Perfect Roasted Carrots (Three Ways!)

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 10 minutes
• total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

2 pounds carrots

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

½ teaspoon fine sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Optional garnish: 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives, green onions, parsley or dill

For the spiced version, you’ll also need*:

½ to 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder (use less for more mild carrots, or the full amount for spicy carrots)

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the honey butter version, you’ll also need**:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 tablespoon honey

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup, if desired.

To prepare your carrots, peel them and then cut them on the diagonal so each piece is about ½″ thick at the widest part (see photos).

Place the carrots on the baking sheet. Add the olive oil, salt and a few twists of pepper.*

Toss until the carrots are lightly coated in oil and seasonings. Arrange them in a single layer. Roast the carrots until they’re caramelized on the edges and easily pierced through by a fork, 25 to 40 minutes, tossing halfway.** (Heirloom carrot varieties will roast in as little as 25 minutes, but regular carrots are more dense and typically require 35 to 40 minutes.)

Sprinkle fresh herbs over the roasted carrots, if using. Serve the carrots warm, straight from the sheet pan or from a serving dish. Leftover carrots will keep well, covered and refrigerated, for 3 to 4 days. Gently reheat before serving.

*If you’re making the spiced version: Add the chili powder and cinnamon with the olive oil and salt.

**If you’re making the honey butter version: When the carrots are nearly done baking, melt the butter in your smallest saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, cover the pan to avoid splatters and continue cooking, swirling the pan occasionally, just until you start seeing golden flecks at the bottom, about 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the honey. Once the carrots are done, drizzle the mixture over them and toss to coat.

Notes

Prepare in advance: You can peel and slice the carrots in advance. For maximum freshness, store them in a bowl of water in the refrigerator until you’re ready to roast them. Drain and pat dry before proceeding.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/4th batch of basic roa
• Calories: 153
• Total Fat: 7.5 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.1 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Sodium: 421.5 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 21.8 g
• Dietary Fiber: 6.4 g
• Total Sugars: 10.8 g
• Protein: 2.1 g