Sheet Pan Honey Glazed Carrots
Whole carrots roasted with honey, butter, and thyme until caramelized and fork-tender with zero effort.
Honey-Glazed Carrots (Whole or Halved)
2 lb whole medium carrots or halved lengthwise, tossed with 3 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp butter, salt, in a single layer
sheet-pan Timer
Set for 25 mins @ 400°F (204°C) (Flip at 15m)
Ingredients
Base recipe calibrated for 4 adults.
Get to the Point Execution
Preheat oven to 400°F. Peel 2 lbs carrots and halve lengthwise.
Toss carrots with 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, and pepper on a parchment-lined sheet pan.
Roast 15 minutes, flip, then drizzle with honey-butter glaze and roast 10 more minutes.
Remove when edges are caramelized and carrots are fork-tender. Garnish with fresh thyme.
Step-by-Step Guided Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Peel 2 lbs carrots and halve lengthwise. If any carrots are very thick, quarter them so all pieces are roughly the same size. Toss with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
Cutting the carrots to uniform thickness is the key to even roasting. Thick and thin pieces in the same pan means some burn while others stay raw.
Spread carrots cut-side down in a single layer on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Roast for 15 minutes until the bottoms start to develop golden color.
Placing the cut side down maximizes the flat surface contact with the hot pan for the best caramelization.
While carrots roast, melt 2 tbsp butter in a small saucepan. Stir in 2 tbsp honey and 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves. Flip the carrots, drizzle the honey-butter glaze over top, and roast 10 more minutes until caramelized and fork-tender.
The honey can burn quickly at high heat, so adding the glaze for only the last 10 minutes gives you caramelization without bitterness.
This is the side dish that converts carrot haters. The honey glaze caramelizes into candy-like edges while the inside stays tender. Even the kids will ask for seconds.
Skip the thyme if kids do not like visible herbs. The honey-butter glaze alone is usually enough to win them over.
- Roasted whole chicken
- Pan-seared pork chops
- Grilled steak
Reheat on a sheet pan at 375°F for 5 minutes. Microwaving works but the edges lose their crispness.