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These honey thyme roasted carrots are straight up irresistible – good luck not sneaking a few right off the baking sheet! Sweet, tender, caramelized perfection with minimal effort. Just a few ingredients, 10 minutes of prep and the oven does the rest!
3 Reasons You’ll Love These Honey Roasted Carrots
- Mostly hands off: This easy side dish requires just 10 minutes of prep, then let the oven work its magic while you focus on the rest of your meal.
- Straight up delicious: Roasting veggies is a little bit like magic and these carrots are the perfect example. Tossed in a honey thyme glaze, they roast up golden, tender and irresistibly caramelized. Simple, cozy and so good!
- Super versatile side dish: These carrots go with just about anything – chicken, pork, roast beef, salmon and more! They’re perfect for holiday meals, Sunday dinners or even just a cozy weeknight dinner side!
Ingredient Notes
Here’s what you’ll need to make these roasted carrots with honey and thyme glaze:
Detailed ingredient list and directions located in the recipe card below.
- Carrots: I like to use carrots with a medium thickness. You can go with classic orange carrots or mix it up with rainbow carrots for a pop of color.
- Butter: This is what makes the glaze glossy and adds that rich, buttery flavor. Unsalted or salted are both fine. Ghee also works well.
- Olive oil or avocado oil: Helps to prevent the butter from burning.
- Honey: Gives the glaze that irresistible sticky sweetness.
- Thyme: Fresh thyme leaves (just strip them off the stem) bring the perfect herby kick.
- Salt and Pepper: I like using sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
How To Make Honey Thyme Roasted Carrots
Ready to make some seriously tasty roasted carrots? Let’s walk through the steps – easy and delicious, just the way we like it!
Step 1: Prep the carrots
Peel and trim the ends off 2 pounds of carrots. Then, slice them on a diagonal into somewhat even chunks that are about 1-1½ inches long. If your carrots are really thick, slice them in half lengthwise too.
Step 2: Make the honey thyme glaze
Melt 2 tablespoons butter (or ghee) in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Turn off the heat and add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil, 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves, ½ teaspoon of sea salt and ¼ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Whisk everything together until combined.
Add the sliced carrots to a large mixing bowl, pour the glaze over them and toss to coat the carrots evenly.
Step 3: Roast the carrots
Pour the carrots and glaze onto a large baking sheet and spread them out. Pop them into a 400F (200C) preheated oven and roast for about 30 minutes, tossing halfway through (or until tender and golden).
Cook time can vary depending on carrot size, so keep an eye on them! For extra caramelized edges, broil for about 2 minutes at the end.
Step 4: Serve
Transfer the carrots to a serving dish and drizzle with a little extra honey, a sprinkle of fresh thyme and a pinch of salt and pepper if you’d like. Enjoy!
Variations
- Swap the honey: Maple syrup can also be used instead.
- Add garlic: Add some minced garlic to the glaze.
- Use rainbow carrots: Swap the classic orange carrots for colorful rainbow carrots.
- Add a citrus kick: Sprinkle over some orange or lemon zest before serving.
- Bring the heat: Add a pinch of chili flakes or smoked spicy paprika.
- Cozy it up: Warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger pair beautifully with the honey glaze.
- Switch the thyme: Swap it for another fresh herb like rosemary or sage.
- Add some crunch: Top with chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts, pistachios or toasted pine nuts.
- Finish with cheese: Sprinkle over some crumbled feta or a creamy goat cheese before serving.
A Few Tips
Tips For Perfect Roasted Carrots
- Keep them even: Cut the carrots into similar sized pieces to help them cook evenly.
- Use a sturdy baking sheet: A heavy duty sheet pan is best for roasting since it won’t warp or twist out of shape in the oven.
- Give them space: Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet! If the carrots are too close together, they’ll steam instead of roast. Spread them out in a single layer so they aren’t touching for the best caramelization.
What To Pair Them With
These honey roasted carrots go with just about any main – roast turkey or chicken, pork, roast beef, steak, salmon and more! They’re also the perfect side for holiday meals like Easter dinner, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Simple, delicious and totally versatile.
FAQ
Definitely! If they’re smaller or on the thinner side, just peel and roast them whole. If they’re thicker, I would recommend slicing them in half lengthwise to help them cook more evenly.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat in a 350F oven or in the microwave until warmed through.
These honey thyme roasted carrots are best straight from the oven but you can freeze them if you like. Let them cool completely, then spread them out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for a couple hours. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More Cooked Veggie Sides
Did you try these honey thyme roasted carrots? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear how they turned out. 😊
Honey Thyme Roasted Carrots
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Roasted
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These honey thyme roasted carrots are straight up irresistible – good luck not sneaking a few right off the baking sheet! Sweet, tender, caramelized perfection with minimal effort. Just a few ingredients, 10 minutes of prep and the oven does the rest!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds carrots, peeled
- 2 tablespoons butter (or ghee)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- garnish: extra drizzle of honey, fresh thyme leaves, salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 400F (200C). Grab a large baking sheet and set aside.
- Cut up carrots: Cut the carrots on a diagonal into somewhat even chunks (about 1-1½ inches long). If your carrots are really thick, slice them in half lengthwise too.
- Make the glaze: Melt the butter (or ghee) in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Turn off the heat and add the olive oil or avocado oil, honey, thyme leaves, salt and pepper. Whisk everything together until combined.
- Toss together: Add the sliced carrots to a large mixing bowl, pour the glaze over them and toss to coat the carrots evenly. Pour the carrots and glaze onto the baking sheet and spread them out.
- Roast: Pop them into the preheated oven and roast for about 30 minutes, tossing halfway through (or until tender and golden). Cook time can vary depending on carrot size, so keep an eye on them! For extra caramelized edges, broil for about 2 minutes at the end.
- Serve: Transfer the carrots to a serving dish (optional) and drizzle with additional honey, a sprinkle of fresh thyme and a little more salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use a sturdy baking sheet: A heavy duty sheet pan is best for roasting since it won’t warp or twist out of shape in the oven.
