Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

Name: Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter (unsalted ); 2 pounds carrots (peeled and sliced into thick sticks); 6 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 tablespoons maple syrup; ¼ teaspoon salt; Pinch ground black pepper; Freshly chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

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My Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots are a quick and easy side dish recipe you can make with just 4 ingredients in 15 minutes! Coated in a buttery brown sugar sauce, these glazed carrots are perfectly delicious for serving with weekday dinners and even special occasions like the holidays.

Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots with a sprinkling of fresh parsley in a cast iron skillet

Best Gluten-free Glazed Carrots Recipe

I love carrot side dishes for just about any meal. Carrots are one ingredient I’m never running low on – there is just so much you can make with them! This recipe for brown sugar glazed carrots is one of my family’s favorite side dishes, especially over the holidays, so I like to keep them on hand to make it whenever they want.

The best part about these sweet maple glazed carrots is how easy they are to make. It takes just 4 ingredients – plus salt and pepper – to have what you need for this dish, and only about 15 minutes to whip together from start to finish.

That makes these gluten-free glazed carrots a perfect last minute side dish you can throw together just before plating. It’s a perfect stress-free dish for the holidays!

I used baby carrots and everyone loved them!
Montana on Pinterest

Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots topped with fresh parsley in cast iron skillet

FAQ about Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

What are glazed carrots?

Glazed carrots are sweet carrots, essentially the same as caramelized carrots or candied carrots. They are carrots cooked in a pan with a glazed coating created using a blend of maple syrup, butter, and brown sugar. Some recipes also use honey. For more sweetness, you can add extra maple syrup.

Are glazed carrots gluten-free?

Glazed carrots are gluten-free so long as the maple syrup you use to caramelize them has no additives containing gluten.

Can glazed carrots be made ahead?

Carrots glazed with brown sugar are best served immediately, as the glaze will thicken after removing it from the heat. However, you can prepare the carrots for glazing up to 3 days ahead of time, or cook the dish and store it for up to 2 days ahead. Store in an airtight container.

Can glazed carrots be frozen?

To freeze glazed carrots, allow them to cool after cooking, then add them to a freezer bag or freezer-safe airtight container labeled with the date. Store frozen carrots for up to 2 months.

Can you reheat glazed carrots?

You can reheat glazed carrots out of the refrigerator or straight from frozen. For best results when reheating, add them back to a saucepan over low-medium heat and heat through. You can add a bit more butter to thin out the glaze, which will thicken after storing. To reheat from frozen, heat them directly from frozen in a pan over medium heat until they warm through. The glaze will thin out slightly from excess water due to freezing.

Can I use baby carrots?

You can use baby carrots in place of whole carrots cut into strips, but keep in mind baby carrots are slightly thicker than sliced carrots, and therefore will take a bit longer to cook.

Ingredients for Glazed Carrots with Brown Sugar Sauce

butter, unsalted
carrots, peeled and sliced into thick sticks
brown sugar
maple syrup
salt
Pinch ground black pepper
Freshly chopped parsley for garnish, optional

Is brown sugar gluten free?

Brown sugar does not have any gluten-containing grain ingredients, and has no coloring additives that contain gluten, making it safe to use to candy carrots for gluten-free dinner guests.

Can I use honey for glazed carrots?

You can use an equal amount of honey to make glazed carrots instead of maple syrup if you prefer. Honey glazed carrots are a delicious way to enjoy this recipe, too!

How to Cut Carrots for Glazed Carrots

I cut the carrots into larger sticks, but they can also be cut into thick slices. For easy preparation, the carrots can be cut a day or so ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator until you need them.

Or, you can use baby carrots bought in a bag. The important part is to make sure all the carrots are equal in size (and not too thin) for even cooking. Baby carrots or larger sticks will take longer to cook through in comparison to smaller slices.

How to Make Glazed Carrots with Maple Syrup

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Toss in carrots, followed by brown sugar, maple syrup, salt, and pepper.
Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally until the carrots are tender and the sauce has reduced to a bubbling glaze.

Carrots glazed with brown sugar are best served immediately with a sprinkling of freshly chopped parsley and a little freshly ground black pepper as a contrast for some of the sweetness. Keep in mind, the maple glaze will thicken a little more once it is removed from heat.

Recipe Tips for Brown Sugar Carrots

While you can slice the carrots ahead of time, coating them in the brown sugar glaze is best done right before serving. The butter in the glaze will solidify when refrigerated.
Try mixing in a pinch of ground cinnamon or zest from an orange!
Top maple glazed carrots with freshly chopped parsley for a contrast in color and flavor.

Try our Parmesan Garlic Roasted Carrots and Instant Pot Candied Carrots Recipe next!

What to Serve with Glazed Carrots

This is one of my favorite side dishes to add to my holiday recipes every year. So easy, so delicious, and a perfect pairing for my holiday roast or ham.

Beef roasts:

Hams:

This recipe makes a great side dish for the holidays. Pair it with my other Side Dishes for Ham, Side Dishes for Prime Rib or Christmas Side Dishes!

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