Easy Oven Roasted Carrots

These easy oven roasted carrots are a healthy family friendly side dish recipe that go with just about any meal! Sweet carrots are baked with olive oil and just a touch of honey for a very slightly sweet vegetable with perfectly crispy edges that are perfectly tender inside.

Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe

I grew up eating carrots that were canned…and soft and mushy. I have to admit that I have never been a fan of cooked carrots as long as I have eaten them that way. That is until I discovered easy oven roasted carrots!

I first started making roasted carrots when they came with the recipes in some of the meal kits that I order on occasion. I honestly didn’t think I would be a fan, but the first time roasting carrots I was sold.

Roasting carrots in the oven brings out a natural sweetness in the vegetable and leaves you with the perfect texture. They are crispy on the edges and the insides are beautifully soft and tender. It’s the perfect bite!

You aren’t limited to just the oven though. Air Fryer Carrot Fries produce a similarly awesome texture and flavor and they bake faster and you don’t have to heat your kitchen.

Cheap Easy Side Dish

Another great part of this easy vegetable side dish, is that it is one of the most affordable vegetables you can make for your family. You can get a two pound bag of carrots for about $2. Add in a drizzle of olive oil, honey, salt and pepper and you have a delicious side dish to feed six people for less than three dollars!

If you have a garden, you can grow them for even less. They also store well, so unlike many garden vegetables, you can extend the life of your crop for months by storing them properly.

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How to roast carrots in the oven

To make oven roasted carrots, wash and peel large carrots from your garden or the grocery store. Slice them on the diagonal into 1/4 inch thick pieces. Toss the carrots with the following ingredients until they are well coated,

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• dash of black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon honey

Spready your seasoned carrots on a baking sheet. Be sure to spread them out well and not leave them piled up or they won’t roast as nicely and give the crispy edges.

How long to roast carrots

I like to roast my carrots in the oven on a high temperature so they get the crispy edges that I love so much. I preheat my oven to 450F and bake the carrots for 20 minutes.

The time that you cook your carrots will depend on how thick you cut your carrot slices. I like a 1/4 inch thick piece of carrot because it allows the outside to caramelize while cooking the center through.

If you cut your carrots too large, the outside may burn before the inside is soft. Conversely, if you cut them too thin, they will be mostly crispy and not have any soft centers. They are more like a chip in that case, which isn’t all bad either.

Whatever size you decide to cut your carrots, just be sure to cut them into even sizes. If you cut some big and some small, you will be left with some raw carrots and some burnt pieces.

What to serve with oven baked carrots

The beauty of these easy oven roasted carrots is that they go with just about any protein for an easy family friendly dinner. A nice piece of grilled meat, pasta dishes, or even some quick Air Fryer chicken strips are all great with this slightly sweet vegetable.

I recently made these with Traeger Smoked Pork Loin and Butter Swim Biscuits and everyone was raving over the meal. Here are a few more dinner ideas that pair wonderfully with these honey roasted carrots.

• Easy Greek Freak Meatballs
• Hot Ham & Cheese Rollups
• Buttery Tuna Rice Muffins
• Grilled Lemon Chicken Skillet
• Brown Butter Sausage Penne Pasta

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Do you have to use honey?

If you want to keep this recipe as low-carb as possible or compliant with keto, paleo or whole 30, then you can definitely leave out the honey. The small touch of honey just helps highlight the natural sweetness of the carrots, but they are still beautifully sweet and delicious without it as well.

I like them both ways, but I find that my kids are more likely to gobble up the roasted carrots with that little addition of honey.

More easy roasted vegetable side dishes

If you love the ease and simplicity of these oven roasted carrots, you should give these Honey Roasted Beets & Carrots a try as well if you are a beet fan. If you are looking for more simple and delicious side dish vegetable recipes, check out some of these great ideas.

• Roasted Potatoes & Green Beans
• Roasted Lemon Broccoli
• Perfectly Roasted Green Beans
• Roasted Dijon Root Vegetables
• Best Roasted Asparagus
• Roasted Cabbage with Bacon