Roasted Carrots Honey Thyme (Printable)

Tender roasted carrots glazed with honey and fresh thyme for a flavorful, simple side dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1.5 lbs carrots, peeled and cut into sticks or diagonally sliced

→ Glaze

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tbsp honey

→ Seasoning

04 - 1.5 tsp fresh thyme leaves plus extra for garnish
05 - 0.5 tsp sea salt
06 - 0.25 tsp black pepper

→ Optional

07 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Combine carrots, olive oil, honey, thyme, sea salt, and black pepper in a large bowl; toss to coat evenly.
03 - Spread the coated carrots in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning halfway through, until tender and caramelized on the edges.
05 - If desired, toss the hot carrots with unsalted butter just before serving for additional richness.
06 - Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with extra fresh thyme, and serve warm.

# Expert Hacks:

01 -
  • The honey caramelizes and turns the carrots into something that tastes like dessert but counts as vegetables.
  • Takes thirty minutes total with almost no hands-on time, so you can prep the rest of dinner while they roast.
  • Somehow tastes restaurant-quality but uses ingredients you probably already have at home.
02 -
  • The carrots will continue to caramelize slightly while cooling, so pull them out when they look just shy of where you want them, not when they look completely done.
  • Size matters more than shape, so spend a minute cutting them into roughly even pieces or they'll finish cooking at different times and some will be soft while others are still firm.
03 -
  • If your carrots release water while roasting, increase the heat slightly or roast them longer to evaporate the liquid and focus on caramelization instead of steaming.
  • A pinch of fleur de sel sprinkled right after they come out of the oven catches the light and adds a subtle textural surprise that people notice even if they can't quite name it.

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