Thanksgiving carrot recipes are a must for your holiday spread. Since carrots are a savory option that can be eaten both raw and cooked, consider trying out something new.
There are countless ways to prepare carrots, many of which are suitable for a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
What Pairs Well With Carrots
Meats
- Beef
- Chicken
- Pork
Nuts
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Brazilian nuts
- Cashews
Vegetables
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Garlic
- Shallots
- Peas
- Onions
- Sweet Potatoes
- Mushrooms
- Squash
Grains
- Oats
- Rice
- Pasta
- Quinoa
Herbs & Spices
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Chives
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Dill
- Thyme
- Rosemary
Sauces
- Maple
- Agave
- Brown Sugar
- Balsamic
- Molasses
- Butter
20 Thanksgiving Carrot Recipes
1. Oven Roasted Carrots with Garlic
Carrots and garlic complement each other perfectly in this deliciously sophisticated side dish for Thanksgiving. Make this oven-roasted garlic carrots recipe in about 40 minutes using whole carrots paired with garlic, parsley, and olive oil.
2. Carrot Mustard Slaw
Coleslaw isn’t traditionally served for Thanksgiving, but with a quick change of ingredients, you can make it excellent for a holiday. The Food Network has a simple recipe for a carrot mustard slaw made with dijon mustard and white wine vinegar.
3. Stovetop Balsamic Thyme Carrots
Balsamic vinegar is great for Thanksgiving, especially when glazed over roasted carrots. Lively Table has a savory recipe for stovetop carrots glazed with balsamic and fresh thyme.
4. Almond Flour Carrot cake
If you’re looking for a gluten-free dessert option, this almond flour carrot cake is the recipe for you. You can find their method for baking their almond flour carrot cake, made with almond and coconut flour, cream cheese, and erythritol.
5. Air Fryer Carrots
When preparing your holiday meal, there’s never enough room in the oven for all of your dishes. If you have an air fryer, Nutrition in the Kitchen has a crispy carrot recipe that is great for both appetizers or paired with the main course.
6. Roasted Carrots and Goat Cheese
Looking to elevate your Thanksgiving side dishes? You’ll enjoy this roasted carrot and goat cheese recipe found on Lively Table. The recipe includes whole rainbow carrots, goat cheese, walnuts, and fresh goat cheese.
7. Carrot Ginger Soup With Vegetables
A bowl of warm soup, especially filled with roasted vegetables, is hearty enough to be one of the main dishes this holiday. The Food Network has a savory carrot soup topped with roasted broccoli, zucchini, scallions, and croutons.
8. Roasted Broccoli and Carrots
Sometimes, simple is best. Enjoy the flavor of fresh vegetables as a side to your turkey or ham. A Couple of Cooks has an easy roasted carrot and broccoli recipe that you can roast in just 20 minutes.
9. Carrot Top Pesto
If you’re looking to add new layers of flavor to your holiday meal, consider making a batch of pesto. Lively Table has a carrot top pesto recipe that you can mix into pasta, make pizza, or eat as an appetizer.
10. Roasted Carrot Hummus
It’s important to have appetizer options for your guests while they wait for dinner to be ready. The roasted carrot hummus recipe on The Food Network is full of flavor, color, and freshness that is great for dipping vegetables, chips, and pita.
11. Cozy Vegetarian Pie
Sometimes, all you need is a bundle of vegetables and a pie crust to make a delicious meal. A Couple of Cooks has a flaky vegetable pie made from carrots, shallots, potatoes, cannellini beans, and pesto.
12. Carrot Cake Cheesecake Blondie Brownies
Instead of choosing between cheesecake or brownies, why not make both? These carrot cheesecake blondie brownies will be your favorite recipe for adding carrots to your holiday table. They’re soft, sweet, and rich in flavor.
13. Baked Carrot & Sweet Potato Fries
If you’re looking for a healthy fry recipe, you can find one from Nutrition in the Kitchen. Their fries are made from baked carrots and sweet potatoes and contain both the crispness and crunchiness of traditional fries.
