4-Ingredient Roasted Carrots Recipe – Unsophisticook (2024)

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This easy roasted carrots recipe is sure to get the whole family to eat their veggies! Just 4 simple ingredients: brown butter, carrots (of course), honey and dried dill…

4-Ingredient Roasted Carrots Recipe – Unsophisticook (1)

Our wedding anniversary fell on Thanksgiving Day this year, so we celebrated the following evening at a local craft kitchen. My husband had the bison burger, and I chose the drunken chicken, a pan-roasted chicken breast smothered in a white wine sauce. It was nothing short of ah-mazing! But what really stood out to me was the side of maple roasted carrots.

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking… “You’re telling me your veggie side dish upstaged your boozy chicken entree?!” But seriously, these carrots were stuck in my head for days after. It became perfectly clear that I needed to develop a similar roasted carrots recipe at home.

4-Ingredient Roasted Carrots Recipe – Unsophisticook (2)

Roasted Carrots With Just Four Ingredients

It’s sort of become my mission lately to develop delicious recipes with as few ingredients as possible, and this roasted carrots recipe is no exception. Just four ingredients combine to produce this super flavorful easy side dish: butter, carrots, honey and dried dill!

1. Brown butter — Oh my, if you haven’t made brown butter before now, you are in for such a treat! Brown butter, also know as beurre noisette (isn’t that pretty?), is one of those magical ingredients that instantly takes any dish from so-so to out of this world. It’s much easier to make than you think. Simply melt your butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it starts to foam and takes on a nutty brown color.

2. Carrots — You can use regular carrots or baby carrots in this recipe. I chose the former and sliced them on the diagonal to give them a slightly upscale appearance.

3. Honey — Organic maple syrup and organic honey are pantry staples that I stock up on at Costco. We’re out of maple syrup (darn kids and their waffles!), so I swapped it for honey in my roasted carrots recipe. I love it equally, and honey is the more budget-friendly choice, so I’m planning to stick with it.

4. Dried Dill — I chose to use dried dill simply because I always have it on hand! You can substitute fresh dill, but you’ll need to use substantially more. Start with a heaping tablespoon and go from there.

4-Ingredient Roasted Carrots Recipe – Unsophisticook (3)

Better Ingredients = Better Results

I recommend starting with high-quality butter, like Finlandia Butter. I always say that when you’re using fewer ingredients, purchase the best quality you can afford, and this creamy European butter is worth every penny. You might recall I used it in this homemade granola recipe (just 5 ingredients!) recently, as well. My local Walmart carries it, so it’s very easy to find!

For produce, I typically follow the dirty dozen/clean 15 list when it comes to choosing whether to buy conventional or not. Carrots don’t appear in the dirty dozen, but they are in the top 25. The price difference was minimal, so I opted for organic in this case.

4-Ingredient Roasted Carrots Recipe – Unsophisticook (4)

Oven to Tabletop in 30 Minutes

Did I mention that this is also a one-pan dish? I love easy clean up!!!

Just start with an oven-safe skillet when browning your butter. From there, you add the sliced carrots (be careful, the hot butter can spatter), salt, pepper, honey and dried dill. Stir it all together, and place the pan in the oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

I like my carrots very tender, so I left them in for the full 30 minutes, and they were every bit as good as I remembered. The honey adds just enough sweetness, and the dried dill adds a bit of earthiness. Layered with the nutty taste of the brown butter, this carrot side dish even had my kids asking for more, please!

4-Ingredient Roasted Carrots Recipe – Unsophisticook (5)

Brown Butter Honey Roasted Carrots With Dill

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

With just 4 simple ingredients, this flavorfulroasted carrots recipe is sure to get the whole family to eat their veggies!

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons Finlandia Butter
  • 2-lb. carrots, peeled & sliced on the diagonal
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons dried dill
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. Melt the butter in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Continue heating until it starts to foam and turns a golden brown color.
  3. Carefully add the sliced carrots and stir a few times. Add the honey, dill, salt and pepper, and combine thoroughly.
  4. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast for 25-30 minutes, until the carrots are tender and starting to caramelize. Stir occasionally throughout the roasting period. Cool slightly and serve.

Have you tried this recipe?

Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag it @unsophisticook and hashtag it #unsophisticook!

4-Ingredient Roasted Carrots Recipe – Unsophisticook (6)

More Easy Roasted Veggie Side Dish Recipes

If you like this easy roasted carrots recipe, you might also enjoy these other delicious roasted veggie side dish recipes:

  • Crispy Roasted Garlic Ranch Potatoes — this easy ranch potatoes recipe is totally one of my favorite roasted potato recipes… Crispy and seasoned to perfection with garlic and ranch seasoning!
  • 3-Ingredient Roasted Sesame Asparagus — this simple 3-ingredient sesameroasted asparagus recipe is a quick and easy weeknight side dish, yet still impressive enough to serve at a more upscale gathering!
  • 20-Minute Crispy Cheesy Broccoli Gratin — this quick and easy crispy cheesy broccoli recipe features crispy, caramelized broccoli florets topped with a panko cheddar Parmesan mixture that’s out of this world… Have it on your dinner table in under 20 minutes!
  • This smoky garlic roasted cauliflower with Parmesan recipe is packed with the bold flavors of smoked paprika, garlic, and shaved aged Parmesan cheese. It’s the perfect easy side dish for any entree!

Did you make this recipe?
Tag @unsophisticook on Instagram and hashtag it #unsophisticook.

