In only 15 minutes and using 5 ingredients, you can cook up a batch of these wonderful Maple Glazed Carrots. They have great flavor and are equally worthy of weeknight dinners and holiday meals.

Maple Glazed Carrots - Shown here Cooked in a Nonstick Skillet with Crunchy Sliced Almonds Sprinkled on Top

Usually I try to reserve certain recipes solely for the holidays so that they feel special. I only make Beef Wellington for Christmas dinner, and I only make these Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas morning.

But this carrot recipe is too good and too quick and easy to just have for holiday dinners, even though I do love them for Easter, Thanksgiving dinner, and Christmas.

So I make them for weeknight dinners here and there, especially in the fall when I want extra maple in my life. It’s the perfect side dish, made with only a handful of ingredients!

What’s Great About This Recipe

15 minutes – As far as vegetable sides go, this is truly one of the quickest dishes I know of. The carrots are thin and cook quickly.

Only 5 ingredients – It’s amazing how much flavor, crunch, and texture you can get from only 5 ingredients. But the ingredients are all very complimentary, and that harmonious pairing is where the magic happens.

SO delicious – The carrots get beautifully blistered and sticky sweet with this preparation, and it tastes very classic and cozy. They are the best!

One Pan – The entire dish is made in one skillet, for minimal dishwashing.

Glazed Carrots - With Maple Syrup and Candied Sliced Almonds on White Platter

The 5 Ingredients You’ll Need:

  1. Carrots – Just like in my Roasted Carrots recipe, I strongly recommend buying the bunched variety that comes with the tops on. This kind of carrots has the best flavor, and also tend to be smaller, which is best for quick cooking. Fortunately they’re only $1.50 per bunch at my grocery store, so even on a budget, they’re very affordable.
  2. Maple syrup – The flavor is incredible here and echoes the natural sweetness of the carrots. You may substitute with honey or brown sugar, if desired.
  3. Butter – It has the best flavor, but feel free to use ghee or any other cooking fat of your choice.
  4. Almonds – I think sliced is best here, but you could also chop whole almonds.
  5. Salt – Intensifies the flavor and balances out the sweetness.

How to Make It Step by Step:

The process is quite simple and boils down to three steps.

  1. Trim and wash carrots.
  2. Cook them, covered in the pan, to soften.
  3. Finish with real maple syrup, almonds, and salt.

Trim the Tops

Trimming Carrot Tops from the Carrot - Prep Work for Glazing

Using kitchen shears (affiliate) or a sharp knife, trim the leafy green tops off, leaving an inch or two of green at the top if you like the look of it. 

Trimmed Carrots and Carrot Tops with Scissors

Rinse the carrots well, and note that I do not peel them. This is the best way to enjoy them.

Why I Recommend Not Peeling Them

I talk in-depth in my Roasted Carrots post about why leaving the skin on is so great, but in short:

  • the texture is better
  • it’s more flavorful
  • more nutritious
  • it saves time and hassle

Cook!

Melt some salted or unsalted butter (or the cooking fat of your choice) in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add the whole carrots in a single layer.

It’s important to not overcrowd the pan and have them piled up on each other.

Trimmed Carrots in Nonstick Skillet Ready to Cook Until Tender

(Side note: Feel free to let the melted butter brown for a minute or two first for extra flavor, but know that it is very pronounced).

Cover the pan with a lid and cook over medium for about 5 minutes, giving them a toss partway through.

Cover with a Lid to Help Cook Faster, as shown here with carrots enclosed

Once the carrots are a bit browned on the edges and are almost fully tender, that’s your cue to add pure maple syrup (no imitation syrup, please!):

Maple Syrup Carrots - Pour the Syrup Over Once Carrots are Browned

You can see that the maple syrup will bubble. Toss everything around for one minute, then add sliced almonds and sea salt:

Trimmed Carrots with Almonds and Sea Salt Sprinkled on Top - Carrot Recipes for Easter

I do not pre-toast the almonds, as I find they toast during the continued cooking.

Keep cooking for another 3-5 minutes, until the maple syrup has mostly stuck to the carrots and the almonds are golden.

Maple Syrup Glazed Carrots - Cooked Until Tender in 15 minutes

I love serving this easy side dish right in the skillet on the dinner table, but transfer to a fancy dish if you prefer, especially for a holiday meal.

What to Serve With This

These Maple Glazed Carrots work so well for numerous meats as the main course, but especially for the following:

Glazed Carrots with Maple Candied Almonds in Black Nonstick Skillet - Carrot Recipes

Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

This carrots recipe is very flexible with ingredients. Here are some nice variations for switching up this easy recipe.

Fresh herbs – Add 1 tablespoon of finely chopped rosemary or fresh thyme leaves.

Red pepper flakes – Add 1 teaspoon of pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Or use black pepper for a milder spice.

Orange – For a light citrus flavor, add 2 tablespoons of orange juice and 1 tsp orange zest along with the sweet maple syrup.

Recipe FAQ and Tips

How long can you keep leftover Maple Glazed Carrots?

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

How do you reheat leftover Maple Glazed Carrots?

Microwave for 1 minute at 70% power, then check if it’s warm. Repeat, if necessary, until warmed through.

What substitutions may be made here?

Instead of maple syrup, you can use honey or brown sugar. For the butter, you may use ghee, olive oil, or any desired cooking fat. And instead of sliced almonds, you may use chopped whole almonds.

Can you use larger carrots?

Cook time will increase significantly if you use regular large carrots here, and they won’t cook as evenly. By the time you have tender carrots on the inside, the outside will likely be overcooked. I’d recommend cutting them lengthwise instead.

Can you use frozen carrots?

Fresh carrots are best, and it will be difficult to find properly shaped frozen options. You need slender carrots that cook quickly.

Did you enjoy the recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.

Maple Glazed Carrots - Shown here Cooked in a Nonstick Skillet with Crunchy Sliced Almonds Sprinkled on Top

Maple Glazed Carrots

Servings: 3 people
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Carrots with a sweet maple glaze and crunchy almonds
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Ingredients

  • 1 lb organic carrots with tops on*
  • 2 tbsp butter (or ghee, or other cooking fat of choice)
  • 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt

Instructions 

  • Prepare the carrots: Trim the green leafy tops from the carrots, either leaving an inch or two on top for decorative purposes or trimming the tops off entirely. Wash the carrots well, but do not peel.
  • Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, and melt the butter. Add the carrots in a single layer to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes, with a lid on, tossing them halfway through to cook more evenly. You want to cook the carrots until they are mostly tender. A good sign to watch for is if you're tossing them with tongs and they start to cut into the carrots too much (and that's also an indicator that it's time to switch to a spatula). Also, cook time will vary depending on the thickness of the carrots you purchase, so cook for a few minutes more if necessary.
  • Add the maple syrup to the pan (it should sizzle and bubble up), and toss the carrots for a minute. Then add the almonds and salt. Cook for another 3-5 minutes until the carrots are glazed and sticky, and they are fork tender. Enjoy!

Notes

*This is 1 lb of carrots weighed without the greens, and equivalent to 2 bunches.
Leftovers: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheating: Microwave for 1 minute at 70% power, and check if warm. Repeat, if necessary, until warmed through.

Nutrition

Calories: 210kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 196mg, Potassium: 129mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Calcium: 53mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Author: Joanne Ozug

Post updated in April 2020. Originally published March 2013.