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    Home » Holiday Entertaining » Honey Balsamic Glazed Carrots with and Orange

    Honey Balsamic Glazed Carrots with and Orange

    Apr 8, 2021 by Mackenzie Ryan · This post may contain affiliate links | Disclosure policy in footer.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    A purple text box saying "honey balsamic glazed carrots" with a picture of them below it.

    These delicious honey balsamic glazed carrots have a unique sweet and tangy flavor that keeps you coming back for more. Did I mention that they cook in 30 minutes?

    A plate of roasted carrots with balsamic glaze on them.

    Why This Recipe Works

    Roasted carrots are a tricky thing to make perfectly. Either they are too hard, too soft, or burn. They never seem to be "just right".

    This honey balsamic glazed carrot recipe cooks the carrots to perfection by exposing more surface area to the heat. (Thank you extreme bias diagonal cut!)

    Additionally, by adding in the fresh thyme leaves and a little orange zest to the balsamic glaze, you instantly have an elevated and awe-inspiring side dish that tastes like it took way more time than it did.

    What's Goes Into the Recipe?

    Labeled ingredients for making honey balsamic glazed carrots.
    • Carrots. This recipe works well with multicolored, standard orange, or even baby carrots. (Although those may take a little longer to roast.)
    • Butter.
    • Honey. Since there is orange zest in this recipe, orange blossom honey tastes exceptionally fantastic paired with it. It's not necessary to run out and get it though, any clover or wildflower honey does the trick.
    • Orange. You only need the zest for this recipe, so make sure it is an orange you have another purpose for or are happy to peel and eat afterward.
    • Thyme. Fresh is best if you can do it, but you can substitute it with 1 teaspoon dried.
    • Balsamic Vinegar. The vinegar is used to glaze the carrots in two ways, during cooking and for a thick reduction on top. Choose a high-quality balsamic for the glaze most flavor possible.

    How To Make This Recipe

    Four numbered square showing the steps for making Honey Balsamic Glazed Carrots.

    golden circle with black number 1 in it.

    Preheat the oven to 425°F

    Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.

    Peel and cut the carrots on an extreme bias (diagonal). Each cut should be about 1 inch wide, or the width of your pinky finger.

    Transfer the carrots to the prepared baking sheet.


    golden circle with black number 2 in it.

    In a small bowl combine the melted butter, honey, thyme leaves, and 1 tablespoon of the balsamic vinegar.

    Pour it over the carrots and gently stir the carrots around until they are all coated.

    Roast the carrots for 15 minutes then flip and repeat on the other side.


    golden circle with black number 3 in it.

    While the carrots roast for the second half you need to make the balsamic glaze.

    Place the rest of the balsamic vinegar into a small, shallow pan over medium heat. Let it come to a boil then reduce to a simmer.

    Let the vinegar reduce by two-thirds. Remove it from the heat and stir in the orange zest. Keep it warm until ready to serve.


    golden circle with black number 4 in it.

    Once the honey balsamic glazed carrots are roasted, remove them from the roasting pan and drizzle them with the balsamic reduction right before serving.

    A spoon drizzling a balsamic reduction into a jar

    Expert Tips

    • The balsamic glaze doesn't look as thick as it is while still warm. Avoid the temptation to reduce it beyond the recommended two-thirds or it won't want to come out of the pan.
    • Putting the orange zest into the balsamic glaze right before serving helps it maintain its oomph. If you add it in at the beginning it loses some of its flavors and may also become bitter.
    • Substitute the fresh thyme with 1 teaspoon dried thyme if needed.
    • A sheet pan of carrots cut on a bias for roasting.
    • A plate of roasted carrots with fresh thyme.

    FAQ's

    Is balsamic glaze the same as balsamic vinegar?

    No, balsamic glaze is a reduction made by simmering out more than half of the liquid in the vinegar. This makes a surprisingly sweet and tangy glaze that is thickened to the consistency of school glue.

    Can I use store-bought balsamic glaze?

    You can, but it's not nearly as good. The store-bought glaze has extra ingredients added to make it shelf-stable, and these ingredients make it congeal in a way that is gloopy, off-putting, and not quite the same as homemade. Splurge for the extra dish to clean and make your own, it is SO MUCH better.

    Should I peel carrots before roasting?

    It's not entirely necessary to peel the carrots first because the peel is entirely edible. However, the peel can trap dirt and debris from growing, and is naturally a little bitter. If you choose to leave the peel on, make sure to scrub the carrots really well before cutting.

    A spoon drizzling balsamic glaze on roasted carrots with thyme.

    Related Recipes

    These balsamic glazed carrots go exceptionally well with hearty meats, autumnal flavors, and as a side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even Easter. Some recipes I recommend to go with it are:

    • Seared golden brown pork chops in a cast iron pan.
      Crispy Cast Iron Pork Chops
    • A slice of medium rare meat on a plate garnished with thyme.
      New York Strip Roast with Red Wine Reduction
    • A fork cutting into sous vide salmon on a bed of rice.
      Maple Dijon Sous Vide Salmon
    • A table set with sliced stuffed pork tenderloin next to glasses of white wine and a box of prunes.
      Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with California Prunes
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    A plate of roasted carrots with balsamic glaze on them.
    5 from 2 votes

    Honey Balsamic Glazed Carrots with Orange

    These perfect roasted carrots have a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze added for a quick pop of flavor and extra oomph.
    Course: Side Dish, Vegetable
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Mackenzie Ryan
    4 servings
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Pin it for later?

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces on an extreme bias
    • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
    • 2 tablespoons melted butter
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 1 orange, zested
    • salt and pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    Honey Roasted Carrots

    • Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • In a small bowl stir together the thyme leaves, melted butter, honey and one tablespoon of the balsamic vinegar.
    • Put the peeled and cut carrots onto the prepared baking sheet and toss them in the honey butter mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Put them in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. They should be developing a golden-brown hue on bottom but not burning. Flip the carrots and roast another 15 minutes or until the carrots are al-dente.

    Balsamic Glaze

    • While the carrots roast, put the rest of the balsamic vinegar into a small, shallow saute pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer until the balsmic vinegar has reduce by two-thirds.
    • Stir in the orange zest and keep the reduction warm until the carrots are roasted. Drizzle over the carrots immediately before serving.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 215mg | Potassium: 850mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 38313IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 2mg
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    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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