22 Carrot Recipes We Love

Chipotle-Roasted Baby Carrots
Photo: © Christina Holmes

From an impressive cake to carrots simply roasted with butter, extra-virgin olive oil, and a little salt and pepper, these carrot recipes show just how versatile the root vegetable can be. You can even turn them into ketchup for veggie burgers or serve them as steaks that pair beautifully with roasted garlic hollandaise. Have a few carrots lying around in your fridge? Read on for even more ways to use them.

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Basic Roasted Carrots

Basic Roasted Carrots
Abby Hocking

To achieve good color and caramelization on carrots, chef Hugh Acheson sautés them in olive oil and butter before finishing them in the oven. The carrots should be tender on the outside and have some crispness in the middle.

02 of 22

Carrot-Almond Snack Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot-Almond Snack Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Antonis Achilleos

"Oh, how I love a snack cake. It just feels so friendly," says recipe developer Ann Taylor Pittman. "It's doable, casual, and unassuming — and thus you'll find one in my house way more often than a layer cake. Don't be fooled by their less-glamorous looks; snack cakes are every bit as good. They're certainly easier to make, so I can whip one up with little effort — and more frequency — and make everyone in my house happy."

03 of 22

Roasted Carrots with Preserved Lemons and Dates

Roasted Carrots with Preserved Lemon and Dates
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Fresh herbs, two kinds of citrus, and a honey-za'atar vinaigrette give this charred carrot salad bright flavors. Smashed pistachios provide a welcome bit of added crunch.

04 of 22

Hot Honey–Carrot Flatbreads with Basil Chermoula

Hot Honey-Carrot Flatbreads with Basil Chermoula
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

The former chef of 232 Bleecker in New York City and Gramercy Tavern alumna Suzanne Cupps gives silky, sweet-spicy honey-glazed roasted carrots the main-dish treatment, serving them atop ricotta-smeared flatbread with a drizzle of bright basil chermoula. Use leftover chermoula to top sliced tomatoes, grilled eggplant, or tofu.

05 of 22

Blackened Carrots

Blackened Carrots
© John Kernick

Chef and TV personality Alex Guarnaschelli tops her spicy blackened roasted carrots with a mix of honey and vinegar to balance the heat.

06 of 22

Parsnip and Carrot Soup

Parsnip and Carrot Soup
© Christina Holmes

The ultimate winter comfort food, this soup pairs well with a hearty salad and cured ham. Homemade garlic croutons make the dish even more satisfying with their crunchy textural contrast.

07 of 22

Glazed Carrots with Goat Cheese and Honey

Glazed Carrots with Goat Cheese and Honey
© John Kernick

In this recipe, carrots are transformed into an impressive side dish or starter. They're first sautéed with fresh herbs and spices, then glazed with apple cider vinegar and honey. Goat cheese, more honey, a homemade gremolata, and flaky sea salt are the finishing touch.

08 of 22

Quick-Pickled Carrots and Daikon

Crispy Soft Shell Crab Banh Mi with Tamarind Sauce
Justin Walker

We love these pickled vegetables on a banh mi, but they will add freshness and crunch to any meal. Try them sprinkled over salads or stir-fries.

09 of 22

Chipotle-Roasted Baby Carrots

A Recipe for Every Occasion
Christina Holmes

The carrots are roasted simply with smoky canned chipotles in adobo, then served with peppery watercress and cooling yogurt.

10 of 22

Roasted Carrot Soup with Fresh Cheese and Black Bread

Roasted Carrot Soup with Fresh Cheese and Black Bread Recipe
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Baltic black bread, traditionally made with rye flour and sourdough starter, is dense and sour, with a tight crumb. Its lush rye flavor gives this vegetarian soup earthy depth. A sprinkle of homemade cheese curds and fresh herbs lighten up each bowl.

11 of 22

Steak and Carrot Tacos

Steak-and-Carrot Tacos
Greg DuPree

Here, small (not baby!) carrots are roasted with fragrant cumin seeds, then served in warm homemade tortillas with juicy, meaty skirt steak. For a vegetarian version, swap out the steak for roasted mixed mushrooms.

12 of 22

Carrot and Orange Cake with Sour Cream Glaze

Carrot Cake Recipe
Antonis Achilleos

For this stunning, aromatic cake from cookbook author Nik Sharma, the bright sweetness of juicy oranges marries with the rich orange pigment carotene in sweet spring carrots. Chopped pieces of dried apricots and candied orange peels give each slice a spot of unexpected fruit sweetness, while pistachios add texture to the soft cake.

