Maple Glazed Carrots
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Maple glazed carrots are an easy and veggie side dish perfect year round. This colorful carrot recipe uses real maple syrup, butter, and thyme and takes less than 15 minutes of the stove top. If you’re looking for the perfect side dish for a weeknight dinner or your holiday table, this one is for you!
The key to quick cooking, is the cut. These carrots are cut on the bias which means they cook evenly on all sides. There’s no need to buy fancy pre-cut veggies or “baby carrots”, regular carrots will do!
Ingredient for maple-glazed carrots
Even though this recipe contains maple syrup, this recipe is not too sweet. There’s just enough syrup to give the carrots a beautiful glaze and just a hint of maple flavor. Recipe adapted from Cook’s Illustrated, 2003.
- carrots
- kosher salt
- pure maple syrup (do not substitute pancake “syrup”)
- Chicken broth
- butter
- fresh thyme
- lemon juice and zest
- black pepper
How to make maple glazed carrots
The entire recipe is made in one Large Skillet, which means there’s no need to dirty more than one pan! The carrots are sliced on the bias. Here’s a tutorial on different Vegetable Cuts, including the bias cut.
- Peel and cut carrots 1/4″ thick on the bias.
- Bring carrots to a boil with 1 Tablespoon maple syrup, salt and chicken broth in a 12″ skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce to medium heat, cover and simmer until carrots are nearly tender, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Uncover and increase heat to medium high, simmering rapidly, until the liquid is reduced to about 2 Tablespoons, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes.
- Add butter and remaining maple syrup and toss to coat carrots, until carrots are glazed and cooked through, about 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, zest, and fresh thyme. Season cooked carrots to taste with more kosher salt and black pepper if necessary.
Substitutions
- For honey glazed carrots, swap out the maple syrup for an equal amount of honey.
- For basic glazed carrots, use plain white sugar in place of maple syrup
- To make this recipe for carrots vegan, substitute water or vegetable broth for the chicken broth and swap out the butter for olive oil or vegan butter.
What to serve with maple glazed carrots?
Here are a few main dishes. For Easter, try Bourbon Glazed Ham or Leg of Lamb.
For Thanksgiving dinner, here’s classic Roast Turkey. Prime Rib is a traditional choice for Christmas.
Looking for more side dishes?
New Potatoes with fresh mint and Sauteed Vegetables are perfect for spring celebrations.
Roast Delicata Squash is a delicious Thanksgiving side dish.
Spaghetti Squash is a healthy side dish.
Harvest Squash with carrots, zucchini and spaghetti squash.
Maple Glazed Carrots
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots peeled and cut on the bias in 1/4" slices.
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 chicken broth
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Peel and slice carrots on the bias in 1/4" thick slices.
- In a 12" saute pan, bring chicken broth, carrots, salt and 1 Tablespoon maple syrup to a boil over medium heat. Cover and reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally. Carrots should be almost tender when pierced with a knife, about 5-7 minutes.
- Uncover pan and turn up heat to medium high and simmer, stirring occasionally until liquid is reduced to about 2 Tablespoons, about 2 minutes.
- Add butter and and remaining 2 Tablespoons of maple syrup and toss carrots until well coated and carrots are cooked through and tender.
- Turn off heat and add lemon juice, zest, and fresh thyme. Season to taste with additional salt and black pepper if necessary.
