Name: Balsamic Oven-Roasted Carrots
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup; 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided; 1 pound carrots, preferably multicolored, cut into 2-inch pieces; 0.25 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons chopped toasted hazelnuts

Balsamic Oven-Roasted Carrots

4.3

(8)

7 Reviews

Roasting carrots in the oven brings out their sweetness, which is enhanced further with a tangy balsamic and maple glaze. Serve these balsamic roasted carrots as an easy weeknight side dish.

Marianne Williams

Updated on March 28, 2024

Reviewed by Dietitian

Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Tested by

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Active Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

30 mins

Servings:

Yield:

2 cups

Nutrition Profile:

Diabetes-Appropriate Nut-Free Dairy-Free Low-Sodium Soy-Free High-Fiber Heart-Healthy Vegan Vegetarian Egg-Free Gluten-Free Low-Calorie

Jump to Nutrition Facts

How to Make Oven-Roasted Carrots

Prep the Carrots

Getting carrots ready for oven roasting is fast and easy. Unless your carrots are garden fresh, they will need to be peeled before roasting. Trim the tops and the bottoms of the carrots to remove any remaining greens and withered tips. If your carrots are small, you can leave them whole. Otherwise, you can cut them into 1- to 2-inch pieces. Cutting them into pieces on a slight diagonal or "on the bias" as opposed to straight across gives them a nice, finished presentation. The most important tip to remember here is to keep the pieces the same size so they cook at the same rate.

How Long to Cook Carrots in the Oven

Carrots cut into 2-inch pieces will cook for 16 to 18 minutes in a 400°F oven. Carrots cut into smaller pieces or thin, whole carrots may take a few minutes less. You can stir the carrots once during cooking time to get even browning. Carrots contain sugar which can burn easily at hot temperatures. Stirring the carrots and also keeping the oven around 400°F will help prevent burning.

How to Jazz Up Oven-Roasted Carrots

Oven-roasted carrots taste great on their own with just a pinch of salt and pepper, but their simple, sweet flavor tastes great with other flavors too. We add maple syrup and balsamic drizzle to our roasted carrots to give them a sweet and tangy finish. We add this combo at the end of cooking so the carrots get coated in flavor without burning. Once out of the oven, you can toss roasted carrots with chopped fresh herbs, chopped toasted nuts and seeds, or you can toss or drizzle them with a sauce like pesto or tahini.

Additional reporting by Hilary Meyer

Ingredients

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 pound carrots, preferably multicolored, cut into 2-inch pieces
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped toasted hazelnuts (Optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk vinegar, maple syrup and 1 tablespoon oil in a small bowl; set aside.
Combine carrots, salt and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large bowl; toss to coat. Spread in a single layer on a large, rimmed baking sheet.
Roast the carrots until starting to brown and almost tender but not completely cooked through, 16 to 18 minutes. Drizzle the balsamic mixture over the carrots, and, using a spatula, toss to coat completely. Continue roasting until the carrots are tender and glazed, about 5 minutes more. Sprinkle with toasted hazelnuts, if desired. Serve immediately.

Pictured Recipe: Balsamic Roasted Carrots.

Equipment

Large, rimmed baking sheet

Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, May 2019

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

130	Calories
7g	Fat
16g	Carbs
1g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size about 1/2 cup
Calories 130
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 16g	6%
Dietary Fiber 3g	11%
Total Sugars 10g
Added Sugars 3g	6%
Protein 1g	2%
Total Fat 7g	9%
Saturated Fat 1g	5%
Vitamin A 18944IU	379%
Vitamin C 7mg	7%
Folate 22mcg	5%
Sodium 226mg	10%
Calcium 45mg	3%
Iron 0mg	2%
Magnesium 16mg	4%
Potassium 383mg	8%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.