These honey glazed carrots are buttery, sweet, and caramelized, and they come together on the stovetop in about 20 minutes with just a handful of simple ingredients. They're an easy way to add a pop of color to your table, and one of my go-to Thanksgiving side dishes.
These honey glazed carrots are one of my favorite sides to make for holiday dinners. They pair perfectly with turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the cozy Thanksgiving favorites, adding a pop of color and sweetness that everyone looks forward to. Plus, they're simple yet look great on the table. These carrots always make my dinners feel extra special.
Quick Glance at the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots
- Recipe Name: Honey Glazed Carrots
- Why You'll Love It: Sweet, buttery, glossy carrots that look great on the holiday table and take about 20 minutes.
- Time and Difficulty: About 20 minutes, easy.
- Main Ingredients: Whole carrots, salted butter, honey, light brown sugar, salt, pepper, and fresh parsley.
- Method: Steam the whole peeled carrots in a covered skillet, drain, then cook them with butter, honey, and brown sugar until glazed.
- Texture and Flavor: Tender carrots with a sweet, caramelized, buttery glaze.
- Quick Tip: Let the glaze bubble until it's thick and glossy.
Jump to:
- Quick Glance at the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots
- What Makes These Honey Glazed Carrots So Good⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Honey Glazed Carrots Ingredients
- Equipment You'll Need
- How To Make Honey Glazed Carrots
- How To Make Honey Glazed Carrots In The Oven
- Common Glazed Carrot Problems To Avoid
- How To Make Honey Glazed Carrots Ahead For Thanksgiving
- Make These Honey Glazed Carrots Your Own
- What To Serve With Honey Glazed Carrots
- Honey Glazed Carrots FAQs
- More Thanksgiving Side Dishes To Try
- Leave Me A Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Recipe
What Makes These Honey Glazed Carrots So Good⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
They're simple yet look great on the table, and they always make my dinners feel extra special.
- Whole carrots, just peeled and trimmed, so there is no chopping.
- Salted butter, honey, and brown sugar cook down into a glossy, caramelized glaze.
- One skillet does it all on the stovetop, or you can roast them in the oven.
- Ready in about 20 minutes, so they come together while the rest of dinner finishes.
Honey Glazed Carrots Ingredients
These simple, everyday ingredients come together to create the perfect sweet and savory glaze. Here's what you'll need.
- Whole carrots: I just peel them and trim the tops. Whole carrots give you that natural sweetness and tender bite, and they hold their shape well.
- Salted butter: Adds richness and helps the glaze cling to the carrots.
- Honey: Creates that signature glossy, sweet glaze.
- Light brown sugar: Deepens the caramel flavor and helps the glaze thicken.
- Salt and pepper: Basic seasoning that balances all the sweetness.
- Optional seasonings: Garlic powder, thyme, or Italian seasoning add flavor depth without overpowering the natural sweetness of the carrots.
- Fresh parsley: Adds color and brightness to the finished dish.
Equipment You'll Need
Large skillet with a lid: You'll need a large skillet to steam and glaze the carrots. We prefer HexClad skillets for their hybrid stainless steel and nonstick surface, which allows for even heat distribution, perfect browning, and easy cleanup. A Caraway skillet works great too.
- Vegetable peeler for peeling the carrots
- Rimmed baking sheet and parchment paper if you're using the oven method
How To Make Honey Glazed Carrots
These step-by-step stovetop instructions make this recipe quick and easy! You'll have beautifully glazed carrots on the table before the rest of dinner is even ready.
- Peel the carrots. Peel the carrots and slice off the tops. You can leave them whole.
- Steam the carrots. Place the carrots in a skillet with a small amount of water, cover, and cook over medium heat until crisp-tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain any remaining water.
PRO TIP: Make sure the water is gone before you add the glaze ingredients so the glaze can reduce into a thick, glossy coating.
- Add the glaze ingredients. Add the butter, honey, brown sugar, and seasonings to the carrots in the pan.
- Glaze the carrots. Cook uncovered over medium heat for another 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced into a thick, bubbly glaze that coats the carrots.
PRO TIP: Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten up the sweetness.
- Serve. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve right away.
