Instant Pot Carrots

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My easy Instant Pot Carrots make a beautiful side dish for the holidays and is ready in under 10 minutes following four easy steps, with only simple ingredients! These candied carrots are glazed with maple syrup and brown sugar for the perfect complementary sweetness. Finish them off with green onions for the best Instant Pot Whole Carrots ever!

Jump to:

• Instant Pot Whole Carrots
• Why pressure cook carrots?
• Whole Carrots Instant Pot Ingredients
• How to Cook Whole Carrots in the Instant Pot
• Candied Carrots Instant Pot FAQ
• Expert Tips
• What to Serve with Candied Carrots
• Pin it for later!
• Recipe
• Reviews

Instant Pot Whole Carrots

My Instant Pot Carrots recipe is, hands down, one of my favorite recipes for the holidays, especially Easter and Christmas. It’s an easy recipe that uses just four ingredients, and best of all, it’s ready in under 10 minutes.

Carrots are one of my favorite side dishes to prepare. That might sound a little surprising to some, but I bet if you’re here, you know what I mean! I love making air fryer carrots or brown sugar glazed carrots in a skillet, and of course my oven-roasted garlic parmesan carrots are too good to be true. It doesn’t have to be the holidays to enjoy them! They’re great with everything from turkey and ham to oven roasted chicken and smothered pork chops.

The simple ingredients are what make this recipe for whole carrots in the Instant Pot so special. Maple syrup, brown sugar, and green onions come together to create a flavorful dish without much effort. It’s the same glaze I use for my Instant Pot Ham, so it’s easy to make them together!

Why pressure cook carrots?

It’s easy, and a time-saver.

Making carrots in the Instant Pot is a simple process that can save you a lot of time and energy when you’re prepping for the holidays. I personally love serving carrots over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, but between all of the other side dishes that need to be prepared, it makes it a lot easier to get everything done when you can have these carrots ready in under 10 minutes.

They’re tasty!

Simply put, these Instant Pot carrots taste great. They’re flavored with my signature brown sugar, maple syrup, and green onion ham glaze that brings out the best of their naturally sweet flavor.

They’re not just for the holidays.

Candied carrots make a great holiday side dish, yes, but you don’t have to make them over the holidays exclusively. These pressure cooker carrots are so simple that it doesn’t take much work to prep them for regular weekday meals, too. Try serving them with steak, chicken, or pork chops (my family’s favorite).

Whole Carrots Instant Pot Ingredients

• Whole Carrots: I’m using whole carrots for this recipe because I enjoy the flavor and texture of whole carrots the most, but you can also use baby carrots. If you’re using whole carrots like I am, be sure to clean them off. I also peeled my carrots, but as long as you clean them thoroughly to remove any debris or dirt, you do not have to peel them. It’s entirely up to your preference.
• Maple Syrup: My candied carrots glaze uses a combination of maple syrup and brown sugar. This is the same mix I use for my favorite ham glaze, and I highly recommend it. It is so delicious. If you need a substitute, you can also use honey. Or, alternatively, use another type of glaze, like my sriracha glaze for ham or the same seasoning as my parmesan garlic carrots.
• Brown Sugar: This brings out the sweetness of the carrots and makes for the perfect sticky-sweet glaze. You can use light or dark brown sugar, but I recommend not using white granulated sugar as a substitute. Coconut sugar may work well.
• Green Onions: Sliced green onions add texture and flavor to these carrots that really complements the flavor of both the carrots and the entree you serve them with. It’s a great pairing with the sweeter flavors of the maple syrup and brown sugar, so I definitely recommend including them. But, you can also use fresh parsley if you’d prefer to avoid onions.

How to Cook Whole Carrots in the Instant Pot

1. Stir maple syrup, brown sugar, and sliced green onions together in a bowl until thoroughly mixed together.
   
2. Slice the stems off of your carrots, and then peel them. You can also use whole carrots that have already had the tops cut off.
   
   
3. Place carrots at the bottom of your Instant Pot, then cover with the glaze mixture.
   
4. Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes. When 4 minutes is up, release the pressure, serve, and enjoy!
   

Candied Carrots Instant Pot FAQ

Expert Tips

• Depending on the size of your carrots, the cook time may vary. Keep that in mind when you’re making them and add another 1 minute or so of cook time if necessary for larger carrots.
• If you’re using whole carrots and don’t want to peel them, be sure to clean them very well. Even if they’re washed at the store, whole carrots tend to come with dirt or debris, because they grow underground.
• You can use baby carrots if you prefer. I also like to use rainbow carrots for a fun presentation.
• If you’re using baby carrots, you don’t need to peel or clean them. You may want to rinse them, though, as sometimes baby carrots get a little sticky in the fridge.

What to Serve with Candied Carrots

Candied Instant Pot carrots make a great side dish for the holidays, so naturally, I recommend pairing them with turkey, ham, or prime rib. Here are some of my personal favorites to pair with whole carrots in the Instant Pot:

• Roasted Prime Rib
• Ham on the Grill
• Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Mashed Potatoes
• Scalloped Potatoes in the Instant Pot
• Green Beans in the Instant Pot

You can also serve glazed Instant Pot carrots with your favorite weekday meals. I recommend trying any of my pork chops or steak recipes.

Recipe

Updated on 8/28/2024 to include more useful information and tips. Originally published December 2021.