Carrot Recipes

This recipe gives you a faster route to “roasted,” lightly caramelized carrots. Instead of cooking in the oven (and waiting for it to preheat), here you cook the carrots on the stovetop in a cast-iron skillet. The key is to keep the carrots still; you’ll cook them for 5 minutes without stirring, then stir and cook undisturbed for another 5 minutes. The results are beautifully browned, crisp-tender carrots that take about a third of the time as oven-roasted. A hint of hoisin and maple syrup enhance the sweetness of the carrots without rendering them cloying.

Steaming and sautéing the carrots in the same pan is the time-saving trick to making them tender and beautifully glazed.

Toss potato, carrot, and parsnip peels with a little oil, salt, and pepper, and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes or until browned and crisp. They're delicious on their own, and they also make great crunchy garnishes for soups and salads.

Get the benefits of two veggies in one simple side.

A quick dunk of fresh carrot ribbons in the pasta cooking water softens them just enough so you can swirl them through the creamy sauce with the linguine. If you have a spiralizer, spiralize the carrots and add to the pasta cooking water 3 minutes before draining. Shaved Parmesan melts evenly into the sauce and creates lovely shards on top for a visual and textural contrast. A handful of fresh parsley and tarragon add a springy pop of green right at the end. You could also use thinly sliced chives or the green parts of green onions.

These mildly spicy carrots make the perfect side for an Asian-inspired meal. 

Super-succulent pork chops are browned on the stovetop before being finished in the oven for tenderness. Roasted carrots are paired with vastly underrated cabbage to create a vibrant vegetable medley that is equal parts flavorful and nutritious. This meal is pretty enough to showcase, yet fast enough for weeknight cooking. Enjoy it with a side of wild rice or roasted potatoes for a well-balanced meal the whole family will love.

Here, we update the usual peas and carrots with a fresher take.

Cost for 4: $11.14
Total Time: 23 minutes

This recipe is part of our Let's Cook! curriculum: Find more easy, healthy, affordable recipes anyone  can make at CookingLight.com/LetsCook.

Luscious, velvety carrot soup gets its body from tahini, not yogurt or cream. Tahini's ability to stand in for dairy makes it a go-to for vegans and those who keep kosher. This sub keeps the soup in super-savory territory as well.

The Bundt pan makes for a much easier dessert, freeing you from the fuss of stacking and frosting layers. You can bake the cake ahead and freeze it, unglazed: Wrap the cooled cake in plastic wrap, and freeze in a zip-top plastic freezer bag for up to 3 months (glaze the thawed cake).

Everything there is to love about carrot cake made into 2-bite, no-bake truffles. Our plant-powered, vegan treats are brimming with heart-healthy omega-3 fats, and free of added sugar thanks to naturally sweet dates. Use the smallest setting of your box grater or food processor's grating attachment to grate the carrots into fine, fluffy pieces. Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg compose the heady spice trinity, so don’t be shy about adding extra, if you like. Enjoy these truffles for a snack or dessert, or share them with family and friends for easy Easter entertaining.

The secret to making perfectly cooked onions is a dash of baking soda. 

Based on the classic whoopie pie, these soft sandwich cookies provide all the pleasures of traditional carrot cake in a fun-to-eat package, including the thick, tangy cream cheese frosting—especially the cream cheese frosting.

This is a kind of springtime Greek ratatouille. We love the artichokes in this dish—they add their unique flavor and somehow make everything taste just a little sweeter. The olive oil emulsifies with the braising liquid to create a silky sauce that deliciously coats the bright spring veggies. Thin lemon slices, charred and caramelized in a cast-iron pan, make a nice garnish.

Oven roasting surrounds vegetables with dry, hot, even heat that heightens flavor, browns and crisps exteriors, and cooks interiors to perfect tenderness.

A smear of cream cheese frosting is the ideal topper for this warm spiced carrot cake.

Carrots bring an earthy sweetness to these crispy, latke-like pancakes. To reheat, place on a baking sheet, and heat in a 325° oven until warmed through.

Simmered carrots are lightly buttered, but a bit of tart cream adds an extra-silky richness. We like the smooth texture you get from pureeing in a food processor; if you prefer a chunkier texture, use a potato masher. Garnish with green onions for added color.
 

Pour a homemade dressing of ricotta cheese, buttermilk, lemon rind, lemon juice, and honey over carrot ribbons to make this simply delicious salad. 

