Made with brown sugar and warm spices, this Glazed Carrots recipe combines savory with sweet for a simple yet elegant side dish. Perfect for the holidays and easy to whip up any night.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy side dish for the holidays, you can’t go wrong with these brown sugar glazed carrots. I’ve been making them for years for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Everyone loves them, even those who aren’t huge carrot fans.
Why You’ll Love This Glazed Carrots Recipe
Here are a few reasons why we love this recipe so much.
- Brown sugar glaze. This glazed carrots recipe features a sticky sweet glaze made with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It’s sweet with warm, savory undertones that pair well with the carrot.
- Ready in 35 minutes. You’ll need just over half an hour to whip up this recipe and most of that time is relatively hands-off as the dish simmers on the stovetop.
- Perfect for holidays. Glazed carrots are one dish we almost always have on the holiday table. Simple yet elegant and they pair well with turkey and ham. Plus since they’re easy, which is a requirement for all holiday sides.
What You’ll Need
This easy glazed carrots recipe requires just a handful of ingredients. Scroll down to the recipe card below for measurements.
- Carrots – I used whole carrots cut into 1/2-inch slices.
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar – Caramelizes to create the glaze.
- Water
- Spices – Cinnamon and nutmeg add a warm flavor to the carrots. You’ll also need salt and pepper.
- Herbs – I like to garnish my glazed carrots with fresh parsley or thyme. If you don’t have fresh parsley or thyme, dried herbs can be used instead. Use about half the amount of dried herbs compared to fresh.
How To Make Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
This side dish comes together in just over half an hour. See the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- Cook the carrots. Melt the butter over medium heat then add the carrots and saute for 5 minutes, until they begin to soften.
- Make the glaze. Stir in the brown sugar, water, and spices. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring everything to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the carrots are tender and the glaze has thickened.
- Enjoy. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with parsley or thyme, and enjoy.
Recipe Tips & Variations
Here are a few helpful tips for making this side dish, as well as a few ways to customize it.
- Add some orange. Add a splash of orange juice or zest for an extra citrusy kick that complements the sweetness of the glaze. We also have a Honey Glazed Carrots recipe made with baby carrots that has a bit of a different flavor and also fantastic.
- Adjust the spices according to your taste. Adding a pinch of cayenne pepper can give the dish a subtle heat.
- Stir while simmering. Give the carrots a gentle stir every few minutes to prevent the brown sugar from burning to the bottom of the pan.
Serving Suggestions
These glazed carrots pair wonderfully with holiday dishes like roasted turkey, glazed ham, prime rib, or even a vegetarian main like stuffed acorn squash. Of course, it’s also easy enough to make for non-holiday dinners too, with dishes like pan-seared steak or roasted chicken.
Proper Storage
- Fridge. Store any leftover glazed carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat. To reheat, place the carrots in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of water to loosen the glaze.
More Easy Veggie Side Dishes
Glazed Carrots
Ingredients
- 1 lb whole carrots peeled and cut into ½-inch slices
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Fresh parsley or thyme chopped (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large skillet or saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the carrots to the skillet and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until they begin to soften slightly.
- Stir in the brown sugar, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the carrots are tender and the glaze has thickened, about 15-20 minutes.
- Transfer the glazed carrots to a serving dish. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or thyme if desired. Enjoy!
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4 comments on “Glazed Carrots”
Easy and so good
Thanks Diane!
I enjoy your recipes….going to try glazed carrots
Thanks Lezabeth!