Impress your loved ones this holiday season with these fantastic Thanksgiving carrot recipes.
From healthy sides to sweet carrot desserts, they’ll steal the show!
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to enjoy carrots because they’re at their peak, making them insanely flavorful.
I love them because they’re vibrant, lightly sweet, and work well in everything from soups and sides to cakes and pies.
They’re also ideal if you want to encourage picky eaters to eat their veggies.
So, check out these Thanksgiving carrot recipes – I’ve got plenty to choose from!
21 Easy Carrot Recipes for Thanksgiving
1. Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots
Honey-roasted carrots are the perfect side to a big, juicy Thanksgiving turkey.
And roasting them is one of the best ways to intensify their natural flavor and make them even sweeter.
And the sweeter, the better, right?
Tossed in a sweet honey, garlic, and butter sauce, these Thanksgiving carrots are good enough to eat by the spoonful.
2. Carrot Soup Recipe
Soup is one of my favorite cooked carrots recipes. And it’s great for Thanksgiving day lunches or starters.
It’s warm but nice and light, so it’ll fill you up while you wait for the turkey to cook.
Plus, it won’t weigh you down if you have a small bowl before the main meal.
3. Carrot Fritters
You can’t beat these carrot fritters if you want to entice the kids to eat their veggies.
Between the zucchini, carrots, garlic, and scallions, it’s full of color and flavor.
They’ll pair well with turkey, ham, beef, or chicken and are sure to be a hit.
4. Mashed Carrots and Parsnips
Swap out those tired mashed potatoes for something a little more interesting this holiday, and whip up these mashed carrots and parsnips.
A little orange juice and zest take these mashed veggies to a whole new level of deliciousness.
In fact, they’re so tasty, I bet they won’t just become one of your go-to Thanksgiving side dishes – you’ll serve them all year!
5. Balsamic Glazed Carrots
Colorful, caramelized roasted carrots are an easy yet super-effective side dish for your Thanksgiving dinner.
I think this dish looks incredible with the colored veggies, but it’ll be just as delicious with regular orange carrots.
But then, what wouldn’t be yummy with that brown sugar and balsamic vinegar glaze?
6. Cracker Barrel Baby Glazed Carrots
Serve these Cracker Barrel baby carrots, and I guarantee the kids will ask for seconds.
It’s a copycat dish from a restaurant that’s known for its homegrown comfort food. So really, how can you go wrong?
And they’re super simple to make too.
You only need four ingredients and 15 minutes, so you don’t have any excuses!
7. Carrot Pie
Move over pumpkin pie; this gorgeous carrot pie is coming for your title of Best Thanksgiving Dessert!
Made with carrots and warm spices, every bite is so mouthwateringly tasty, you’ll want seconds before you even finish the first slice.
The cherry on top is a caramelized layer of maple syrup, allspice, ginger, and cinnamon. Yum!
8. Carrot Souffle
This fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth carrot soufflé is a real treat! It’s an exciting dessert to jazz up your next Thanksgiving dinner.
Creamy, sweet, and amazingly light, it’s absolutely packed with delicious fall flavors.
It’s one of those carrot recipes you’ll crave all year.
9. Cheesy Carrot Casserole
Cheese lovers will go gaga for this cheesy carrot casserole!
And for good reason – it’s overflowing with gooey cheese and crunchy seasoned croutons.
Oh, and tender carrots, of course!
This is a fabulous recipe to serve a crowd. And it’s one you’ll crave again and again.
10. Paula Deen Carrot Cake
Pumpkin and apple pies are great. So are cobblers and crisps.
But if you want something sweet, spiced, and a little different for this year’s after-dinner feast, try this impossibly moist carrot cake recipe.
Layers of tender sponge covered with a decadent cream cheese frosting is the only way I want to end the day.
Hot tip: Try adding some orange zest to the sponge and a little bit to the frosting. That hit of citrus makes all the difference!
11. Moroccan-Spiced Roasted Carrots
Add some extra spice to your Thanksgiving dinner with these Moroccan-spiced roasted carrots.
The complex Moroccan spices pair beautifully with the sweet, caramelized carrots.
Serve them with the turkey or as a tasty appetizer. Either way, they’re delicious dipped in a creamy dill and yogurt sauce.
12. Crispy Baked Carrot Fries
Fries are delicious at any time of the year. But these crispy baked carrot fries taste extra scrummy over the holiday season!