13 of 22

Beer-Braised Carrots with Coriander and Feta

Beer-Braised Carrots with Coriander and Feta
Charissa Fay

"When it comes to cooking with beer, I like using Heineken because it adds a pleasant sweetness and a faint yeasty taste that I love," says chef Alex Guarnaschelli. The brown sugar and earthy flavor of the carrots are perfect with feta, which adds just the right amount of richness and salt.

14 of 22

Chicken-Carrot Kade Paan

Chicken Carrot Kade Paan
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Chef Samantha Fore's favorite Sri Lankan grab-and-go snack maalu paan — a yeasty roll stuffed with spiced fish and potato — is the inspiration for this dish, filled with curry-spiced chicken, leek, and carrot. Typically made with homemade dough, these kade paan get a speedy boost thanks to store-bought frozen rolls.

15 of 22

Jamaican Braised Oxtails with Carrots and Chiles

Braised Oxtails with Carrots and Chiles
Victor Protasio

Oxtails practically melt when braised, resulting in savory, tender meat with a rich and glossy gravy. Novelist Bryan Washington's recipe for Jamaican braised oxtails is an homage to one prepared by his mother, perfumed by plenty of warming spices, hot Scotch bonnet chiles, and fresh thyme, while sweet carrots and creamy beans round out the dish.

16 of 22

Carrot Steaks with Roasted Garlic Hollandaise

Carrot Steaks with Roasted Garlic Hollandaise
Photo by David Malosh / Prop Styling by Amy Wilson / Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero

Chef Kate Williams' beautifully layered carrot steaks at Lady of the House in Detroit were a mainstay on her menu. Here, she's shared an at-home riff using large horse carrots, balancing their natural sweetness with plenty of salt and lemon. The silky hollandaise drizzle comes together easily using a blender, which virtually guarantees an effortless sauce.

17 of 22

Carrots en Croûte

Carrots en Croute
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

This filling appetizer stars curry-and honey-roasted carrots wrapped in flaky puff pastry. For best results, look for carrots that are five to six inches in length. Pre-roasting carrots with curry and thyme balances their natural sweetness with rich, savory flavor, making them a satisfying stand-in for sausages.

18 of 22

Bloody Maria with Carrot-Papaya "Sangrita"

Bloody Maria Recipe
Anna Stockwell

Bartender Ivy Mix, owner of the tequila cocktail bar Leyenda in Brooklyn, bases her Bloody Maria (a Bloody Mary made with tequila instead of vodka) on the Sangrita, a traditionally tomato-based Mexican drink that often accompanies shots of tequila. Mix's version features carrot and papaya juice for a light and fruity accent, making her cocktail ideal for brunch or mid-afternoon sipping.

19 of 22

Roasted Carrots with Carrot Top Gremolata

Roasted Carrots (or other root vegetables)
John Kernick

The chopped carrot greens turn into a tasty topping (along with cilantro, lemon zest, and jalapeño) for sweet roasted carrots and shallots.

20 of 22

Beet and Horseradish Tartare with Fresh Carrot Sauce

Beet and Horseradish Tartare with Fresh Carrot Sauce Recipe
Victor Protasio

Chef Rocco DiSpirito's vegetarian "tartare" of shredded raw beets develops a slightly spicy depth from the horseradish and Dijon, while creamy carrot "egg yolk" brings bright flavor to beets' natural earthy sweetness.

21 of 22

Carrot Cake Marmalade with Yogurt and Fresh Fruit

Carrot Cake Marmalade with Yogurt and Fresh Fruit
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee

At Molly's Rise and Shine in New Orleans, diners rave about the yogurt bowl topped with sunny roasted carrot marmalade. F&W Culinary Director at Large Justin Chapple's adaptation of chef Mason Hereford's marmalade gets big flavor from stewing carrots and apple with cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise for a warmly spiced result.

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Roasted Veggie Burgers with Carrot Ketchup

Roasted Veggie Burgers with Carrot Ketchup
© John Kernick

Instead of creating a ground patty of beans, grains, and vegetables that replicates the look and texture of meat, chef Edward Lee serves this gorgeous ratatouille-inspired "burger" of colorful roasted vegetables layered with melty cheese. "It looks like a slice of a rainbow," he says. The homemade carrot ketchup that accompanies it can keep in the fridge for up to three days.

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