Baked Garlic Butter Carrots

Garlic Butter Carrots are easy and delicious, roasted at 350 degrees, cut or sliced in your favorite shape or using baby carrots, this dish doesn't disappoint. 

We enjoy carrots and eat them regularly.  These Baked Garlic Butter Carrots are definitely a favorite around here and they're so easy to make. Simply, mix, toss and bake.  Recipes do not get much easier than this. 

You can just buy a stick of garlic butter, melt it, toss with the carrots and throw the carrots right into the oven too. You will save yourself a bit of time and the carrots still taste great!

This versatile dish can be served alongside a variety of main courses such as roasted meats, baked fish, or even pasta dishes. You can quickly whip up this side dish for a weekday dinner or a special occasion.

This was inspired by my garlic chicken thighs and garlic butter steak bites on this site, and pairs well with my favorite list of main courses on what to serve with scalloped potatoes.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• This dish is easy to make, requiring only a few ingredients.
• Roasting carrots in garlic butter results in tender carrots that are slightly caramelized on the outside.
• Always a crowd pleasing side dish for both adults and children, these carrots are an easy weeknight dinner addition or perfect for holidays and special occasions.

Ingredients in Baked Garlic Butter Carrots

To make Garlic Butter Carrots, you'll need a few ingredients that will bring out the best flavors in this tasty side dish.

• Carrots - You can use regular carrots or baby carrots. Make sure to clean, cut into uniform sizes and peel, if necessary, before cooking.
• Butter - Use salted butter to give the dish a rich, creamy texture and a slightly salty flavor or unsalted butter and ¼ teaspoon of salt.
• Garlic - Fresh minced garlic is ideal for this recipe, as it adds a bold flavor that complements the other ingredients.
• Pepper - Necessary to enhance flavor.
• Parsley - Adds color and a hint of freshness to the dish but thyme, rosemary, or paprika work great too.

See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.

Substitutions and Variations

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this easy garlic butter carrots recipe.

• Spicy: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, diced jalapeno pepper, homemade hot pepper sauce, sriracha, our jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the butter mixture for a bit of heat.
• Honey or Maple Syrup: Adding a touch of honey or maple syrup will add a subtle sweetness, balancing out the savory flavors of the garlic and butter. (Consider adding some hot sauce or sriracha too with honey if you enjoy heat.)
• More Garlic: Adjust the level of garlic to suit your personal taste preference.
• Add Cheese: As soon as carrots are cooked and removed from heat, add a sprinkling of some freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top.
• No Butter? Use olive oil or coconut oil instead for slightly different flavor.
• Baking Sheet: Spread the tossed carrots on a rimmed baking sheet coated in cooking spray, in a single layer to avoid over-crowding. Roast them in oven on 350°F (180°C) for between 25 and 35 minutes, depending on their size, or until tender and slightly caramelized.
• Sauté on Stovetop: Instead of roasting, pan fry your garlic butter covered carrots in a skillet over medium heat for between 15 and 20 minutes or until desired level of tenderness is reached, stirring occasionally. Make sure the garlic doesn't burn (causing bitter taste) by keeping a close eye on it and adjusting the heat as necessary.
• Air Fry: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Prepare carrots and toss with garlic butter mixture. Place the carrots in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. Check for desired tenderness using a fork, and adjust cooking time as needed.

How to make Baked Garlic Butter Carrots

This recipe could not be easier.

In a small bowl combine butter, garlic, pepper and parsley. 

Melt mixture in your microwave or oven.  You can also use a garlic butter stick to save some time.

Cut up your carrots and set aside. I usually cut the carrots into sticks.  If you slice them into rounds reduce your cooking time by half or until they are done to your desired tenderness.

Toss carrots with the butter mixture.  If you are using a casserole dish, place carrots inside the dish and pour your melted butter mixture all over them.  Using a spoon adjust carrots until all of them are coated.

Bake, covered, for 45-60 minutes, or until carrots are tender.  Adjust or baste carrots periodically, You will be glad you did!

Remove from oven and transfer to a serving plate or just serve from your casserole dish.

Hint: Make sure your carrots or carrot pieces are of similar size for even cooking. You can slice them into ¼-inch-thick rounds or 2-inch long, ¼-inch wide strips, try slicing them at an angle about ½" wide for a change. You can also use baby carrots to save time. Make sure they are fresh and firm with bright orange color and smooth skin.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our Carrots Lyonnaise, sweet potato sheet pan recipe.

Storage

Leftover garlic butter carrots can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in bowl covered with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container.

Make Ahead

Prepare carrots as directed, allow to cool and leave inside fridge in butter mixture until needed, and then reheat, if necessary. You can also pre-cook the carrots by boiling them for a few minutes until they are slightly tender. Drain and let them cool before adding the garlic butter mixture. Store the pre-cooked, coated carrots in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reduce cook time slightly because carrots are already partially cooked.

When you are ready to serve the dish, simply reheat the carrots in the garlic butter mixture and cook them, allowing for some extra time because your carrots have been inside the fridge and need to warm up before cooking can begin.

Freeze

Allow the cooked carrots to cool completely before placing them in a freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bag. Be sure to remove any excess air and seal tightly for up to 3 months. To use them again, simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat.

Reheat

Reheating Garlic Butter Carrots is both easy and convenient.

Stovetop

If the carrots are coming out of the refrigerator, place them in a skillet over medium heat. Cook them until heated through, stirring occasionally to ensure that they get completely warmed and coated with the garlic butter.

Microwave

If you're reheating thawed frozen carrots, place them in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for few minutes, or until heated through, stirring every minute or so.

Oven

You can warm them up in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until fully heated through.

What to Serve with Garlic Butter Carrots

Finding the perfect dish to serve with these carrots is easier than you think and there are plenty of options available that are not only delicious but also easy to make.

• The Best Oven Roasted Turkey, Dr. Pepper Glazed Ham or Honey Mustard Baked Ham.
• Turkey Pot Pie with Stuffing Crust
• Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
• Salmon al Horno or Fried Salmon Bites
• Sauteed Cauliflower
• Best Corn Side Dishes
• Vegetable Medley Casserole with Potatoes, Carrots and Green Beans
• Mashed Potato Fries or Supreme Mashed Potato Casserole
• Instant Pot Cheesy Broccoli Rice or Homemade Chicken Fried Rice
• A Mixed Green Salad with Fruit and Nuts

Tips

Here are tips to help you make perfectly tender garlic butter carrots every time:

• Always preheat your oven before roasting your carrots to ensure they cook evenly and achieve the desired tenderness.
• Peel the carrots using a vegetable peeler or a knife to remove the outer layer of skin to create smoother carrot texture and better absorption of flavors while cooking.
• Uniform sizes will ensure even cooking, achieving that perfect tenderness. Cut the carrots into evenly sized pieces or use whole carrots or baby carrots. You can slice them into ¼-inch-thick rounds, 2-inch long, ¼-inch wide strips, or at an angle about ½" wide. You can also use packaged peeled baby-cut carrots to save time. Make sure they are fresh and firm with bright orange color and smooth skin.
• Baste during cooking for an even coating and to help them caramelize and develop a rich, deep flavor.

FAQ

Do you have questions about garlic butter carrots? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about them.

Baked Garlic Butter Carrots Video

We made a video for you to check out and I really hope you do as these carrots are definitely worth a moment of you time!

Other Delicious Carrot Recipes to Try

Do you like carrots? Here some recipes you may also like to try.

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

This post was originally published October 2018. It has been updated with new images and content.