Simple Roasted Carrots (Perfect Thanksgiving Side)

Learn how to make the perfect, simple side dish that people will want seconds of with this roasted carrots recipe. Originally published November 2019. Last updated November 2022.

What dish are you in charge of this Thanksgiving? Even if you're trying to bring something to the table but aren't a master chef, you can whip up a batch of these simple roasted carrots, sis. And you'll impress your family, bae's family--basically, whoever's family you're eating with. Start scrolling a side dish you can make for under $10.

Speaking of inexpensive Thanksgiving solutions, grab my guide the perfect Thanksgiving!

If you like easy Thanksgiving side dishes, check these out, too!

• Crispy Maple Brussels Sprouts
• Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
• Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes

Growing up, my mom always fed us carrots "for beautiful eyes" so I'm a big fan of them and have shared a few different carrot recipes (peep my ginger curry carrots) over the years. Everyone needs a good basic recipe to start with, though, so here's yours. If you've ever wondered (or Googled) how to cook carrots, I've got you covered today. These carrots are cut into bite-sized pieces, seasoned simply, then roasted to perfection. The result is on point both flavor and texture-wise so don't be surprised when everyone goes back for seconds.

What You'll Need for this Recipe

• Black Pepper
• Carrots
• Olive Oil
• Sea Salt
• Thyme

Can I use fresh thyme on roasted carrots? Absolutely. You can use either sprigs of fresh thyme, dried thyme, or ground thyme in this recipe at a ratio of 4:1:0.5. So in this recipe one tablespoon of fresh, one teaspoon of dried, or one half teaspoon of ground.

Tips & Tools for Roasting Carrots

• It is very important to cut your carrots into bite-sized pieces so that they roast evenly and are easy for people to eat. Here's a video of the roll cut method I use to cut these carrots.
• It's not necessary to peel your carrots, but if you want to go for bonus presentation points, peel them before cutting with an easy peeler.
• Be sure to spread out your carrots on a sheet pan with at least ½ inch of space between each piece. This will ensure the carrots have plenty of surface area exposed to the roasting heat of the oven. When crowded too closely, the steam released from the carrots cooks each other and the texture can become too soft.
• Can I roast carrots for meal prep? Yes! Cook per the recipe card below and store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to seven days.

What to Serve with Thyme Roast Carrots

Obviously, this is a fabulous classic Thanksgiving side recipe but it also works wonderfully for weeknight dinners. Pair them with juicy chicken breast and other sides likes baked macaroni & cheese, smoky brussels sprouts, or garlic mashed potatoes.

More Easy Roasted Veggie Recipes

Just in case carrots with thyme aren't your thing, try out one of these roasted vegetable recipes for your Thanksgiving side dish.

Assorted Root Veggies

Lemon Alfredo Cauliflower

Sweet & Spicy Brussels Sprouts

Yaji Brussels Sprouts

Zesty Lemon Squash

Are carrots good for PCOS?

Absolutely! When I first sought to manage my PCOS symptoms with functional nutrition, carrots came up often in my research of what to eat during your luteal phase because they are rich in vitamin A, antioxidants, and other properties that support elimination and liver detox. I cook them in olive oil and pair with a protein and leafy green vegetable for a balance of fat, fiber, protein, and complex carbs to help keep my blood sugar steady.

I hope you'll make this simple veggie side idea part of your mealtime routine during the holidays and beyond. And sharing is caring, so be sure to pin my easy carrot recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

Sheet Pan Roasted Carrot Recipe

Simple Roasted Carrots

Jazzmine from Dash of Jazz

Simply seasoned carrots roasted to the perfect texture to complement rich Thanksgiving dishes

5 from 11 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 45 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 10 servings

Calories 85 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 pounds carrots
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• sea salt to taste
• black pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a sheet pan with non-stick oil and set aside.
• Wash carrots and trim off the stem ends. Then cut carrots into bite-sized pieces using the roll cut method. (See recipe notes for video.)
• Spread carrots pieces onto prepared sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil then season with thyme, sea salt, black pepper. Toss until all pieces evenly coated with oil and spices.
• Arrange carrots on sheet pan with at least ½ inch between each piece. Transfer pan to oven and roast for 30-40 minutes or until carrots are fork tender.
• Serve warm.

Notes

• It is very important to cut your carrots into bite-sized pieces so that they roast evenly and are easy for people to eat. Here's a video of the roll cut method I use to cut these carrots.
• It's not necessary to peel your carrots, but if you want to go for bonus presentation points, peel them before cutting with an easy peeler.
• Be sure to spread out your carrots on a sheet pan with at least ½ inch of space between each piece. This will ensure the carrots have plenty of surface area exposed to the roasting heat of the oven. When crowded too closely, the steam released from the carrots cooks each other and the texture can become too soft.
• Can I roast carrots for meal prep? Yes! Cook per the recipe card and store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to seven days.

Nutrition

Calories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 63mgPotassium: 291mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 15159IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 0.4mg

Keyword how to cook carrots, how to roast vegetables, sheet pan roasted vegetables, Thanksgiving side recipes, vegan thanksgiving ideas

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