These Grilled Carrots with Maple Glaze are easy to make and will have your guests coming back for seconds! This recipe makes the perfect side dish for Holiday gatherings and comforting Sunday dinners.

If you’re looking to add a little pizzazz, try these Grilled Carrots with Maple Glaze. Fresh, halved carrots are grilled until tender, then coated with a deliciously sweet glaze. Serve them alongside smoked turkey or roasts at your Thanksgiving table!

Carrots are often overlooked in grilling, but they should not be! I get it. I grew up disliking cooked carrots. They were mushy, unseasoned, and tasted like sugary grass. No disrespect to older generations, but some of them cooked vegetables beyond repair. It wasn’t until much later that I learned that carrots could be prepared well. Through much experimentation, we decided to grill them. I was pleasantly surprised at how the grill enhances their natural sweetness and infuses them with fantastic smokiness. Nothing too over the top, but enough to give the ordinary carrot a flavor boost!

Choosing the right carrots

The key to grilling halved carrots is choosing the right type and size of carrot. Select large carrots so they don’t slip through the grill grates. If they are thick, parboil the for 3 minutes, cool, then cut them in half lengthwise.

Recipe ingredients

• 7 large carrots, trimmed, peeled, and halved
• Olive oil
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Pure maple syrup
• Butter
• fresh thyme or parsley
• fresh lemon juice

Prepping carrots for the grill

• Prepare the carrots: trim off greens, scrub and rinse carrots under cool water, peel (optional), and cut them in half lengthwise.
• Season them: toss the halved carrots in olive oil, and season them with salt and black pepper. If using very large carrots, parboil them for 3-4 minutes and let them cool for 5 minutes before tossing them in oil. 

Grilling carrots

• Grill Prep: Preheat your grill to 375 degrees F (or medium-high heat). Make sure the grates are nice and clean.
• Grilling the carrots: Place the carrots on the grates. Times will vary depending on the size of your carrots, but typically they take 4-6 minutes on each side or until the carrots are fork tender. Rotate the carrots every few minutes using a pair of tongs.

Tip: Please note that if you need to extend the cooking time so you can serve them hot alongside your grilled or smoked protein, consider cooking the carrots over indirect heat in a cast-iron pan. Adjust the time as needed.

Applying the maple glaze

The maple glaze perfects this dish by adding a hint of sweetness and savory flavor to the grilled carrots. To make the glaze, you will need real maple syrup, melted butter, salt, and a pinch of black pepper.

• Heat all glaze ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat until melted through.
• Promptly brush the glaze over the carrots during the last few minutes of grilling. Rotate the carrots, and apply as needed.

Serving these grilled carrots

• Plate them: Once cooked, remove the carrots from the grill, plate them onto a serving dish, and garnish with fresh herbs and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. 

Storing leftovers

Store grilled carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Rewarm them in the microwave until heated through.

Perfect Protein Pairings

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Grilled Carrots with Maple Glaze

Looking for a delicious comfort food side dish? Fire up the grill. These Grilled Carrots with Maple Glaze will have your taste buds begging for more!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American BBQ, American Food

Keyword grilled carrots, grilled carrots with maple glaze, smoked carrots

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 143kcal

Ingredients

• 7 large carrots cleaned and trimmed
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or, 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 1 small lemon

Instructions

• Preheat the grill to 375 degrees F. Clean the grates well
• On the stove top, combine the maple syrup and butter over medium heat in a small pot. Once the melted through, promptly remove from heat, cover, and keep warm.
• Trim, peel, and cut each carrot in half lengthwise. If the carrots are very large, par boil them for 3-4 minutes, and allow them to cool before preparing them.
• Coat the carrot halves in olive oil, and season with salt and black pepper.
• Place the carrots on the grill in a single layer. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side, or until fork tender. Rotate them every few minutes, to prevent burning.
• Brush the glaze over the carrots halfway through grilling. Keep a close eye on the carrots and watch for burning. Adjust the heat as needed.
• Once tender, remove the carrots from the grill and transfer them to a serving dish. Garnish with fresh thyme, and a spritz of lemon juice, and serve.
• Store grilled carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Rewarm them in the microwave until heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 232IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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