Crock Pot Glazed Carrots Recipe

Name: Crock Pot Glazed Carrots
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 190 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds carrots (ends trimmed off and sliced into 2” chunks or bagged baby carrots if you prefer); ¼ cup butter; ⅓ cup brown sugar; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; black pepper (to taste); Garnish: fresh thyme (finely chopped)

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Slow Cooker Glazed Carrots are sweet and nutritious. The glazed carrots recipe is well suited to preparation in a crockpot and makes serving a breeze. A delicious easy side dish recipe the whole family will enjoy, even the kids love this sweet and savory veggie recipe! Turn regular carrots into one of your favorite side dishes.

When you cook carrots in a crock pot it saves stove top or oven space, which is helpful when cooking large holiday meals, such as Thanksgiving dinner. Slow cooking also allows for keeping the side dish warm while awaiting plating. These easy slow cooker glazed carrots will quickly become a staple for holiday meals and busy weeknight dinners alike.

crock pot glazed carrots — *This slow cooker carrots recipe is super easy and a lifesaver when cooking large meals.*

These glazed carrots are sweetened with brown sugar and butter, while I added savory seasonings, you can add warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to compliment the sweetness if you prefer. Either way, the combination of carrots and brown sugar creates a sweet glaze that enhances the carrots' natural taste.

Slow cooker glazed carrots can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.

You can easily double this recipe if you’re serving a crowd or want leftovers. Leftover cooked carrots can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.

If you have multiple slow cookers, keep space in your oven free during the holidays with my Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes and Slow Cooker Corn Casserole side dish recipes as well as the crockpot carrots. You will have plenty of hot and ready side dishes for your holiday table without stress.

brown sugar glazed carrots in white serving bowl — *A bowl of freshly cooked Crockpot Glazed carrots ready to enjoy.*

How to Make Slow Cooker Glazed Carrots

Here are step-by-step directions for making glazed carrots in a slow cooker, complete with pictures. Feel free to jump down to the printable recipe card if you prefer.

The recipes yields 8 servings.

Prep: 10 minutes| Cooking Time: 3 hours | Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients:

Here are all the ingredients you need to make the brown sugar glazed carrots.

2 pounds carrots, ends trimmed off and sliced into 2” chunks or a large bag of baby carrots, if you prefer
¼ cup butter
⅓ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon minced garlic (or ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder)
pepper to taste
Garnish: fresh thyme, finely chopped (yes, dried thyme is fine if that is what you have) Fresh parsley may be used instead.

Holiday Tip: Carrots can be prepared ahead of time by peeling and slicing them, then storing them in a covered bowl or bag until ready to use.

Directions:

sliced carrots on cutting board with knife

Scrub the fresh carrots clean and use a sharp knife to trim off the ends and slice into 2” chunks. Peel the carrots if you wish, but it is not necessary. (Skip step if using baby carrots)

Add chopped carrots to the slow cooker.

In a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup, melt the butter. Whisk in brown sugar, salt and minced garlic.

add butter mixture and stir to coat. — Pour butter mixture over the top of the carrots and toss to coat.

cover and cook — Cover and cook on high for three hours.

Timing may vary slightly based on the slow cooker itself, or thickness of carrots. Baby carrots in particular can vary a lot. Cooked carrots will be fork tender, but not mushy.

brown sugar carrots in slow cooker, stir before you serve.

Season the crockpot carrots with pepper (optional) and gently stir to coat with glaze. Garnish with finely chopped fresh thyme and serve warm.

slow cooker carrots in serving dish — *When served, the tender carrots are coated with a thin sweet glaze.*

Have a lot of guests coming? No worries, simply double the recipe and they will be ready for your holiday table.

Variations on the Recipe

Here are a few simple swaps and add-ins to help you make this recipe your own.

Glazed Baby Carrots: Using baby carrots in this crockpot glazed carrots recipe is a great time-saver, as they come pre-peeled and ready to use.
Swap the garlic and thyme in the recipe, for a ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger. A pinch of nutmeg or cardamom are also nice seasoning choices for these sweet carrots.
For a thicker glaze either lift the lid off the slow cooker for the last half hour of cooking or add a little corn syrup to the glaze.
Add a tablespoon or two of real maple syrup to the recipe to give the carrots a little more Thanksgiving dinner flair.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover glazed carrots in an airtight container after they have cooled. They will last in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. This makes them an ideal make ahead option for meal prep or large holiday gatherings.

I don't really recommend it, but you can also freeze cooked carrots for up to three months. (I personally am not a fan of the texture of carrots that have been frozen.) Reheat them in your slow cooker set to low, in the microwave, stove top or in the oven covered with foil when you’re ready to serve.

Can I use frozen carrots?

If that is all you have on hand and want to use them up you can, but I don't recommend it otherwise. The texture of the slow cooker glazed carrots will not be ideal.

I hope you enjoyed this slow cooker carrot recipe. It goes well with so many entrees, from the holiday turkey or ham, to baked cod or breaded pork cutlets.