Grilled Baby Carrots Recipe
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These grilled baby carrots are proof that life is always better with a delicious grilled side dish on your dinner plate! This easy, healthy, grilled carrots are one of our favorite healthy side dishes!
Normally, you’d fire up the grill and cook some thick, juicy steaks or burgers. But I’m going to show you how delicious your side dishes can be when you cook them on the grill too!
Are Grilled Baby Carrots Healthy?
You betcha! Grilling carrots brings out all the delicious flavors of these yummy veggies without adding too much fat or other unwanted ingredients. This clean eating dish is about as simple as it gets!
FAQs
Who knew there could be so many questions about baby carrots?! Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions about this delicious root veggie.
How Are Baby Carrots Made?
Believe it or not, baby carrots are made, not grown. That is to say, they don’t grow into the shape of a baby carrot. Baby carrots are larger carrots that are cut by machine into smaller, uniform pieces. Leftover “shavings” typically end up in cattle feed.
Can You Grill Baby Carrots?
Yes! And the recipe below will show you how!
The Best Baby Carrots To Grill
The truth is, any type of baby carrot will grill wonderfully. You can use a bag of orange baby carrots, or get fancy with multi-colored carrots where available. You can even use larger carrots and cut them into smaller pieces yourself.
How Long Does It Take To Make Baby Carrots Soft?
Boiling – 7-10 minutes.
Roasting – 18-22 minutes (at 425 F.)
Grilling – Up to 30 minutes. (But worth the wait!)
Can You Cook Carrots With The Skin On?
You can! You don’t have to peel carrots at all. However, if you don’t peel them, you’ll want to give them a good scrub under clean water to make sure there is no dirt left behind.
Do Packaged Baby Carrots Need To Be Washed?
Yes and no. It’s rare for baby carrots to have any actual pathogens on them. But if they do, simply rinsing them in water won’t get rid of them. That being said, it’s not really necessary to wash packaged baby carrots, though you can if you feel more comfortable doing so.
How Do You Keep Baby Carrots Crisp?
The best way is to store them in water, in the fridge, in an airtight container. Then simply dry them before use.
Can You Rehydrate Old Carrots?
In theory, yes. If you have older, wrinkly carrots, you can soak them in water to help rehydrate them. Hot water works best. However, once your carrots get to this point, it’s worth considering either tossing them or composting them.
Do You Need To Peel Carrots Before Roasting?
No. If you are using store-bought baby carrots, they are already peeled anyway. If you are cutting up large carrots at home, the choice is yours. If you don’t peel them, just be sure the clean your carrots really well.
How To Store Baby Carrots In The Refrigerator
You have two choices.
- Store them in water.
- Store them in a container.
Should I Store My Baby Carrots In Water?
Storing baby carrots in water is the best way to preserve them for the longest time possible.
How long do baby carrots last in water?
While the timing will vary, on average, then will last 3-4 weeks if stored in an airtight container with water.
Should I Store My Baby Carrots In A Container?
You can, yes. The best way to do this is to wrap them in a paper towel, and then place them in a container with an airtight lid.
How Long Do Baby Carrots Last In A Container?
If stored in an airtight container with a paper towel, they will last you up to 3 weeks.
Recipe Notes
- Cooking times will vary based on the temperature of your grill. 30 minutes is an approximate time.
- These little buggers really hold their heat! Cooling them for a bit before eating them is a wise decision.
What To Serve Grilled Baby Carrots With
These grilled baby carrots will pair nicely with just about anything you cook on the barbecue. But we enjoyed these with some grilled citrus chicken. Delicious! You can also try:
- Potatoes
- Chicken
- Beef
- Pork
- Turkey
- Lamb
- Other vegetables such as corn or potatoes
Recipe Variations And Garnishes
You can top these off with garnishes. This will not only change the flavors to keep things interesting but will make a nice presentation as well. We eat with our eyes first! While the carrots typically have their own natural sweetness, drizzling a little honey or maple syrup over them for a light glaze will really enhance that.
- Balsamic vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Maple syrup
- Honey
- Fresh thyme
- Fresh rosemary (or any fresh herbs you enjoy)
- Fresh lemon juice
- Flavored salt
- Ranch dressing
- Vinaigrette dressing
About The Ingredients
Baby carrots – You can purchase baby carrots, or simply cut large or medium carrots into 2-inch pieces.
Black pepper
Onion granules – Or onion powder.
