Maple Glazed Roasted Carrots

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Maple Glazed Roasted Carrots should definitely be on your holiday table. These are simple, savory, slightly sweetened, and a healthy side dish to go with your big meal.

Roasted Carrots

Holiday spreads are often filled with calorie-laden foods, and while I definitely love some of the indulgences, I always try to keep a few things on the lighter side. I believe that flavor is key, and you can achieve this with just a few simple ingredients.

Why This Recipe Works:

A COLORFUL DISH – I can normally find rainbow carrots in my local Tom Thumb grocery store. This is the perfect side dish for your holiday dinners and it looks amazing on the dinner table.
HEALTHY CARROTS – Thanks to the natural sweetness of the carrots, we only need a light maple glaze for these tender carrots.
PREP AHEAD – You can easily prepare this carrot recipe ahead of time. Complete steps 1-4 and then continue with step five at mealtime. You may need to bake a bit longer than normal if carrots are cold.
DELICIOUS SIDE DISH – These maple syrup carrots are not only simple, but they’re delicious. A sweet and savory flavor (requiring only a handful of ingredients) that even picky eaters will enjoy!

Our holiday table will also include a Smoked Spatchcock Turkey, some Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Crumble, the best Spinach Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing, some Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce, and a creamy French Silk Pie.

Ingredients Needed:

This recipe only requires three ingredients PLUS salt and pepper. So simple!

Multicolor Carrots – For a special occasion, I like to buy whole carrots with stems attached. Multi-colored carrots are a bonus for that pop of color – but are not required. You could use regular carrots (orange) or even baby carrots in this carrot recipe.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Use your favorite brand of extra-virgin olive oil for roasting.
Salt & Pepper – I always use kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper for the best flavor.
PURE Maple Syrup – This will add that slightly sweet taste, and feel free to use more for even more sweetness. If you don’t have real maple syrup, you can use brown sugar in its place, if desired.

Optional Toppings – You may want to add fresh herbs to this easy side dish – like chopped cilantro or fresh thyme.

Some raw carrots with the bushy green leaves attached.

The ingredients for the roasted carrots.

How to make Maple Glazed Roasted Carrots:

Step 1
Prep. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Lay a large piece of tin foil on a rimmed baking sheet.

Step 2
Prepare carrots. Chop off most of the stems to the carrots, leaving about an inch. Rinse carrots under cool water, and scrub them clean. Lay the carrots in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 3
Add oil and seasoning. Drizzle the carrots with olive oil, and sprinkle with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Take another large piece of aluminum foil, and cover the carrots completely.

A foil lined pan with the raw and trimmed whole carrots.

Step 4
Roast carrots. Place carrots in the oven, and bake for 30 minutes (covered). Then remove the foil from the sheet pan, and use a fork to test the carrots for doneness.

If there are a couple of larger carrots that still aren’t done, remove the carrots that are done, place the remaining ones back in the oven, and roast until done.

Step 5
Add maple syrup. Drizzle the carrots with maple syrup, and then place back in the oven for 5-10 more minutes.

Step 6
Serve immediately. Place roasted carrots in a serving dish and add a little extra drizzle of maple syrup. Serve carrots with your choice of protein and sides.

Store leftover carrots in an airtight container for up to four days.

A pan lined with foil with the maple glazed carrots.

Covering the carrots with foil for part of the roasting time allows for the carrots to cook through without getting tough. The size of the carrots will also determine how long you’ll need to roast them. You may need to roast them for 10-15 minutes longer than this recipe details.

A plate of sea bass with roasted maple carrots.

Recipe FAQs:

Are carrots healthy?

The carrot is a root vegetable that is crunchy, tasty, and highly nutritious. Carrots are a very good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants. They are also low in calories, have been linked to lowering cholesterol levels and cancer risks, and are known to improve eye health.

Should you peel the whole carrots before roasting?

No, I prefer to purchase organic whole carrots and just scrub them clean, instead of peeling them. This will depend on the condition of your carrots, however.

It is better to roast carrots in the oven or boil them?

Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of carrots. The olive oil, salt, and pepper also contribute to the flavor and make them extra delicious.

What temperature should carrots be roasted?

We prefer to roast these carrots in a 400-degree oven. However, I often use my convection oven and roast at 375 degrees F.

What is pure maple syrup?

Pure maple syrup is a natural sweetener made from the sap of sugar maple trees. It’s collected, boiled down, and filtered to create a delicious, amber-colored syrup with a unique, sweet, and slightly woody flavor.

Other Delicious Sides:

While these normally go on our Thanksgiving Table, they also nice for weeknight dinners. I recommend pairing them with a simple roast chicken.

A closeup on some maple roasted carrots in a serving bowl.

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xoxo ~Sue