Irresistible Brown Butter Honey Glazed Carrots: The Ultimate Easy Side Dish

A simple side dish that’s great for any time of the year! It starts with homemade brown butter that’s sweetened with a little honey. Then we roast these honey glazed carrots for a few minutes until they are tender! So delish! Prepare to elevate your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

Hello November, and indeed, hello to a truly spectacular side dish that you’ll want to make all year round! It seems like the year just started, yet here we are, embracing the cozy flavors of autumn and looking ahead to the bustling holiday season. I can’t believe it took me this long to share this utterly delicious, incredibly easy, and undeniably gourmet-level recipe with you. But now that it’s here, it’s going to be a staple in your kitchen!

What makes these brown butter honey glazed carrots so special? They embody everything you crave in a perfect side dish: gourmet flair, effortless preparation, and an explosion of delightful flavors. Gourmet, because nothing says fancy like the rich, nutty aroma of homemade brown butter. Easy, because it’s as simple as combining a few wholesome ingredients and letting these vibrant carrots roast to tender perfection in your oven. And delicious, well, that one’s pretty obvious from the first bite! So, if you’ve been assigned side-dish duty this year for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any festive gathering, consider yourself lucky. You’re about to wow your guests with an elegant dish that tastes complex but requires minimal effort. Trust me, the magic of brown butter will do all the heavy lifting!

Is your mouth watering yet? Mine certainly is just thinking about the sweet, savory, and slightly nutty combination that defines these brown butter honey glazed carrots.

It goes without saying that eating carrots doused in this incredible brown butter honey glaze is one of my absolute favorite ways to enjoy a vegetable. And I know, most of us are used to seeing carrot-y side dishes primarily on Easter tables rather than Thanksgiving. But who says you can’t have them both times? Or even better, all year long? Let’s not ignore the fact that fall is peak carrot season, making it the perfect time to embrace this vibrant root vegetable. Why not add something a little brighter, fresher, and gorgeously drizzled with honey to your holiday table, contrasting beautifully with richer, heavier dishes?

As a bonus, these honey glazed carrots are not only perfect for Easter and Thanksgiving but also make a fantastic addition to your Christmas dinner spread. Their vibrant color and comforting flavors are truly versatile for any seasonal celebration or even a simple weeknight meal when you want to feel a little fancy without the fuss.

Choosing Your Carrots for the Best Glaze

It all starts with these beautiful carrots. You can use petite carrots for a charming presentation, which often require less prep work. Alternatively, jumbo carrots work wonderfully; simply cut them down the center lengthwise, then into smaller pieces if desired, ensuring they are uniform in size for even roasting. Whether you opt for classic orange carrots or the visually stunning tri-colored varieties, the choice is yours, friend. Just make sure they’re fresh and firm for the best texture and flavor.

Mastering Brown Butter: The Secret Ingredient

While your oven preheats, we’ll dive into the magical process of making brown butter, also known as *beurre noisette*. This technique transforms ordinary butter into a nutty, aromatic elixir that provides an unparalleled depth of flavor. Toss the butter into a small saucepan and just let it brown gently. This simple step is what elevates these honey glazed carrots from good to absolutely unforgettable. Here are a couple of crucial things to remember when making brown butter:

Choose the Right Pan: Always use a stainless steel or light-colored saucepan. This is vital because it allows you to easily monitor the color of the butter as it browns. A dark pan can make it difficult to distinguish between perfectly golden-brown and burnt, a very fine line!
Low and Slow is the Way to Go: Resist the urge to crank up the heat. Browning butter slowly and steadily ensures even cooking and allows the milk solids to toast without scorching. Patience is key here.
Stir or Whisk Constantly: You absolutely do not want to stop stirring! Brown butter can go from an oh-so-beautiful golden-amber to completely burnt in a matter of seconds. Constant stirring prevents the milk solids from sticking to the bottom and burning, ensuring a uniform nutty flavor.
Trust Your Senses: Smell for that distinctive ‘nutty’ scent, reminiscent of hazelnuts. Visually, look for the color to be a rich golden-brown, similar to toasted hazelnuts. You’ll notice the butter foaming, which is normal. Keep stirring until the foam subsides slightly and you see the browned bits at the bottom.

