Description
This Delicious Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots recipe is a simple and flavorful side dish perfect for enhancing any meal. Tender carrots are boiled until just soft, then coated in a sweet and buttery brown sugar glaze with hints of warm spices or citrus for added depth. It’s a quick, easy, and elegant way to elevate your vegetable game.
Ingredients
Scale
Carrots
- Fresh medium-sized carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch rounds or sticks
Glaze
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (or vegan butter/coconut oil)
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar (or dark brown sugar)
- Salt to taste (sea salt or kosher salt)
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 teaspoon orange zest or 1 tablespoon orange juice
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon or nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare Carrots: Wash and peel the carrots. Cut them into uniform pieces, about 1/4 inch thick, either rounds or sticks.
- Boil Carrots: Fill a medium saucepan with water and bring it to a boil. Add the carrots and cook for 5-7 minutes until they are just tender but still hold their shape.
- Drain Carrots: Drain the cooked carrots thoroughly and set them aside while you prepare the glaze.
- Make the Glaze: In the same saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium heat. Once melted, stir in 1/4 cup of brown sugar until fully dissolved and bubbling gently.
- Glaze Carrots: Carefully add the drained carrots back to the pan. Toss gently to coat them evenly with the glaze. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to let the carrots absorb the flavor.
- Season and Flavor: Add a pinch of salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. If using, sprinkle in the orange zest or cinnamon/nutmeg now and stir well.
- Serve: When the carrots are nicely glazed and tender-crisp, remove from heat. Transfer them to a serving dish and serve warm for a delightful, sweet-savory side.
Notes
- For vegan option, substitute unsalted butter with vegan butter or coconut oil.
- You can add orange juice instead of zest for a citrusy glaze variation.
- Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of brown sugar according to your taste.
- Adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg complements the brown sugar nicely and provides a warm spice note.
- Do not overcook the carrots during boiling to maintain a tender-crisp texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: brown sugar glazed carrots, sweet glazed carrots, easy vegetable side, buttery carrots, brown sugar carrots recipe
