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This maple roasted rainbow carrots recipe shows how to make something elegant and mouthwatering with the humble carrot. This recipe is ideal for the holidays or a special occasion when you want a side dish everyone is going to love. Topped with goat cheese and pomegranate, these colorful carrots look beautiful and taste incredible. While maple syrup adds sweetness, a touch of cayenne pepper adds spice. And then you have the delicious thyme for that aromatic touch on these multi-color carrots.
Not only is this maple roasted carrots recipe easy to make but it’s colorful and incredibly tasty and everyone will want a second helping of this wonderful side dish!
These Maple Bacon Turkey Sliders and Air Fryer Cinnamon Maple Baked Apples will also hit the spot. Or enjoy some Pan Roasted Beef Tenderloin.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy: There are minimal prep steps to get this tasty roasted carrots recipe ready and nothing complicated about the recipe at all.
Festive: You can imagine how colorful maple roasted carrots look on a serving platter paired with your holiday dinners.
Delicious: This dish pairs contrasting ingredients for a great flavor. It offers a bit of everything – sweet, savory, creamy, spicy, and herby in every delicious mouthful.
Maple Roasted Rainbow Carrots Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Rainbow carrots: These are so pretty!
Maple syrup: For sweetness.
Cayenne pepper: Adds a hint of spice.
Pomegranate seeds: These are sometimes labeled “arils”.
Goat cheese: Adds a contrasting, tangy creaminess.
Thyme leaves: Delivers a bold flavor which is so good with root veggies, especially carrots.
How to Make Maple Glazed Rainbow Carrots
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the rainbow carrots: Remove the leafy tops of the carrots if they still have them on, and either peel or scrub them. Cut rainbow carrots in half lengthwise and arrange cut side up on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Make the maple syrup mixture: Combine the oil, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, thyme, and some of the salt and brush half of this over the carrots.
Cook the carrots: Roast them for 15 minutes then flip them over, add more of the maple syrup mixture and cook until tender.
The finishing touches: Arrange the carrots on a warmed serving platter then sprinkle the goat cheese and pomegranate seeds on top, as well as more salt if needed.
Substitutions and Variations
A milder dish: Omit the cayenne pepper if you don’t want spice. You could swap it for garlic powder.
Rainbow carrots: Use regular orange carrots or baby carrots if you can’t find rainbow carrots. They all offer a similar natural sweetness whether you are using whole carrots or halved ones.
Goat’s cheese: Feta cheese would work.
Vegetarian: Substitute your favorite vegetarian (rennet-free) goat cheese.
Fresh thyme: Swap the thyme for chopped parsley or mixed fresh herbs.
Maple syrup: Use brown sugar in place of the maple syrup if you like.
Avocado oil: Olive oil or canola would work, or you could use vegetable oil.
Cayenne pepper: Substitute crushed red pepper flakes.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizer: Begin your meal with one of these warm appetizers.
Main dishes: These maple roasted carrots are best served hot, as soon as they’re ready. They pair beautifully with all kinds of festive meals such as smoked turkey breast, holiday roasted chicken or New York strip steak with bacon and scallions. If you prefer fish, pair the carrots with pistachio crusted salmon.
Dessert: Finish off with cherry slab pie and whipped cream.
How to Store Roasted Maple Carrots
Store: Leftovers will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator and can be warmed back up in the oven or microwave.
Freeze: Although these will freeze, they will thaw out mushy, so for the best texture don’t freeze leftovers.
Top Tips
Prepare the carrots: Discard the leafy green tops and scrub the carrots. Peeling them is optional.
Don’t skip the flip: Flip the carrots halfway through cooking for even color and doneness.
Serve immediately: These are best served fresh from the oven.
Maple Roasted Carrots FAQs
Not only should maple syrup roasted carrots be tender but they should also be caramelized on both sides, which is why you flip them halfway through the recipe and add more of the maple syrup mixture to the other side. If they are crispy and caramelized enough but not quite tender, cover them with foil and cook until they are.
If you don’t want to reheat them and have them another day, you can mash them with mashed potatoes to add a sweet and unusual flavor. Or you can try them in homemade burgers or soups. They can also be pureed and added to pasta sauce recipes and similar.
Roasted Rainbow Carrots Recipe
Maple Roasted Rainbow Carrots
Ingredients
- 1 Pound rainbow carrots, 8 to 10 medium carrots
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- ⅛ Teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon thyme leaves, fresh, chopped
- ½ Teaspoon sea salt, plus more as needed
- 4 Tablespoons pomegranate seeds, also called arils
- 4 Tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove the leafy green tops of your carrots if they are still attached, then scrub your carrots well or peel them if you prefer.
- Cut the carrots in half lengthwise and arrange them in a single layer on your lined baking sheet cut side up.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the avocado oil, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, chopped fresh thyme leaves, and ½ tsp of sea salt. Using either a pastry brush or your fingers, brush half of this mixture onto the carrots.
- Roast the carrots in your preheated oven for 15 minutes, then remove the baking sheet and carefully flip all of the carrots over. Brush the remaining maple syrup mixture over the carrots then return the baking sheet to the oven. Roast the carrots for an additional 15 minutes until they are tender and caramelized then remove them from the oven.
- Arrange the carrots on a serving plate, then garnish with the pomegranate seeds and crumbled goat cheese. You can season with more salt if you like.
Notes
Don’t skip the flip: Flip the carrots halfway through cooking for even color and doneness.
Serve immediately: These are best served fresh from the oven.
Nutrition
These glazed rainbow carrots, or candied rainbow carrots, make a delicious gourmet side dish. They’re incredibly straightforward to prepare and they look festive and appealing on a holiday serving platter. The natural sweetness of the carrots is complemented by the creamy goat cheese, juicy pomegranate seeds, and sweet maple syrup, making this a wonderful tasting side dish as well as a very easy recipe to try if you like roasting carrots but you want something special with a tasty maple glaze.
Other Recipes to Try
- Another tasty side dish is these Sheet Pan Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots.
- A Cheesy Vegetable Casserole is perfect for a cozy family meal.
- Brighten up dinner with the vibrant colors and flavors of Roasted Beet Salad.
- Enjoy the creamy richness of One Pot Gouda and Cream Cheese Corn.
- Or what about an Italian Rice Salad, a refreshing and versatile dish?
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This recipe is so delicious. It’s one of the ways that I get my kids to eat veggies.