Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

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Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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These Sauteed Carrots are a wonderful quick and easy vegetable side dish perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and beyond. A simple and vibrant dish to accompany your main holiday feast. Sauteed with scallions and thyme, these carrots are perfectly cooked every single time.

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

What’s in this Sauteed Carrots Recipe?

How is your Thanksgiving and holiday menu planning going? If you are still on the hunt for a tasty side dish, then I’ve got the perfect treat for you! These carrots are fresh and vibrant, the perfect addition to any table!

  • Carrots: Peel, trim, and halve them lengthwise, and cut ¼-inch diagonally. Large carrots will need to be quartered lengthwise.
  • Scallions: Add a pop of color and a slight onion flavor.
  • Unsalted Butter: Adds richness to the carrots.
  • Canola Oil: Helps the carrots cook without burning.
  • Garlic: Adds an earthy flavor and a pungent aroma.
  • Thyme: Adds a fresh and herbal flavor.
  • Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and a salty and umami flavor.
  • Salt + Pepper: Enhance the natural flavor of the carrots.

Pro Tip: Use an unsalted/low-sodium chicken broth for this recipe. If you use a salted stock, omit the salt.

Variations on Sautéed Carrots

You can add just about any fresh herbs to this dish to change the flavor. Sage, rosemary, and parsley are all great choices. You could also play up the sweetness of the carrots by adding some brown sugar or maple syrup, cinnamon, and ground ginger.

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

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What is the best cooking method for carrots?

You really can’t go wrong with any cooking method, but I prefer to roast or sauté them to add that delicious browning.

Are sauteed carrots healthy?

Yes! Sautéing is one of the healthiest ways to cook carrots, and carrots are full of vitamins and minerals.

Do you have to peel carrots before sauteing?

I personally like to peel my carrots, but you can wash and scrub the carrots well without peeling them if you prefer.

Should I boil carrots before frying?

There’s no need to boil these carrots before cooking them since we are cutting them into small enough pieces. If you boil them beforehand, they may turn out soggy or mushy.

What can I add to carrots for flavor?

I added scallions, garlic, and thyme, but any fresh herbs will work.

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (5)

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover sauteed carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in a pan set over medium-low heat until warmed through.

How to Freeze

Freeze sauteed carrots in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

These sauteed carrots are a great side for both weeknight meals and fancy holiday dinners. Try them with baked pesto salmon, beef tenderloin, instant pot turkey breast, or crispy chicken parmesan.

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (6)

5-Star Review

“These are the perfect side dish!” – Rachael Yerkes

Recipe

Sauteed Carrots Recipe

4.74 from 19 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 15 minutes minutes

Total: 25 minutes minutes

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

Serves4 people

Print Rate

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These sauteed carrots are cooked with scallions, thyme, and garlic for a flavorful side dish that your friends and family will love. It's so easy to make this vegetable dish and you can even prep them ahead of time to make your life that little bit easier!

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound carrots
  • 2 scallions
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (¼ stick)
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme leaves only
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth or stock
  • Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Peel, trim, and halve carrots lengthwise; cut ¼-inch diagonally. (Large carrots will need to be quartered lengthwise.) Carrots should be about the same size.

    1 pound carrots

  • Trim scallions and thinly slice the light green and white parts diagonally.

    2 scallions

  • Heat butter and oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat.

    2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons canola oil

  • Add carrots, onions, garlic, thyme leaves, and ½ cup chicken stock.

    1 clove garlic, 4 sprigs fresh thyme, ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth

  • Season with salt and pepper.

    Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper

  • Reduce heat to lowest temperature, cover and cook 6-8 minutes or until carrots are fork-tender.

  • Uncover and cook until liquid is almost gone.

  • Taste and, if needed, season with additional salt and pepper.

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • Cut the carrots to similar sizes so that they cook evenly.
  • Take care not to overcook the carrots.
  • Use an unsalted chicken stock for this recipe, if you use a salted stock, omit the salt.
  • Serve immediately.

