Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe (2024)

Home » Holiday » Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe

posted by Jenniferon Sep 14, 202360 comments »

Jump to Recipe

This tasty and tender Glazed Carrots Recipe is the perfect go-to side dish, especially during the holidays. It’s made with only 4 simple ingredients and is ready in less than 10 minutes!

Need more side dish recipes? Make some Green Beans, Asparagus, Corn on the Cob, and Crispy Parmesan Zucchini in the air fryer!

Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe (1)

Why You’ll Love Them!

  • Simple recipe. This recipe uses only a few ingredients, cooks quickly, and goes with a wide variety of dishes.
  • Hands-off cooking! Using your Instant Pot means you are free to do other things while they cook!
  • A kid-friendly side dish to persuade them to eat their veggies.
  • A tasty way to enjoy carrots. Everyone will be asking for seconds on this one!

I’ve been making these carrots for YEARS. I make them all year-around and my family loves them!

~ Brenda
Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe (2)

Ingredients

All you need are four simple ingredients to make great-tasting brown sugar carrots. Here’s a look at the ingredients, check the recipe card for the quantities of each.

  • Baby carrots: You can use fresh or frozen carrots. Fresh garden carrots will cook faster than store-bought carrots.
  • Butter:I like to use unsalted butter so I can control the saltiness, but any butter will do.
  • Salt: Just a dash of salt to bring out the flavor of the carrots. If you’re using salted butter you might want to taste the carrots before adding it.
  • Brown sugar: Brown sugar has more flavor than regular sugar and is the best part of these carrots.
  • Ground cinnamon: This is the “secret” ingredient that makes these carrots the best.
  • Water: Just a little water is needed but enough water needs to be used so that the Instant Pot doesn’t give you a “burn” message.

Tips & Variations

  • Swap the brown sugar. You can use maple syrup or honey with great results.
  • Mix things up. Add more root vegetables such as parsnips, potatoes, and golden beets all work well!
  • Add nuts. Sprinkle the carrots with some pecans or walnuts just before serving.
  • Release the pressure right away. Don’t let your pressure cooker release the steam naturally, this will result in overcooked carrots.

How To Make Instant Pot Carrots

Making Instant pot carrots requires just a few easy steps to make. Let’s get started cooking!

Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe (3)

How To Make Glazed Carrots

  1. Place.The carrots into the Instant Pot.
  2. Add. The butter, salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, and water to the pot.
  3. Cover. The Instant Pot and make sure the vent on the top of the cover is set to “Sealing”.
  4. Cook. Under high pressure for four minutes and then release the pressure and vent right away.
  5. Stir. The carrots together and serve.

What To Serve With Carrots

  • Dinner. Instant pot glazed carrots go great with all types of main dishes. Enjoy them with Pork Tenderloin, air fryer steak bites, crockpot Mississippi pot roast, or boneless ham.
  • Side Dishes. Combine it with other family-favorite sides to create amazing meals. Try these air fryer baby potatoes, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, or hash brown casserole.
  • Dessert. Make dinnertime special with a tasty dessert. We love this pineapple cobbler and cinnamon cake.
Crockpot Mississippi Pot Roast
Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole with Corn Flakes
Cinnamon Cake
Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe (7)

Recipe FAQ

Do I need a steamer basket?

No, you don’t need a steamer basket to make glazed carrots in your Instant Pot.

Can I use regular carrots instead of baby carrots?

Yes you can. Just make sure the carrots are cut into similar-sized pieces. This will ensure they cook in an even amount of time.

Can I make glazed carrots in advance?

You can though this dish goes together quite quickly so it may not be necessary. If you decide you want to make these carrots ahead of time you can, I would suggest only a day ahead. Once cooked, cool them and then store in an air-tight container in the fridge. Reheat on the stove with two tablespoons of butter.

