These baked carrots are soft, juicy, and packed with flavor. The garlic and thyme add a nice punch of flavor, making them a simple, yet delicious Thanksgiving side dish.
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Why This Recipe Stands Out
We love a good side dish that's easy to prepare and loaded with flavor. This recipe for Easy Baked Carrots checks all the boxes:
- Simple, Fresh Ingredients: This recipe uses simple, fresh ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
- Quick and Easy: With just 10 minutes of prep time, this recipe is super easy and quick to prepare.
- Versatile: These carrots are a perfect side for any meal, from a weeknight dinner to a holiday feast.
- Healthy and Delicious: The roasting process brings out the natural sweetness of the carrots, making them a favorite even with picky eaters.
- Perfectly Caramelized: The combination of the high oven temperature and the balsamic vinegar gives these carrots a perfectly caramelized, slightly sweet flavor.
Key Ingredients
- Carrots – The star of our dish, these humble vegetables, when baked, turn beautifully tender and sweet, with a slight caramelization on the edges.
- Garlic – Crush them to release their aromatic flavors, which infuse the carrots with a delicious garlicky kick.
- Fresh Thyme Springs – They add a fresh, earthy note that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the carrots.
- Olive Oil – It helps to coat the carrots and garlic, keeping them moist and adding a fruity richness to the dish.
- Salt and Pepper – They bring out the natural flavors of the carrots and add a simple yet essential seasoning.
Substitutions and Variations
This simple and delicious recipe is a perfect side dish for any meal. Here are a few variations and substitution ideas to make it your own:
- Herbs: We love the flavor that fresh thyme adds to this dish, but feel free to experiment with other herbs as well. Rosemary or oregano would work beautifully with the sweet, caramelized carrots.
- Spices: If you're a fan of spice, try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or a sprinkle of smoked paprika for a kick
- Vegan: To make this dish vegan, substitute the honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.
How to Make Baked Carrots
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 F.
Step 2: Combine carrots, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, olive oil, and vinegar in a baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Step 3: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 minutes until the carrots are caramelized. Serve warm.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
What to Serve with Baked Carrots
- Carrots are a great side dish for any protein, so try serving these baked carrots with your favorite meat or fish.
- If you're making a big holiday meal, these carrots will go perfectly with a classic roast turkey or ham.
- If you're looking for a healthy, veggie-packed dinner, try serving these carrots with a big salad or some steamed greens.
- Potatoes are a classic side dish for carrots. Try serving these baked carrots with some crispy Roasted Mediterranean Potatoes or our Creamy Mashed Potatoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cover the carrots with foil during the first 30 minutes of baking to allow them to steam and become tender. This also helps to lock in the moisture and flavors.
While fresh thyme is recommended for this recipe, you can substitute it with dried thyme. Use about 1 teaspoon of dried thyme for this recipe.
For this recipe, we recommend peeling the carrots. This allows them to caramelize evenly and gives the dish a more polished look.
The baked carrots can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to store them in an airtight container.
Recipe
Baked Carrots With Garlic And Thyme
Ingredients
- 10 medium carrots washed and peeled
- 5 cloves garlic crushed
- 6 springs fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- In a medium baking dish, combine carrots, crushed garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, olive oil and a splash of vinegar. Give it a nice toss.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 min. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 min until carrots are nice and caramelized.
- Serve warm!
Notes
Nutrition
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Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.
Amberjane says
I grew rainbow carrots this year I am going to try this recipe 🙂 thank you for sharing on Pin worthy Wednesday