Slow Cooker Glazed Carrots
Slow Cooker Glazed Carrots is a super easy recipe for glazed carrots that is the perfect side dish for a holiday spread! These carrots will be a family favorite, and they don't take up any stove space.
When it comes to holiday meals, I love being able to use different modes of cooking to spread out the real estate in the kitchen. For example, my Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole is a great way to free up stove and oven space, and my Slow Cooker Creamed Corn is a great hands-off way to make the popular side dish.
I love glazed carrots at Thanksgiving dinner, so I came up with this easy and delicious way to make them in the crockpot, so I wasn't stuck making them last minute on the stove top.
In addition to my favorite Mayonnaise Roasted Turkey, this would also be a delicious addition to an Easter ham, like my Cranberry Glazed Ham!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Set it and Forget It - this is a super easy and hands-off slow cooker recipe that is so perfect for the holidays when your to-do list is so long.
- Kid Friendly - since these have brown sugar and maple syrup in them, the kids will go nuts over them! Hey, whatever gets them to eat their, veggies, right?
- Super Versatile - these are easy enough for weeknights, but also a classic holiday side dish. I think they would be so great on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
- Flavorful - these carrots get delicious flavor from the maple syrup, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon.
Ingredients
Carrots - I always use whole carrots that I peel and slice instead of baby carrots.
Brown Sugar and Maple Syrup - these are the sweeteners of the glaze and I love the combination of the two.
Cinnamon - just a little bit of ground cinnamon is used to add some warmth and flavor to the carrots.
Salt - to bring out the flavors.
Butter - this adds richness to this carrots recipe.
Variations
Different Sweetener - you can use honey instead of maple syrup to add sweetness.
Multi-colored Carrots - if you want these carrots to look extra fancy, you can use multi-colored carrots - I've found them at Trader Joe's and my local grocery store.
Add Different Spices - the cinnamon is super delicious on these carrots but you can add a pinch of ground ginger and nutmeg too, if you'd like.
Step by Step Instructions
Photo 1. Peel and slice your carrots. Place the carrots on the bottom of the slow cooker.
Photo 2. Sprinkle the brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt on the carrots and give them a stir to combine.
Photo 3. Add the cubed butter on top of the carrots.
Photo 4. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
Use whole fresh carrots. I've seen a lot of recipes using baby carrots and these glazed carrots are just SO much better when you use whole carrots! Baby carrots have a lot less flavor (IMO) than regular carrots, and it's worth the extra effort of peeling and chopping, especially for a holiday meal.
Storage. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Thicker Glaze - if you'd like the carrots to have a thicker glaze, simply transfer the glaze to a saucepan and simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken it up. Alternately, if your slow cooker has the sauté function you can turn that on for the last 5 minutes.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. You can prep all of this ahead of time. Simply place in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
The slow cooker will cook the carrots, softening them up from their raw state, however if you don't overcook them, they will not be mushy.
Other Side Dish Recipes to Consider...
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Slow Cooker Glazed Carrots
Ingredients
- 2 lbs carrots peeled and sliced into 1" pieces
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter cubed
Instructions
- Peel and slice the carrots. I like to cut them at an angle, making them look a little fancier for a holiday side dish.
- Place the carrots on the bottom of slow cooker.
- Add brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt, and mix well to combine.
- Place the cubed butter on top of the carrots.
- Place the lid on top of the slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
- Serve and enjoy!