Looking for a simple, delicious way to serve carrots? This incredibly delicious sauteed carrots recipe will be your new favorite way to prepare carrots. Made with just five ingredients, these butter honey carrots make an amazing side dish for just about any meal!
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Do you love carrots, but need a new way to serve them as a side dish? This sauteed carrots recipe is not only delicious, but simple to prepare.
Great for everything from a holiday dinner to a simple weeknight side dish, this versatile carrot recipe goes with just about everything.
What do I need to make sauteed carrots?
Making sauteed carrots is very simple, and you need just five ingredients to pull it all together. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Fresh carrots – I recommend going with full-sized carrots, however you could also use baby carrots. You could also use rainbow carrots for this recipe.
- Butter – if you want to go in a healthier direction, you could also use ghee.
- Honey – this adds a fantastic sweetness to the carrots. You could also substitute maple syrup.
- Cinnamon – great for depth of flavor and richness.
- Nutmeg – adds a fantastic addition of spice and flavor.
For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for the recipe. Thanks!
How do I make sauteed carrots?
Start by rinsing, peeling and slicing full sized carrots. If you’re looking to use baby carrots, you could also slice these or cut them down the center into two horizontal pieces.
Next, place the sliced carrots into a large skillet and cover with water. Bring the water to a low boil and simmer for 4-5 minutes. This will help soften the carrots so they are not hard and crunchy.
Once done simmering, drain off the water and add the cooked carrots back to the skillet. Add in the butter, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook over medium heat tossing together with the butter, honey and spices.
Sautee the carrots for 1-2 minutes. Serve right away while hot.
If you love sauteed vegetables, check out my Sauteed Broccoli and Garlic, which makes for a versatile side dish recipe.
Why you should par cook (pre boil/steam) your carrots before sauteing:
- Par cooking the carrots will help them evenly cook when they are sauteed. If you were to sauté raw carrots, they will overcook/burn on the outside before the inside is done cooking.
- Par cooking your carrots will help tenderize and soften the carrots. This will also help the carrots take on the flavor of the butter, honey and spices.
- There are a few ways you can par cook carrots; simmer in water (shown here), steam in a steamer basket, or microwave with water.
Frequently asked questions about making a sauteed carrots recipe:
Carrots are naturally sweet, so adding an additional sweet glaze like honey will make them even more sweet and delicious. Also, adding spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice will enhance the flavor of carrots.
Carrots can be prepared in a variety of ways. The most popular methods of preparation for carrots are to steam, sauté, roast or stir fry.
The best way to soften carrots is to steam or simmer in water for 4-5 minutes. This will soften the carrots, but still leave them firm to the bite.
Yes, boiling carrots (the technique is called par cooking) for a short amount of time will help the carrots cook evenly when being fried or sauteed. If raw carrots are fried or sauteed without par cooking (boiling for a short time), they will overcook on the outside and the inside will still be hard and undercooked.
What can I serve with sauteed carrots?
Carrots are a fantastic side dish that goes with just about any dish. Here are a few recipe ideas where these butter honey carrots would be a great pairing:
- Easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
- Mini Turkey Meatloaf – Italian Meatloaf Recipe
- Classic Beef Stroganoff
- Garlic Herb Roast Beef
- Slow Cooker Pulled Beef
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers
If you loved this side dish recipe, check out these other similar recipe ideas:
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Sauteed Carrots
Equipment
- Large Skillet This Anolon 12" Skillet is great for everything from sautéing vegetables to making one-pan meals!
- Cutting Boards This 3-Pack of non-slip cutting boards are a fantastic tool for every home cook.
Ingredients
Instructions
- To a large skillet, add the sliced carrots. Submerge in water, and bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. Simmer for 4-5 minutes.
- Drain the water and return the carrots to the skillet. Add the butter, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg. Heat over medium-high heat.
- Toss the carrots together with the other ingredients until evenly glazed and coated, about 3-4 minutes.
- Serve right away while hot. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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