Easy Maple Glazed Oven Roasted Carrots Recipe

Bring out the best in humble carrots with this easy maple glazed roasted carrots recipe! Roasting whole or baby rainbow carrots with pure maple syrup transforms them into a sweet-savory side that’s perfectly caramelized and full of flavor. The simple glaze adds just the right balance of richness and warmth – making these carrots a favorite for busy weeknight dinners or a beautiful addition to any holiday meal.

Easy Maple Glazed Oven Roasted Carrots Recipe

Sweet and savory. That’s what you get with this recipe! Made with just a handful of ingredients, keeping it budget-friendly and quick to prep!

The sweetness comes from roasting, which brings out the natural sweetness of the carrots.

Then we add a little maple syrup, and it takes this recipe up a notch!

A little garlic powder and sea salt bring balance and interest to this dish and make it extra special.

It makes even picky eaters love cooked carrots! It’s the perfect combination of flavors that will have you coming back to this recipe over and over again.

What does this delicious side dish go with?

This easy vegetable side dish goes well with any holiday main course – think Thanksgiving dinner turkey or turkey breasts, Christmas dinner holiday ham, roast chicken, or beef roast.

It’s also wonderful for a weeknight dinner table recipe.

If you’re looking for a new carrot recipe, or simply a new vegetable side for the whole family, this one is perfect for that!

Try it with any of these other favorite dinner mains:

• Traeger pork loin roast
• Dairy Free Zuppa toscana soup
• Almond flour breaded chicken
• Baked salmon with mayonnaise

Simple ingredients you’ll need for maple-glazed carrots

Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.

• Carrots – Use whole or baby carrots. Rainbow carrots look stunning for the holidays.
• Avocado oil – Helps the carrots roast evenly. Olive oil works well, too.
• Garlic powder – Create balance so it’s not overly sweet.
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Pure maple syrup – Use pure maple syrup for authentic flavor – not pancake syrup.

How to make this perfect side dish

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Not necessary but it makes clean up a breeze!

Step 2: Prep carrots by wiping them down with a damp rag. No peeling required! If the size of the larger carrots vary a lot, cut them length wise so that they are relatively similar in thickness. Place carrots on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 3: In a small bowl, combine the oil, garlic power, sea salt, and pepper and drizzle over the carrots. Toss to coat evenly.

Step 4: Roast in the hot oven for 20 minutes. For best results, don’t stir for those 20 minutes.

Step 5: After 20 minutes, remove from the oven and drizzle the maple syrup on the carrots. Toss and return to the oven for 5-8 more minutes, to allow the sweet carrots to caramelize even more. For larger carrots, add more cooking time until they can easily be pierced with a fork.

Step 6: Serve hot!  Feel free to garnish with pomegranate arils or fresh herbs for some color. Serve with yogurt dill sauce!

Watch me make this easy recipe!

The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!

Flavor Variations

Want to make these maple glazed roasted carrots your own? Try one of these tasty twists to keep the flavors fresh and exciting.

• Add Fresh Herbs: A sprinkle of chopped rosemary or thyme brings a beautiful savory balance to the natural sweetness of the carrots. Perfect for holiday meals!
• Add Heat: For a little kick, sprinkle in a pinch of red pepper flakes before roasting. The warmth pairs so well with the maple syrup glaze.
• Add Crunch: Top your finished carrots with chopped pecans or pistachios for extra texture and a touch of nutty richness.
• Add Butter: Stir in a dab of ghee or melted butter right before serving to give the glaze even more depth and shine.

Pro tips

For the best texture and flavor, choose slender or smaller carrots whenever possible. They roast more evenly, caramelize beautifully on the edges, and develop that irresistible sweet glaze all the way around – no extra slicing required!

You can also use baby carrots for an easy shortcut. They roast up tender and sweet, making this recipe even faster to prep for weeknight dinners or holiday meals.

How to store + make ahead tips

These maple roasted carrots keep beautifully, making them perfect for meal prep or holiday entertaining. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

You can also roast the carrots up to 2 days in advance to get a head start on your menu.

When you’re ready to serve, spread them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and reheat at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes, just until warmed through.

They’ll taste freshly roasted and free up oven space for the rest of your dishes – perfect for busy weeknights or big holiday meals!

Substitutions

Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this roasted carrots with maple glaze recipe. 

If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

Whole carrots – Baby carrots work well for this recipe as well.  If you can find rainbow carrots, those work great and are beautiful too!  Don’t have carrots on hand?  Try making this recipe with parsnips!

Avocado oil – Good substitutes include olive oil, melted coconut oil, and ghee (clarified butter).

Maple syrup – For this recipe if you don’t have real maple syrup, don’t replace with imitation syrup. Instead, opt for honey which will give you a nice sweet addition. Agave nectar or even brown sugar will work here.

More delicious sides you’ll love

• Crack green beans
• Healthy sweet potato casserole
• Maple cinnamon roasted butternut squash
• Kale pomegranate salad with lemon maple dressing
• Jalapeno cranberry meatballs

If you try this easy side dish recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather

Originally published August 2023. Updated November 2025.