Grilled Baby Carrots Recipe

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!

tender grilled carrots in red casserole dish

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.

A fork holds a single grilled baby carrot towards the camera, with a white plate filled with grilled baby carrots sitting on the table behind it.

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.

  1. Store them in water.
  2. 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

  1. Cooking times will vary based on the temperature of your grill. 30 minutes is an approximate time.
  2. 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 

Baby carrots in a white bowl with two white ramekins holding oil and spices.

Place all ingredients inside a large, plastic, zipper-top bag or large mixing bowl.

Raw carrots in a white bowl, seasoned with oil and spices.

Toss them well to coat the carrots with oil and spices.

Grilled baby carrots sitting on a grill pan.

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

Clean Eating grilled carrots in red casserole dish

Grilled Baby Carrots

Enjoy this delicious side dish with just about anything you can cook on the barbecue!
4.60 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 69kcal

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.
    Baby carrots in a white bowl with two white ramekins holding oil and spices.
  • Toss them well to coat the carrots with oil and spices.
    Raw baby carrots in a white bowl, seasoned 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.
    Grilled baby carrots sitting on a grill pan.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz. | Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 91mg | Potassium: 317mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 15640IU | Vitamin C: 3.4mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1.2mg

This recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 4/7/11.

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20 Comments

  1. MilesMusclesMom says:

    SOO making these TODAY!! yummmmmm

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      MMM – Fabulous!! Let me know how you like them!

  2. These look great! Do you think I could roast them in the oven instead? Colorado weather is still kind of iffy for grilling yet.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Sherrie – I don’t see why not. It might not get the exact BBQ flavor, but it should still be tasty!

  3. 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.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Mike – Yes! That would be fun! Isn’t it amazing how grilling brings out such incredible flavor in food? I love it too!

    2. I am a big fan of whole carrots roasted with maple syrup tender, but firm enough to eat with your fingers! 😀

      1. The Gracious Pantry says:

        Anna – Yes! They are delicious!!

  4. 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!!!!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      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!

  5. Trudefaith says:

    5 stars
    I LOVE THIS IDEA!!!!!

    1. Anonymous says:

      TF – Ya, pretty much anything off a BBQ is going to taste good! lol

  6. 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.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      JJ – Sure. Just spread them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet and be sure to stir them around every so often.

  7. "T" Ayers aka Nana says:

    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.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Nana – Thanks! I hope you enjoy them! 🙂

  8. 5 stars
    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!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      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!

  9. 5 stars
    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.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      FDF – Fantastic!! I love these as well. Try the bbq zucchini recipe too. YUM!!