These oven roasted carrots with lemon and thyme are a simple way to turn everyday carrots into a flavorful side dish. The carrots become tender and lightly caramelized in the oven, while fresh lemon and thyme add a bright, herby flavor. With just a few ingredients, this recipe comes together easily and pairs well with any weeknight dinner or holiday meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Simple Ingredients & Easy to Make. – These oven roasted carrots call for simple ingredients like lemon and thyme which means you probably already have these ingredients in your kitchen. Just chop, toss together, bake, and enjoy.
Budget Friendly – The wonderful thing about making dishes with produce that is in season is that it is very budget friendly. This delicious side dish is for everyone no matter the price-point.
Well-balanced – These oven roasted carrots are the perfect addition to any holiday meal, balancing out rich, hearty entrees with a fresh and flavorful side.
Tips
- Make the garlic butter sauce first and set aside while you peel the carrots. This will give the flavors enough time to meld together.
- Wash and peel your carrots well.
- Using foil instead of parchment paper to bake your carrots will make these crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
- Lightly brush the foil with olive oil or extra garlic butter sauce to prevent the carrots from sticking to the foil.
Tools You May Need
Small frying pan – To melt the butter
This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Oven Roasted Carrots with Lemon & Thyme Ingredients
Here is everything you need to make the best oven roasted carrots with lemon and thyme.
Fresh carrots
Lemon zest
Thyme
Garlic cloves – Fresh garlic is best, but you can use garlic powder if that is what you have on hand.
Butter
Salt & Pepper
Recipe Variations
These oven roasted carrots with lemon and thyme are delicious as is. But like all simple recipes, it’s really easy to change it up. Here are a few ideas:
Add them to soups. – These oven roasted carrots add so much flavor to a homemade soup. My favorite soup to make with roasted carrots is my Butternut Squash and Chicken Soup.
Make them sweet. – I call for lemon and thyme because I love savory, bright flavors, but you can swap out the lemon and thyme for honey and cinnamon for a sweet version of this recipe. Sweet roasted carrots would be perfect for the holiday season!
Serve with any main course. – While I love serving this side dish during the holidays, this recipe is great alongside any main course. I love to enjoy these carrots with a steak and crunchy salad on the side.
How to Make Oven Roasted Carrots with Lemon and Thyme
1. Make the Lemon & Thyme Butter Sauce
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
In a small bowl, zest one small lemon, mince two cloves of garlic, and add your spices (thyme, salt and pepper). Mix everything together and set aside.
Next melt butter in a frying pan or in the microwave and add it to the lemon zest mixture. Set aside and let the flavors in the butter sauce meld together while you prep the carrots.
2. Prep the Carrots
Line your baking sheet with foil, drizzle some olive oil to prevent sticking later.
Wash and peel the carrots and cut them into thin, long slices. Then add them to the baking sheet.
3. Drizzle & Bake
Coat the carrots in the lemon and thyme butter sauce.
Place the carrots in the oven and roast at 400 degrees for 23 minutes.
Let the carrots cool on a baking sheet for 5 – 7 minutes.
How to Store the Oven Roasted Carrots
Store the oven roasted carrots with lemon and thyme in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 – 5 days.
The Best Oven Roasted Carrots with Lemon & Thyme
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Foil
- Cutting board
- Large knife
- Small bowl
- Lemon zester or cheese grater
- Small frying pan
Ingredients
- ½ Large Bag Carrots
- 1 Small Lemon Lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon Thyme
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- ¼ cup Unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
1. Make the Lemon & Thyme Butter Sauce
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- In a small bowl, zest one small lemon, mince two cloves of garlic, and add your spices (thyme, salt and pepper). Mix everything together and set aside.
- Next melt butter in a frying pan or in the microwave and add it to the lemon zest mixture. Set aside and let the flavors in the butter sauce meld together while you prep the carrots.
2. Prep the Carrots
- Line your baking sheet with foil, drizzle some olive oil to prevent sticking later.
- Wash and peel the carrots and cut them into thin, long slices. Then add them to the baking sheet.
3. Drizzle & Bake
- Coat the carrots in the lemon and thyme butter sauce.
- Place the carrots in the oven and roast at 400 degrees for 23 minutes.
- Let the carrots cool on a baking sheet for 5 – 7 minutes.
Notes
Storage
Store the oven roasted carrots with lemon and thyme in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 – 5 days.Tips
- Make the garlic butter sauce first and set aside while you peel the carrots. This will give the flavors enough time to meld together.
- Wash and peel your carrots well.
- Using foil instead of parchment paper to bake your carrots will make these crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
- Lightly brush the foil with olive oil or extra garlic butter sauce to prevent the carrots from sticking to the foil.
If you try out these Oven Roasted Carrots with Lemon & Thyme, please rate it and leave a comment below. This helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to make. Also, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @goldenhourgrains so I can see what you’re making!
More Fall Recipes to Try:
Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Butternut Squash and Chicken Soup
Pin for Later:
Leave a Reply