The skillet is used in a few clever ways: Chicken and vegetables get a head start on the stove, finish in the oven, then come out briefly so a simple cream sauce can pick up all the roasted flavors in the pan.

We can all agree that butter is the secret to perfect pan sauce for lean and tasty weeknight chicken. Adding a dab near the end of cooking lends a creamy, satin-smooth finish that no other fat can emulate. The butter emulsifies and slightly thickens the sauce enough to coat the chicken beautifully. This technique works equally well on lean fish.

Cheese crisps are the perfect topper for a sweet, creamy carrot soup.

The za'atar we know (available at Whole Foods) is a blend of ground sumac, sesame seeds, salt, and the dried, ground za'atar plant. It's slightly sour and slightly earthy, a bit like dried marjoram but completely unique. You can also sprinkle it over hummus, roasted chicken, or grilled flatbread. Labne is Greek yogurt to the extreme, drained of almost all its liquid until very thick. Serve with the carrots for a cool, creamy, tangy contrast.

Raw carrots are cut in fine julienne, then dressed with a lemony vinaigrette with a hint of garlic. Before serving, the salad is showered with freshly cut chives (and chive blossoms, if you have some).

Fresh carrots stand in for bulgur in this no-cook, gluten-free side dish. You can use white wine vinegar in place of lemon juice.

Serve this hearty dish over mashed potatoes or egg noodles to sop up the gravy. A side of sautéed or steamed green beans or Brussels sprouts can round out the meal.

When carrots steam or roast, their natural sweetness really shines. The honey-butter combo we use in this recipe elevates simple sautéed carrots to a whole new flavor level. Try this dressing on any root vegetables you might have, including radishes and turnips. You may be surprised how something so easy can turn almost any vegetables into a delicious side.

Partially cover the pan as the carrots steam so they retain some texture. They will continue to soften as the glaze reduces in the pan.

Wrap the vegetables in a foil packet so they steam gently and are easy to flip all at once. Place the packet right on the floor of the oven so the vegetables cook through quickly.

This is the perfect lunch to make ahead of time and pack for a long trip. Serve these turkey and Swiss wraps with a carrot salad for a healthy and kid-friendly lunch. The wholesome, balanced lunch will keep you fueled and ready for the day.

The combination of carrots, Fresno chili, brown sugar, fresh ginger, and green onions give this soup a sweet and spicy flavor.

Drain the pickles well before adding to each wrap. This is a saucy sandwich, so extra liquid can make it a bit messy once you bite in.

Here's a showstopping feast of beef, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. To create the traditional flavor profile of corned beef and cabbage without the traditionally massive sodium spike, we simmer brisket in a strong aromatic spice blend at low and slow heat rather than starting with brined beef.

These quick, crispy fritters are packed with vegetables and get supercrisp in the pan. Pair them with creamy yogurt-dill sauce for a satisfying snack or side.

Give your classic roasted carrots a flavor boost with toasty chile and zesty lime.

This nutrient-packed quinoa and greens salad boasts roasted carrots for caramelized flavor, sliced grapes for a juicy burst, and almonds for crunch. Preassemble the ingredients in a bowl to save time, but make sure to add the salad greens right before serving to keep them crisp.

Turn up the volume on classic glazed carrots with exotic cardamom and fragrant fresh ginger. If you can find multicolored carrots, use them for a lovely presentation, as we did in the photo. The parchment paper lid slows moisture loss just enough to form a beautiful glaze.

To save time, look for prepeeled real baby carrots in microwavable bags. With just a little brown sugar, these carrots become tender and juicy without turning to complete mush. This veggie side dish comes together in just 10 minutes, and it is a great, last-minute option that packs a punch of sweetness to silence any picky eaters. Double the recipe, and use leftover chopped carrots in grains, salads, and breakfast scrambles.

Fresh cilantro, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and shredded carrots give this edamame salad Asian flair.

Nicely roasted cabbage turns sweet and earthy, with a deliciously silky texture. There's a beautiful balance of flavors here—sweetness from cabbage and carrots, fire from hot sauce, brightness from vinegar, and richness from butter.

The harissa spices are muted here, lending complexity but not heat.

Cooked carrots are an often overlooked choice for a vegetable side. A little lemon, salt, pepper, and thyme are all you need for this nutritious dish.

Bright, beautiful carrots give this dip its gorgeous hue, while a pinch of paprika adds a slight kick of spice.

