Roasted Baby Carrots

One of the easiest (and best) carrot recipes you’ll ever make.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated November 16, 2023
Elise Bauer

Roasting carrots is not only one of the easiest ways to prepare them; it also brings out the wonderful flavor in the caramelized bits. My friend Suzanne prepares tender young carrots this way and passed this method on to me years ago. I love it!

The Best Baby Carrots To Roast

She uses the "Nantes" French-style carrots that Trader Joe's carries or the bunched immature carrots from Whole Foods. Any small (4 to 5 inch) carrot will work; they are often sold in bunches with their greens still attached.

By "baby" carrots we're not referring to the small capsule-shaped carrots that are so popular to serve as a snack to kids (those are actually mature carrots cut to small shapes), but to carrots that are still young and not tough or woody.

Roasted Baby Carrots
Elise Bauer

How To Roast Baby Carrots

To make, we just toss the carrots with sliced red onions, garlic, fresh rosemary, olive oil and salt and pepper, and then roast at a high temperature until cooked through and lightly caramelized. They're a great side to serve with chicken, turkey, or beef.

Roasted Baby Carrots
Elise Bauer

Tips for Roasting Baby Carrots

Roasting baby carrots is easy! Here are a few tips for perfect carrots.

  • Use real baby (immature) carrots, not the ready-to-eat, stubby carrots sold bagged and peeled for snacking. Those carrots won't roast the same.
  • After the first 25 minutes, check the carrots every 5 minutes so they don't overcook. The carrots' size, plus variations in ovens, can make a difference in how long these take to cook.
  • Don't skip lining the pan with aluminum foil (or parchment, if you prefer). This keeps the carrots from sticking and makes cleanup easier.

Tips for Storing and Reheating Roasted Baby Carrots

We don't recommend making this dish ahead of time to reheat when first serving, because the carrots look tired and just don't have that freshly roasted appeal. But, if you end up with leftovers, refrigerate them in an airtight container in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days.

To reheat, heat a skillet on the stovetop to medium, add a little olive oil, and put the carrots in once the oil is hot. Put a lid on the skillet, and shake the pan the every minute or so until they are just heated through.

We don't recommend freezing roasted baby carrots.

More Carrot Recipe to Enjoy

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Roasted Baby Carrots

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds young carrots (about 5 inches each), cleaned, patted dry, and greens cut to 1 inch

  • 1 medium red onion cut into 8 to 12 wedges (see How to Slice an Onion)

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

  • Kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

Method

  1. Preheat the oven:

    Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil.

  2. Arrange the vegetables on the pan, coat with olive oil, salt, and pepper:

    Place the carrots, red onion wedges, and crushed garlic cloves on the pan and sprinkle with chopped rosemary. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to combine so that the carrots and onions are lightly coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

    roasted-baby-carrots-method-1
    Elise Bauer
  3. Roast

    Roast at 400°F for 30 to 40 minutes until well browned and caramelized around the edges.

    Remove from pan and place in a serving dish to serve.

    roasted-baby-carrots-method-2
    Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
119 Calories
7g Fat
14g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 119
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 157mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 8mg 42%
Calcium 47mg 4%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 410mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.