5 6 Published Nov 11, 2023, Updated Nov 09, 2024
How to Slice Carrots for Roasting
If you have larger carrots, I recommend chopping them in half lengthwise. If you’re using smaller carrots (or baby carrots), you can leave them whole! I like to slice the carrots diagonally into 1″ pieces. You’ll just want to try to make sure the pieces are similar in size so they cook evenly. Sometimes when it comes to roasting vegetables, smaller = better, but that isn’t the case when it comes to carrots! They shrink slightly when roasting so just make sure you’re not cutting them too small.
Do You Need to Peel Carrots?
This is a heated question! Some say you should peel your carrots 100% of the time while others say it isn’t necessary. I’m team not necessary! If you wash them well and scrub away the dirt and debris, I don’t think it’s necessary to peel your carrots. Having said that, they do look prettier when peeled so if you’re eating raw or hosting a fancy meal, it’s worth peeling. For that reason, I peeled my carrots for this recipe. It’s also worth noting that some people think the skins of carrots have a bitter (or earthy) taste so that’s why they peel them. You’ll have to experiment to see if you can taste the difference!
How to Roast Carrots
Roasting carrots is so easy and takes minimal hands-on time! Here’s how:
Prep carrots – Wash and peel your carrots. If there are any large carrots, chop them in half lengthwise. Slice the carrots diagonally into 1″ pieces, making sure all of the pieces are similar in size. Season – Toss the sliced carrots in a bowl with the oil, salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons of fresh herbs. Bake – Transfer to a sheet pan and arrange in a single layer, making sure the carrot slices are spaced out. Bake at 400ºF for 15 minutes. Toss the carrots and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the carrots and tender and starting to brown. Season round two! – Toss the carrots with the remaining fresh herbs and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Roasted Carrot Flavor Variations
The options are endless when it comes to roasted carrot flavor variations! Here are some fun flavor combos to try below. Use 1 lb of carrots for each.
Spicy – Mix sliced carrots with 1/2 Tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, salt and pepper. Sweet – Mix carrots with 1/2 Tablespoon oil, 1/2 Tablespoon honey, salt and pepper. Balsamic glazed – Season sliced carrots with 1/2 Tablespoon oil, 1 1/2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Garlic – Mix sliced carrots with 1/2 Tablespoon oil, 2 garlic cloves, salt and pepper.
More Delicious Carrot Recipes:
Carrot Parsnip Soup Carrot Cake Protein Smoothie Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies Carrot Cake Overnight Oats Carrot Cake Bars Carrot Baby Food Easy Glazed Carrots
More Roasted Veggie Recipes:
Roasted Broccoli Roasted Butternut Squash Roasted Spaghetti Squash Roasted Cabbage Roasted Honeynut Squash Roasted Kohlrabi Roasted Green Beans Smashed Potatoes
