Honey Glazed Carrots Stovetop

Honey Glazed Carrots are one of my favorite ways to make carrots more exciting. The carrots become tender and flavorful as they cook in a sweet, buttery honey glaze, creating an easy side dish that pairs well with almost any meal.

Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe

Key Ingredients

Carrots: Slicing the carrots on a diagonal gives the glaze more surface to cling to, plus they cook a little faster. Thicker pieces take longer to cook and don’t get quite as much glaze on each bite.

Honey gives the glaze a floral sweetness that brown sugar can’t quite match, plus it turns glossy and sticky as it reduces. A mild honey works best here, since a strong, dark honey can overpower the carrots.

Fresh thyme adds an earthy, savory note that keeps the glaze from tasting like straight candy. I like using fresh here since dried thyme gets lost once the honey takes over.

Tips & Tricks

Watch the glaze closely once the honey goes in: Honey can turn bitter if it cooks too long over high heat. I keep the heat at medium and take the pan off the heat as soon as the glaze looks glossy and coats the carrots.

Don’t skip drying the carrots after boiling: Any extra water will dilute the glaze and keep it from sticking to the carrots. Give them a good shake in the colander, or let them sit in the empty pot for a couple of minutes to steam off the excess moisture.

Here’s how to make the honey glazed carrots:

Grocery List 0View →

Honey Glazed Carrots

Tender carrots glazed in honey and butter with a touch of fresh thyme, a quick, naturally sweet side dish ready in 25 minutes.

⏱ Prep 10 min🔥 Cook 15 min⏰ Total 25 min🟢 Easy🍽 Side Dish🌍 American

Rate this recipe ★★★★★

Save Pin Recipe Print Cook Mode

Ingredients

Servings:

− 6 +

US Metric

• 2 lbscarrots (peeled, trimmed, and left whole; halve any very thick carrots lengthwise)
• 3 tbspunsalted butter
• 1/4 cuphoney
• 1/4 tspsalt
• 1 tspfresh thyme leaves

Instructions

1. 1Place carrots in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 8-10 minutes until just fork-tender. Drain well.
2. 2In the same saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
3. 3Stir in the honey, salt, and thyme.
4. 4Return the carrots to the saucepan and toss to coat evenly in the glaze.
5. 5Cook for 4-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the glaze thickens slightly and coats the carrots.
6. 6Transfer the glazed carrots to a serving plate, and serve warm.

Nutrition per serving

160

cal

26g

carbs

6g

fat

18g

sugar

100mg

sodium

📌 Notes

• Slice the carrots evenly so they cook at the same rate.
• Fresh thyme gives a brighter flavor than dried, but dried works fine in a pinch.
• Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days.

By Sam

How to Pair

Honey glazed carrots taste sweet, buttery, and gently caramelized. Their bright flavor complements savory main dishes, rich holiday meals, and simple weeknight plates. Here are some pairing suggestions you can try:

• Pair them with meatloaf, mashed potatoes, or macaroni and cheese for a classic family dinner.
• Serve them with roasted chicken, baked ham, or glazed pork tenderloin for a comforting meal.
• Enjoy them beside lentil loaf, wild rice, or a chickpea salad for a satisfying meat-free option.