Udon is a thick Japanese noodle made of wheat flour. Serve with onion, garlic, and shredded carrot for a quick and easy side to chicken teriyaki or another Japanese-inspired entrée.

Bulgur is a form of whole wheat often used in European and Indian cuisine. Made with shredded carrot and chopped cilantro, this nutritious dish is high in fiber and protein and low in saturated fat.

We challenged ourselves to come up with a showstopping dessert that uses boxed cake mix as a starting point—and we succeeded. Fresh carrot and apple plus a splash of bourbon boost the flavor of the layers, while the browned-butter glaze is, well, the wildly delicious icing on the cake.

Moroccan-Spiced Baby Carrots feature spices like cumin and cinnamon play deliciously off the sweetness of the carrots.

There is nothing to this recipe, aside from tons of fresh frut and veggie flavor. Once you take a sip, don't be suprised if you let out an involuntary "mmm...". One glassful is all you need before you are refreshed enough to conquer the rest of the day. 

The peas here come in the form of tendrils–wispy, tender sprouts of the pea plant. Substitute watercress if tendrils aren't available.

This dressing is so fresh, so addictive, you might want to spoon it over everything. Simply made from a base of carrots and orange juice, it has Asian overtones, as does the salad, with its droplets of roasted sesame oil and rice vinegar. This sophisticated dish comes together quickly and is a great, healthy option for the family.

Elevate an old-fashioned favorite by mixing in the pride that comes with a homegrown harvest or fresh market find. Warm spices and brown sugar add rich, caramelized flavors to this carrot cake. If you can't find fromage blanc, use more cream cheese.

Stuffed with toasted walnuts, shredded carrots, and all the spices found in carrot cake, these light buttermilk pancakes are a guilt-free breakfast pleasure. Top with some homemade honey butter or light pancake syrup.

This soup is tart, just sweet enough, and hearty, though not a protein powerhouse. If you want to pump up the protein, increase the walnuts or serve with a salad of greens, nuts, and goat cheese.

Cajun spiced lentils serve as a delicious protein component in this vegan meal, but what really makes this dish shine is the green harissa drizzled on top. The Tunisian-like sauce brings spice, tang, and bright herbiness to the sweet winter carrots. 

Sugar and spice make whole grains extra nice especially in this mix of oats, wheat, barley, and rye that's stacked with 37g whole grains per serving.

Sweet carrots and spicy ginger complement each other well in this simple soup. Make the most of the depth of flavors by using only the freshest ingredients. Use an immersion blender for ease and convenience and a simple vegetable peeler to make slender vertical slices of carrot as a garnish.

They'll be no leftovers when you serve your family these delicious carrots. This easy side dish is quick to prepare for those busy weeknights.

Use a mandoline or Y-shaped vegetable peeler to make veggie shavings. This salad comes together in a flash.

Perfect as an appetizer and ready in just 25 minutes, this crab mixture is also delicious in cucumber boats—tastes like sushi.

Use honey mustard instead of Dijon for a sweeter sauce. This easy weeknight dinner delivers a flavorful, all-in-one meal in under an hour.

We took a simple approach to cooking carrots for dinner. Ready in less than 10 minutes, this side gets its sweet from a tablespoon of honey.

Tender and tasty is the way we describe this quick dinner. Bacon lends the peas and carrots in this dish a lovely smoky flavor.

Some like cooked carrots, while others prefer them grated to make a crunchy salad. You can do either with this recipe—just toss steamed carrot coins with the dressing. The sweetness of the carrots is balanced by the fresh bite of the sambal oelek and chopped herbs.

We love the combination of Asian flavors in this quick and simple side salad.

If you can't find precooked wild rice, substitute boil-in-bag or precooked brown rice. Start with our basic recipe and then mix it up with one of our tasty variations: Bell Pepper and Fennel, Cucumber and Feta, or Tomatoes and Pine Nuts.

This is basically an all-out assault on the bulk bins, as well as our modern take on the rice-and-beans dinner. Spices, dried lentils, and rice are cheap ingredients, especially when you buy in these small quantities. Chiles are also a thrifty flavor booster; you should be able to score the two here for a nickel. Your vegetable peeler will get you nice carrot ribbons. And you'll use your leftover pizza dough to make the flatbread.

This classic beef stew recipe has all you expect in beef stew: tender chunks of beef, carrot and potato. Yet the cremini mushrooms are a wonderful surprise.