Buttery Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots are tender and delicious. These carrots are an easy side dish recipe. With only a handful of ingredients, you can make this carrot recipe on the stovetop for busy weeknights, or for a Holiday dinner side dish. The entire family can enjoy this easy recipe.
These brown sugar-glazed carrots go well with our delicious Mashed Potatoes and fluffy Dinner Rolls.
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Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
A Delicious, Simple Side Dish of sweet carrots cooked until they become nice and tender, and coated in a beautiful glaze. Enjoy them on your dinner table any time of year.
This easy Glazed Carrots recipe is a popular way to serve vegetables to kids and others who like their carrots a little sweet.
Why These Glazed Carrots are so Good
- This is a delicious recipe! The brown butter glaze has the right amount of sweetness, and kids and adults love them!
- This is an inexpensive side dish, especially when you have a lot of people to feed. This recipe doubles easily.
- Carrots Go with Most Main Dishes: This is the perfect side dish for a weeknight dinner as well as for holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter Dinner.
- Simple and Fast: There are only a handful of simple ingredients and the carrots are easy to cook on the stovetop in minutes,saving oven space.
- Versatile: You can use different ingredients, and make them taste different for different occasions.
- Varied Cooking Methods: These butter brown sugar carrots can be made in the oven, crock pot, Instant Pot, or stovetop (see below for instructions).
The glaze ingredients of butter and brown sugar brings out the natural sweetness of the tender carrots in this delicious side dish recipe.
Can I Make These Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make this glazed carrots recipe a day ahead. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Then heat up on the stove in a skillet on medium heat, or in a dish in the oven until hot.
Basic Ingredients for this Recipe
Baby Carrots – Baby carrots are the easiest type of carrot to use.
Water – Cooks the carrots using moisture/steam and makes them get tender.
Brown Sugar – Use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar, depending on your preference.
Butter – Use unsalted butter so you can control the salt. Or use salted butter if that's what you have. Adjust the amount of salt you add at the end.
Salt and Black Pepper – The salt works with the sugar to create a delicious flavor that is savory, and not too sweet. Pepper to taste.
Cinnamon – This is optional, but I like to add a pinch or two and stir it in before serving for the extra flavor of warm spice.
Substitutions and Variations
- Baby Carrots: You can use larger carrots, just peel and cut them into baby carrot sized pieces, or in equal sized pieces of your preference (cooking time will be affected with different sized pieces) I don't recommend whole carrots for this method.
- Brown Sugar: You can use pure maple syrup, honey, white sugar, or agave syrup in place of the brown sugar to sweeten these glazed carrots.
- Butter: You can use vegan butter, or a little olive oil, coconut oil, or ghee in place of butter (refined coconut oil may taste less like coconut).
- Orange Juice: Swap out the water for orange juice and a little orange zest for a nice citrus flavor. Or add a little lemon juice to the water.
- Fresh Herbs: Add chopped fresh parsley, rosemary, or other herbs to bring a garden fresh flavor and pretty bits of green color.
How to Make Stovetop Glazed Carrots
• Cook the Carrots: In a 12-inch skillet, bring carrots and water to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Cover the pan, turn down to medium-low heat, and simmer for about 6-12 minutes (depending on how big the carrots are).
• Check if carrots are done and tender by piercing with a toothpick. When carrots are tender, drain the excess water.
• Add the butter.
• Stir in the brown sugar.
• Add salt and pepper.
• Stir the carrots well.
• Add cinnamon, if desired.
What are Other Cooking Methods for Glazed Carrots?
- Slow Cooker: Place the carrots in a sprayed crock pot. Combine melted butter, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and only 1/4 cup of water. Pour over the carrots and stir until all carrots are coated. Cook on HIGH for about 2-3 hours, or until carrots are fork-tender.
- Oven: Heat oven to 350°F. Place the baby carrots in a sprayed baking dish and season with salt and pepper. Melt butter and add it and the brown sugar. Stir well. Cover and bake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Instant Pot: To cook in an InstaPot electric pressure cooker, place carrots and 3/4 cup water in the pot. Close the lid and turn the steam release valve to the Sealing position. Press the “pressure cook” or “manual” button. Then press the +/- button or dial to select 3 minutes cook time. When done, Do a Quick Release by immediately turning the sealing valve to the Venting position to let the steam out. Open lid and drain water. Turn on Sauté setting to LOW and add the butter brown sugar, salt and pepper to the cooked carrots. Stir and sauté until the glaze is a little sticky and coating the carrots. Turn off the pot and serve.
Main Dishes that Go Well with Glazed Carrots
Butter brown sugar glazed baby carrots go well with almost any main dish. Try serving with a roasted turkey, roasted chicken, pork chops, skirt steak, prime rib, pot roast, crock pot ham, or even salmon.
Leftover Carrots Storage
Fridge: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave, or in a pan on the stove top.
Holiday Side Dish Recipes Ideas
Brown sugar glazed carrots are one of the staple side dishes to have with a Holiday meal. Some other ideas are:
Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
Broccoli Grape Salad Recipe
More Thanksgiving Recipes
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Homemade Pumpkin Pie
Easy Holiday Corn Casserole
Best Homemade Dinner Rolls
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Equipment
- 12-inch Skillet with Lid
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Baby Carrots
- ½ cup Water
- 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon optional
Instructions
- In a 12-inch skillet, bring carrots and water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cover the pan, turn down to medium-low heat, and simmer for about 6-10 minutes, or until carrots are tender when pierced with a toothpick. When carrots are tender, drain the excess water.
- Add the butter, salt and pepper.
- Stir in the brown sugar. Sauté for a couple minutes.
- Remove from heat. Taste and adjust salt and serve.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!