Looking for a delicious comfort food side dish? Get ready to fire up the grill. These Grilled Carrots with Maple Glaze will have your taste buds begging for more! This is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving , Christmas, Easter, or Sunday dinner.
Grilled Carrots with Maple Glaze are a side dish like no other. Fresh, whole carrots are grilled to tender perfection, then coated in a silky, sweet maple glaze. This easy side dish will have you reaching for a second helping in no time. So, gather your ingredients, preheat that grill, and get ready to make this easy grilled carrot recipe.
Carrots are often overlooked in grilling, but they should not be! Grilled whole carrots are a healthy and delicious option that can be enjoyed as a side dish or main course. They are packed with vitamins and minerals, and grilling them enhances their natural sweetness and provides a unique smoky flavor.
What are the benefits of grilling carrots?
Carrots are tasty, raw, baked, or steamed. However, grilling carrots brings out their natural sweetness by caramelizing the surface. This is further encouraged by applying maple syrup or honey to them. Besides, carrots are a great source of potassium, Vitamin A, and fiber! This versatile root vegetable can be served sweet, savory, as a side dish, or chopped and used in soups, stews, and casseroles.
Choosing the right carrots
The key to grilling whole carrots is choosing the right type and size of carrot. Selecting medium-sized carrots will ensure that they cook evenly without being so small that they fall through the grill grates. We like to use “bunch” carrots for this recipe, which are cold in bunches of 7-10 carrots with intact stems and greens. If you would rather use large carrots sold in bags, we recommend cutting and parboiling them for 3 minutes before grilling. If they are thick, parboil and cut them in half lengthwise.
Recipe ingredients
- 1 bunch of carrots, cleaned and trimmed
- Olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Pure maple syrup
- Butter (Kerry Gold, y’all)
- fresh thyme or parsley
- fresh lemon juice
Prepping carrots for the grill
Before grilling, trim off greens, scrub and rinse carrots under cool water, peel (optional), toss them in olive oil, and season with salt and black pepper. Again, if using large carrots, parboil them and let them cool for 5 minutes before tossing them in oil.
Grilling whole carrots
Preheat your grill to 375 degrees F (or medium-high heat) and place the prepared carrots on the grates. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your carrots, but it generally takes 4-6 minutes on each side or until the carrots are tender and takes on a charred appearance. To ensure even cooking, rotate the carrots every few minutes using a pair of tongs.
Please note that if you need to extend the cooking time so you can serve them hot alongside your grilled or smoked protein, consider cooking the carrots over indirect heat in a cast-iron pan. Adjust the time as needed.
Applying the maple glaze
The maple glaze perfects this dish, adding a hint of sweetness and savory flavor to the grilled carrots. To make the glaze, you will need real maple syrup, melted butter, salt, and a pinch of black pepper.
- Heat all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat until the glaze combines.
- Promptly brush the glaze over the carrots during the last few minutes of grilling. Rotate the carrots, and apply as needed.
Serving grilled carrots with maple glaze
- Once cooked, remove the carrots from the grill, plate them onto a serving dish, and garnish with fresh herbs like thyme or parsley and a light squeeze of lemon juice.
- Serve as a side dish or paired with your favorite grilled or smoked proteins for the perfect meal.
Storing leftovers
Store grilled carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Rewarm them in the microwave until heated through.
Perfect Protein Pairings
Grilled Carrots with Maple Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of carrots cleaned and trimmed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or, 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 1/2-1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to high heat.
- Toss the whole carrots in olive oil. Season with a little salt and pepper.
- Place the carrots on the grill in a single layer.
- Grill for 8-10 minutes or until tender and charred, turning occasionally. If the carrots are on the larger side, consider parboiling them for 3-4 minutes before seasoning and grilling.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Slowly add the maple syrup, and stir to combine.
- Brush the glaze over the carrots during the last 2 minutes of grilling. Keep a close eye on the carrots and watch for burning.
- Once tender, remove grilled carrots from the grill and transfer them to a serving platter.
- Sprinkle with fresh thyme, and drizzle with lemon juice.
- Serve as a side dish with your favorite grilled or smoked proteins. Enjoy!
- Store grilled carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Rewarm them in the microwave until heated through.
