This article explores various keto-friendly glazed carrot recipes, perfect for adding a touch of sweetness and color to your low-carb meals. Carrots, while containing natural sugars, can be enjoyed in moderation on a keto diet. These recipes utilize sugar substitutes and creative flavor combinations to deliver delicious and satisfying side dishes.
Quick and Easy Keto Glazed Carrots
These easy Glazed Carrots require just 4 ingredients and are ready in about 15 minutes! This recipe is perfect as an easy holiday side dish.
Ingredients:
- Carrots
- Butter
- Brown Sugar or Brown Sugar Monkfruit
- Paprika
Instructions:
- Bring a medium or large skillet to medium heat.
- Add butter and allow it to melt.
- When the butter has begun to boil, add the prepared carrots. Toss to coat in the butter. Try to get the carrots into a single layer.
- Lower the heat to medium low and cook the carrots for 10 minutes, stirring 3-4 times while cooking. This step is essential for caramelizing the natural sugars.
- After 10 minutes, sprinkle the brown sugar (or brown sugar monkfruit) and paprika over the carrots and toss.
- Stir until a glaze forms, about 5 minutes. The carrots are done when they are tender and the brown sugar glaze is thick.
To ensure even cooking, cut the carrots into equally sized pieces. After peeling the carrots, cut off the head of the carrot at an angle. Continue to diagonally cut your carrot in 1/2 thick pieces all the way down.
These carrots can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat in the slow cooker, on the stovetop, or in the oven.
For extra flavor, top with fresh herbs. If your kids prefer baby carrots, you can make this dish with them as well.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
This recipe makes 4 servings (each one about 3/4 cup). Each 1/4-Cup Serving contains approximately: CALORIES 80 | FAT 6g | CARBOHYDRATES 5g | FIBER 2g | NET CARBOHYDRATES 3g | PROTEIN 0g
Keto-Style Roasted Glazed Carrots
This recipe offers a delicious and colorful addition to any meal, oven-roasted until crisp-tender and coated with a butter-maple syrup glaze.
Ingredients:
- Carrots (multi-colored recommended)
- Butter
- Sugar-Free Maple Syrup
- Fresh Parsley
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Fresh Thyme
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Mix the carrots, olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh thyme thoroughly in a bowl (save the melted butter, sugar-free maple syrup, and parsley for later).
- Roast in the oven for 10 minutes.
- While carrots are roasting, combine the melted butter, sugar-free maple syrup, and chopped parsley in a bowl.
- Garnish your keto roasted glazed carrots with a little fresh chopped parsley.
Scrub and peel your carrots, if you are using whole carrots. Cut them in half lengthwise, into pieces no more than 1 ½ inches long. If you choose to slice them into smaller, coin-sized pieces, the baking time can be reduced even further.
Orange and Sugar-Free Maple Glazed Carrots
These carrots are a delicious side dish, roasted in the oven and glazed with an orange and sugar-free maple syrup coating.
Ingredients:
- Baby rainbow carrots (or regular carrots)
- Olive oil (or coconut/avocado oil)
- Orange juice
- Sugar-free maple syrup
- Ginger (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Scrub carrots and peel if needed. If you don't have baby carrots, you can cut regular carrots in half or thirds, depending on their size. Cut any thicker carrots in half lengthwise.
- Coat the carrots with olive oil and seasoning.
- Roast in a 425°F oven for 15 minutes, stir, return to oven and continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes until golden brown and can be pierced with a fork.
- Mix the syrup and orange juice.
- Use the fork method to test for doneness.
Low Carb Maple Glazed Carrots
These Low Carb Maple Glazed Carrots are a delightful addition to your low sugar or keto diet. This roasted glazed carrots recipe is naturally gluten free, and perfect for a low carb diet.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Ingredients:
- Whole carrots
- Unsalted butter
- Sugar free maple syrup of choice
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Smoked paprika
- Fresh thyme
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a large baking dish.