Leftovers & Storing

  • Store. Leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. I do not recommend freezing them.
  • Reheat. In a pan on the stove or the microwave. You may want to add a bit of water if they seem dry and cook until heated through.
Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe (8)

More Side Dish Recipes

  • Cucumber Tomato Salad
  • BLT Pasta Salad
  • Air Fryer Zucchini
  • Fruit Salad
Air Fryer Zucchini
Air Fryer Asparagus
How To Blanch Green Beans

More sprinkles, please! Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly meal planning. Follow on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for fun behind the scenes, mom life, and the newest recipes!

Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe (12)

4.59 from 297 ratings

Leave a Review

Servings: 6 servings

Glazed Carrots Recipe (In Instant Pot)

Prep Time: 2 minutes mins

Cook Time: 4 minutes mins

Total Time: 6 minutes mins

Brown sugar carrots only use simple ingredients and they only take less than 10 minutes to make. Perfect holiday side dish that everyone will love.

Print RecipePin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. baby carrots
  • cup butter
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • cup brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup water

Instructions

  • Place carrots into the Instant Pot.

  • Add butter, salt, brown sugar, cinnamon and water.

  • Cover the pot and make sure the vent on the top of the cover is set to "Sealing".

  • Press the "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" button. Set the timer for 4 minutes.

  • Once the carrots are done cooking, switch the vent to "Venting".

  • Stir carrots and serve.

Notes

  • Make Ahead. If you want to make these carrots ahead of time you can, I would suggest only a day ahead. Store them in an air-tight container in the fridge.
  • Reheat. Place them into a pan with about 2 Tablespoons of butter, and cook until heated through.
  • Store. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a pan on the stove.
  • Swap the brown sugar. You can use maple syrup or honey with great results.
  • Mix things up. Add more root vegetables such as parsnips, potatoes, and golden beets all work well!
  • Add nuts. Sprinkle the carrots with some pecans or walnuts just before serving.
  • Release the pressure right away. Don’t let your pressure cooker release the steam naturally, this will result in overcooked carrots.

Calories: 190kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 27mg, Sodium: 397mg, Potassium: 378mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 21166IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 64mg, Iron: 1mg

Cuisine: American

Course: Side Dish

Author: Jennifer

Tried this recipe?Mention @deliciouslysprinkled on Instagram or tag #deliciouslysprinkled.

Christmas Easter Holiday Instant Pot Side Dishes Thanksgiving

published on Sep 14, 2023

60 comments Leave a comment »

« Previous Post Chef Salad Recipe

Next Post » Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze

Leave a Reply

60 comments on “Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe”

  1. Robin Reply

    is there a time difference if carrots are frozen?

    • Jennifer Reply

      If the carrots are frozen add a few minutes until done.

  2. Julie Fisher Reply

    Great recipe. I do 7 min. on timer.
    Love these. Even the dog loves them.

    • Jennifer Reply

      Our dog loves these too! 🙂

  3. Jessie Reply

    Can you use 1lb of carrots and half this with everything?

    • Jennifer Reply

      Yes! 🙂

  4. menta Reply

    Yay! I never thought of getting my son to eat his carrots by adding cinnamon and butter until now!

Leave a comment »

Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you boil carrots before roasting? ›

Roasting Tips

Parboiling skin-on carrots and parsnips lets you soften them without them losing too much moisture. Follow up by browning in a 375°F (190°C) oven for about 40 minutes.

How many minutes does it take to soften carrots? ›

Here's how long to cook carrots on the stove top depending on how they're cut: 7 to 9 minutes for ¼-inch slices. 4 to 6 minutes for strips. 8 to 10 minutes for baby carrots.

What are glazed carrots made of? ›

Glazed carrots coated in a mixture of brown sugar and butter are a versatile side dish you can serve alongside a weeknight meatloaf, a Sunday ham, or your Thanksgiving turkey. These caramelized carrots are a definite kid-pleaser but they're elegant enough to impress the adults as well!

How do you cook Gordon Ramsay carrots? ›

Cooking instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan, then add the carrots and parsnips and toss to coat in the oil. Add the thyme, cinnamon, star anise and some seasoning. Cook over a medium heat for 15-20 minutes, turning the vegetables frequently, until golden brown and almost cooked through.

