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Orange Glazed Carrots

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Are you looking for a healthy and flavorful side dish for dinner tonight? Look no further than these Orange Glazed Carrots

 

Main image for Orange Glazed Carrots

 

The juicy, tender baby carrots are cooked to perfection and then tossed in a delicious glaze made from fresh orange juice, warm ginger, and a touch of sugar. 

This recipe comes together in just 30 minutes and requires only a few simple ingredients. It’s a perfect side dish for a weeknight dinner when you’re short on time.

This simple recipe is not only tasty, but it’s also packed with nutrients and vitamins that are beneficial to your health.

This recipe can be customized to suit your taste preferences. You can adjust the sweetness or spiciness of the glaze by adding more or less sugar or ginger.

The sweet and tangy glaze in this recipe makes it a great option for kids who are picky eaters and may not love eating plain vegetables.

The bright orange color of the carrots and the glaze makes this dish beautiful and adds a pop of color to your dinner table.

 

raw carrots in pot without water and salt

 

What Ingredients Are in Orange Glazed Carrots?

To make Carrots with Orange Glaze- a crowd pleaser for sure!-, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • Baby carrots: A type of carrot that is smaller and more tender than traditional carrots.
  • Salt: Kosher salt used to season the carrots and the glaze.
  • Orange juice: Provides a citrusy sweetness to the glaze.
  • Sugar: Adds a little freshness and sweetness to the glaze.
  • Ginger: Adds a warm, slightly spicy flavor to the glaze.
  • Butter: Helps to create a smooth and creamy glaze.
  • Cornstarch: Used as a thickener for the glaze.
  • Water: Mixed with cornstarch to create a slurry for thickening the glaze.

Pro Tips:

  • Ginger paste can be substituted for the ginger in a pinch.
  • Fresh baby carrots are sweeter and more tender than older, large carrots.
  • I buy orange juice from the store but you could also squeeze fresh oranges for the juice.

 

Baby Carrots in a pot with water

 

How to Make Orange Glazed Carrots

Fresh carrots make the best side dishes! And luckily, this delicious orange glaze makes healthy eating a breeze!

  1. Cook the carrots: Boil the baby carrots in a large pot of salted water on the stove top until they are tender and can be easily pierced with a fork.
  2. Make the glaze: In a separate pot, combine glaze ingredients. Then, whisk in a cornstarch and water mixture to thicken the orange juice sauce.
  3. Toss the carrots in the glaze: Once the carrots are cooked, drain carrots and pour the glaze over the top. Gently toss until coated.
  4. Serve: Place carrots in a serving dish and enjoy immediately.

Pro Tips:

  • Check the carrots often while they’re boiling, and remove as soon as they’re tender. Overcooking can cause the carrots to become mushy and lose their flavor.
  • Taste the glaze as you make it and adjust to your liking. If you prefer a sweeter glaze, add more sugar. If you want a spicier glaze, add more ginger.
  • For best results, serve immediately. If you need to make it ahead of time, keep the carrots and glaze separate until just before serving, then reheat the glaze and toss the carrots in it.

 

Orange Juice, white sugar, ground ginger, and butter in a pot.

 

Can Dogs Eat Cooked Carrots?

Yes, dogs can eat cooked carrots! In fact, cooked carrots can provide dogs with many nutritional benefits. 

Carrots are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. 

They also contain beta-carotene, which is an important antioxidant that helps support immune function and promotes healthy skin and coat.

On top of that many dogs have a soft spot for cooked carrots and really seem to enjoy them!

I do not, however, recommend that dogs eat these orange glazed carrots.

These sunshine carrots are covered in a deliciously sticky sugary glaze that would not be great for them.

Instead, reserve some of the cooked carrots without the glaze to give as a small treat for your furry friend.

 

cornstarch and water slurry added to orange juice mixture.

 

Can You Freeze Cooked Carrots?

Yes, you can freeze cooked carrots for later use on busy weeknights or you aren’t sure of dinner plans. 

After cooking, allow the carrots to cool completely, then place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. 

The tender carrots will last for up to 8 months in the freezer.

This makes them great for a special occasion or holiday! 

