Brown Sugar Roasted Baby Carrots are delectably caramelized and tender, with a sweetness that makes them taste like candy. It’s a quick and easy carrot side dish that's perfect for weeknight dinner or holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter!
Savory, sweet, and almost candy-like, these small carrots are sure to be a hit with your family. It's similar to honey-roasted carrots and parsnips, but without the parsnips and using brown sugar instead of honey. This recipe is quick and easy to prepare, as it requires no peeling or chopping whole carrots.
Just like most vegetable side dishes, baking mini carrots in oven brings out their natural sweetness, enhanced by a touch of brown sugar for extra depth. This caramelization creates an irresistible flavor without making the dish overly sweet. The addition of olive oil, salt, and pepper adds a savory balance that perfectly complements the carrots’ natural sweetness.
Jump to:
Reasons to love
- The perfect balance of sweet, savory, tender, and caramelized.
- Baking enhances the carrots' natural sweetness—no boiling needed.
- So simple: just toss and bake in a sheet pan!
- A touch of brown sugar adds irresistible depth.
- Veggies never tasted so good.
- Ideal for weeknight dinners and holiday tables—Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, you name it.
- Even picky eaters will be asking for seconds.
What are baby carrots?
Actually, baby carrots are simply immature roots harvested before they reach full size. They're typically thinner, shorter, and more tender than their fully grown counterparts. However, the "baby carrots" commonly found in bags at the store are actually full-sized varieties that have been machine-cut and shaped into smaller, uniform pieces. These mini or small snack-sized veggies are then peeled, polished, and packaged for convenience.
How to prepare baby carrots for baking?
Baby carrots are usually cleaned with a small amount of chlorine to kill bacteria, then rinsed before packaging. Still, I like to give them a quick rinse at home and pat them dry with a kitchen towel before adding them to the sheet pan. If they’re too wet, they’ll steam instead of roasting and caramelizing in the oven.
Roasted Baby Carrots
Ingredients
- 1 pound baby carrots
- 2 tablepsoons light brown sugar not packed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pre heat oven to 450°F.
- Add all ingredients to a small or medium-sized baking sheet, toss well to combine and arrange them in an even layer without overlapping.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and place on a wire rack. Toss the carrots well and arrange them in an even layer without overlapping.
- Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes or the carrots get tender with a deep color and caramelized. Place pan on a wire rack to cool and serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
How to make roasted baby carrots?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
Want To Save This Recipe?
Enter your email below, and we’ll send the link straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get more creative recipe ideas every Sunday!
How to store and reheat?
This brown sugar carrot side dish is such a dinner hit that they will disappear quickly. However, if you happen to have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
To reheat, you can either microwave or place them on a small sheet pan and bake in a preheated 375°F oven until heated through. Baking will give them a glossy finish and help them retain their texture.
Recipe tips
- Make sure to pat them dry before proceeding.
- Double or triple the recipe to make a bigger batch for Thanksgiving.
🥕 If you love carrots, you’ll love these other delicious recipes: curried Thai carrot soup, moist carrot walnut cake, and hearty carrot oatmeal. Each one offers a unique way to enjoy this versatile vegetable.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, even if the package says they are pre-washed, it’s still a good idea to rinse them before eating. They are often kept wet to keep them fresh and crisp. A quick rinse under cold water will help remove any leftover dirt or contaminants.
It depends! About 6 to 8 baby-cut carrots are roughly equivalent to one large regular carrot. The exact number varies based on the size of both the baby and the regular carrot.
More easy carrot side dishes
- Carrot raisin salad is not overly sweet or drenched in mayo! It's creamy and sweet with a little crunch from walnuts and is ready in under 15 minutes.
- Air fryer carrots are seasoned to perfection, tender with a slight crisp exterior, done in less than 15 minutes. Forget french fries and make this instead for a simple side dish.
- Honey roasted carrots and parsnips makes an easy yet elegant side dish for both weeknights and holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter.
Rach
These were so good. Definitely a keeper!