Oven-roasted whole carrots with garlic and herbs make an easy and delicious side dish that can go with just about any meal. This savory Paleo and Whole30 side comes together in 20 minutes.
Roasted carrots are excellent any time of year but especially during the holidays and special occasions.
Somehow this ordinary root vegetable can be jazzed up and become the accompanying star on the kitchen table.
The sweetness of carrots paired with herby-garlic chunks makes an incredibly delicious combination. This is one of those simple yet delicate side dishes that could grace your Thanksgiving table or be served regularly on a weeknight.
Why you'll love this recipe
- These carrots are oven-roasted so the stove top can be used for other foods.
- Requires only a handful of simple ingredients.
- Easy recipe - toss everything together directly on the sheet pan.
- This recipe is versatile - you can keep the carrots whole for ease and convenience or cut them however you desire (cooking time should be altered).
- Everyone loves a good roasted carrots recipe. These have a warm savory flavor with a touch of garlic.
💭Make it Nutrient-Dense: Cooked carrots are higher in beta carotene from vitamin A, and also higher in vitamin K and C than raw carrots so making these roasted carrots part of your regular meals is an easy way to increase nutrition.
Ingredients
These garlic roasted carrots have very basic ingredients.
- carrots: small-medium size carrots are best for this recipe and a pound of carrots is all you need
- dried basil
- fresh garlic
- extra-virgin olive oil
- sea salt and fresh parsley for garnish
See recipe card for exact quantities.
💭Pro tip: These carrots are naturally Paleo, Whole30 and GAPS compliant. Use good quality extra virgin olive oil that is not cut with rancid vegetable oils.
Substitutions and Variations
You'll find this oven-roasted carrot recipe to be pretty basic yet with big results. These carrots are perfectly tender, but not too mushy boasting a nice balance of sweet and savory notes.
But there are so many other ways to jazz this easy side dish recipe. Check out these ideas:
- Honey Mustard - add a touch of honey and mustard for a little tang
- Balsamic - drizzle some balsamic glaze over the carrots before popping them in the oven
- Tone down the garlic - if the garlic chunks are a bit too much, mash some of the olive oil roasted garlic (from this garlic confit recipe) along with its oil.
Alternatively, you can also use multi-colored heirloom carrots (most commonly known as rainbow carrots) like in this Healthy Carrot Salad with Caramelized Onions. Or make it super easy and use baby carrots to cut down on prep time.
Step-by-Step Instructions
The complete printable recipe is below in the recipe card for your convenience.
This easy garlic and herb roasted carrots recipe call for these ingredients: carrots, extra-virgin olive oil, dried basil, sea salt, and fresh chopped parsley for garnish.
Step 1. Clean carrots
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. If using garden carrots, trim the greens and scrub or peel the carrots. If using thicker carrots, cut them in half lengthwise.
Step 2. Make garlic oil
Pat dry your carrots to make sure they are completely dry. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine extra virgin olive oil, dried basil, sea salt, and minced garlic. Stir to combine.
💭Pro tip: To save time, you can skip the small dish and season your carrots with oil and seasonings directly in the sheet pan.
Step 3. Roast carrots
Toss carrots with herby-garlic oil and spread them evenly on the baking sheet, giving them plenty of space for airflow. Roast in the center of the oven for 25-35 minutes depending on the size of the carrots.
Step 4. Garnish
Remove carrots from the sheet pan and garnish with fresh parsley and coarse salt flakes. Serve warm.
💭Pro tip: To avoid burnt garlic on the sheet pan, make sure your carrots are not too big. The smaller garden carrots need about 25 minutes of roasting time which is the perfect cooking time for garlic.
How long to roast carrots?
This answer will depend entirely on the size of carrots.
- For small diagonally sliced carrots, roast for 10 minutes.
- Baby carrots can be done in 15-20 minutes.
- Thin garden carrots will be tenderly roasted in 25 minutes.
- Store-bought large carrots are much thicker and can take up to 35 minutes to roast to tender perfection.
A good way to test for doneness is to use a fork. Gently pierce the carrot at the thickest part. If you can pierce the fork all the way through, the carrots are overcooked. Still tasty but not crisp-tender.
Generally, there should be just enough softness to tell it's tender. You want to pull the carrots out of the oven as soon as they are cooked to your liking.
Most importantly, remember that the thinner parts of the carrot (the root end) may be slightly more cooked and possibly charred. Those are actually my favorite part of the carrots.
Helpful Tools & Links
Below are some affiliate links that may be helpful to you as you make this recipe. You can find some of these items cheaper at your local store but it helps to have a link so you know what you're looking for.
- Tools: chef knife, cutting board, extra-large air fryer, stainless steel baking sheet
- Ingredients: real salt, olive oil, dried parsley, herbs de provence, Italian seasoning
- Storage Supplies: glass snap containers
Serving Suggestions
Roasted carrots are the unicorn of side dishes. They are so versatile and loved by all. It's a good thing they can come together in 5 minutes of prep time and 25 cooking time.
Enjoy these whole roasted carrots with any healthy protein like Spatchcock Turkey, Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin or these Instant Pot Ribs.
My favorite way to eat this perfect side dish is with a hefty side of mashed potatoes and baked salmon.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
To store: Leftover roast carrots can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Storage containers: These glass snap containers are perfect for leftovers.
To reheat: Transfer the carrots to the air fryer toaster oven and reheat in an un-preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 minutes (they will start warming up during the preheating).
FAQs
These crispy roasted carrots can be made in a convection-type air fryer like this one. It can also be made in basket air fryers but you have to make sure they are not lined with toxic non-stick coatings. Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and roast for 20-25 minutes or until tender.
The best carrots are from the farmer's market - go for the small-medium size as they will roast quicker without burning the garlic. Garden carrots are also great in that peeling is not necessary. Just clean them well with a vegetable brush.
However, store-bought regular carrots work too. Peel if you prefer and cut them in half lengthwise to cut on cooking time. You can also slice them diagonally and roast for 10 minutes or until tender. In a pinch, you can use baby carrots.
Looking for more healthy recipes? Here are some ideas:
Did you make this? Please leave a ⭐ recipe rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comments. Thank you!💚
Printable Recipe
Roasted Carrots with Garlic
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots, trimmed and cleaned approximately 14 small garden carrots
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced approximately 3 small cloves
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Scrub carrots clean and pat dry with paper towel.
- Combine oil, basil, garlic and salt. Pour over dried carrots and gently stir to combine (you can do this step in a small dish or directly on sheet pan).
- Spread the carrots out in a single layer and roast for 25-35 minutes or until tender. You may broil the last 3-4 minutes of cooking time.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- To avoid burnt garlic on the sheet pan, make sure your carrots are not too big. The smaller garden carrots need about 25 minutes of roasting time which is the perfect cooking time for garlic.
- General carrot roasting times:
- For small diagonally sliced carrots, roast for 10 minutes.
- Baby carrots can be done in 15-20 minutes.
- Thin garden carrots will be tenderly roasted in 25 minutes.
- Store-bought regular-sized carrots are much thicker and can take up to 35 minutes to roast to tender perfection.
- Leftover roast carrots can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
- To reheat: transfer carrots to a toaster oven or small baking sheet and reheat in an unpreheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 minutes (they will start warming up during the preheating).
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided for your convenience by an online calculator. It should not be considered as a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our complete Nutritional Information Disclaimer.
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This post was originally published January 2017 but has since been updated to include helpful information.