Garlic powder – Or garlic powder.
Oil – Any oil you prefer. Avocado oil is particularly good for cooking at higher temperatures.
How To Make Grilled Baby Carrots
Place all ingredients inside a large, plastic, zipper-top bag or large mixing bowl.
Toss them well to coat the carrots with oil and spices.
Place a piece of aluminum foil on the BBQ grill and place your carrots on that. Spread them out so that they are in a single layer. (You can also use a barbecue skillet, grill basket, or cast-iron skillet). Close the lid on the grill and allow to cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally with BBQ tongs. Cook until they are fork tender.
Storage
Keep leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezing
If you want to freeze leftovers, wrap them up well and then place them in an airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheating
Thaw in the fridge for at least 24 hours.
To reheat, you can warm these in the microwave, or in a skillet on your stovetop. (Or on your grill over low heat.)
Recipe Supplies
For this recipe, you’ll need either aluminum foil or a grill skillet, or a grill top pan and some tongs or a metal spatula. What you use will depend on how you want to cook these. A grill top pan is perfect for a gas grill. Simply set it on your grill grate and cook like it’s your stovetop. Same for a charcoal grill, though I often prefer to use a cast iron grill pan for that.
More Grilled Vegetable Recipes
Grilled Baby Carrots Recipe Card
Grilled Baby Carrots
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. organic baby carrots
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tbsp. onion powder
- 1 tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
Instructions
- Place all ingredients inside a large, plastic, zipper-top bag or large mixing bowl.
- Toss them well to coat the carrots with oil and spices.
- Place a piece of aluminum foil on the BBQ grill and place your carrots on that. Spread them out so that they are in a single layer. (You can also use a barbecue skillet or cast-iron skillet). Close the lid on the grill and allow to cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally with BBQ tongs. Cook until they are soft and easily pierced with a fork.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 4/7/11.
SOO making these TODAY!! yummmmmm
MMM – Fabulous!! Let me know how you like them!
These look great! Do you think I could roast them in the oven instead? Colorado weather is still kind of iffy for grilling yet.
Sherrie – I don’t see why not. It might not get the exact BBQ flavor, but it should still be tasty!
I think it would be cool to BBQ whole carrots for a party. Just stick a whole carrot on the BBQ – people can cut them as they eat. Or let them cool a bit and serve them with a dipping sauce.
Anyway, these look fantastic! I love anything grilled.
Mike – Yes! That would be fun! Isn’t it amazing how grilling brings out such incredible flavor in food? I love it too!
I am a big fan of whole carrots roasted with maple syrup tender, but firm enough to eat with your fingers! 😀
Anna – Yes! They are delicious!!
I do this same thing with fresh Broccoli and it’s OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! My family won’t let me make broccoli any other way anymore. In fact, my husband was never a fan of steamed broccoli, but now that I grill it with seasonings, he LOVES it! It gets that nice smokey-charred flavor to it…soooo yummy!
Instead of grilling it on foil, I throw it into my grill basket (made for grilling small items, such as veggies) and just stir occationally, just like you do with the carrots. DELISH!!!!
Kimber – Interesting! I’ve looked at those baskets but never given them much of a second thought. Might have to go look again. I love grilling cauliflower too. Soooo yummy. But the small bits always fall into the grill. I bet a basket would work wonders. Thanks!
I LOVE THIS IDEA!!!!!
TF – Ya, pretty much anything off a BBQ is going to taste good! lol
Is there a way you could do these in the oven? I know it would not have the same taste, but would like to try in the oven.
JJ – Sure. Just spread them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet and be sure to stir them around every so often.
So making these tonight on the grill. Also, my favorite recipes are the ones that I call EZ-PZ & this on falls in that category. Happy to have found your site.
Nana – Thanks! I hope you enjoy them! 🙂
These are amazing! They taste like sweet potato fries according to my husband! Our 9mo gobbles them up too! Amazing simple recipe that has now become a staple!
Kristin – That’s fantastic!!! 😀 I haven’t made them in a while. I’ll have to make them again once we get settled in the new house!
My husband and I made this today, I didn’t really properly measure anything Just estimated with my hands and in 2 sandwich bags. hehe But it turned out fantastic on the grill! over foil! They weren’t mushy had a Bite to them which i loved. Delicious flavor. Will definitely make again.
FDF – Fantastic!! I love these as well. Try the bbq zucchini recipe too. YUM!!