Posted Feb 26, 2020, Updated Apr 23, 2024 Roasted carrots are so delicious, that when they come out of the oven I have to harness all my self-control so I don’t devour the whole pan before dinner. I call them “vegetable candy,” even though the only sweetness comes from the natural sweetness of the carrots (also try these honey roasted carrots). This oven roasted carrots recipe pairs well with any main dish, especially balsamic pot roast or homemade mac and cheese! Peeling and cutting the carrots before roasting decreases the baking time which means they’re ready fast. These baked carrots are a kid-friendly side dish, and even make a great finger food (cut into small pieces) for babies.
Roasted Carrots Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions
As always, let’s chat about the ingredients in this baked carrots recipe, as well as possible substitutions!
Carrots. I prefer using whole, organic carrots to make this roasted carrots recipe. Rainbow carrots are also fun to use for a colorful carrot side dish! Olive Oil. Any neutral oil, such as canola oil or avocado oil, works well in this recipe. I also love using flavor-infused olive oils (like garlic or herb olive oil), for extra flavor! Sea Salt. Use pure, fine sea salt for the best results! Paprika. Both regular and smoked paprika taste amazing in this oven roasted carrots recipe! Garlic Powder. Granulated garlic also works well! Black Pepper. Use freshly ground black pepper for the best results!
How to Roast Carrots in the Oven
These oven roasted carrots are so easy to make! We’ll walk through the process step by step to ensure your success. Begin this recipe by peeling the carrots. We prefer to roast them in thick slices so they cook faster. You can roast them in larger pieces or even whole, but you will have to increase the cooking time. Preheat the oven, then in a small bowl, mix together garlic powder, sea salt, paprika and black pepper. Set aside. Mixing the spices together ensures they are evenly distributed on the roasted carrots! Next, put the peeled & cut carrots in a large bowl, drizzle with olive oil and stir until evenly coated. Then, sprinkle half of the spice mixture over the carrots, stir and repeat with the second half and stir until evenly distributed. Next, spread the seasoned carrots evenly on a lightly greased baking sheet. Be sure they are in a single layer so they roast evenly.
Roast
Roast at 450 degrees for 15-25 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
Serve
Once the baked carrots are roasted to a golden-brown perfection, remove them from the oven and serve immediately. Feel free to garnish with some chopped carrot tops, chopped fresh rosemary or parsley. These baked carrots go with just about any and every main dish you can think of, and they also compliment other side dishes to round out a meal!
Serve on the side of this balsamic pot roast or these healthy sloppy Joes. They pair perfectly with mac and cheese recipes – like this spaghetti squash mac and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, and vegetable mac and cheese! Oven roasted carrots go well with other vegetable side dishes too. Try these roasted Brussels sprouts, parmesan roasted green beans, roasted beets, sautéed green beans, and roasted broccoli!
Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