Why won't my carrots soften in the oven? ›

There is, however, a trick to getting roasted carrots right. Undercook them, and the texture is tough and dense. Overcook them, and they're dry and wrinkled. The secret is to soften the carrots slightly by boiling them briefly before roasting.

Should carrots be started in cold or boiling water? ›

According to the Farmer's Almanac, the rule of thumb is as follows: Vegetables that grow above ground (beans, peas, corn) – add to boiling water. Vegetables that grow below ground (root vegetables, potatoes) – start off in cold water.

Is boiling or steaming carrots better? ›

No matter which way you cook them, carrots are a healthy choice. Steaming is a slightly better pick since the carrots don't lose as many of their nutrients to the water. (Steaming is also more environmentally friendly since it uses less water.)

Does microwaving carrots soften them? ›

Microwave the carrots on high for 3-5 minutes or until tender. Cooking times may vary depending on the power of your microwave and the size of the carrot pieces, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking. Higher wattage microwaves will cook the carrots faster, as will smaller carrot pieces.

Does salt water make carrots soft? ›

So, if a carrot is placed in very salty water, it will be less salty than the water around it. This causes the water in the carrot to move out of the carrot and into the salt water. The result is that the carrot becomes limp and tastes saltier than before.

What makes carrots more tasty? ›

#1 Roasted

This is our CSA members' favorite way to enjoy our farm's fresh carrots. Slice or keep them whole if baby sized and toss with salt and pepper as your most basic preparation, or optionally add garlic, dill or honey to change it up. Roast on a baking sheet at 400 degrees until tender. So, so, so sweet!

How long do glazed carrots last in the fridge? ›

Store glazed carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat them on the stovetop with a little added butter or in the microwave. We do not recommend freezing glazed carrots because their texture after defrosting will be mushy and unappealing.

What is the carrot trick frying? ›

The carrot trick, which is as simple as adding pieces of raw, trimmed carrot to your frying oil, could prevent whatever you're frying and the oil itself from burning. When your frying oil doesn't burn away quickly, you won't have to keep adding more to the pan.

Can you soften carrots by frying them? ›

Using cooking spray, spray fry pan and heat to medium. Add carrots and onions, salt and pepper to taste. Cover pan. When carrots and onions start sizzling, turn heat down to low, checking often and turning so they cook thoroughly or to your desired tenderness.

Do you sauté carrots or onions first? ›

From the point of view of logic, you need to put carrots in the pan first, because it is harder, which means it takes longer to cook. However, professionals unanimously say that the bow should be sautéed first.

Do you need to boil vegetables before roasting? ›

When roasting vegetables, they sometimes burn before they get tender. Blanching veggies before roasting them allows them to caramelize a bit without burning.

Is it necessary to boil carrots? ›

It's best to cook carrots for the shortest time possible to preserve their nutritional value. Boiling, in particular, may lower some of the antioxidant activity in carrots and nutrients like vitamin C. But it makes it easier for the body to absorb the carotene in them.

Why are my roast carrots soggy? ›

There are several reasons why your roasted vegetables may be turning out soggy: The oven temperature was too low. In most cases, you want your oven at 400° or 425°F. The pan was too crowded.

Why aren't my carrots roasting? ›

The best temperature for roasting most vegetables is 400 degrees F. It's hot enough to caramelize the vegetables, but not so hot the outsides char before the insides are tender. Don't Crowd the Pan. If your roasted vegetables aren't crispy, it is likely because you overcrowded the pan.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Last Updated:

Views: 6251

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Birthday: 1998-01-29

Address: Apt. 611 3357 Yong Plain, West Audra, IL 70053

Phone: +5819954278378

Job: Construction Director

Hobby: Embroidery, Creative writing, Shopping, Driving, Stand-up comedy, Coffee roasting, Scrapbooking

Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.