Storage:Store sauteed carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 167kcal (8%) Carbohydrates: 12g (4%) Protein: 2g (4%) Fat: 13g (20%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g Monounsaturated Fat: 6g Trans Fat: 0.3g Cholesterol: 15mg (5%) Sodium: 380mg (17%) Potassium: 416mg (12%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 6g (7%) Vitamin A: 19227IU (385%) Vitamin C: 10mg (12%) Calcium: 50mg (5%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

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More Carrot Recipes We Love

  • Honey Glazed Carrots
  • Crockpot Glazed Carrots
  • Red Wine Glazed Carrots
Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

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18 Comments

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Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (14)

Candi

Posted on 1/19/2022

On step 4, maybe change it from onion to scallion? For every step in your recipe it said scallion so for a moment I got confused why it didn’t get added into the pan.Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (15)

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (16)

Becky Hardin

Posted on 1/20/2022

Reply to Candi

Thanks for sharing!

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (17)

Alice

Posted on 4/4/2021

We really enjoyed this! Thank you for the recipe.Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (18)

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (19)

Becky Hardin

Posted on 4/9/2021

Reply to Alice

Thanks for stopping by, Alice!

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (20)

Aice

Posted on 4/4/2021

We really enjoyed this! Thank you for the recipe.Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (21)

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (22)

Becky Hardin

Posted on 4/9/2021

Reply to Aice

Thanks for sharing!!

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (23)

Scott Hendricks

Posted on 3/17/2021

We like our carrots crispy, so we used 1/4 C chicken stockSauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (24)

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (25)

Becky Hardin

Posted on 3/17/2021

Reply to Scott Hendricks

Thanks for stopping by, Scott!

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (26)

Toni

Posted on 11/15/2019

I loved it! So flavorful and easy to make!Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (27)

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (28)

Becky Hardin

Posted on 11/17/2019

Reply to Toni

I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (29)

Rachael Yerkes

Posted on 11/15/2019

these are the perfect side dish!Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (30)

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (31)

Becky Hardin

Posted on 11/17/2019

Reply to Rachael Yerkes

I agree, Rachael! Thank you!

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (32)

Sara

Posted on 11/15/2019

I cannot wait to try these! Just reading the recipe has me drooling. These sound so savory and full of flavor.Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (33)

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (34)

Becky Hardin

Posted on 11/17/2019

Reply to Sara

Come back and let me know what you think once you’ve made them!

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (35)

Natalie

Posted on 11/15/2019

Mmm..I love cooked carrots & love the thyme on them. They are full of flavor!Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (36)

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (37)

Becky Hardin

Posted on 11/17/2019

Reply to Natalie

I’m so glad to hear you loved these!

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (38)

Valerie

Posted on 11/15/2019

Sometimes carrots alone can be a bit boring. These look good and sound quite tasty!Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (39)

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (40)

Becky Hardin

Posted on 11/17/2019

Reply to Valerie

I agree, Valerie!

Reply

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

Sauteed Carrots Recipe - The Cookie Rookie®? ›

Heat butter and oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add carrots, onions, garlic, thyme leaves, and ½ cup chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to lowest temperature, cover and cook 6-8 minutes or until carrots are fork-tender.

Do you have to boil carrots before frying? ›

Blanching the carrots before stir frying ensures that they are perfectly cooked while retaining their vibrant color and crunchy texture. To blanch the carrots, bring a pot of water to boil and add a pinch of salt. Carefully place the carrots into the boiling water and cook them for 2-3 minutes.

Can you saute onions and carrots together? ›

In a giant skillet or pot, heat olive oil and enough soy sauce to generously cover the bottom of the pot. Dump in onions and carrots and stir. Cook over med/low heat till soft, but not mushy (about 30 min).

Do you cook carrots before onions? ›

If sautéing more than one vegetable at a time, what vegetables do you sauté first? Start with the hardest vegetables first, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, or cauliflower. Onions also need quite a while to cook, whereas zucchini and squash need less time, and garlic needs even less.

