Honey and Cumin Roasted Carrots

A simple side dish that packs a lot of flavor, these Honey Cumin Roasted Carrots are sweet, savory, and incredibly delicious. They're simple enough to serve on a weeknight, yet beautiful enough to serve as a side dish for a holiday dinner.

These roasted carrots are sure to become a staple in your home with their irresistible blend of sweet and savory flavors (similar to this Rosemary Balsamic Roasted Root Veggies dish).

I was influenced to create this recipe by one of the restaurants I used to cook in. We had this glazed carrot side dish at one point on the menu, and I loved how the carrots were just so tender and enrobed in a sweet buttery sauce. However, that dish was made on the stovetop and was very fussy. I wanted something easy peasy to just throw in the oven, but one that was still like the glazed carrots I had come to crave.

For my rendition of them, the recipe roasts the carrots for hands-off cooking with honey and cumin. The cumin adds a really lovely savory component to the dish and helps round out the flavor (very similar to this Cumin Citrus Winter Slaw).

This side dish is elegant enough to serve at a holiday dinner (I think these are perfect for Easter) but also easy enough to serve on a weeknight (like with this amazing Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast recipe).

So let's get to making it! You can jump around the article using the menu below, or you can head right to the bottom for the complete recipe.

Jump to:

• Ingredients and Substitutions
• Prepping the Carrots
• A Magical Sauce
• Kelli's Best Tips
• Serving and Reheating Tips
• Watch the Video
• More Side Dish Recipes:
• Full Recipe

Prepping the Carrots

During my culinary training, I learned that utilizing all available techniques is crucial to elevate the final product. One of the often overlooked techniques is selecting the best cutting method. A particular cut not only affects the texture but also enhances the visual appeal of the dish. This is especially important for seemingly simple recipes like roasted carrots.

I recommend slicing the carrots on the bias (diagonally) to not only improve their roastability by increasing surface area (which I talk about in this Baked Parmesan Potato Wedges recipes) but also provide more texture for the sauce to adhere to. Additionally, it adds an element of sophistication compared to other cutting styles such as square dice or half rounds.

That being said, you don't need to cut the carrots this way. What truly matters is ensuring uniformity in size, so they cook at the same time.

A Magical Sauce

This roasted carrot recipe is pretty straightforward. You add all the ingredients to the baking dish, stir it together, and roast the carrots until they are tender.

The carrots exude liquid as they roast, which mixes together with the butter and honey to create its own sauce. It's really magical. However, in order for the sauce to coat the carrots properly, enough liquid has to evaporate out of the baking dish.

So when you are checking the carrots for doneness at the end of the 30-minute roasting period, you'll also want to check in on the sauce that surrounds the carrots. If there is too much liquid left, it won't stick to the carrots, so give it a few extra minutes if it it needs it to cook the liquid out.

Serving and Reheating Tips

This side dish is best served immediately after making. They won't need any additional garnish, as the finished dish has a "sauce" already on it.

If you have leftovers, they can be saved in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days and reheated in the oven or toaster oven until warmed through.

Watch the Video

More Side Dish Recipes:

Making the recipe? Be sure to leave a comment with a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on your experience! Have a question? Leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can!

Print

Full Recipe