4-Ingredient Roasted Carrots Recipe – Unsophisticook (2024)

FAQs

What not to mix carrots with? ›

For the same reason, one shouldn't mix orange with carrot as when taken together, they may cause heartburn and excess bile reflux. Only a few fruits are starchy in nature. These include green bananas and plantains.

Why are my roasted carrots tough? ›

Undercook them, and the texture is tough and dense. Overcook them, and they're dry and wrinkled. The secret is to soften the carrots slightly by boiling them briefly before roasting. The texture will be firm-tender with just the right amount of caramelization on the outside.

Why do you have to parboil carrots before roasting? ›

Roasting Tips

Parboiling skin-on carrots and parsnips lets you soften them without them losing too much moisture. Follow up by browning in a 375°F (190°C) oven for about 40 minutes.

How do you get the most flavor out of carrots? ›

Here's some of our favorites to sprinkle on carrots:
  1. Garlic (minced, powder or granules)
  2. Onion powder or granules.
  3. Black malabar pepper.
  4. Cinnamon (Cassia for sweeter, Ceylon for sweetness with some more complex savory and vanilla flavors)
  5. Nutmeg powder.
  6. Cayenne pepper powder.
  7. Ginger powder.
  8. Aleppo chili.
Mar 28, 2021

What makes carrots taste better? ›

#1 Roasted

This is our CSA members' favorite way to enjoy our farm's fresh carrots. Slice or keep them whole if baby sized and toss with salt and pepper as your most basic preparation, or optionally add garlic, dill or honey to change it up. Roast on a baking sheet at 400 degrees until tender. So, so, so sweet!

What two foods should not be eaten together? ›

A list of common foods that don't complement each other.
  • Cereal and orange juice. The acids in orange juice destroy the enzyme that helps digest starches present in cereal. ...
  • Melons and milk. ...
  • Fruits after meals. ...
  • Beans and cheese. ...
  • Ghee and honey. ...
  • Tomato and cheese pasta sauce.
Jul 11, 2013

What is the secret to extra crispy roasted vegetables? ›

After a few weeks of adding cornstarch to roasted chunks of various plant bits, I can confirm that it absolutely makes them crispier, and it's just as simple as it sounds.

What is the secret to roasting vegetables? ›

The perfect temperature– 400 degrees Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature for most roasted vegetables. It allows for a crispy, perfectly browned exterior and a fork tender interior.

How do you make carrots not rubbery? ›

Your carrots might just need a big gulp of water. If you notice that your bag of carrots is bendy, place them in a glass jar or zip-top plastic bag and fill it with water to cover them. Check back in an hour; they should be firming right up.

What happens if you don't peel carrots before roasting? ›

As with many vegetables, roasting carrots brings out their sweet inner nature. Peel the carrots or don't peel the carrots—it's up to you. Peeling takes a bit more time, obviously, but also leads to a more consistent final texture to the dish.

Should you peel whole carrots before roasting? ›

When to Skip Peeling Carrots. “Juicing and roasting carrots are good times to avoid peeling,” says Hilowitz. “If you are making a rustic dish, then leaving the peel on could potentially enhance the look and experience of the dish.

Is it healthier to roast or boil carrots? ›

Cooking breaks down the vegetable's cell walls, making its nutrients more available. Of course, how you cook them matters—boiling vegetables can leach out nutrients, so it's better to steam, sauté, or roast. If you still prefer boiling your carrots, throw them in the water whole—you'll keep the most nutrients.

What spices pair well with carrots? ›

Seasoning carrots is a great way to help bring out their flavor. For a simple and versatile seasoning, stick with salt, pepper, and garlic. For an herbier taste, add rosemary, parsley, cumin, or coriander. Or, to bring out their fresh, woody flavor, add some anise.

What brings out the sweetness in carrots? ›

Carrots are naturally sweet, cutting them doesn't affect the flavor. If you want them even sweeter, roasting is a good option. Toss them with some oil, and something sweet- maple syrup, orange juice or even a little honey. Then roast in a hot oven.

Why do my carrots taste bland? ›

There are a few possibilities for why your carrots aren't as sweet as they should be. You are right to think about your soil--a crop of carrots can deplete a soil of nutrients. Be sure to rotate crops in your garden, rather than planting carrots in the same place year after year.

What do carrots cross react with? ›

Carrot allergens are highly cross-reactive with especially birch tree pollens and celery. The allergy might be prevented in carrot sensitized people by avoiding any intentional or un-intentional consumption of carrot.

What vegetables should not be mixed together? ›

Examples of Plants That Should Not Be Grown Together
AsparagusFennel, Garlic, Onions, Potatoes
CornBroccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Celery, Eggplant, Fennel, Tomatoes
DillCarrots, Tomatoes, Onions, Lettuce, Cabbage
FennelAsparagus, Beans, Cilantro, Corn, Cucumber, Peppers
GarlicAsparagus, Beans, Peas, Sage, Strawberries
21 more rows

When should you not use carrots? ›

If your carrots feel slimy and look discolored, are wilting or soft, or show signs of mold, they should be tossed. The white blush on carrot skin is OK to eat—it just means the carrots are drying out and need water.

What vegetables Cannot be put together? ›

  • Keep Onions Away From Apples and Potatoes.
  • Store Melons Solo.
  • Keep Cauliflower Away From Apples, Kiwis, and Onions.
  • Place Mushrooms Away From Pungent Foods.
  • Use Your Crisper Drawer.
  • Separate Ethylene Producers and Ethylene Sensitive Produce.
Aug 5, 2022

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