Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe (2024)

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posted by Jenniferon Sep 14, 202360 comments »

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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 make steamed carrots on the stovetop?

Yes, you can steam carrots in a pan with all the same ingredients.

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

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Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe (12)

4.59 from 297 ratings

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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

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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

What cooking method is best for carrots? ›

Roasting really brings out carrots' best qualities. To make them, just toss carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake until they're golden on the edges and tender throughout. Serve these simple roasted carrots with traditional or heavy main dishes, like standard Thanksgiving fare, lasagna or mac and cheese.

How to make 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.

What should I season carrots with? ›

Seasoning carrots is a great way to help bring out their flavor. For a simple and versatile seasoning, stick with salt, pepper, and garlic. For an herbier taste, add rosemary, parsley, cumin, or coriander. Or, to bring out their fresh, woody flavor, add some anise.

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!

Is it better to boil or roast carrots? ›

Roasted carrots have the best texture, and the flavor is amazing. Roasting draws out the natural sweetness and you get a nice caramelized flavor. They're so much better than boiled carrots! Roasting is also easy; it's hard to overcook a roasted vegetable: if it gets too done, it's clearly burned.

What makes carrots taste better? ›

#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!

What not to mix carrots with? ›

Mixing carrots and oranges can be very dangerous. This mix has been known to cause heartburn and kidney damage.

How does Jamie Oliver cook carrots? ›

Scrub and trim the carrots, leaving a little of the green tops on. Parboil in a pan of boiling salted water for 5 minutes, then drain and tip into a large roasting tray. Drizzle over 1 tablespoon of oil, season with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then toss to coat and roast for 1 hour.

What brings out the carrot flavor? ›

Carrots are naturally sweet, cutting them doesn't affect the flavor. If you want them even sweeter, roasting is a good option. Toss them with some oil, and something sweet- maple syrup, orange juice or even a little honey. Then roast in a hot oven.

What brings out the sweetness in carrots? ›

“When the vegetable is cut, its cells rupture and release sugars and volatile hydrocarbons, the sources of the vegetables' sweetness and aroma,” he writes. "The more cells you rupture, the better the taste.”

Can you perk up carrots? ›

But if your carrot has gone limp, it can easily be revived by soaking it in water. Research by the University of Otago found that carrots will last 10 times longer if you store them in the fridge in an airtight container with a paper towel on the bottom.

What to eat with glazed carrots? ›

What to serve with glazed carrots. Glazed carrots will pair beautifully with most non-Asian meals though I wouldn't use them with mains with a sweet sauce – too much sugar. It would be ideal to pop in the oven at the same time as this Baked Chicken Breast or Roast Chicken, or this Roast Pork with Crispy Crackling.

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 makes rainbow carrots? ›

Anthocyanins are water-soluble flavonoid compounds and confer red, blue, and purple pigmentation to plants. In addition to their important roles in plants, they are also beneficial human nutrients. Nonpurple carrots are considered to have arisen from purple carrots that acquired mutations.

Are carrots better raw or steamed? ›

Raw carrots are rich in fiber, which helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and cooked carrots release carotenoids, compounds the body converts to vitamin A to help ward off infections and support a healthy immune system, notes Andres Ardisson Korat, a scientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition ...

What is the best method of cooking vegetables? ›

Steaming veggies can preserve nutrients, color, shape, and texture, without having to add any unnecessary fats through ingredients like oils or butter. To steam, place food into a steam basket and cover over simmering water. Since food is not directly touching the water, vegetables retain more of their nutrients.

Would boiling or steaming be better to cook finely diced carrots? ›

It depends what you are doing with them. If serving as a vegetable side dish, I suggest you steam them lightly (just a Blanche) and then saute them in butter with fresh thyme salt and pepper. I think the only time I boil carrots is for a stick or when simmering in a stew or something.

What methods are good for cooking vegetables? ›

Here are our favourite methods of cooking vegetables, along with some simple yet tasty recipes that make the most of these techniques.
  • Boiling. Boiling is fast and easy to control. ...
  • Steaming. Steaming vegetables is the best way of retaining flavour, colour and vital nutrients. ...
  • Blanching. ...
  • Roasting. ...
  • Stir-frying. ...
  • Griddling.

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