Easy Brown Sugar Candied Carrots

These easy candied carrots are glazed with brown sugar and butter to create a delicious and crowd-pleasing side dish in 30 minutes.

About

I adore these brown sugar-glazed carrots or candied carrots. They smell amazing, they’re kid-friendly, and go with just about anything! They’re addictive. My kids think they taste like candy.

They’re perfect for both weeknight dinners and special occasions. They also remind me of hibachi-style Japanese carrots and go well with fried rice and teriyaki steak.

You can make a larger batch of these glazed carrots. Just make sure to use a big enough pan. If you crowd the pan, they won’t get evenly cooked and glazed.

Ingredients

• Whole raw carrots are the star of the show. Use fresh, crisp carrots, then peel and slice them. Try to cut them the same width so they cook evenly. Aim for about ¼ inch thick slices.
• Brown sugar makes them rich and sweet. It forms a lightly sticky glaze.
• Butter makes the glaze rich and smooth. It helps the brown sugar and water emulsify into a perfect glaze.
• Bourbon whiskey is totally optional. But a tablespoon of it will make the glaze more complex and delicious.
• Salt elevates the flavors!

How to Make Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

Peel and slice your carrots. Aim for about 1/4 inch thick slices.

Add the carrots to a heavy-bottomed skillet. Then, add the water. They will not be fully submerged.

Cover the pan and cook on medium-high until the carrots start to soften. They will not be fully cooked yet. This will take about 12 minutes.

Remove the lid and add the brown sugar, butter, salt, and bourbon (if using). Stir until the butter is melted and the carrots are coated.

Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking. Stir the pan every couple of minutes and wiggle it to evenly distribute the carrots.

Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce thickens into a glaze and the carrots are tender. It will take about 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat and serve warm. Yum!

How to Store and Reheat

• These carrots reheat well. They’re a perfect option for weekly meal prep. 
• Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for 3-5 days. If you’re meal prepping, you can go ahead and divide them into single servings before refrigerating.
• Reheat single servings in the microwave in 30-second increments until warm.

How to Serve Candied Carrots

These carrots kid friendly and are easy enough for weeknight dinners yet decadent enough to earn their place on a holiday table.

Weeknight Meals

• Serve these glazed carrots as part of a simple weeknight meal.
• Pair them with simple quick-cooking protein like grilled chicken, hamburger steak, or pork tenderloin.
• Then, add a green veggie like a simple green salad, kale crunch salad, or oven-roasted broccoli to complete the meal.

Comforting Southern Suppers

• In the South, we always like a little something sweet on the table. These carrots fit the bill perfectly.
• Try them as part of a meat and 3 plate by adding a protein and 2 more sides of your choice.
• Try them with fried chicken, pot roast, oven pulled pork, or pork chops.
• Then, add a couple of sides to round out the meal. Try it with cucumber salad, cornbread casserole, or 5-minute coleslaw.

Japanese-Inspired Dinners

• These glazed carrots remind me of the carrots that come with Japanese takeout. But they’re much better!
• I love serving them with kani salad, teriyaki chicken, steamed broccoli, and shrimp sauce. If it’s a special occasion, I’ll also make a Tokyo sunset cocktail.

Holiday Feasts

• Serve them at Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving with all the fixings.
• For a holiday meal, they go great with glazed ham, smashed potatoes, cheesy corn, and rolls or cheddar bay biscuits.
• If you’re serving them for a special occasion, add the optional spoonful of bourbon whiskey.