Home > Side Dishes > Vegetables > Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots April 8, 2023 | No Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. These Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots are a delicious side dish, sure to be a crowd-pleaser that makes the perfect accompaniment to any meal. With just a few simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, you’ll have a beautiful and flavorful side dish in no time! Or try our original Roasted Carrots recipe for a savory roasted carrot recipe! Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots These Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots deliver a perfectly balanced sweet and savory flavor, resulting in the most amazing side dish! The brown sugar caramelizes during roasting, creating a crispy exterior that gives way to a tender and juicy interior. The sweetness of the brown sugar is complemented by the natural sweetness of the carrots, while the addition of salt, pepper, and cinnamon provides the perfect contrasting flavor. One bite and you won’t be able to stop! This recipe is incredibly versatile and can be served with a wide variety of main dishes, from roasted chicken to grilled steak. And because it’s so easy to make, you can whip up a batch of these carrots whenever you’re in need of a quick and delicious side dish. QUICK TIP These carrots also make a great addition to your holiday spread! They pair beautifully with other side dishes like these Smashed Potatoes, Asparagus Salad, Life-Changing No-Knead Dinner Rolls, Carrot Cheeseball, Fruit Salad Recipe, or Au Gratin Potatoes. Picking Out The Best Carrots Here are some tips for picking out the best carrots: Look for carrots that are firm and free of cracks or blemishes. Avoid carrots that are soft, limp, or have signs of mold. Choose carrots that are brightly colored and have a deep orange hue. The deeper the color, the more nutrients (and the more flavor) the carrot will contain. Check the tops of the carrots to make sure they are fresh and green. If the tops are wilted or brown, the carrots may not be as fresh. Pro-tip: If the tops are fresh and green, you can save them to use in salads or as a garnish. Choose carrots that are roughly the same size so they roast evenly. This will also help to prevent some pieces from becoming overcooked while others are undercooked. Consider buying organic carrots if possible. Carrots are one of the most heavily sprayed crops, so choosing organic can help to reduce your exposure to chemicals. Preparing Carrots Use a sharp knife and a sturdy cutting board to slice the carrots. Cut the carrots into roughly the same size pieces to ensure even cooking. If the pieces are too large, they may not cook through properly. QUICK TIP For the best roasting results, use an extra-large sheet pan to give the carrots plenty of space. Overcrowding the pan can cause the carrots to steam instead of roast, resulting in soft and soggy-tasting carrots. A 15×21-inch sheet pan will give enough room for everything to roast evenly and develop a beautiful caramelized texture. How To Make Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots Toss the carrots well in the brown sugar mixture to ensure they are evenly coated. It’s important to do this in a bowl and not right on the sheet pan to ensure that the carrots are coated evenly. Space out the carrots on the sheet pan as much as possible to ensure that they roast evenly. If the carrots are too crowded, they may steam instead of roast. Steamed carrots are good, but we’re after roasted carrots in this recipe. They deliver a whole new level of flavor! Flip the carrots halfway through the roasting time so they caramelize evenly on all sides. Serve the carrots warm right out of the oven for the best flavor and texture. QUICK TIP To ensure a well-mixed and evenly distributed sweetness in the Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots, make sure to use soft brown sugar. Hard or old sugar may not mix well, resulting in clumps and uneven sweetness. What To Serve With Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots These Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots make a great side dish to serve with all sorts of main dishes. Here are some ideas for what to serve them with: Roasted chicken: These roasted carrots complement the savory flavor of roasted chicken (or our favorite Blackened Chicken) perfectly. Grilled steak: The sweetness of the brown sugar in the carrots pairs well with the rich flavor of Grilled Steak. Baked salmon: The sweetness of the roasted carrots can balance out the richness of baked salmon and makes a delicious and well-rounded meal. Veggie burgers: For a vegetarian option, serve these roasted carrots with Veggie Burgers for a satisfying and flavorful meal. Quinoa salad: Include roasted carrots as part of a quinoa salad or grain bowl for a healthy and satisfying meal. STORAGE Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots taste best right after they’re made, while they’re still warm and crispy. However, if you have leftovers, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to four days. To store them, let them cool to room temperature, and then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate. If you plan on eating the leftovers cold, you can add them to a salad for a delicious and nutritious meal. Just chop them into smaller pieces and add them to a bed of greens with other veggies and your favorite Vinaigrette. When reheating the leftover roasted carrots, use the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer (instead of the microwave) to maintain their texture and crispiness. Place them on a sheet pan and roast in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-10 minutes, or until heated through. More Favorite Carrot Recipes: French Carrot Salad with a quick lemon-Dijon vinaigrette Carrot Soup with pepitas Moroccan Carrot Salad with couscous and chickpeas Carrot Smoothie tastes like carrot cake, but more nutritious! Gluten-Free Carrot Cake with cream cheese frosting FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots 5 from 1 vote - Review this recipe These Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots are a delicious side dish that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and make the perfect accompaniment to any meal. With just a few simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, you'll have a beautiful and flavorful side dish in no time! SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots 5 from 1 vote - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe These Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots are a delicious side dish that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and make the perfect accompaniment to any meal. With just a few simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, you'll have a beautiful and flavorful side dish in no time! Course Appetizer, Side Dish Cuisine American, Healthy, Vegan, Vegetarian Keyword Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots Prep Time 15 minutes minutes Cook Time 25 minutes minutes Total Time 40 minutes minutes Servings 6 as a side Chelsea Lords Calories 147kcal Author Chelsea Lords Cost $5.12 EquipmentExtra-Large Sheet Pan (Note 1) Ingredients▢ 2 pounds carrots, peeled (Note 1) (~6 cups)▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil▢ 3 tablespoons light brown sugar tightly packed (Note 2)▢ ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional▢ Fine sea salt and pepperUS - Metric USMetric InstructionsPREP: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Set out an extra-large (21x15-inch) sheet pan.PREP CARROTS: Peel the carrots and slice them diagonally into 2-inch pieces. If the carrots are more than 1 inch thick, cut them in half lengthwise so they cook evenly. Aim to get roughly the same length and width of carrot pieces. You should end up with about 6 cups of carrots. TOSS: In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, brown sugar, cinnamon (if using), salt, and pepper (to taste; I add 1 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp pepper) until well combined. Add the carrots to the bowl and toss well to coat with the mixture. (It's important to do this in a bowl and not right on the sheet pan so the carrots are evenly coated.) ROAST: Dump the coated carrots onto the sheet pan using a spatula to scrape out everything from the bowl onto the pan. Space carrots out as much as possible. Place the cut sides down so they're touching the tray. Roast the carrots for 15 minutes, remove them from the oven, and toss them well. Space them out again and flip the cut sides down to touch the tray. Roast for another 10-15 minutes or until the carrots are nicely caramelized and tender. Remove from the oven and toss once more. SERVE: Serve warm right out of the oven. Video Recipe NotesNote 1: Baking pan: For the best roasting results, use an extra-large sheet pan to give the carrots plenty of space. Overcrowding the pan can cause the carrots to steam instead of roast, resulting in soft and soggy-tasting carrots. A 15×21 inch sheet pan is recommended to be sure there is enough room for everything to roast evenly and develop a beautiful caramelized texture. Note 2: Brown sugar: To ensure a well-mixed and evenly distributed sweetness, make sure to use soft brown sugar. Hard or old sugar may not mix well, resulting in clumps and uneven sweetness. Nutrition FactsServing: 1serving | Calories: 147kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 106mg | Potassium: 493mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 25260IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
