Easy Maple Glazed Carrots with Thyme: Best 15-Minute Side
These maple glazed carrots are a quick and easy side dish that comes together in just 15 minutes. With a sweet and savory glaze made from butter, maple syrup, and fresh thyme, they’re perfect for busy weeknights or holiday dinners.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (about 450g) carrots, sliced diagonally ¼-inch thick
- 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or about 4–5 sprigs)
- ½ teaspoon (3g) fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon (1g) freshly ground black pepper
- Optional garnish: fresh parsley or extra thyme sprigs
Instructions
- Prep the carrots: Wash thoroughly. If using whole carrots, trim tops and tips, then cut on a diagonal into ¼-inch thick pieces. If using baby carrots, leave whole or halve lengthwise if thick.
- Melt the butter: Place a large skillet (10-12 inches) over medium heat. Add butter and let it melt slowly without browning. Swirl to coat the pan.
- Add carrots and season: Toss sliced carrots into the skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir to coat in butter.
- Cook the carrots: Let cook without stirring for 2 minutes to develop color. Stir, then cook another 2 minutes without stirring. Repeat until carrots are tender but still have a little bite (about 5-6 minutes total).
- Add maple syrup: Drizzle maple syrup over carrots. Stir to coat. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until glaze thickens and clings to carrots.
- Add thyme: Sprinkle fresh thyme leaves over carrots. Stir to distribute. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Check doneness and adjust seasoning: Taste a carrot. It should be tender but not mushy. Add more salt or pepper if needed. If glaze is too thin, cook 30 seconds more; if too thick, add a splash of water or chicken broth.
- Serve immediately: Transfer to a serving dish. Spoon remaining glaze over top. Garnish with extra thyme sprigs or parsley if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
Don’t walk away from the pan once you add the maple syrup—it can burn quickly. For even cooking, cut carrots into uniform pieces. Use medium heat to prevent burning the butter or syrup. If using salted butter, skip the extra salt and adjust at the end. For a vegan version, substitute butter with vegan butter or refined coconut oil.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about ⅙ o
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 220
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 16
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 1
Keywords: maple glazed carrots, easy side dish, 15-minute recipe, carrots with thyme, quick vegetable side, holiday side dish, weeknight dinner