These crispy treats are ideal if you’re on a diet too. They’ll satisfy that French fry craving without all the excessive oil that comes with deep frying.
And again, the kids will love them!
13. Carrot Apple Bread
I don’t know about you, but we always have something sweet on the table with our holiday dinners.
And that usually means some kind of quick bread for people to munch on as they chat.
If that sounds good to you, try this sensational carrot and apple bread.
It’s insanely soft and moist with a lovely backdrop of spice from the cinnamon and nutmeg.
14. Healthy Baked Carrot Chips
Serving chips with Thanksgiving dinner may seem like an odd choice, but these carrot chips are a yummy exception.
They’re bright, crispy, and lightly salted with a bit of spice to boot. And they’re a fun alternative to the usual Thanksgiving carrots.
Trust me, the kids will inhale these chips faster than you can make them!
15. Cauliflower Carrot Gratin
Looking for a decadent side dish to serve this year? Whip up these cauliflower carrots au gratin and watch your family drool!
Tender carrots covered in a cheesy sauce and topped with buttery panko bread crumbs are luxurious and creamy.
It may look a little fancy with its baked crumb topping, but these carrots au gratin is pretty simple to make.
16. Carrot Ribbon Salad
How stunning is this carrot side dish?
It’s crunchy, vibrant, and sure to make any turkey dinner look a million times better.
The best part? You don’t even need to cook them!
Just use a mandoline or peeler to get thin slices, and you’re all set.
17. Crunchy Carrot Butternut Slaw
Forget boring leafy greens and try this show-stopping carrot slaw. It’s loaded with taste and texture, and it’s fabulously light too.
Packed with carrots, squash, cabbage, and celery, it’s the perfect crunchy contrast to soft potatoes and meat.
Pair it with Thanksgiving dinner leftovers, or gobble it up as a light and fresh lunch.
18. Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
Busy bees will love these garlic and Parmesan roasted carrots. They only take five minutes to prep, but they taste like a million bucks.
I mean, is there anything garlic and Parmesan doesn’t improve?
Just toss chopped carrots with olive oil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs, then roast until it’s crispy and fragrant.
19. Roasted Carrots and Brussels Sprouts
As a serious sprout lover, I can’t recommend this sheet pan roasted carrots and Brussels sprouts recipe enough.
It’s practically fool-proof and ready in just 30 minutes.
You don’t need to do much in terms of prep, but the resulting dish is a winner for any occasion.
And if you have any leftovers, these roasted veggies make a fantastic salad topper. So that’s dinner and lunch sorted!
20. Pumpkin Carrot Muffins
Here’s a fun dinner roll alternative. And they even double as a holiday breakfast or sweet treat!
The combo of shredded carrots and fall-fave pumpkin is to die for.
And the kick of sweet cream cheese is just what you need with all those warm spices.
21. Roasted Carrot Hummus
Whip up this roasted carrot hummus for a delicious Thanksgiving appetizer everyone will adore.
Seriously, your dinner guests won’t be able to get enough of this carrot side dish!
Made with just a handful of ingredients, this Mediterranean-inspired appetizer is effortless to make.
Serve it with crackers or carrot sticks, or add it to your meat and cheese boards. Yummy!
21 Best Thanksgiving Carrot Recipes
Impress your loved ones this holiday season with these fantastic Thanksgiving carrot recipes. There are so many to choose from, but if you’re wondering how to make roasted carrots, check out this recipe!
Ingredients
2 pounds (approximately 1 kg) carrots, washed and peeled
1/3 cup butter
3 tablespoons honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Slice the carrots into evenly sized pieces. Cut thick chunks in half lengthwise as well.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter, then stir in the honey and minced garlic.
- Cook for 1-2 minutes, then remove the pot from the heat.
- Place the sliced carrots into a large mixing bowl. Pour the honey-butter mixture over the carrots.
- Add the minced thyme leaves to the bowl with the carrots and honey-butter mixture. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and toss everything until the carrots are well coated.
- Spread the coated carrots in a single layer on a baking sheet or roasting pan.
- Roast the carrots for about 15 minutes. Then, stir them and cook for another 10-15 minutes or until they are tender and slightly caramelized.
- Once the carrots are done, remove them from the oven and transfer them to a serving dish.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and enjoy.
