Pioneer Woman Baked Carrots: Easy & Delicious Recipe

Oven-roasted carrots are a simple, healthy, and flavorful side dish that will become a family favorite. This easy recipe uses minimal ingredients and brings out the natural sweetness of carrots through roasting. Just like something you might find on the Pioneer Woman’s table, these baked carrots are rustic, wholesome, and utterly delicious.

A close up of a pile of roasted carrots.

These roasted carrots are incredibly versatile and pair perfectly with a variety of main courses. Whether you’re serving up a hearty roast chicken, a juicy steak, or even a simple weeknight meal, these carrots will complement your dish beautifully. Roasting vegetables is a fantastic way to enhance their natural flavors, and carrots are no exception. The high heat of the oven allows the natural sugars in the carrots to caramelize, creating a slightly sweet and incredibly satisfying side dish.

Simple Ingredients for Flavorful Baked Carrots

This recipe keeps things straightforward, highlighting the quality of fresh carrots and a few key seasonings. You can easily adapt this recipe to your taste by adjusting the seasonings, but the basic combination of olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic is a classic for a reason. For those who love a little extra depth of flavor, an optional herb blend adds a delightful aromatic touch.

Ingredients:

2 lbs fresh carrots

2 tablespoons olive oil

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

Optional Herb Seasoning Mix:

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

¾ teaspoon dried oregano

¾ teaspoon dried thyme

¾ teaspoon dried sage

⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

How to Make Pioneer Woman Style Baked Carrots

Making these roasted carrots is incredibly easy. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a delicious and healthy side dish ready to serve. The key to perfectly roasted carrots is to ensure they are evenly cut and not overcrowded on the baking sheet. This allows them to roast and caramelize properly instead of steaming.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Prepare the Carrots: Preheat your oven to 430°F (220°C). Wash and peel the carrots. Cut them diagonally into approximately 2-inch pieces. For thicker carrots, slice them lengthwise to ensure even cooking.
Season the Carrots: In a large bowl, toss the sliced carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper. If you’re using the optional seasoning mix, add the rosemary, oregano, thyme, sage, and nutmeg at this stage. Ensure the carrots are evenly coated with the oil and seasonings.
Arrange on Baking Sheet: Spread the seasoned carrots in a single layer on a baking sheet. Avoid overcrowding; give them space to roast properly. If necessary, use two baking sheets.

Showing how to make roasted carrots by slicing them and placing them on a baking sheet.

Roast in the Oven: Roast for 20 minutes.
Add Garlic and Finish Roasting: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and add the minced garlic. Toss the carrots to coat them evenly with the garlic. Spread them out again in a single layer on the baking sheet.
Continue Roasting: Return the baking sheet to the oven and roast for another 10-13 minutes, or until the carrots are tender and slightly caramelized.

Roasted carrots on a baking sheet before and after baking.

Serve and Enjoy: Once cooked, remove the roasted carrots from the oven and serve immediately. They are delicious served hot as a side dish.

Tips for Perfect Roasted Carrots Every Time

To ensure your roasted carrots turn out perfectly every time, keep these helpful tips in mind:

Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Giving the carrots space on the baking sheet is crucial for roasting. Overcrowding will cause them to steam instead of roast, resulting in softer, less caramelized carrots. Use a large baking sheet or two if necessary.
High Heat is Key: Roasting at a high temperature (430°F/220°C) is essential for caramelization and achieving that slightly crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender.
Consider Dark Baking Sheets: Darker baking sheets tend to cook food faster, especially on the bottom. If using a dark baking sheet, keep an eye on the carrots and consider rotating them halfway through cooking to prevent burning. You might also need to reduce the cooking time slightly.
Fresh Garlic for the End: Adding minced garlic towards the end of the roasting process prevents it from burning and allows it to infuse the carrots with its aromatic flavor without becoming bitter.

Serving Suggestions for Roasted Carrots

Roasted carrots are a versatile side dish that pairs well with a wide variety of main courses. Here are a few serving suggestions:

With Roasted Chicken or Turkey: A classic pairing, roasted carrots complement poultry beautifully.
Alongside Beef or Pork: Serve them with steak, roast beef, pork chops, or a pork tenderloin for a balanced and flavorful meal.
As part of a Vegetarian Feast: Roasted carrots are delicious on their own or alongside other roasted vegetables like potatoes, Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes for a hearty vegetarian meal.
With Grain Bowls: Add roasted carrots to grain bowls with quinoa, farro, or rice for extra flavor and nutrients.

Storing Leftover Roasted Carrots

If you have any leftover roasted carrots, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container. To reheat, you can warm them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through, or quickly microwave them. Keep in mind that reheated roasted carrots may be slightly softer than freshly roasted ones. You can also freeze roasted carrots for up to 3 months, but the texture will change and become more moist after thawing and reheating.

A fork picking up a roasted carrot from a pile.

Enjoy these simple and delicious Pioneer Woman style baked carrots as a healthy and flavorful addition to your next meal!

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Roasted Carrots Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

5 from 10 ratings

Servings: 5

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Oven Roasted Carrots is an easy and healthy side dish recipe that will get your whole family to eat their vegetables. Use a simple combination of olive oil, salt/pepper, and garlic, OR make my simple seasoning recipe!

Ingredients

2 lbs. carrots
2 tablespoons olive oil
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced

Optional seasoning Mix:

1 teaspoons dried rosemary
¾ teaspoons dried oregano
¾ teaspoons dried thyme
¾ teaspoons dried sage
⅛ teaspoons ground nutmeg

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 430 degrees.
Peel the carrots and make diagonal cuts every 2 inches. Extra thick carrots can be sliced in half lengthwise for even cooking.
Drizzle olive oil over the carrots and sprinkle them with salt and pepper, as well as the optional seasoning mix above if desired. Use your hands to toss to coat evenly.
Arrange them on a light baking sheet, leaving space around each one so that they don’t overlap, which can cause them to steam instead of roast.
Roast for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and add the minced garlic if desired. Toss to coat.
Spread them out evenly again and roast for 10-13 more minutes.

Notes

Storage: Refrigerate for up to 5 days. You can freeze them for up to 3 months, just note that their texture won’t be as crisp when reheated.

Nutrition

Calories: 128kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 474mg, Potassium: 581mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 30325IU, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 67mg, Iron: 1mg

Did you try this recipe? Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Author: Stephanie

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