Name: Crockpot Carrots
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 5 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 pounds carrots, peeled halved; 2 teaspoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon honey; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold cut into 6 pieces

These Crockpot Carrots let the slow cooker do all the work to make delicious and tender carrots. Perfect for a busy weekend as well as a holiday dinner this is the perfect low-key side dish that pairs with almost everything!

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Easy Crockpot Carrots Recipe

There’s something truly magical about slow-cooked vegetables, and these Crockpot Carrots are no exception. With just a handful of simple ingredients, this dish brings out the natural sweetness of carrots while adding a buttery, herby glaze. Whether you need an easy side dish for a weeknight dinner or a holiday feast, this slow cooker recipe is a set-it-and-forget-it solution that delivers big on flavor.

This recipe works great for holidays like Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner because it frees up spaces that would otherwise be in your oven or stovetop. It really is the perfect side dish for a holiday meal they veggies come out all tender and perfectly cooked and they pair with pretty much and holiday main dish.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Minimal Prep – Just 5 minutes of hands-on time!
Perfectly Tender – Cooking low and slow enhances the natural sweetness.
Versatile Side Dish – Pairs well with everything from roasted chicken to holiday ham.
Kid-Friendly – The honey adds a hint of sweetness that kids love.
Effortless Cooking – No need to babysit the stove top or take up oven space; let the slow cooker do the work!

Ingredients

Fresh Carrots – Peeled and halved lengthwise for even cooking. If you are cooking with smaller organic carrots you can leave them whole. You can also use ready to use baby carrots instead of traditional fresh carrots.
Olive Oil – For a better flavor, the carrots will tend to dry out and the seasoning and salt won’t stick to the carrots without it.
Honey – Adds a touch of sweetness to enhance the already natural sweetness of the carrots, for a little bit sweeter of a side dish go ahead and double the honey.
Dried Thyme – Brings in an earthy, herby note. You can also use a few springs of fresh thyme if you have that available to you.
Kosher Salt – To enhance the overall taste of the carrots.
Unsalted Butter – Since we are already adding salt you will want to make sure you use unsalted to keep the carrots from getting to salty. Cut into 6 pieces for even distribution. Adding the butter like this add a richness and depth that is often associated with carrots being roasted in the oven.

Instructions

Start by peeling all the carrots and cutting them in half lengthwise. This ensures they cook evenly and absorb all the delicious flavors from the seasoning.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the carrots with olive oil, honey, thyme, and kosher salt. Toss everything together until the carrots are well coated.

Place the seasoned carrots in the slow cooker, spreading them out evenly. Distribute the butter pieces on top so they melt and coat the carrots as they cook.

Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours until the carrots are fork-tender. Once done, give them a gentle toss before serving. Enjoy!

tips, tricks and questions

Can I use baby carrots instead of whole carrots?

Yes! Baby carrots work great and require no prep. However, they may cook slightly faster, so check for tenderness around the 2-hour mark.

Variations

This is an easy recipe to make your own! If you want a sweeter version give it an extra drizzle of honey. Or swap out the sweetener try a little bit of real maple syrup or a brown sugar mixture. You could also make this more savory instead by adding more thyme or even other herbs like fresh parsley or even a little bit of garlic powder.

Can I cook these on LOW instead of HIGH?

Absolutely! Cooking on LOW for 5-6 hours will yield equally tender and flavorful results.

What main dishes pair well with these carrots?

These carrots complement roasted meats like Spatchcock Roast Chicken, Easy Thanksgiving Turkey, or Prime Rib. As well as vegetarian mains like quinoa or lentil-based dishes.

Do you need to peel carrots in a slow cooker?

Technically no but I think it really has to do with what times of carrots your buy. Organic carrots or baby carrots (that are pre-peeled) don’t need to be peeled, the organic carrots just need a quick scrub. If you are using conventional carrots I would recommend peeling your carrots.

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Yield: serves about 8