Stovetop glazed carrots are sauteed until tender, tossed in a sticky honey glaze, and topped with toasted sesame seeds. They're the perfect side dish to add to your next holiday meal or weeknight dinner.
Recipe summary
Flavor: Sweet, earthy, nutty.
Texture: Fork tender carrots topped with a sticky honey glaze and crunchy sesame seeds.
It's quick. Slice your carrots, saute on the stovetop, then finish with honey and sesame seeds. They're ready in 15 minutes!
Serve with: Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs or Slow Cooker Pork Roast
Similar to: Honey Roasted Parsnips and Carrots and Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Carrots - Standard carrots can be substituted with baby carrots or pre-sliced carrot sticks if desired. Keep in mind that cooking times may vary based on the thickness of your carrots. Carrots can also be substituted with parsnips.
- Honey - Creates a sticky, sweet glaze, which also helps the sesame seeds adhere to the carrots. Honey can be substituted with maple syrup.
- Sesame seeds - Adds a slight crunch and nutty flavor.
- Olive oil - Can be substituted with your preferred cooking oil.
- Salt & pepper - Adds flavor to the carrots.
How to make stovetop carrots
- Slice carrots into thick coins (or on the bias) and set aside.
- Heat oil in a skillet and add carrots. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and almost cooked through.
- Add honey and sesame seeds and cook for another 2 minutes, or until glaze has thickened slightly.
Tips and tricks
Slice carrots evenly - When slicing your carrots, take care to slice them into similar sized pieces. This ensures your carrots cook at the same rate. Thick slices will take longer to cook through than thin slices.
Carrots browning quickly? - If your carrots are browning quickly on the outside before they're done on the inside, your heat is too high. Turn the heat down to ensure the carrots cook through to the center.
Add honey towards the end of cooking - To ensure the honey doesn't burn, add it towards the end of cooking. Carrots should be almost fork tender before adding honey to the pan.
Storage
Cooked carrots will keep for 3 to 4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator and reheat well in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
Cooked vegetables generally do not freeze and thaw very well, and often thaw with a mushy texture. I don't recommend freezing this recipe.
Frequently asked questions
When cooking carrots on the stovetop, they'll take about 7 to 9 minutes total to cook through. Keep in mind that if your carrots are thicker, they'll take a bit longer to cook. Keep an eye on your carrots and cook them until they can be easily pierced through with a fork.
The honey in the recipe can be substituted with brown sugar or maple syrup if desired.
Yes, this recipe can be made without sesame seeds. While they add a nice crunch and a nutty flavor, they can be omitted without affecting the recipe.
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📖 Recipe
Stovetop Glazed Carrots
Ingredients
- 16 ounces carrots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Scrub and rinse your carrots. Slice carrots into thick coins, slicing any very large coins in half to create half-moons.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. When oil is warm, add carrots, salt and pepper. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until carrots are lightly browned on all sides and almost cooked through.
- Add honey and toasted sesame seeds to pan. Stir to coat carrots. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, or until sauce thickens slightly and carrots can be easily pierced through with a fork. Remove from heat and serve.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Carrot shapes: Recipe can be made with baby carrots or carrot sticks, which can cause the cooking times to vary. Cook carrots during step 2 until they are almost cooked through, then continue with step 3.
- Glaze variations: Honey can be substituted with an equal amount of brown sugar or maple syrup.
- Leftovers: Leftover carrots will keep for 3 to 4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
I was looking for different ways to serve carrots to my toddler and these were delicious! Thank you!
Great recipe. I added a little bit of curry powder to really make the flavours pop. I will try again using agave nectar.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe!