Slow-Cooker Carrots Recipe – These crockpot glazed carrots are an easy and delicious side dish, perfect for your holiday dinners. Baby carrots are simply thrown in the Crockpot and tossed with a rich olive oil-balsamic glaze and slow-cooked for 3 hours. This slow cooker carrot recipe is budget-friendly and looks super elegant in its sweet and sticky glaze. How can you go wrong with that? Enjoy!
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Ingredients list for the Slow-Cooker Carrots Recipe
- 2 lbs (900g) baby carrots, peeled and rinsed
- 1/4 cup (60ml) honey
- 1/4 cup (60ml) balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper flakes, optional
- Few sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
How to Make Slow-Cooker Carrots
Crockpot carrots are a super easy side dish you can practically set and forget. The prep work is so simple, simply put raw carrots in the slow cooker, then it does all the work for you!
To make the slow-cooked carrots: Whisk together the honey, balsamic, olive oil, cinnamon, chili flakes, salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves to make the sauce
Arrange the baby carrots in the slow cooker and pour the honey-balsamic mixture over.
Cook the carrot in the slow cooker on HIGH for 3 hours. Easy!
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Tips for the slow cooker glazed carrots recipe
- After the carrots are cooked through, you might want to thicken the glaze a little, but this is optional. Remove the slow cooker’s cover, cook the carrots for another 15 minutes, giving a good stir from time to time. This step reduces the glaze, which helps it cling to the carrots for a richer result!
- We use a smaller crockpot for this carrot recipe – ours is just 3 quart. That way, the baby carrots get a really nice glaze. In a large crockpot, you’ll want to make a double batch, or you’ll risk some burning.
- If, for a reason of timing, you need the carrots to cook for longer, cook them on LOW for 5-6 hours instead of cooking them on HIGH.
- Add a teaspoon of orange zest for brightness and zing!
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Directions
1. To make the slow-cooked carrots with the honey balsamic glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, balsamic, olive oil, cinnamon, chili flakes, salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves.
2. Place the carrots in your slow cooker. Pour the honey-balsamic mixture over the carrots and toss to coat well.
3. Cook the carrot in the slow cooker on HIGH for 3 hours or until carrots are tender. If you’d like to thicken the glaze, remove the cover and cook on HIGH for an additional 15 minutes. Alternatively, if you feel the glaze is too thick and sticks to the slow cooker, thin it out with more honey-balsamic mixture or a little water.
4. Remove the slow-cooked carrots with honey balsamic glaze and transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs and chili pepper flakes if you like. Enjoy!
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Does this crockpot recipe work with regular carrots?
Yes, but to keep cooking time on the low (ok, this is slow cooking… we know…), you can cut up the carrots in 2 or 3.
Should be we peel the carrots?
You can keep your carrots with the skin on; make sure to brush and rinse well. Baby carrots sold in bags are often already peeled and trimmed. We find peeled carrots give off a brighter glow, but it doesn’t make a huge difference regarding the overall taste.
Do we have to boil the carrots before cooking?
No, you don’t have to boil carrots. The beauty of this recipe is you throw all of the ingredients together in your slow cooker and let it do the work for you!
What to do with carrot leftovers?
You can keep the slow cooker carrots for 2 or 3 days in an airtight container in your refrigerator. These delicious carrots cooked in the crockpot will be awesome blended in a soup with other veggies.
More carrots recipes you might like
- Cinnamon-Honey Glazed Carrots
- Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots
- Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
- Shredded Carrot Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
