Sweet Carrots with Herbs (Printable)
Caramelized carrots roasted with olive oil and herbs for a sweet, tender side.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into sticks or rounds
→ Oils & Seasonings
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
04 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
05 - 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
→ Optional Garnish
06 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
07 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, toss carrots with olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and thyme until evenly coated.
03 - Spread the carrots in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once halfway through, until tender and lightly caramelized.
05 - Drizzle honey or maple syrup over carrots during the last 5 minutes of roasting for extra sweetness if desired.
06 - Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
# Cooking Tips:
01 -
- Takes 10 minutes to prep and does most of the work while you handle other dishes.
- The carrots caramelize on their own, developing a nutty sweetness that feels indulgent but tastes completely honest.
- Works for weeknight dinners and fancy gatherings without any pretense or fussy steps.
02 -
- Cut your carrots to roughly the same thickness so they finish cooking at the same time—mismatched pieces leave you with some mushy and some undercooked.
- Don't stir constantly; one good toss at the halfway point is enough and prevents the oven from losing heat.
- The caramelization happens in those last few minutes, so resist the urge to pull them out early when they look merely soft.
03 -
- Arrange carrots cut-side down for the first 15 minutes to develop that golden crust, then flip for even browning.
- A tiny drizzle of balsamic or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice in the final minutes transforms them from simple to sophisticated without any extra effort.