Honey Glazed Rainbow Carrots from Trader Joe’s are a simple and delicious side dish roasted and caramelized to perfection in just 20 minutes. This easy go-to side dish will definitely bring the WOW factor to all your holiday meals this season.

 

Finally! I’m finally getting this side dish recipe posted. Boy, do I feel a sense of relief! I was starting to get a little worried it might not make it in time for the holidays. 

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve attempted to make these rainbow carrots in the past week or so and just never got around to it. Between the time-change last weekend and all the other day to day activities going on, my to-do list has been growing at a rapid pace with no end in sight.

Welcome to the holiday season, right?! I’ll come up for air in January sometime…possibly.

But let’s get back to the carrots. I found these organic rainbow carrots at Trader Joe’s last Wednesday and they shamefully have been sitting in my vegetable drawer since then. 

Basically, if I didn’t bite the bullet and use them today, I’d most likely end up having to throw them in the trash.

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get things done. Where are all my procrastinators at? 

Carrots are one of the few vegetables that my son, Zach, truly enjoys. He will pretty much eat any type of vegetable, minus peas that is, but carrots are his favorite. And this recipe, with a little bit of butter and honey, makes the carrot lover in him even happier. 

I must say, my favorite part of these honey glazed rainbow carrots is that the carrot is the focal point. Yes, you get the sweetness from the honey and the little kick of garlic, but their sole job is to bring forward the delicious flavor of the carrots.

If you’re trying to mask the flavors of the carrot, possibly from some picky little eaters, I might suggest increasing the amount of honey in the recipe by a tablespoon. It will add an extra oomph of sweetness to the carrots. 

While I’m at it, let me talk about a few more tidbits of information that came to mind while putting together these yummy glazed carrots.

Can I use regular carrots for this recipe instead of the rainbow variety?

Absolutely! A carrot is a carrot is a carrot. Only have baby carrots in the refrigerator and want to make this as a side dish to accompany a busy weeknight meal?? GO AHEAD.

And for you Trader Joe’s fans, you’ll be happy to know they sell petite rainbow carrots too. Just be warned, they’re a bit pricey and come in a smaller package. This means you’ll either need to buy multiple packages or adjust the measurements of your other ingredients when making the carrots.

Do you need to peel your carrots?

I didn’t and here’s why. The rainbow carrots from Trader Joe’s are organic. This means they’re produced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents. A really good scrub to remove any dirt and germs and you’re good to go. The best part. You get to keep all the amazing nutrients and vitamins found in the skin of the carrots. 

If you can’t find organic or don’t want to spring the extra money, I recommend peeling the carrots. They’ll still taste delicious, I promise!

Can I leave my rainbow carrots whole?

Yes, you certainly can leave your carrots whole. They look absolutely stunning that way and the presentation is pretty epic. Just advise that you might need to add about 5 minutes or so to the cooking time. You still want to check your carrots at 20 minutes to see if they’re fork-tender, and if not, continue cooking in 5-minute increments.

I decided to cut my carrots. Want to know why? For starters, better caramelization! There’s just more surface area for the glaze to adhere to when cutting your carrots. Also, the cooking time decreases a bit with the smaller bits of carrots. Finally, I find it easier to serve when the carrots are already in bite-sized pieces. 

And if you have young ones, you’ll most likely end up cutting the carrots regardless. Might as well get the additional benefits I just listed!

Do these honey glazed carrots need to be roasted at 425?

I get it. If you’re making these carrots as a side dish for the holiday, I can guarantee your oven is already working overtime. You want to make this recipe, and you can probably squeeze it in the oven, but everything else inside needs to cook at 350 degrees. The question becomes, can I still make this rainbow carrot recipe?!

The short answer is YES. 

You most definitely can make this side dish for your holiday meal at a lower temperature. You will, however, need to increase your cooking time accordingly. I also can’t guarantee that your caramelization will be exactly the same as it would be if you were cooking at 425 degrees. The higher temperature really makes for the perfect glaze! Nonetheless, if you’re okay with this, the carrots will still be yummy and enjoyed by all. 

With all that out of the way, let’s get cooking!

Honey Glazed Rainbow Carrots from Trader Joe’s

2 lb. Organic Rainbow Carrots from Trader Joe’s (or variety of your choice), 1 tablespoon honey (more if you prefer more sweetness), 2 tablespoons butter, 2 garlic cloves (minced), 1 teaspoon dried thyme (1 tablespoon of fresh thyme can be substituted), dash of salt and pepper

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. 

Wash and scrub your organic Trader Joe’s rainbow carrots. If using a different variety of carrots, specifically not organic, peel your carrots instead.

Cut your rainbow carrots into bite-sized pieces.

Try your best to get all your pieces to be about the same size so they cook evenly in the oven. This might mean having to cut some of your pieces in half or fourths. 

Place your cut rainbow carrots on a large sheet pan lined with parchment paper. The keyword here is LARGE. This will allow you to really spread out the carrots so they don’t overlap. If you crowd the sheet pan, the carrots will steam and never really caramelize.

Next, melt your two tablespoons of butter in the microwave and add two minced garlic cloves to the bowl. I used my Pampered Chef mincer which is one of my favorite tools in the kitchen.

Add in one tablespoon of honey. Remember to add more if you want some extra sweetness.

You’ll want to add your dried thyme next. If using fresh thyme, I recommend sprinkling it on the rainbow carrots once they’re cooked.

Add a dash or two of salt and pepper and stir all the ingredients together.

Drizzle the butter mixture over the rainbow carrots.

Using a spoon, or your hands, toss the carrots in the butter mixture and space them out so none of them are touching on the sheet pan. 

Place the rainbow carrots in the oven and roast for 20 to 25 minutes until they’re golden brown and fork-tender.

All that’s left to do is put these beautiful honey glazed rainbow carrots in a beautiful serving dish and set it out at your holiday table. Or if preparing this as a last-minute side dish, plop some on paper plates and call it a day. Either way, they’re going to be scrumptious!

 

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