Roasted Carrots Honey Thyme (Printable Version)
Sweet, caramelized carrots roasted with honey and fresh thyme for a flavorful, vibrant side dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1.5 lbs carrots, peeled and cut into sticks or rounds
→ Seasonings & Oil
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tbsp honey
04 - 1 tsp sea salt
05 - 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Fresh Herbs
06 - 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, plus extra for garnish
# Step-by-Step:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Arrange the carrots on the prepared baking sheet and drizzle evenly with olive oil and honey.
03 - Sprinkle the carrots with sea salt, black pepper, and fresh thyme leaves. Toss thoroughly to ensure even coating, then spread them out in a single layer.
04 - Roast in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the carrots are tender and caramelized along the edges.
05 - Transfer the roasted carrots to a serving platter, garnish with additional thyme, and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Carrots become naturally sweet and jammy without any fussy technique or special ingredients.
- The whole thing takes less time than it takes to roast a chicken, leaving you with something genuinely impressive.
- It works as a weeknight side or brings real elegance to a dinner party because nobody expects roasted carrots to taste this good.
02 -
- Don't skip the halfway stir—it's the difference between carrots that are evenly caramelized and ones with pale sides.
- If your carrots are thick, cut them lengthwise into thinner spears so they cook through before the outside burns.
03 -
- Let the carrots sit undisturbed for the first 15 minutes so the bottoms make real contact with the hot pan and get those gorgeous caramelized edges.
- Save the cooking liquid if any pools in the bottom of the pan—it's pure carrot essence and makes an incredible base for a simple sauce or vinaigrette.