Ingredients
- 2 pounds carrots, trimmed
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon fine table salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 medium lemon
Method
Recipe by Heather Schiefelbein.
- Heat the oven to 425°F. Scrub or peel the carrots. Halve them lengthwise; quarter thick ones so the pieces are roughly ½ inch thick. Small thin carrots can stay whole.
- Toss with the butter, oil, salt, pepper and thyme on a large rimmed baking sheet. Spread in one layer with a little space; use two sheets if crowded.
- Roast for 25–35 minutes, turning after 15 minutes, until browned at the edges and tender when pierced. Thin carrots finish sooner.
- Squeeze half the lemon over the hot carrots, toss and taste. Serve the remaining lemon in wedges. Divide into 6 equal side portions.
Serving, useful notes and storage
Plain orange carrots are the budget choice; the photo uses mixed colors. They need no honey or added sugar to brown and taste sweet.
Serve with meatloaf, chicken, pot roast or a bean dish. Reheat reserved carrots in a covered skillet with a splash of water, then uncover to let the edges dry, reaching 165°F.
Refrigerate promptly in shallow containers within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), at 40°F or below. Use within 3–4 days of the original cooking day. Reheat only the portions needed to 165°F; reheating does not restart the storage clock.
Estimated cost per portion
Estimated ingredient cost: $2.50–$4.00 per batch, or $0.42–$0.67 per stated portion. Ingredient-use allowance: ordinary carrots $1.50–$2.50; butter, oil, lemon and seasoning $1–$1.50. Rainbow carrots can cost more. Ingredient amounts used, including pantry seasoning; excludes companion dishes, tax and energy. Package purchases can cost more.
Photo: Los Muertos Crew / Pexels — Pexels License. Original photograph · Pexels License. Licensed photograph used as serving inspiration for an original Cyrus Ramsey recipe, not a photograph of a kitchen test. Cropped and resized from the original.
Make it a meal
- Family Meatloaf with a Tangy Tomato Glaze — Sweet roasted carrots complement the tangy meatloaf.
- Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe — Serve beside pot roast, using its pan juices.
- Herb-Roasted Chicken with Fan-Cut Potatoes and Green Beans — Add another vegetable to the roast chicken dinner.