Oven Roasted Carrots

Name: Oven Roasted Carrots Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds carrots* ((peeled and cut into ½” thick circles)); 2 Tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon sea salt; ¼ teaspoon paprika; ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

By Laura

Posted Feb 26, 2020, Updated Apr 23, 2024

5 from 6 votes

3 Comments

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This oven roasted carrots recipe is easy to make with only 6 ingredients in under 30 minutes! Roasted carrots are a kid-friendly vegetable side dish that’s simple & nutritious.

up close overhead view of Oven Roasted Carrots in a bowl garnished with herbs

Roasted carrots are so delicious, that when they come out of the oven I have to harness all my self-control so I don’t devour the whole pan before dinner. I call them “vegetable candy,” even though the only sweetness comes from the natural sweetness of the carrots (also try these honey roasted carrots).

This oven roasted carrots recipe pairs well with any main dish, especially balsamic pot roast or homemade mac and cheese! Peeling and cutting the carrots before roasting decreases the baking time which means they’re ready fast.

These baked carrots are a kid-friendly side dish, and even make a great finger food (cut into small pieces) for babies.

front view of roasted carrots in a bowl garnished with chopped rosemary

Roasted Carrots Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions

As always, let’s chat about the ingredients in this baked carrots recipe, as well as possible substitutions!

overhead photo of the labeled ingredients in this roasted carrots recipe

Carrots. I prefer using whole, organic carrots to make this roasted carrots recipe. Rainbow carrots are also fun to use for a colorful carrot side dish!
Olive Oil. Any neutral oil, such as canola oil or avocado oil, works well in this recipe. I also love using flavor-infused olive oils (like garlic or herb olive oil), for extra flavor!
Sea Salt. Use pure, fine sea salt for the best results!
Paprika. Both regular and smoked paprika taste amazing in this oven roasted carrots recipe!
Garlic Powder. Granulated garlic also works well!
Black Pepper. Use freshly ground black pepper for the best results!

overhead view of roasted carrots in a bowl garnished with chopped rosemary with a spoon taking a portion out of the bowl

How to Roast Carrots in the Oven

These oven roasted carrots are so easy to make! We’ll walk through the process step by step to ensure your success.

Begin this recipe by peeling the carrots. We prefer to roast them in thick slices so they cook faster. You can roast them in larger pieces or even whole, but you will have to increase the cooking time.

Preheat the oven, then in a small bowl, mix together garlic powder, sea salt, paprika and black pepper. Set aside. Mixing the spices together ensures they are evenly distributed on the roasted carrots!

overhead view of the sliced carrots and spice mixture for this roasted carrots recipe

Next, put the peeled & cut carrots in a large bowl, drizzle with olive oil and stir until evenly coated.

photo showing how to roast carrots - coating with olive oil

Then, sprinkle half of the spice mixture over the carrots, stir and repeat with the second half and stir until evenly distributed.

photo showing how to roast carrots - adding spice mixture

Next, spread the seasoned carrots evenly on a lightly greased baking sheet. Be sure they are in a single layer so they roast evenly.

Roast

Roast at 450 degrees for 15-25 minutes, stirring once halfway through.

Note on Roasting time

The roasting time heavily depends on the size/thickness of the carrots. Check your carrots often to avoid burning.

overhead photo showing how to roast carrots - spatula stirring roasted carrots on a baking pan

Serve

Once the baked carrots are roasted to a golden-brown perfection, remove them from the oven and serve immediately. Feel free to garnish with some chopped carrot tops, chopped fresh rosemary or parsley.

These baked carrots go with just about any and every main dish you can think of, and they also compliment other side dishes to round out a meal!

Serve on the side of this balsamic pot roast or these healthy sloppy Joes.
They pair perfectly with mac and cheese recipes – like this spaghetti squash mac and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, and vegetable mac and cheese!
Oven roasted carrots go well with other vegetable side dishes too. Try these roasted Brussels sprouts, parmesan roasted green beans, roasted beets, sautéed green beans, and roasted broccoli!

photo of roasted carrots in a serving bowl

Store

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Roasted Carrots Recipe FAQs

Do you peel carrots before roasting?

Yes. Peel carrots before you cut and roast them for the best texture.

How do you cut carrots for roasting?

I recommend cutting them into 1/4″ to 1/2″ thick circles. The smaller pieces roast faster, which is key when you’re in a hurry to get dinner on the table! You can also cut them in half lengthwise, or roast them whole, just be aware you will have to drastically increase roasting time!

Can I use baby carrots?

Yes, you can use baby carrots and roast them whole or cut in halves, just be aware that you will have to increase the roasting time!

overhead photo of a spoon taking a scoop of roasted carrots out of a bowl

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