If you need a go-to side dish, these Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots are perfect for you! This recipe makes the most tender and tasty baby carrots. Best of all, it takes less than 10 minutes to make and only requires 4 ingredients!
This is probably the side dish we make most frequently because it’s SO easy and SO tasty. In fact, I like these carrots so much, I tried glazing red potatoes, and they turned out just as amazing! Other easy veggie sides we love are parmesan asparagus and fried zucchini. Yum!
most favorite side dish (Like, ever!)
I LOVE finding super easy but delicious side dishes. This next recipe happens to be one of my all-time favorite side dishes ever!! My kids love them, the hubby and I love them, and they are so easy to make.
I honestly think I could eat these every day, and it’s not because they’re carrots… it’s because adding butter and brown sugar to carrots makes them so stinking good! The flavors of brown sugar and butter compliment the carrots so perfectly.
The butter and brown sugar really bring out the flavor, and the carrots become so tender after cooking them – like MELT in your MOUTH tender! And even though they’re buttery, they’re not heavy at all, which makes them easy to pair with just about any main dish!
If all vegetables tasted this good, I wouldn’t have a problem getting my daily dosage!
Are these the same as caramelized carrots or candied carrots? Yes! The brown sugar is what makes them “candied” or caramelized. If you want more of the sweetness, just add some more brown sugar!
How to make Glazed Carrots
This is definitely our favorite way to cook carrots because it’s so simple, we always have the ingredients on hand, and it’s so quick! It only takes me about 10-15 minutes to have these on the table, and it honestly turns out great every single time!
Here is how we make them:
BOIL. Bring carrots, water, butter and brown sugar to a boil in a pan over medium-high heat.
SIMMER. Turn to low and simmer for approximately 6 minutes.
EVAPORATE WATER. Turn back to high and cook until all the water is evaporated and carrots are tender. It took me another 5-6 minutes.
SEASON & SERVE. Remove from heat. Salt and Pepper, and enjoy!
Tip: For some extra flavor and texture, add ⅓ cup pine nuts, walnuts or pecans (chopped and toasted) after simmering for 6 minutes.
Different cooking methods + other tips
This carrot side dish is pretty versatile in that it can be made several different ways, and even be made ahead!
IN THE SLOW COOKER. Place the carrots in a greased crock pot. Combine melted butter, salt, pepper and brown sugar and water. Drizzle over carrots and mix until carrots are coated. Cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or until carrots are tender.
IN THE OVEN. Place your baby carrots in a buttered casserole dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons brown sugar and drizzle on 2 tablespoons melted butter. Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour.
IN THE INSTANT POT. To cook in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker, place all ingredients in the pot, cover and secure the vent. Set the pot to “sealing”, press “pressure cook” or “manual” button”. Set the timer for 3 minutes. Once done, manually release the pressure by switching the vent to “venting”.
Can these candied carrots be made ahead of time? We suggest making them fresh, but if needed you can make them a day ahead. Just store in an air-tight container and then to reheat, throw them back into a buttered pan and cook until carrots are heated through.
What to serve with glazed carrots? Here are some of our favorites…
For more favorite side dishes, check out:
- Roasted Broccoli
- Candied Sweet Potatoes
- Green Bean Bundles
- Funeral Potatoes
- Baked Zucchini Sticks
- Buttered Carrots and Peas
Glazed Carrots Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz bag of baby carrots
- 1/2 c water
- 1 1/2 TB butter
- 1 1/2 TB brown sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring carrots, water, butter and brown sugar to a boil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Turn to low and simmer for approximately 6 minutes.
- Turn back to high and cook until all the water is evaporated and carrots are tender. It took me another 5-6 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Salt and Pepper, and enjoy!
Video
Super easy and very delish!
Awe, thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
What sized casserole dish do you recommend if making in oven?
I would use an 8×8 casserole dish for this recipe. If you double the recipe then a 9×13 casserole dish would work. Hope this helps!
It was simlle and awesome and woeked well with sugar free brown sugar!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Super easy … super yummy!!!
Thank you very much
You’re welcome!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Absolutely fabulous! I never liked carrots as a side until I made this tonight. GREAT recipe! Easy, fast, and delicious.
Thank you!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the carrots. They are a favorite around here! 🙂
My husband made this recipe for us this week, and we found it absolutely delicious—and VERY easy to follow. So delicious to me, in fact, that I ate the few remainders he’d left in the pot!!!
Oh that is so awesome to hear. I’m glad he found the recipe and that it was a hit! Thanks for coming back and sharing.
My family loves this recipe! Perfect for cookouts and barbeques!
Yay! So glad to hear it is a hit with the family. We love this one too.
I was looking for something different to do with carrots. This recipe was super easy and the instructions were extremely accurate. I didn’t have baby carrots but I used regular ones and just cut them into similar sizes. Will definitely make this again.
Yay! That’s so good to hear! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. 🙂
Delicious recipe, but it did take longer than recipe stated
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. I will review the recipe and look at the cooking time for the carrots. Thanks for letting me know!
Cooked my carrots using stove top method. Easy, please. Took total of 20 minutes and they were tender, hint of sweet taste. Thanks for the recipe.
I’m so happy you enjoyed them! Thanks so much for trying the recipe!
So easy to make these super delicious carrots 🥕. My granddaughters loved them. Will definitely make them again.
I’m so happy your granddaughters loved them! That makes me so happy to hear!
Made these last night for my family ranging from 37-1 – Everyone loved them, and it is so simple.
Also- I am a comment reader to see if any “tweaks” to the recipe stand out/look good – and there isn’t any – not that I could find at least… which means it’s perfect as is. Thanks for sharing this one!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe… and that your family all did too! 🙂
So glad I found this recipe. I added about 1 TBSP of honey to the recipe but holy moly…I think they’re the best carrots I’ve ever had! Yum!!
Yay! So glad to hear you enjoyed the carrots. I bet the addition of honey was delicious too.
Sooooo yummy! My only critique is they take 30+ minutes boiling to get soft.
Thanks for your feedback. Glad to hear you enjoyed the carrots!
Tried this and everyone loves it!
Yay!! I’m so happy to hear that. Glad the recipe was a hit!
This was really easy to make and tasty! My family loved it.
Oh I’m so glad to hear!! Thanks for sharing!