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Looking for a quick and delicious way to add some flair to your meals? These Citrus Glazed Carrots are your answer. Imagine tender, sweet carrots with a hint of citrus that elevates them from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or sharing with a friend, this dish, featuring a delightful combination of butter, a touch of seasoning, and the fresh, tangy flavor of grapefruit juice, is as easy as it is impressive.
Enjoy these bright and citrusy glazed carrots, a perfect side dish for any of our main dish recipes. Their tangy sweetness enhances the smoky flavor of a succulent ham steak, pairs well with the tender, herb-infused roasted turkey breast, and complements the delicate, ocean-fresh taste of baked shrimp. With flaky, mild baked cod, they add a lively burst, while with juicy, golden-brown broiled chicken, and rich, savory pork tenderloin, they offer a delightful contrast.
Why You’ll Love This Citrus Glazed Carrots Recipe
- Quick Preparation: With minimal prep time, these roasted carrots are an easy addition to any meal.
- Flavorful Twist: The grapefruit juice adds a unique zesty flavor that complements the natural sweetness of the carrots.
- Versatile: It’s a perfect side dish that pairs well with a variety of main courses.
- Aesthetically Pleasing: Using rainbow carrots adds a burst of color to your plate.
- Perfect Portion: Ideal for small households, this recipe yields enough for one or two servings.
Ingredients
- Carrots: Aim for 8 ounces (about 200 grams) of carrots, which typically amounts to 2 to 4 carrots, depending on their size. If you’ve got extra carrots, consider using them in Chicken Fried Rice, Sheet Pan Steak and Potatoes, or a small batch of Morning Glory Muffins.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is preferred for its rich flavor and high quality. It’s less processed, retaining the robust taste and healthful antioxidants of olives. If desired, a lighter olive oil can be used as an alternative.
- Grapefruit juice: Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is recommended to capture the most vibrant citrus flavor. If fresh juice is not available, bottled grapefruit juice can be used. Leftover grapefruit juice can be used in a Grapefruit Posset or a mini Grapefruit Cake. For a different twist, orange juice is a suitable substitute.
- Salt and black pepper: These classic seasonings are used to enhance the natural sweetness of the carrots.
- Butter: Post-roasting, the carrots are glazed with melted butter for added richness and a velvety finish.
If you have any ingredients leftover from this citrus roasted carrots recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
How To Make Glazed Carrots
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Peel and trim the ends off the carrots. Slice each carrot in half or into 2-inch long sections. Place on a parchment or foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil and juice over the carrots and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Use your hands to make sure the carrots are evenly coated.
- Place baking sheet in the oven and bake until tender, about 20 minutes. Remove baking sheet from oven. Toss the carrots with melted butter and enjoy immediately.
Expert Tips
- For Uniform Cooking: Chop the carrots into pieces of similar size to guarantee that they cook evenly throughout.
- Perfect Roasting: Lay out the carrots in one layer on your baking sheet. This spacing allows them to brown nicely and become delightfully crispy.
- Optimal Roasting Temperature: Set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat ensures the carrots develop a crisp exterior while remaining tender inside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Peeling carrots is not required for roasting. If they’re thoroughly washed and scrubbed to remove any dirt, unpeeled carrots are fine to eat. The decision to peel them is based on your personal preference. I prefer peeling mine for a cleaner taste.
Any carrots you have on hand will work for this recipe. Whether it’s the standard orange variety, vibrant rainbow carrots, or even baby carrots, all are suitable for roasting and will deliver a delicious result.
Absolutely! Orange juice is a fantastic alternative to grapefruit juice and imparts a delightful flavor to the roasted carrots.
While there are slight variations in flavor among the different colors of carrots, they are quite subtle, especially when roasted, making the taste difference almost indistinguishable.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried these citrus glazed carrots or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Citrus Glazed Carrots For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces carrots (3-4 small carrots), peeled, trimmed and either sliced in half or sliced into 2-inch long sections.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons grapefruit juice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ tablespoon salted butter , melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Spread carrots on a large parchment or foil-lined baking sheet.
- Drizzle olive oil and juice over the carrots and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Use your hand to toss until evenly coated.
- Place baking sheet in the oven and bake until tender, about 20 minutes.
- Remove baking sheet from oven. Toss the carrots with melted butter and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- For Uniform Cooking: Chop or slice the carrots into pieces of similar size to guarantee that they cook evenly throughout.
- Perfect Roasting: Lay out the carrots in one layer on your baking sheet. This spacing allows them to brown nicely and become delightfully crispy.
- Optimal Roasting Temperature: Set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat ensures the carrots develop a crisp exterior while remaining tender inside.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I am not able to eat grapefruit, so would the recipe turn out okay if I used orange juice? Thank you.
Yes, orange juice would be a delicious substitution.
I made these carrots to go with my ham steak. I used orange juice since I didn’t have grapefruit and sprinkled them with just a pinch of dried thyme. So good!