These delicious maple glazed carrots make a wonderful side dish that is quick and easy for weeknight dinners and classy enough for a holiday dinner. They are made with just a handful of simple ingredients and are both naturally gluten free and vegan making them a great choice when hosting people with mixed dietary needs. And the best part is it only takes about 5 minutes of prep!
The subtle sweetness of the maple syrup plays wonderfully with a little seasoning and the natural sweetness of carrots that comes from oven roasting. It makes a perfect side dish for some of my favorite dinner recipes like my roast chicken, crispy baked chicken or Mississippi pot roast. I know your whole family will love this easy side dish recipe!
If you're looking for more mouth watering gluten free side dishes, I recommend my homemade mashed potatoes or my favorite green beans and bacon.
Ingredient Notes
This easy roasted carrots recipe uses simple ingredients which you may already have on hand.
- Olive Oil - I always use Extra Virgin Olive Oil for my cooking and baking recipes. However, any light flavored cooking oil will work fine here. If you prefer vegetable oil, coconut oil or even avocado oil - go for it!
- Real Maple Syrup - I recommend buying the best pure maple syrup you can afford since it is the major flavor profile of this dish.
- Fresh Carrots - Use either large whole carrots, rainbow carrots, or baby carrots for this recipe, but they must be raw carrots. Frozen carrots will not yield the same results. If you use baby carrots it won't be necessary to cut them in half. You will need about 2 pounds of carrots for 4 servings.
See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- No Maple Syrup - Swap it for honey or agave syrup. The flavor won't be the same but it will still be tasty.
- Seasoning Swap - Add a pinch of cinnamon or red pepper flakes for a little extra zing of flavor.
- Add some nuts or cheese (if you're not dairy free). I think pecans or walnuts would be delicious with these roasted carrots.
- Replace the fresh parsley with fresh thyme or rosemary for a nice herb flavor.
How to Make Maple Glazed Carrots
This is a simple recipe for making carrots in the oven that only requires a couple of minutes of hands on work. It's perfect for a beginning cook - if you can slice carrots you can make this dish. Line your baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper to make for easy cleanup.
STEP 1: Combine olive oil, maple syrup, salt and black pepper in a small bowl. Stir together.
STEP 2: Glaze the carrots with the maple syrup mixture and spread them in an even layer on your baking sheet. Make sure to leave space between the carrots to get nice caramelization.
Expert Tip
If your carrots are too crowded on the baking sheet you will get a steam affect. The carrots will be soft but lack in the roasted color and flavor and crispy edges.
Storage
Store leftover carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven at 375°F or in a skillet to restore some caramelization. The microwave will work fine, but the texture will be different.
They also make a delicious addition to pureed soups, like my butternut squash and apple soup.
More delicious side dish recipes to try:
If you try this recipe, please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the comments below.
Recipe
Maple Glazed Carrots
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Carrots scrubbed, trimmed and cut in half lengthwise
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- Fresh Parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat to 425 °F (218 °C) Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.2 Tablespoons Olive Oil, 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup, ½ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- Drizzle the carrots with the maple glaze and toss until evenly coated. Spread the carrots into a single layer on the prepared baking sheet leaving space between the carrots.2 pounds Carrots
- Roast for 30 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until the carrots are tender and deeply caramelized at the edges. Check the carrots around the 25 minute mark for doneness.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.Fresh Parsley
Notes
Tiffany is the recipe developer, stylist and food photographer behind Well Fed Baker. As a lifelong baker who had to go gluten free and dairy free in 2016, Tiffany strives to share allergen friendly recipes that never feel like they are free from anything.
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