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Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Carrots

Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Carrots

Worth cooking

  • These carrots turn out perfectly tender. The buttery, sweet glaze reduces and becomes nice and thick, coating each carrot and giving it an irresistible flavor.
  • This side dish is certainly family-friendly. The delicate sweetness of the carrots makes the vegetables much more approachable for kids. Especially if you serve it with a holiday meal that’s very savory or has some spice, the honeyed carrots help to create an overall balance. It is the perfect side dish!
  • Moreover, it has a quick preparation and cooking time. The best part about this carrots recipe is that if you use baby carrots, you only need to chop the parsley. You just need 10 minutes! So you can spend time focusing on other aspects of the meal. If you use whole carrots, cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Fork piercing into a cooked carrot.

Ingredients Needed

Brown sugar honey glazed carrots is one of the simplest side dishes you can make for your holiday table! The entire ingredient list is short. Here are some of the simple ingredients you need:

Brown sugar honey glazed carrots ingredients with labels.
  • Baby Carrots: Since they are small, you don’t need to worry about chopping them, and they cook quickly. If you want to use large regular carrots, you can cut them down into ½ inch slices, which promotes even cooking.
  • Honey: The honey has a pleasant flavor that amplifies the naturally sweet undertones in the vegetable.
  • Brown Sugar: This ingredient gives the carrots a caramelized flavor. The molasses in the sugar pairs well with honey and balances the salt and pepper.

You will also need a couple more ingredients like unsalted butter, salt and black pepper, so make sure to check out the recipe card for the full recipe!

How it comes together

This is a great side dish to make for busy weeknights or special occasions. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to make this easy carrot side dish.

  1. Melt unsalted butter in a skillet.
  2. Add carrots and cook until slightly browned.
  3. Add water, a little brown sugar, honey, salt and pepper to the pan.
  4. Simmer until the liquid reduces, forms a beautiful glaze, and coats the carrots.
  5. Garnish with minced parsley and serve. You could also garnish with other fresh herbs.
Carrots cooked in butter in skillet.

Pantry notes

There are plenty of ways to customize the dish and make it your own. Here are a few ideas for you!

  • Make them sweet and spicy: This recipe is the perfect opportunity to add some spice to your meal! Add a dash of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika, but not so much that it overpowers the dish.
  • Use a different type of sweetener: You can replace the honey with maple syrup or agave nectar if you wish. Any of these ingredients will help the carrots to caramelize, enhancing their natural delightful taste.
  • Add parsnips: If you’re looking for a satisfying variation, you can use ​​½ pound of carrots and ½ pound of parsnips in your recipe. Since they are similar in texture and heartiness, they make a great combination. Be sure to cut the parsnips into pieces that are about the same size as the carrots to ensure even cooking.

Cook notes

  • Don’t use high heat. All you need is medium heat for brown sugar honey glazed carrots! Otherwise, you risk burning the glaze or the exterior of the carrots.
  • Make sure to use fresh carrots. They should have a firm, snappy texture and no signs of discoloration or odor. Luckily, baby carrots last for a few weeks in the refrigerator, so you don’t have to go out and buy them the exact day you make this recipe.
  • Don’t add the parsley too soon; it might turn dark or lose its fresh flavor. Wait until the cooking process is finished to use it as a garnish and give the dish a bright pop of color. You could also garnish the carrots with fresh dill.
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Cook: 10 minutes
  • Total: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound baby carrots
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • Fresh minced parsley for garnish.

Method

  1. Place a skillet or shallow pan on medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the carrots and cook, stirring from time to time, until slightly brown around the edges, about 3-5 minutes.
  2. Add the water, brown sugar, honey, salt and pepper to the pan and let it all simmer together until the liquid reduces and coats the carrots. About 7 minutes.
  3. Garnish with freshly minced parsley and serve.

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