Sweet and savory, oven-roasted carrots are the perfect side dish for your next dinner party or holiday dinner and are simple enough to prepare for a busy weeknight dinner.
Just watch the smiles around the table when you serve these perfectly roasted carrots!
We made our oven-roasted carrots using rainbow carrots. They add a splash of color to the table, and their earthy and sweet flavors are a delicious complement to roast chicken, beef, or pork.
And you know what? Roasting carrots to perfection is easier than you think.
Using simple ingredients from your pantry will bring out the robust natural sweetness of the carrots. Roasting carrots in the oven is easy, and they make a great side dish for just about any meal.
If you love oven-roasted vegetables, make sure to try our oven-roasted Brussels sprouts and oven-roasted asparagus recipes.
Ingredients for Oven-Roasted Carrots
Gather the ingredients to prepare our Oven Roasted Carrots recipe. Culinary professionals call this the “Mise en Place,” which means “everything in its Place.”
Setting up your ingredients not only helps speed up the cooking process but also ensures you have all the necessary ingredients on hand to make the recipe.
Can I switch up the recipe?
You sure can. You can enhance the flavor of the seasoning mixture with your favorite fresh herbs or change the seasonings to your taste preference. Garlic powder, onion powder, and cinnamon are nice additions.
For a change of pace, try your favorite seasoning blend. Cajun seasoning, Jerk seasoning, and lemon pepper are a few of my favorites.
It’s easy to replace the brown sugar with pure maple syrup or honey, or you can use your favorite artificial sweetener.
If you really want to spice up the flavor, use our hot honey to glaze the carrots. After one taste of the honey-roasted carrots, the crowd will go wild!
Spritzing lime juice or lemon juice over the carrots will brighten the dish. You can also drizzle balsamic glaze over them to add their natural sweetness.
How to Make Oven-Roasted Carrots
Follow along with my simple step-by-step instructions to learn how to make roasted carrots in your home kitchen.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Rinse and peel the fresh carrots, making sure to remove any dark spots
- Add the kosher salt, black pepper, ground ginger, and brown sugar to a small bowl.
- Whisk to combine.
- Place the raw carrots in a large bowl or baking dish, and lightly coat them with extra virgin olive oil.
- Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the carrots, covering all sides.
- Place parchment paper or aluminum foil over a baking sheet, and place the wire rack on top of the baking sheet. Lightly spray the rack with cooking spray, and arrange the carrots on the wire rack in a single layer.
- Place the sheet pan on the center rack of the preheated oven (if cooking with another item, place the carrots on the top shelf of the hot oven). Cook for 30 – 35 minutes or until fork-tender.
Remove from the oven and serve hot. If you need to hold them, loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley for a splash of color.
After one taste, I know you’ll agree that these are the best roasted carrots you’ve ever made! The roasting process is simple, and the high temperature brings out the carrots’ natural sugars.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days. I wouldn’t suggest freezing them as they will soften too much when thawed.
Recipe FAQ’s
No, you don’t. You can cut them down into sticks, slices, or chunks. You can also use baby carrots to make the recipe. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of the carrots.
Absolutely. Sweet potatoes, turnips, beets, Brussels sprouts, and parsnips would go nicely with the savory carrots. You may need to cut up the larger vegetables so they roast at the same rate.
Yes, you can. Frozen baby carrots or sliced carrots will work well. They’re not quite as good as fresh, but they definitely will work. Make sure to let them thaw before using.
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Oven Roasted Carrots Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs carrots rainbow or regular
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ginger optional
Instructions
- Rinse and peel the carrots making sure to remove any dark spots
- Combine the salt, pepper, ginger and brown sugar and mix to combine
- In a large bowl or baking dish coat the carrots with olive oil and then rub the seasoning blend over the carrots making sure to cover all sides
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place parchment paper or aluminum foil over a baking sheet and place the wire rack over top of the baking sheet
- Lightly spray the rack with cooking spray and place the carrots on the wire rack.
- Place the carrots on the center rack of the preheated oven (if cooking with another item, place the carrots on the top shelf of the oven)
- Allow the carrots to cook for 30 – 35 minutes until fork-tender.
- Remove from the oven and serve hot. If you need to hold them, loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil.
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