- Scrub the carrots and trim the tops.
- Melt the butter and combine it with salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika and fresh thyme.
- Pour in the sugar free maple syrup, reserving 2 tablespoons for after the carrots are roasted.
- Coat the carrots completely with the seasoned maple butter mixture.
- Roast the carrots until fork tender and lightly golden brown, about 35-45 minutes, tossing halfway.
- Garnish the carrots with the remaining maple syrup, and enjoy!
To make this dish dairy free & vegan friendly, replace the butter with vegan butter, olive oil or avocado oil.
Keto Honey-Glazed Carrots
This honey-glazed recipe transforms plain carrots into an irresistible side dish.
Ingredients:
- Butter
- Honey
- Dried rosemary
- Garlic powder
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Carrots
- Fresh thyme, for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400º.
- In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Stir in honey, rosemary, and garlic powder and season with salt and pepper.
- Peel and cut your carrots in half, then place them on a large baking sheet.
- Pour the glaze over the carrots, using the tongs to fully coat each and every one.
- Add to the oven, then roast until they are caramelized and glazed-this should take around 35 to 40 minutes.
- Garnish with some fresh thyme if you desire, then serve.
Keto-Friendly Sweeteners for Glazes
Traditional glazed carrots use brown sugar or honey to create that sweet, sticky coating. For keto-friendly options, consider these alternatives:
- Brown Sugar Monkfruit: A 1:1 replacement for brown sugar, maintaining the flavor without the carbs.
- Keystone Pantry Allulose: A low-glycemic sweetener ideal for creating smooth and glossy glazes.
- Sugar-Free Maple Syrup: Replaces regular maple syrup for a tasty low-carb option.
- Erythritol or Monk Fruit Blends: Can be used, but caramelization may not be as smooth or glossy.
- Swerve Brown Sugar: An erythritol blend, a good alternative to brown sugar.
Tips and Considerations for Keto Carrots
- Carb Count: Be mindful of the natural sugars in carrots and adjust portion sizes accordingly. A medium-sized carrot contains approximately 6 grams of total carbs.
- Cutting Carrots: Cut the carrots in similar size so that they cook evenly.
- Pre-Cooking: Pre-cooking (steaming or boiling) is optional but recommended for tenderness. Steam or boil the carrots for about 6-8 minutes, until just fork-tender.
- Storage: Store leftover glazed carrots in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a covered container in the microwave at 30-second intervals. Adding a teaspoon of water can prevent the glaze from getting too sticky.
Serving Suggestions
Keto glazed carrots pair well with a variety of dishes, including:
- Roasted chicken
- Pork tenderloin
- Holiday ham
- Low Carb Vegetable Beef Soup
- Blackened Chicken and Brussels Sprouts Skillet
- Creamy Chicken Soup
- Spiral Ham
- Sheet-Pan Roasted Red Onion Chicken
- Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Can I use regular carrots instead of baby carrots?
- A: Yes! You can use thick-cut regular carrots. Slice them into uniform pieces so they cook evenly.
- Q: Can I make this recipe vegan?
- A: Absolutely! Replace butter with coconut oil or vegan butter.
- Q: Are carrots keto-friendly?
- A: Yes, carrots can be keto-friendly in smaller portion sizes.
- Q: Can I prepare this ahead of time?
- A: You can cook the carrots ahead, but for best texture and shine, toss them in the glaze just before serving.
- Q: How long do raw carrots last in the refrigerator?
- A: Raw carrots should last 3-4 weeks in the refrigerator. Cooked will last about 3-5 days. If you want to store them in the freezer, you can as long as you blanch (briefly boil) for 2-5 minutes. Then quickly cool in ice water before drying and storing in airtight container.
- Q: Can I add other flavors to the glaze?
- A: Yes! Try smoked paprika, nutmeg, or a splash of orange extract for a different twist.
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