These Maple Glazed Carrots taste like candy and are the perfect veggie to add to Thanksgiving dinner. Serve these maple carrots for the next holiday and delight your guests.
Holiday
Minimal prep
You’ll Learn: A shortcut for last-minute prep
Worth It: People will be asking for seconds
Bonus: Reheats well in air fryer
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Picky eater friendly – At any family gathering or holiday dinner, there are usually a few picky eaters who aren’t veggie fans. These maple syrup glazed carrots are an easy way to entice everyone to enjoy at least one serving of vegetables at the dinner table.
- Easy to make – One of the highlight features of this dish is how simple it is to make. It is easy enough that it also doesn’t have to just be saved for the holiday season; enjoy it as a normal dinner side dish as well.
- Melts in your mouth – Roasting carrots slowly in a flavorful sauce results in a tenderness that melts in your mouth. Everyone will be asking you for this carrot recipe!
Serving Suggestions
One of the best features of these maple syrup glazed carrots is that they go well with so many other sides. Two of my favorites to serve alongside these carrots are creamy mashed potatoes or crispy maple bacon Brussels sprouts.
Also, the sweetness of these maple glaze carrots will complement the savory richness of your Thanksgiving turkey. To keep your entire menu simple, check out the slow cooker turkey breast recipe. If you are looking to do a slightly more complex but foolproof turkey, try this dry brine turkey.
These carrots are also great at easter, and I love to make this fun easter bunny cake for dessert.
If you want holiday beverage to complement the maple glazed carrots and your Thanksgiving spread, I recommend my apple cider sangria. It is simple and refreshing and will balance out the sweetness of the carrots. If you’re making these at Christmas, try these cranberry mules instead.
Ingredients
- Carrots – the natural sweetness of the carrots paired with the maple glaze is the best combo
- Unsalted butter – I recommend unsalted butter for this recipe so you can control the amount of added salt
- Light brown sugar – light brown sugar is best for this recipe because it has a slightly milder flavor than dark brown
- Maple syrup – the syrup provides the flavor and gives the glaze a perfect consistency
- Lemon juice – a bit of citrus brightens all of the flavors in this recipe
- Salt – a teaspoon salt intensifies the flavor of the carrots to make the perfect side dish
Ingredient substitutions
This maple syrup glazed carrot recipe can be made even simpler with precut baby carrots so feel free to use those if you prefer. Those may cook faster so remove them from the oven when they are soft enough to easily pierce with a fork.
The color of carrots does not impact the taste. You can use orange carrots or a mix of multi-colored heirloom carrots for this recipe. You could even try this recipe with sweet potatoes.
Brighten the recipe even more by serving it with lots of fresh herbs. My favorite is a sprinkle of fresh parsley, but fresh thyme leaves compliment the sweet recipe as well.
If you are looking for more of a sweet and spicy combination, mix some cayenne pepper powder in with the glaze ingredients. To make it vegan, use a vegan butter or a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil instead of the butter.
How to make
Step 1: Preheat oven and peel Carrots
Firstly, preheat the oven to 425F. Line a casserole dish, baking dish, or rimmed baking sheet pan with parchment paper. You may want to double-line your dish to help with cleanup.
Next, peel the two pounds carrots, trim off the ends, and cut each carrot into 3 pieces on a diagonal and then cut each piece in half longways. Then, place carrots in the casserole dish.
Step 2: Make Sauce
After that, place butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, lemon juice, and salt into a sauce pan or skillet. Next, heat over medium-low to medium heat until the butter melts and the other ingredients can be whisked into the butter. Stir until the mixture is smooth and even.
Then, pour the liquid over the carrots. Toss to coat them completely.
Step 3: Bake and Enjoy
Lastly, place the dish in the oven and bake at 425F for an estimate of 40-45 minutes tossing them every 15 minutes. The carrots are done when they are browned in some spots and are soft and cooked through.
Remove from the oven and serve these maple glazed carrots warm. Garnish with fresh herbs and enjoy!
Storage and reheating
Allow the maple glazed carrots to cool and then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to four days.
This dish is just as delicious as leftovers. Remove from the fridge and reheat in the microwave, air fryer or oven. I like to drizzle a little honey and olive oil over the carrots to refresh the flavor.
Check out these other delicious Thanksgiving side dish recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Maple Glazed Carrots
Ingredients
- 8 large carrots about 2lbs
- ¼ cup unsalted butter ½ stick
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F and line a casserole dish or baking dish with sides with parchment paper – you may want to double line.
- Peel carrots, trim off the ends, and cut into pieces. Cut each large carrot into 3 pieces on a diagonal and then cut each piece in half longways. Place carrots in the casserole dish.
- Place butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, lemon juice and salt into a sauce pan. Heat over medium-low heat until the butter melts and the other ingredients can be whisked into the butter.
- Pour the liquid over the carrots and toss to coat them completely.
- Place the dish in the oven and bake at 425F for about 40-45 minutes tossing them every 15 minutes. The carrots are done when they are browned in some spots and are soft and cooked through
- Remove from the oven and serve warm
Recipe Notes
- You can use all orange carrots or a mix of multi colored heirloom carrots
- To shorten prep time you can use precut baby carrots, these may cook faster so remove from the oven when they are soft enough to easily pierce with a fork
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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