How To Make Honey Glazed Carrots In The Oven
Prefer a hands-off method? These carrots roast beautifully in the oven too.
- Preheat the oven to 400º F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss with the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter or olive oil, honey, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings, like garlic powder or thyme. Pour it over the peeled carrots and toss well so every piece is coated.
- Roast. Spread the carrots in a single, even layer and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, until fork-tender and caramelized. Toss them halfway through for even browning.
- Serve. Toss with fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon juice and serve warm.
Common Glazed Carrot Problems To Avoid
- Thin, runny glaze: Don't skip reducing the glaze. Let it bubble uncovered until it's thick and syrupy, and remember it will thicken more as it cools.
- Carrots steam instead of browning: Use a large skillet or baking sheet so the carrots can spread out. Crowding leads to steaming instead of browning.
- Mushy carrots: Start checking at 8 minutes. You want them crisp-tender before the glaze goes in, because they keep cooking while it reduces.
How To Make Honey Glazed Carrots Ahead For Thanksgiving
- Make them a day ahead: Cook the carrots up to a day in advance and refrigerate them in an airtight container.
- Reheat gently: Warm them on the stovetop with a splash of water or extra honey to bring the glaze back to life.
- Leftovers: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Make These Honey Glazed Carrots Your Own
- Rainbow carrots: Use them for a more colorful presentation.
- Swap the sweetener: Maple syrup adds a deeper caramel flavor, and agave syrup is milder and slightly thinner.
- Swap the sugar: Dark brown sugar adds a richer molasses flavor, and coconut sugar is less sweet and more earthy.
- Make them savory and sweet: Add garlic powder, thyme, or a pinch of smoked paprika.
- Switch up the herbs: Use fresh thyme leaves, chives, or dill instead of parsley.
- Extra sauce: Double the glaze, then cook it a little longer so it thickens properly.
What To Serve With Honey Glazed Carrots
These carrots pair beautifully with my smoked prime rib for a complete holiday spread. They're also great next to a spatchcock turkey or a homemade green bean casserole. Want a simpler, less sweet carrot side? Try my sautéed carrots.
Honey Glazed Carrots FAQs
Can I use baby carrots instead of whole carrots?
Yes! Baby carrots work perfectly. Just note they may cook slightly faster, so start checking for tenderness a few minutes early.
Do I need to cut the carrots?
No. I just peel them and trim off the tops, then cook them whole.
Can I make honey glazed carrots without sugar?
Absolutely. Replace the brown sugar with extra honey or use maple syrup. The texture may be slightly thinner, but still delicious.
Can I use frozen carrots for this recipe?
You can, but the texture will be softer. If using frozen carrots, skip the initial steaming step and cook them directly with the glaze until heated through and lightly caramelized.
Can I make these dairy free?
Yes. Swap the butter for olive oil or vegan butter to keep the flavor and consistency similar.
More Thanksgiving Side Dishes To Try
Leave Me A Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you tried this Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments. I love hearing from you!
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound whole carrots trimmed and peeled
- 1 ½ Tablespoons salted butter
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Peel: Peel the 1 pound whole carrots and slice off the tops. You can leave them whole.
- Steam: Place the carrots in a large skillet with a small amount of water, cover, and cook over medium heat until crisp-tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain any remaining water.
- Add the glaze ingredients: Add the 1 ½ Tablespoons salted butter, 3 Tablespoons honey, 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar, and salt and pepper to the carrots in the pan.
- Glaze: Cook uncovered over medium heat for another 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced into a thick, bubbly glaze that coats the carrots.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve right away.
Video
Notes
- Oven Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prep Carrots: Place peeled and cut carrots on a rimmed baking sheet (lined with parchment paper for easy cleanup).
- Toss with Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter or olive oil, honey, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings (like garlic powder or thyme). Pour over the carrots and toss well to ensure every piece is coated.
- Roast: Spread carrots into a single even layer and roast for 30-40 minutes, or until fork-tender and caramelized. Toss them halfway through the cooking time for even browning.
- Serve: Remove from the oven, toss with fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon juice, and serve warm.
- Storage Instructions: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat them gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or extra honey if needed to refresh the glaze.