This process typically takes anywhere from 5 to 14 minutes, depending on the heat and the quality of your butter. Higher quality butter often contains less water, allowing it to brown a bit quicker. Once you achieve that perfect hazelnut aroma and color, immediately remove the saucepan from the stove to halt the cooking process.

Crafting the Irresistible Glaze

When the butter is done browning, swiftly remove it off the stove to prevent further cooking. Then, stir in the honey, salt, black pepper, fresh or dried thyme, and a hint of garlic powder. The warmth of the brown butter will beautifully meld with the honey, creating a smooth, aromatic glaze. The garlic powder adds a subtle savory note that perfectly balances the sweetness of the honey, while thyme infuses an earthy, herbaceous freshness.

Once your glaze is perfectly combined, simply drizzle it all over your prepared carrots. Using a rubber spatula or your hands, give the carrots a quick, gentle massage to ensure every single piece is evenly coated in that rich, golden glaze. This ensures maximum flavor distribution and a consistent roast.

Roasting Carrots to Tender Perfection

After the carrots are thoroughly coated, transfer them to a baking sheet, ideally in a single layer to promote even cooking and slight caramelization. Into the preheated oven they go! Just give them a flip halfway through the roasting time to ensure they cook evenly and develop a beautiful caramelization on all sides. This usually means checking around the 12-15 minute mark for a total roasting time of 25-40 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your carrots. The carrots are done when they are fork-tender and slightly browned at the edges. The most delicious honey glazed carrots are ready to be devoured! This is quite possibly the easiest, yet most impressive, thing you’ll make this Thanksgiving, Easter, or any dinner celebration.

Flavor Variations and Serving Suggestions

One important thing to note: you can easily swap the honey with maple syrup if you prefer that flavor profile. Maple syrup offers a slightly different, equally delicious sweetness that pairs wonderfully with brown butter and roasted carrots. You really can’t go wrong either way! For an extra burst of freshness and color, consider finishing your brown butter honey glazed carrots with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley just before serving. Other variations include adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a warmer, spicier twist, or even a tiny dash of cayenne pepper for a subtle heat that complements the sweetness beautifully. These carrots pair wonderfully with roasted meats like turkey, chicken, or ham, and also make a fantastic accompaniment to vegetarian main courses. Their vibrant flavor and elegant presentation make them a welcome addition to any plate.

This zippy quick post celebrates zippy quick roasted carrots, exquisitely smothered in a homemade brown butter and honey glaze! It’s an ode to simplicity meeting gourmet, a testament to how a few quality ingredients and a little technique can create something truly spectacular.

ADD THIS TO THE T-DAY MENU STAT. You won’t regret it!

Yield: 6-8 servings

Brown Butter Honey-Glazed Carrots

Prep Time
5 minutes

Cook Time
35 minutes

Total Time
40 minutes

Ingredients

1 1/4 pound carrots ( I used petite carrots. For regular carrots cut down the center)
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt + black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme (or 1/4 teaspoon dried)
chopped parsley for serving

Instructions

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 375ºF. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Place the carrots on top and set aside.
Heat the butter in a small stainless steel saucepan over low heat. Stainless steel pan allows you to monitor the color better than a colored nonstick saucepan. Allow the butter to brown while whisking constantly. You’ll notice it’ll start to foam but keep going. This will take anywhere from 5-14 minutes total to make brown butter. Usually, better quality butter has less water, which means it would brown quicker. Remove the saucepan from the stove when the butter smells like hazelnuts and has a similar color.
Add the honey, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and thyme to the butter and stir until the honey blends with the brown butter.
Drizzle over carrots and using a rubber spatula, toss to coat. Bake the carrots for 25-40 minutes. check the carrots and flip around the 12-15 minute mark. The carrots are done when fork tender. Top with chopped parsley and serve warm.

Have you made this recipe?

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #LITTLESPICEJAR, I’d love to see what you made!