Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Carrots
Published Feb 16, 2024
Updated Mar 04, 2024
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Enjoy freshly cooked carrots with hints of warm brown sugar, honey, and parsley as a finishing touch. Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Carrots can instantly transform any dinner recipe into something much more sophisticated.
When cooking dinner, you may find that something is missing from your meal. Perhaps you have the main dish sorted out, but you need a hearty vegetable side to go with it. In such a situation, glazed carrots with honey and brown sugar can come in handy and complete your meal perfectly.
Carrots are nutrient-rich, containing significant amounts of vitamins A and K, as well as fiber. They also have antioxidants! So, this recipe is not only delicious, but it is a great way to nourish your body. You can also try my mouthwatering Fried Carrots recipe if you love this vegetable!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Glazed Carrots
- 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 an entrée that’s very savory or has some spice, the honeyed carrots help to create an overall balance.
- Moreover, it has a quick preparation and cooking time. The best part about this 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.
Ingredients Needed
Brown sugar honey glazed carrots is one of the simplest side dishes you can make! The entire ingredient list is short. Here are some of the primary components you need:
- 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 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, so make sure to check out the recipe card for the full recipe!
How To Make Honey Glazed Carrots With Brown Sugar
- Melt butter in a skillet.
- Add carrots and cook until slightly browned.
- Add remaining ingredients, except for the parsley.
- Simmer until the liquid reduces and coats the carrots.
- Garnish with minced parsley and serve.
Substitutions and Variations
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 delicious 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.
Expert Tips
- 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.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely! In fact, they taste just as amazing the next day since all of the flavors have time to marry. So, don’t worry if you have leftovers. You can use them throughout the week. Reheat them on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Glazed carrots will last 3-5 days when you properly store them in the refrigerator. Make sure to put them in an airtight container so they stay nice and fresh!
There are plenty of entrées that taste incredible with glazed carrots, such as Salmon Bites, grilled chicken, or even crispy tofu! You can also pair them with hearty foods like meatloaf or Herb-Roasted Duck.
Serving Glazed Carrots
I served these brown sugar honey glazed carrots with Roasted Boneless Leg Of Lamb. You can also serve them with a wide variety of main dishes, including:
More Side Dishes
Looking for more easy side dishes? Try these:
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Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Carrots
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.
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Garnish with freshly minced parsley and serve.
