Description
Honey Glazed Carrots are a sweet and savory side dish featuring tender roasted carrots coated in a fragrant honey-garlic butter glaze. This recipe delivers perfectly caramelized carrots with a hint of lemon freshness and optional parsley garnish, making it an easy and delicious accompaniment to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Carrots and Seasoning
- 2 pounds medium carrots (about 8)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Honey Garlic Glaze
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 small lemon (for juice)
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F to ensure an even roasting temperature for perfect caramelization.
- Prepare the Carrots: Peel and trim the carrots. Cut them crosswise into 2-inch pieces. For carrots thicker than 1 inch, halve or quarter them lengthwise to pieces about 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick to ensure they cook evenly. Place the prepared carrots on a rimmed baking sheet. Mince the garlic cloves.
- Make the Honey Garlic Glaze: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook, swirling occasionally, for about 30 seconds until fragrant, then remove from heat. Whisk in the honey until fully combined to create a delicious glaze.
- Coat the Carrots: Drizzle half of the honey glaze over the carrots and toss to coat evenly. Season with kosher salt and black pepper, and toss again for thorough seasoning. Spread the coated carrots into an even layer on the baking sheet to promote even roasting.
- Roast the Carrots: Roast the carrots for 15 minutes, then toss gently to ensure even cooking. Continue roasting for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until the carrots are tender and bottoms are nicely browned.
- Finish and Serve: Drizzle the remaining honey glaze over the roasted carrots. Squeeze the juice from half a small lemon onto the carrots and toss to combine. Transfer the carrots to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped fresh parsley leaves if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- Tossing the roasted carrots in a sticky honey-garlic glaze creates the best sweet-savory side dish that pairs well with meats and grains.
- Adjust the thickness of carrot pieces to cook evenly and get nicely caramelized edges without burning.
- The lemon juice adds a bright, fresh balance to the sweetness of the honey glaze.
- Using fresh garlic and butter in the glaze enhances the flavor complexity more than pre-minced or powdered garlic.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 132
- Sugar: 11.6 g
- Sodium: 396 mg
- Fat: 6.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19.9 g
- Fiber: 4.4 g
- Protein: 1.6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
