toss/flip the carrots then return to the oven. Bake for another 8 to 15 minutes, until caramelized and tender. (Time will vary based on actual oven temperature, how spread out carrots are, and personal preference for how roasted you want the carrots.)
Remove the carrots from the oven. FOR SAVORY CARROTS: Toss with fresh herbs and serve immediately. FOR SWEET CARROTS: Whisk togetherhoney, melted butter, and cinnamon in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over the carrots and toss. Serve immediately.
Leftover carrots will keep well in the fridge in a covered container for 3 to 4 days.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: One of the "secrets" for the very best roasted carrots is to make sure they have plenty of room on the tray and aren't overlapping or touching. The larger the tray you can use, the better your carrots will be!
Nutritional information includes both the savory and sweet seasoning blends. The calculation tool is unable to separate out the two groups of ingredients.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 448mg | Potassium: 732mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 37908IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 1mg
We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.
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(Calories based on Savory Carrots)
FAQs
What temperature do you roast carrots at?
Oven roasted carrots can be cooked at any temperature between 350 and 425 degrees Fahrenheit. I personally like to roast carrots at 425degrees F to get the best caramelization on them. However, if you are wanting to roast other veggies/proteins while cooking carrots in the oven, you can adjust the temperature, and reference the questions below to know how long they will need to roast at various temperatures. The times below are for peeled carrots cut into 1 inch slices. (If you are roasting whole carrots, you will need more time. If you are roasting baby carrots, the times below should work for you.)
How long does it take to roast carrots at 425?
It typically takes about 20 minutes to roast carrots at 425 degrees.
How long do you roast carrots at 400 degrees?
At 400 degrees, carrots will need 20-25 minutes to roast. I recommend checking them after 20 minutes by looking at the color and sticking with a fork to measure tenderness, and then adding time as needed.(Once you learn how long it takes your oven to roast carrots, remember the time so you can skip this step in the future.)
How long does it take to roast carrots at 375?
Carrots generally need 25-30 minutes to roast at 375 degrees. I recommend checking them at 25 minutes adding time as needed.
How long does it take to cook carrots in the oven at 350?
At 350 degrees, your carrots will need about 30-35 minutes to roast. Again, make sure to check for doneness early and add time as needed.
What other veggies could I roast alongside these carrots at the same temperature and time?
Other root vegetables, such as potatoes, parsnips, and beets, should roast well with carrots at the same time and temperature. Roasted potatoes and carrots are a classic and delicious combo! Just make sure all vegetables are cut into roughly equal sizes. Carrots also typically roast well with onions, brussels sprouts, and broccoli. You can read more about how to combine and roast different veggies here.
How do you steam carrots?
This post covers the ins and outs of roasting carrots, but steaming carrots is another great way to enjoy them. Here is a great resource for how to steam carrots.
Do you roast carrots with the skin on?
Ultimatelyyoudon’t ever really have to peelcarrots. If they’ve been washed and scrubbed (to remove dirt/debris) unpeeled carrots are safe and delicious to eat. However, I do not recommend roasting carrots with skin on. The texture becomes less than ideal and the taste is more bitter/earthier.
Cooks Illustrated goes more into depth about this here.
Can you cook carrots ahead of time?
You can cook carrots ahead of time and they work great for weekly meal prep (like in this Moroccan Carrot Salad), but if you’re enjoying roasted carrots as a side dish to a meal, they are best right out of the oven!
More Vegetable Guides:
- Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- How to Cut a Bell Pepper
- Roasted Butternut Squash (served in couscous bowls)
