Grilled orange maple glazed carrots with almonds

Spruce up your side dish game with glazed grilled carrots finished with an orange-maple glaze, sliced toasted almonds and fresh herbs.

Simple ingredients like carrots, maple syrup, orange juice and zest, parsley, and sliced almonds come together to create an easy side dish recipe your entire family will love.

What are glazed carrots?

Glazed carrots are cooked carrots that are finished in a sweet and sticky glaze usually made with honey or maple syrup. The glaze enhances the natural sweetness and earthiness of the root vegetable.

Almost every vegetable I grill gets tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper. These tender carrots are no different. They’re seasoned and grilled over direct heat to get a nice caramelized char and tender texture.

While the carrots are grilling, whip up the sweet glaze. It will take your carrots from great to chef-quality. The glaze recipe can be made in a matter of minutes with garlic, maple syrup, orange juice and zest.

PRO TIP: I add red pepper flakes for a touch of heat. Adjust the amount to your heat tolerance.

Whether trying to appease a picky eater or wanting a simple side dish to go with your main dish, these sweet glazed carrots will become a new staple in your rotation.

---

Ingredients

This glazed carrots recipe is made in two parts. First, you’ll grill the carrots. Then, you’ll make the glaze.

Grilled Carrots

• Carrots: For this recipe, use large carrots instead of baby carrots. Look for carrots that are pretty even in size.
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Orange Maple Glaze

• Olive Oil
• Minced Garlic: For the best flavor, I always use fresh garlic instead of jarred garlic.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Provides a gentle kick of heat that balances the sweetness of the orange and maple.
• Maple Syrup: Provides sweetness and blends all the glaze ingredients together. Go for pure maple syrup for the best flavor. 
• Orange Juice: Look for a Cutie or Halo. They’re easy to peel and don’t have any seeds. They add a bright, citrusy flavor to the glaze. 
• Orange Zest: The orange zest brings a burst of aromatic citrus flavor to the glaze, making it even more vibrant and irresistible.
• Salt
• Pepper

Garnish

• Chopped Fresh Herbs: Adds a vibrant, herbal essence to finish off this side dish. I like parsley, but you can also use fresh thyme leaves, minced rosemary or chopped sage.
• Sliced Almonds: Provides a slight texture and crunch to balance out the softness of the carrots.

Substitutions: You can use a navel orange or tangerine instead of the mandarin orange. You can also swap out the almonds with any other nut, or leave them out all together. 

See the full recipe card below for servings and a full list of ingredients.

---

How to grill glazed carrots

You can make this recipe on a gas grill, charcoal grill or pellet grill. Set your grill up to medium-high heat (375-400F degrees) with a direct heat zone.

1. STEP ONE: Peel the carrots and remove the stems. Toss the peeled carrots in olive oil, salt and pepper.

2. STEP TWO: Place carrots on the grill in a single layer over medium-high heat for about 20 minutes, turning occasionally, until slightly fork tender.

PRO TIP: You can do this while grilling a ham during the last 20-30 minutes of the cook. 

3. STEP THREE: While the carrots are grilling, heat olive oil in a saucepot over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and sauté for 1 minute.

4. STEP FOUR: Stir in the syrup, orange juice and orange zest. Cook for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat, and set aside. 

---

How to serve maple glazed carrots

Once the carrots begin to soften, remove them from the grill. Add them to a platter and drizzle with glaze. Cover with foil and keep them warm until ready to serve.

For a pretty presentation, garnish with fresh herbs and sliced almonds. I like to use parsley because it resembles the tops of the carrots, but other herbs like sage and rosemary will be wonderful, too.

Serve this delicious side dish alongside smoked prime rib or grilled chicken with blood orange chimichurri.

---

Storage

Leftover glazed carrots can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to five days. They can also be frozen for up to three months. 

---

---

More side dish recipes

• Hawaiian Grilled Pineapple Coleslaw
• Sweet Corn Pudding Casserole
• Baked Potatoes on a Ninja Grill
• Savory Rainbow Sweet Potatoes Au Gratin
• Grilled spiral-cut honey-glazed carrots

Newest Recipes

Pork Chops on the Ninja Grill

Hanging ribs on a drum smoker for competition BBQ

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Grilled Bang Bang Shrimp