Glazed Grilled Carrots Recipe

It might surprise you that you can grill carrots but believe me, time spent on the grill only enhances the delicious flavor of this summer vegetable. This glazed grilled carrots recipe takes the natural sweetness of the carrot and elevates it to a whole new level with a simple-to-make glaze that is packed with complex flavors. If you’re looking for a simple side dish that will impress everyone at the table, you’ve got to try these grilled carrots!

Why should I make these glazed grilled carrots?

Carrots are naturally sweet. Tossing them on the grill adds to that sweetness as the outsides caramelize. On top of that, this recipe adds a sweet and savory glaze that oozes flavor with every bite. If the flavor alone isn’t enough to tempt you, consider the fact that you only need six ingredients—including the carrots—to make this tasty side. You can make grilled carrots in under a half hour, and they’re versatile enough to be served with anything, from beer can chicken to grilled salmon with mango salsa.

What do I need to make grilled carrots?

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this grilled carrots recipe. To make grilled carrots, you’ll need:

• Carrots—If you can use fresh carrots from your garden or farmers’ market, that’s even better.
• Balsamic vinegar—This sweet-tart vinegar serves as the base for the glaze.
• Fresh rosemary—Fresh really is best, but you can use dried rosemary if needed.
• Honey—Honey intensifies the natural sweetness of the carrots.
• Avocado oil—You can use olive oil instead if you prefer.
• Salt—The salt enhances all the other flavors of the glaze.

What size carrots should I choose?

You’re going to want carrots that are uniform in size and shape. To cut down on the amount of trimming you need and eliminate food waste, look for carrots that are roughly the same size from top to bottom instead of ones with a large taper. The best carrots for this recipe are ones that are an inch in diameter from top to bottom (but you can make nearly any carrots work).

How do I make grilled carrots?

There are only a handful of steps needed to make grilled carrots, and none of them are complicated.

1. Preheat your grill to 450°F and bring a large pot of water to boil on the stove.
2. Peel and trim your carrots, so they’re one inch in diameter at the widest spot. Most importantly, the carrots should all be around the same size.
3. Boil the carrots for five or six minutes until they’re tender but still firm.
4. Whisk the balsamic vinegar, oil, honey, salt, and rosemary in a large bowl to make the glaze.
5. Toss the boiled carrots in the glaze. Lift the carrots out with tongs, and set any remaining glaze aside for later.
6. Roast the carrots on the grill grate over direct heat for 15 minutes, turning them every five minutes so they cook evenly on all sides.
7. Transfer to a plate and drizzle on the leftover glaze.

Do I have to boil the carrots first?

Yes, boiling the carrots allows them to pre-cook and become fork tender before they go on the grill. If you were to grill the carrots without boiling them, you’d end up with an overcooked exterior and an undercooked, crunchy interior.

How long do I grill carrots?

The carrots only need to sit on the grill for 15 minutes. From start to finish, you can make the entire recipe in under half an hour, leaving you plenty of time to focus on the main course.

How many servings of grilled carrots does this make?

If you use one pound of carrots, this recipe will serve four people. Each person would end up with roughly two carrots. If you need to serve a larger gathering—or you want larger servings—you can easily double, or even triple, this recipe! To double the recipe, you’d use:

• 2 pounds of carrots
• ¼ cup of balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup of rosemary
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 2 tablespoons of avocado oil
• ½ teaspoon of salt