Maple Bourbon Glazed Carrots

Name: Maple Bourbon Glazed Carrots
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound carrots (peeled and sliced diagonally); 2 Tablespoons olive oil; 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1/4 cup bourbon; 2 Tablespoons fresh chives (chopped); dash of sea salt

Jump to Recipe

Looking for an easy side dish that's loaded with tons of flavor? Maple Bourbon Glazed Carrots are made with maple syrup, ground ginger, fresh chives and a sweet bourbon glaze. Plus, they're ready in 30 minutes or less!

carrots glazed with maple syrup and bourbon in a white dish.

Why You'll Love These Carrots

This ain't your Momma's glazed carrot recipe! When you add bourbon and maple syrup to this dish, it creates a sweet and tasty glaze with all kinds of sass!

You'll love the warm and cozy flavor of Maple Bourbon Glazed Carrots. They pair perfectly with spiral ham during the holidays! With just a hint of ginger, glazed carrots are a favorite side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter dinner.

These sweet and tangy carrots are both vegetarian and vegan friendly, and everyone will be raving about how great they taste! They're so popular, you might need to double this recipe for holiday gatherings...and plan to make them on weekdays too!

Ingredients

With only 7 easy ingredients, this recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes! See quantities in recipe card.

fresh carrots - have amazing health benefits
olive oil - can substitute butter if desired
ground ginger - adds a little kick to this dish
maple syrup - use pure maple syrup for great flavor
bourbon - use a good quality bourbon for best results
fresh chives - garnish that also adds a nice touch
sea salt - can use regular salt if necessary

ingredients needed to make glazed carrots.

Instructions

To make holiday prep easier, peel carrots beforehand and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before using.

1 - Peel carrots with a vegetable peeler and discard the peelings.

carrots being peeled on a white cutting board.

2 - Slice carrots diagonally on a cutting board with a serrated knife. You can cut them in regular round circles if desired, but diagonal slices look a little nicer.

carrots being cut on a white cutting board.

3 - Sauté carrots in olive oil in a skillet for 10 minutes, then add maple syrup and bourbon. Sprinkle with ground ginger and stir frequently over medium heat.

glazed carrots being spooned out of cast iron skillet.

4 - Continue to sauté carrots for an additional 10 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped chives and sea salt. Serve warm straight from the skillet, or place them in a decorate dish.

glazed carrots in a black cast iron skillet with chives added.

Recipe FAQS

Can I use baby carrots instead?

Yes, feel free to empty a bag of baby carrots into a skillet if you want to save time. However, fresh carrots have more flavor and don't take long to peel. I highly recommend trying this recipe with fresh carrots if you can!

Can the bourbon be omitted?

You can leave the bourbon out of this recipe and it will still taste delicious. It will be a completely different flavor profile, so the glaze will taste a bit sweeter. If you choose to omit the bourbon, add water or orange juice instead.

Are carrots healthy?

Yes! Carrots are packed with antioxidants and good things like fiber, potassium, and beta carotene. It's been said that carrots can improve your eyesight, so that's another good reason to serve this dish to your family!

sliced carrots glazed with maple syrup and bourbon being spooned out of a bowl.

Variations

If you want to kick this dish up a notch, add a splash of orange juice to the skillet. The citrus flavor will tone down the sweetness of the maple syrup, but you might like that combination.

Looking for a bourbon sauce that you can use with any recipe? Try this easy Bourbon Sauce that's delicious on everything from ice cream to pumpkin bread pudding.

You can also substitute fresh garlic and dill weed for the chives. Garlic tastes great with maple syrup! You can add slivered almonds or chopped pecans to add a little texture if you like.

Top Tips

Stir carrots frequently to prevent scorching. They need to char slightly, but not burn.
Adding bourbon and maple syrup to a hot skillet will cause steam to rise. Take care and step back when adding these ingredients to allow steam to dissipate.
Brown sugar or honey can be substituted for the maple syrup if desired.

If you're looking for more side dishes to enjoy at your holiday table, try these family favorites.

Recipe Card