Name: Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 17 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds baby carrots; 1 cup water; 4 Tablespoons salted butter; ¼ cup light brown sugar; Salt and pepper to taste

These Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots are an easy side dish that the entire family will love. This recipe takes 20 minutes, serves 8, and costs $2.17 to make. That’s just 27¢ per serving.

What is one thing you remember your Mom always making for Sunday dinner? For me, it is cooked carrots. They are my Dad’s favorite. But as a kid, I thought they were gross! I clearly remember my mom forcing me to always eat at least one carrot, with me complaining the whole time (sorry Mom)!

But here’s the crazy thing, as an adult I LOVE cooked carrots. But not just any old’ recipe will do, I LOVE this Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots recipe.

As I have thought about why I love them so much now but didn’t enjoy them as a child it all comes down to taste. My mom steamed the carrots and served them plain. Now, there is nothing wrong with that. She had 6 kids and a very busy lifestyle so that is what worked for her.

However, my mom will also admit, that the best thing she could make was a bowl of Cheerios! Her bowl of Cheerios were always the best! So it made up for the carrots being on the bland side.

Glazed Carrots

But I’ll tell you what my Mom didn’t have that would’ve changed my cooked carrots eating experience as a child altogether. She didn’t have a recipe like this one for glazed carrots! Furthermore, she didn’t have a website like Easy Budget Recipes to help guide her in the kitchen and make life a little easier.

The secret to the mouth-watering flavor of these glazed carrots is the brown sugar and butter that is mixed with the water to boil the carrots in. It takes plain ol’ bland carrots to the next level. You will never go back to plain cooked carrots again after one bite of these Glazed Carrots. They are perfect for Easter alongside a ham, or for every Sunday family dinner, or any other day of the week where you need a quick and easy side dish.

Recipe Questions Answered:

Can I Make Glazed Carrots in the Microwave?

You can make this recipe in the microwave if you are short on time or on stovetop space. We prefer the stovetop whenever possible, but a microwave is definitely an option if needed. To cook them this way, simply put the carrots in a microwave-safe bowl. Fill the bowl with about 1/2″-3/4″ of water and cover. Then cook for 6-7 minutes. Finally, add the glaze mixture and cook 1-2 minutes longer. Please note, the glaze will not be as thick when it is made in the microwave, but it is just as delicious.

What are the benefits of eating carrots?

There are multiple health benefits of eating carrots. They are full of healthy vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They’ve also been correlated to improving eye health and lowering cholesterol. We all want that right? Eat your carrots, friends!

Are carrots high in sugar?

Raw carrots do contain natural sugar. But they do not have much more sugar than many other vegetables. Carrots are a low-calorie vegetable so it is worth it to load your plate with this veggie as it offers more health benefits than cons.

How to Make Glazed Carrots Recipe:

First, add carrots, butter, water and brown sugar to a medium pot.
Next, heat over medium-high heat until it starts to bubble.
Stirring often, let the mixture cook for 7 minutes, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 7-10 minutes.
Finally, remove the carrots from the heat and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!

How to get the kids involved with this recipe:

Ages 2-3: Let them put the ingredients into the pot.
Ages 4-5: Let them help season the carrots with salt and pepper.
Ages 6-8: This is a great recipe for your kiddo to learn to try on their own while you supervise.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!

Discover why we love getting the kids involved in the kitchen and more tips in our How to Get Kids Involved In Cooking article.

The flavor and Recipe Variations:

Instead of brown sugar use maple syrup or honey!
During the holidays I like to add a dash of ground nutmeg, cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice.

More Side Dish Recipes:

How long is this good for:

Serve: They will keep at room temperature for about 2 hours before they will need to be refrigerated.

Store: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days.

Freeze: Cooked carrots do not freeze and then defrost well, they’re a bit on the mushy side. Therefore, we do not recommend freezing this recipe.

How much will this recipe cost:

Recipe Cost: $2.17

Price Per Serving: $0.27

2 pounds baby carrots – $1.64
1 cup water – $0.00
4 Tablespoons salted butter – $0.40
1/4 cup light brown sugar – $0.12
salt and pepper to taste – $0.01

To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.

Cook’s Tools:

large pot
measuring spoons
liquid measuring cup
wooden spoon

Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

Recipe Cost 2.17

Serving Cost 0.27

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

These Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots are an easy side dish that the entire family will love. This recipe takes 20 minutes, serves 8, and costs $2.17 to make. That’s just 27¢ per serving.

Servings: 8 people

Prep Time 3 mins

Cook Time 17 mins

Total Time 20 mins

Equipment

large pot
measuring cup
Wooden spoon

Ingredients

2 pounds baby carrots
1 cup water
4 Tablespoons salted butter
¼ cup light brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Add carrots, water, butter, and brown sugar to a large pot. Heat over medium-high heat until it starts to bubble.
Stir often and let the mixture cook for 7 minutes. Then, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 7-10 minutes, or until the carrots are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.
Remove the carrots from the heat and season to taste with the salt and pepper. Serve.

Nutrition

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