Name: Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup of butter (unsalted); 1/4 cup brown sugar; 16 oz. bag of baby carrots (or approx. 3-4 large carrots chopped into pieces); salt and pepper (to taste)

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Brown sugar glazed carrots makes tender carrots coated with a buttery brown sugar glaze. With only three simple ingredients, this baked carrot dish is a delicious side dish to any meal.

This easy side dish recipe is a staple at our Thanksgiving table. Baby carrots are coated with a beautiful glaze making sweet carrots with a buttery flavor. The natural sweetness of the carrots is highlighted by the subtle flavor of the butter and brown sugar creating a perfect vegetable side dish.

baked baby carrots with glaze and parsley in white dish with wooden serving spoon

Ingredients

butter
brown sugar (light or dark brown sugar)
baby carrots
salt and pepper

How to Make Glazed Carrots

two pans: first with butter and brown sugar; second with added baby carrots and a wooden spoon

In medium-sized saute pan, add butter and brown sugar and let melt a minute.
Place carrots in the pan on top of the mixture and stir to coat in the brown sugar sauce.
Add salt and pepper.
Stir over medium heat until the sugar and butter caramelize and turn into a glaze.
Cook and stir occasionally for as long as 20 minutes or until carrots are fork tender.
Garnish with parsley.

Can You Make Them Ahead of Time?

You can make these carrots ahead, but since it only take a few minutes, we recommend you make them the day of. If you want, measure out the butter and brown sugar the day before, and wash off the carrots so everything is ready to put in the pan right before dinner.

baked carrots in glaze in white bowls on cutting board

What to Serve with Glazed Carrots?

Brown sugar carrots are a perfect side dish for a turkey or ham dinner. We usually also serve green bean casserole with it.

Pork chops are also a great main dish that goes well with buttery carrots.

Alternatives and Suggestions

full-sized carrots – you can also make this recipe with standard carrots. Just cute them in diagonal slices so you get small pieces that will cook until they are tender.
size of the carrots – the larger your carrots are, or slices, the longer they will take too cook through so extend your cooking time accordingly.
pumpkin pie spice – we haven’t tried this, but it sounds like it would taste good. Cinnamon is a common ingredient to use in the fall for baked carrots.

Can I Substitute Honey for Brown Sugar?

Yes, Betty Crocker has a recipe that uses 2 Tablespoons of honey instead of brown sugar.

Can I Make These In the Slow Cooker?

Yes, place the carrots in your slow cooker or crockpot. Add carrots, butter, brown sugar, and salt and pepper. You’ll also want to add about a 1/2 cup of water to help make the carrots tender. Coat the carrots in the ingredients and set crockpot on low for approximately 2-3 hours or until the carrots are tender.

Toss the carrots in the mixture to ensure they are covered in the glaze before serving.

How Do I Serve Glazed Carrots?

Once the carrots are fully cooked, you can place them with the brown sugar mixture into a casserole dish or pretty plate and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

wooden spoon with baby carrots and a bowl of baked baby carrots

Can I Use Frozen Carrots?

We recommend using fresh carrots, either full size or a bag of baby carrots. Frozen carrots will contain extra water that may make the glaze too runny. If frozen is the only thing you have on hand, it’s worth a try. Thaw the carrots, and pat them down to remove excess water, the follow the instructions as normal.

If you’re always looking for vegetable recipes for your holiday meal, you’ll love trying this easy carrot recipe. It has a quick cook time so you’re not taking up too much time while you’re prepping your holiday meal or special occasion. And even the pickiest eaters love these carrots!

This easy recipe is perfect during the holiday season and makes a great addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas menu. We also serve it at easter, but you could just as easily serve it for your everyday family dinner.

You might also like your carrot souffle side dish.

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