What are the three ingredients in mirepoix? ›

The culinary term refers to the combination of diced onion, carrots, and celery, gently cooked in fat. Mirepoix is a foundation for many classic dishes, including sauces, soups, braised meat dishes, and other recipes.

Should I peel carrots before sauteing? ›

Because a carrot's skin isn't as thick as other root vegetables (like potatoes) or winter squashes, carrots are perfectly safe and delicious to eat without peeling so long as they are properly cleaned. When it comes down to it, peeling carrots or keeping the skin on is a matter of personal preference.

What is the carrot trick frying? ›

It works best if you add the carrots along with the food you're frying. Otherwise, the carrots might shrivel up and burn before whatever you're frying is finished. You might have to switch out the carrots in between batches of food—again, to avoid burning the carrots and thus defeating the purpose of the tip.

Is it better to saute vegetables in oil or butter? ›

Butter is best for sautéing vegetables because it has a low smoking point and adds an incomparable rich, nutty flavor. Start by heating the pan, then swirl butter as it melts to coat the pan before adding your vegetables. Cook over moderate heat to create the perfect texture without burning the butter.

What is it called when you saute onions, carrots, and celery? ›

The French flavor base called mirepoix is a combination of onion, carrot and celery generally cut to the same size. It's used in a ratio that's 2 parts onion to 1 part celery and carrot. Saute in Butter.

Is it better to saute onions in butter or oil? ›

Cooking onions longer at a lower heat results in soft and golden brown onions. This breaks down the natural sugars, so the onions taste extra sweet. We recommend using butter for the best flavor.

What makes carrots taste better? ›

Or, to bring out their fresh, woody flavor, add some anise. If you're roasting your carrots, toss them in olive oil first. This will help keep the moisture in them. To bring out the sweetness in your carrots, season them with orange or lemon juice or a little brown sugar and butter.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook carrots? ›

Cooking instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan, then add the carrots and parsnips and toss to coat in the oil. Add the thyme, cinnamon, star anise and some seasoning. Cook over a medium heat for 15-20 minutes, turning the vegetables frequently, until golden brown and almost cooked through.

Why do restaurant carrots taste better? ›

The simple answer to why roasted vegetables from a restaurant taste so good: lots of fat and salt and high heat.

What is the Holy Trinity when cooking? ›

To those who worship at the church of Louisiana cuisine, onions, peppers, and celery are their Holy Trinity. Together, these simple yet flavorful ingredients make the base of Cajun and Creole cuisine. This also makes it the foundation of the perfect menu for a New Orleans wedding or event.

What is mirepoix called in English? ›

From France's mirepoix (onion, carrot, celery) to Germany's suppengrün (carrot, celeriac, leek) to the famous Holy Trinity of Cajun cooking (onion, celery, green bell pepper), almost every cuisine in the world starts with a common, simple, balanced, vegetable base.

What is the Holy Trinity in Italian cooking? ›

Onions, celery, and carrots are considered “the holy trinity” for good reason: When cooked low-and-slow in olive oil, their combined flavors form an umami-packed, versatile base for any number of dishes.

Do you need to boil vegetables before frying? ›

Blanch vegetables before stir-fry

To prepare vegetables for stir-frying, blanching is the perfect way to jump-start the cooking process, especially for dense vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower (which usually take a while to stir-fry and often get soggy).

How do you soften carrots before stir fry? ›

In a large saute pan or deep skillet with a tight-fitting lid, place the carrots, water, salt, and pepper. Bring the water to a boil, then cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium low. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, until the carrots just reach fork tender (don't let them turn mushy).

Do you need to blanch carrots before stir frying? ›

Vegetables that are best for blanching before stir frying include broccoli, green beans, snap peas, carrots, asparagus, and cauliflower. These vegetables benefit from blanching as it helps to soften them slightly while preserving their crunch and color.

Should you boil vegetables before stir frying? ›

This process keeps the vegetables from cooking further. Shocking vegetables are ideal for when you want to use the vegetables for cooking at a later time. Note that if you are stir-frying a dish you can skip this step and use the blanched vegetables immediately.

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