14. Asian Style Quick Pickled Carrots
Pickled carrots can be used on sandwiches, salads, rice, and pasta dishes. Lively Table has a quick and simple recipe for Asian-style pickled carrots made with only five ingredients.
15. Carrot Wellington
Vegetarian or vegan lovers will enjoy this carrot wellington recipe found on The Food Network. The recipe takes a spin on the delicious beef wellington, using carrots as the base.
16. Apple Carrot Cake Bars
Apples and carrots are some of the fall favorites, especially for Thanksgiving. The recipe for apple carrot cake bars is light and sweet, topped with a cream cheese frosting.
17. Carrot Top Chimich
Chimich is often served alongside meats and vegetables and can be used as a sauce or marinade. Lively Table has a carrot-top chimich recipe that’s fresh, tangy, and packed with herbs.
18. Roasted Roots With Green Salsa
Bon Appetit has a roasted roots recipe for a delicious side dish topped with green salsa. The roots consist of carrots and potatoes, topped with cotija cheese and fresh lime juice.
19. Roasted Carrots with Preserved Lemons and Dates
If you enjoy the combination of sweet and savory, this next recipe is for you. Food & Wine has a roasted carrot with preserved lemons and dates recipe, full of every flavor profile you can imagine.
20. Honey Glazed Carrots and Parsnips
Parsnips and carrots are two peas in a pod. The Pioneer Woman has a recipe for carrots and parsnips glazed in honey, salted butter, and fresh thyme.
Tips For Making Carrot Recipes for Thanksgiving
- Freshness – make sure your carrots are fresh. If your carrots are flimsy or dry, they won’t maintain their flavor and heartiness, which help balance the overall dish.
- Size – carrots come in all shapes and sizes. Make sure you know exactly what your recipe calls for, and use the correct length.
- Color – carrots come in many colors, not just orange. Sometimes, adding a batch of rainbow carrots to your recipe can take it to the next level.
- Cooking – depending on the dish, you want to make sure your carrots are either crisp or soft. If your dish requires you to cook or bake them, keep an eye on the carrots to make sure they don’t become too soft. Also, make sure they are fully cooked. Otherwise, they will hold too much of a bite.
- Carrot tops – using the tops of your carrots is a great way to add a touch of flavor and freshness to your meals. You can use them to make pesto, garnish, or even tabouli.
Thanksgiving Carrot Recipes FAQ
Can You Prepare Carrots Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can prepare carrots ahead of time for most recipes. Carrots are prone to drying out, so if your carrots are meant to be soft and baked, keeping them in leftover oil or cooking liquid can help maintain their moisture.
Cooked carrots can last in the fridge for up to 3 – 5. If your carrots don’t require cooking, you can chop them ahead of time, but they will also require a bit of moisture to stop them from drying out.
Should You Peel Carrots Before Roasting?
You should peel carrots before roasting. The peel of carrots is soft and not as tough as other vegetables, but if you prefer a very soft carrot, you may want to peel them if they haven’t been already. Baby carrots and chopped carrots are pre-peeled.
What Does Putting Carrots in Water Do?
Putting carrots in water will keep them crisp and fresh. One of the best tricks for making your carrots last in the fridge is storing them in water. The water allows them to retain their moisture, stops them from wilting, and keeps them crunchy.
How Do You Store Carrot Recipes?
Store carrot recipes in the fridge in an airtight container. Carrots must be refrigerated in order to maintain their freshness.
Most carrots will last up to five days, depending on the other ingredients they are paired with.
Conclusion
Add one or more of these Thanksgiving carrot recipes to your holiday table and impress your dinner guests. Carrots are often one of the least exciting dishes for the holidays, and there’s no reason you can’t use them in a creative way.
Whether you’re looking for a new dessert recipe, or need inspiration for a warm side dish, any of the recipes on the list above are a great option.
Leave a Reply