Name: Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 pounds carrots (peeled); ¼ cup honey; 3 garlic cloves (minced); 2 tablespoons melted butter or ghee; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; ½ teaspoon ground ginger; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; parsley, thyme or other herbs for garnish (optional)

There's something beautifully simple about this side dish—the sweet, sticky honey glaze paired with perfectly roasted carrots makes it a standout. The Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots Recipe combines warmth, comfort, and a touch of elegance that's easy to achieve in your own kitchen.

A white bowl filled with cooked carrot pieces that are cut into thick slices and small sticks, showing a shiny, slightly glazed orange surface. On top, small green parsley leaves are scattered, adding a fresh touch of color. The bowl is placed on a white marbled surface with a few fresh parsley branches nearby. The lighting is bright, highlighting the carrots' glossy texture and the contrast between the carrots and the fresh herbs. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made this Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots Recipe countless times and it never fails to impress. Whether it's a quick weeknight side or part of a festive meal, these carrots always bring a little magic to the plate.

Simple Yet Flavorful: The balance of honey, warm spices, and garlic transforms ordinary carrots into something special.
Quick and Easy: It takes just about 25 minutes from start to finish—perfect when you're short on time.
Versatile: Great for everyday dinners or holiday spreads, and you can tweak it to match your taste.
Beautiful Presentation: The glaze caramelizes just right, creating a glossy finish that’s as pretty as it is delicious.

The image shows a silver baking tray filled with sliced carrots that have been roasted. The carrots are cut into oblique pieces, some round and some with sharp angled ends, displaying a bright orange color with slightly darker roasted edges. The tray has brown roasted bits and some oily spots scattered unevenly across its surface. In the top part of the tray, a black spatula rests on the edge. The tray is placed on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays a starring role here, coming together to elevate a humble vegetable into a delicious side. A few tips when buying: look for fresh, firm carrots and good-quality honey—you'll taste the difference!

Flat lay of fresh whole peeled carrots with bright orange skin, three uncracked garlic cloves with smooth white papery skins, a small white ceramic bowl filled with golden honey, another small white bowl holding melted yellow butter, a small white bowl containing clear golden olive oil, a tiny white bowl with warm brown ground cinnamon, a tiny white bowl with pale beige ground ginger, a tiny white bowl with fine white salt, a tiny white bowl with freshly ground black pepper, and a small bunch of fresh green parsley and thyme sprigs arranged neatly, all placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Carrots: Fresh, peeled, and sliced on the diagonal to maximize surface area for roasting and glazing.
Honey: Creates that natural sweetness and sticky glaze; raw honey offers more floral notes if you want to experiment.
Garlic cloves: Minced finely to infuse subtle savory depth without overpowering.
Melted butter or ghee: Adds richness and helps caramelize the carrots beautifully; ghee amps the nutty flavor.
Olive oil: Boosts roast quality and helps everything crisp just right.
Cinnamon: Adds warm earthiness, making the flavor profile intriguing and cozy.
Ground ginger: Provides a gentle zing that balances the sweetness.
Salt & black pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance all the other flavors.
Parsley, thyme or other herbs: Optional finishing touch for freshness and color.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love mixing it up now and then, whether it's adding a pinch of smoked paprika for smoky warmth or tossing in fresh rosemary when I want an extra herby punch. You should definitely make it your own—it’s so forgiving and adaptable!

Variation: One of my favorite tweaks is swapping cinnamon for nutmeg or adding a splash of orange juice to the glaze for a citrusy kick—it’s a hit every time.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots Recipe

Step 1: Prep the Carrots

Start by peeling your carrots, then slice them at a diagonal about 1 to 1.5 inches long. If the carrots are thick, I cut them in half lengthwise first—it helps them roast evenly and caramelize beautifully.

Step 2: Toss with the Glaze

In a bowl, mix together the honey, minced garlic, melted butter or ghee, olive oil, and your spices. Add the carrot pieces and toss everything well—coating every slice gives you that perfect honey glaze without any clumps.

Step 3: Roast to Perfection

Spread the coated carrots out on a baking sheet in a single layer to ensure even roasting. Pop them into a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, giving them a good toss halfway through. If you want a little extra caramelization, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end—but watch closely so they don't burn.

Step 4: Garnish and Serve

Once roasted, transfer your honey glazed carrots to a serving dish. I like to sprinkle on fresh chopped parsley or thyme for a pop of color and herbaceous aroma.

Top Tip

From my many times making this recipe, some little tweaks made a huge difference in the final dish. These tips will help you get those perfectly glossy, caramelized carrots every time.

Slice Consistently: Cutting the carrots evenly ensures they cook uniformly, so you don’t end up with some mushy and some crunchy pieces.
Use Melted Butter or Ghee: This adds a richer flavor and helps caramelization far better than olive oil alone.
Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Give the carrots room on the baking sheet so they roast instead of steam.
Watch the Broil: The broiler can turn your carrots from golden to burnt in seconds, so keep a close eye if you use this step.

How to Serve Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots Recipe

honey glazed carrots - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I almost always finish with fresh herbs—parsley or thyme is my go-to for brightness. Sometimes I add a sprinkle of toasted nuts like almonds or pecans for a little crunch and extra texture.

Side Dishes

This Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots Recipe pairs beautifully with roasted chicken, grilled steak, or even a hearty lentil stew. It’s a versatile companion that brightens any main course!

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ll arrange the carrots on a platter in a fanned-out pattern and scatter edible flowers or microgreens on top. It really elevates the look and gives guests something to wow over before the first bite.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When refrigerated, the glaze firms up, so you might want to gently reheat before eating to bring back that glossy finish.

Freezing

While you can freeze roasted carrots, I find freezing affects the texture a bit—making them softer once thawed. If you do freeze, use them within a month and thaw slowly in the fridge.

Reheating

To reheat, I spread the carrots out on a baking sheet and pop them into a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes. This warms them through and revives the caramelized edges better than the microwave.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use frozen carrots for this recipe?

Frozen carrots tend to release extra water when roasted, which can make the glaze less sticky and the carrots softer. For best results, use fresh carrots.

How do I keep the honey glaze from burning?

Mixing the honey with butter and oil dilutes its sweetness and helps prevent burning. Also, roasting at a higher temperature for a shorter time and watching closely during broiling helps avoid this problem.

Can I make this recipe vegan?

Absolutely! Just swap the butter or ghee for a plant-based alternative like vegan butter or extra olive oil, and you’re all set for a vegan-friendly honey glazed carrot dish.

What herbs work best as a garnish?

Fresh parsley and thyme are classic choices that complement the sweet and warm spices well. Rosemary is also a lovely option if you prefer a bolder herbal note.

Final Thoughts

This Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen repertoire—it’s an effortless way to add a gourmet touch to meals without fuss. I hope you give it a try because the sweet warmth and gorgeous caramelization really bring carrots to life, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it just as much as I do.