 

thickened orange juice mixture ready for cooked carrots

 

How Long Do Cooked Carrots Last in the Fridge?

Cooked carrots is one of those easy recipes that can last up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 

Be sure to store properly and keep at a safe temperature to avoid any potential foodborne illnesses.

Are Cooked Carrots Healthy?

Yes, cooked carrots are healthy and come with a long list of nutrition facts! 

Carrots are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin K, and potassium. 

Cooking the carrots can actually help break down the tough cell walls, making the nutrients more accessible to your body.

Plus eating carrots is good on a low calorie diet too. 

So eat up any side dish recipes that include those delicious little orange carrots!

The natural sweetness of the carrot and the great nutrition make it perfect for serving up along pot roast with mashed potatoes or for Easter dinner.

 

zoomed out image of cooked carrots in bowl

 

Why Are Carrots Orange?

Carrots are orange because of their high beta-carotene content. 

Beta-carotene is a pigment found in many orange and red fruits and vegetables. 

It actually makes cooking with them healthy recipes because that shows their Vitamin A content.

Carrots were originally purple, white, and yellow, but over time, they were bred to be orange.

Though, you can still find many of those other colors at specialty stores or if you grow your own carrots.

If you find a carrot recipe that calls for orange carrots, you can generally swap any other color and get the same results.

 

zoomed in image of cooked carrots in bowl

 

Can You Turn Orange from Eating Too Many Carrots?

Yes, it is possible to turn orange from eating too many carrots! How crazy is that?

This condition is called carotenemia, and it happens when there is too much beta-carotene in the body. 

However, this is rare and would require eating large amounts of carrots over a prolonged period of time.

So don’t worry if you are eating carrots, even every day! 

As long as they are part of a healthy, balanced diet, the likelihood of you turning orange is very small.

So make the part of your healthy breakfast, brunch recipes, or even healthy dinners. Just not all three, all the time.

 

zoomed in image of cooked carrots in a bowl with a spoon scooping three out

 

Additional Carrot Recipes You’ll Love…

 

This Orange Glazed Carrots recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. You’ll love this easy side dish! Enjoy!

 

Yield: 4 Servings

Orange Glazed Carrots

cooked glazed orange carrots in a bowl ready to serve

This Orange Glazed Carrots recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. You’ll love this easy side dish! Enjoy!

Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Instructions

  1. Place carrots and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a small pot.
  2. Cover with water.
  3. Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes or until carrots can easily be speared by a fork. Drain.
  4. 5 minutes before carrots are finished cooking, in a separate pot, combine 1/4 teaspoon salt, orange juice, sugar, ginger and butter.
  5. Mix well and cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat.
  6. In a small bowl combine cornstarch and water.
  7. Whisk cornstarch mixture to ginger mixture and whisk until mixture thickens.
  8. Pour over drained carrots and gently toss.
  9. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 123Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 267mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 3gSugar: 10gProtein: 1g
Originally Posted: April 6, 2016

Photos & Text Updated: December 5, 2023

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Brenda

Saturday 8th of April 2023

Can these be made a day in advance? And, if so, how do I reheat?

Janelle

Friday 8th of December 2023

Hi Brenda! Yes they can. You can simply microwave them to reheat. However, it's not as good as freshly made. The sauce is thins out a bit from my experience. But still delicious!

Suzanne

Monday 12th of September 2016

Came out great! I will be making these again. Thanks!

Janelle

Thursday 7th of March 2019

Suzanne, so happy to hear that this turned out well for you and that it was a success enough for you to want to make it again! Thanks for trying it out and I appreciate your comment!

Pam

Wednesday 20th of April 2016

I used to make these years ago from a recipe in an old Betty Crocker cookbook (I think). I have several versions/revisions of this cookbook but since lost my first one. Well this recipe didn't carryover, so I was excited to see it on your site! I'm not sure if it's the same, but it seems like it is, and it's probably at least close enough. My husband LOVED them, so I'm sure he'll be very happy as well! Thank you, Janelle!

Janelle

Friday 22nd of April 2016

Hi Pam! I have no idea if it is the same as I didn't get my recipe out of a Betty Crocker Cookbook. But I'm sure it's very close! I hope these are as good as you remember them!

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