40+ Easy Thanksgiving Carrot Recipes

Spiced Carrot Pie Recipe

Briana Carson from Crave Pie Studio in Duluth, Georgia, was inspired by gajar halwa, an Indian carrot pudding, and wanted to adapt it for a pie. “I just started playing around and kind of decided to go with a spice profile similar to pumpkin pie or sweet potato,” she says. She roasts the carrots to bring out their sweetness and purees them until they are as smooth as possible. Then the pie gets topped with a thick marscapone whipped cream.

Honey-Glazed Carrots Recipe

This simple side dish works with various meat main dishes, such as the Carbonnade à la Flamande  and Sweet Vermouth Chicken. This is an easy dish for a guest to bring, too.

Carrot Cake Biscuits and Pineapple-Cinnamon Butter Recipe

Carrot Cake is a favorite classic Easter dessert, combining sweet carrots, plump raisins, and the warm scent of cinnamon into a beautiful layer cake topped with a traditional cream cheese frosting. We have reimagined this springtime treat into these delightful make-ahead biscuits. We kept the same great taste but reduced the amount a sugar a bit, making the biscuits an excellent choice for mealtime. We like the jewel-like look of golden raisins, but you can use the darker ones, or even chopped dried apricots or cranberries. These biscuits, perfect for a holiday dinner, also make ideal mid-afternoon snacks paired with a cup of tea. But watch out—these biscuits are packed with juicy springtime carrots; don’t be surprised to discover Peter Cottontail himself sneaking a treat out of the breadbasket.

Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream Recipe

You’ve got dessert duty? We’ve got you covered with this lightly spiced sheet cake that serves a crowd and travels well too. Why choose between carrot cake and coconut cake when both flavors work so well together?

Spicy Pickled Carrots Recipe

For Test Kitchen director Robby Melvin, it’s not Thanksgiving until his Granny’s “old-school” relish tray hits the table. The tray is packed with a colorful array of pickled vegetables, including carrots. Here’s his updated take on her recipe, kicked up with crushed red pepper, onion powder, and mustard seeds. If you want a colorful relish tray, look for rainbow blend carrots at your grocery store. You can also use peeled baby carrots in a pinch.

Shaved Carrot, Asparagus, and Apple Salad Recipe

Add sweetness and color to your usual cabbage slaw with this creative side dish that includes green apple, asparagus, basil, and carrots. A vegetable peeler is the best tool to get super thin slices of asparagus. (Buy thicker spears to make this job easier.) We love using angel hair cabbage in this easy salad because it’s delicately shredded and breaks down quickly in the vinaigrette while still maintaining a nice crunch. Unlike other slaw recipes, this one needs to be served immediately, although you can prep the fruit and vegetables a day or two in advance and store them, covered, in the refrigerator.

Roasted Carrots with Pecans and Sorghum Recipe

A sweet and tangy vinaigrette made with apple cider vinegar and sorghum syrup makes these carrots incredibly flavorful. If you can’t find sorghum syrup, use an equal amount of honey or maple syrup. And be sure to choose small carrots. They will roast and caramelize more evenly and have more natural sweetness than larger ones.

Harissa-Roasted Carrots With Pistachios Recipe

Available in most supermarkets, harissa comes in mild and hot varieties; if you want to play it safe, go with mild, then bump up the heat with a dash of cayenne pepper if you like. To make after-dinner cleanup easier, line your roasting pan with aluminum foil before adding the carrot mixture.

Instant Pot Carrot Halwa Recipe

A comfort food favorite, carrot halwa is warmly spiced, saccharine, and rich—like hug in dessert form. The Instant Pot cuts down on the long process of simmering carrots in milk, slashing the prep time, cardamom adds a distinct floral flavor, and mace brings mild, warm pepperiness.

Roasted Carrot and Parsnip Batons With Tahini Dip Recipe

Deep caramelization from roasting brings out the natural sweetness in carrots and parsnips. Try to cut the vegetables into the size we call for in step 2. If the pieces are too large or too long, they may cook unevenly or end up limp; if they’re too small, they will likely burn. You can make the dip a day or two ahead, but bring it to room temperature before serving for the best flavor.

Roasted Carrot and Coconut Soup Recipe

Avocado and coconut milk give this vegetarian soup a decadent, buttery texture; fiber-rich lentils and beans make it surprisingly filling. Keep your pantry stocked with these staples to help you throw this soup together in no time.

Carrot-Apple Muffins With Orange Glaze Recipe

These tender, lightly sweetened whole-grain muffins have a special can’t-put-your-finger-on-it flavor thanks to garam masala. Look for garam masala in the spice aisle; large spice brands make it. If you don’t have it or can’t find it, you can substitute an equal amount of cinnamon.

Ginger-Orange Carrots Recipe

This recipe is great for entertaining: Simply roast the carrots ahead of time and broil just before serving.

Moroccan Spiced Carrots Recipe

A heady blend of spices makes these roasted carrots hard to resist. If you can find tender baby carrots, they make a great shortcut; just give them a good scrub—no peeling required. Check the carrots during cooking; smaller carrots could overcook, yielding mushy results. Pair these carrots with roasted lamb or beef or your favorite curry dish.

Carrot Ribbon Salad Recipe

Getting your hands on a Y-shaped vegetable peeler is the secret to long and beautiful carrot ribbons. Although we used regular carrots here, multicolored carrots would make a vibrant addition to this salad. To save time, make the dressing and carrot ribbons ahead of time. Pro tip: Soak the ribbons in ice water to get a nice distinct curl.

Glazed Carrots Almondine Recipe

Traditional versions of glazed carrots can include up to 2/3 cup sugar. Our re-imagined version delivers all the classic flavor with just a tablespoon of honey and a dash brandy. If you’d like to keep this dish kid-friendly, substitute apple cider vinegar for the brandy. Be sure to stir frequently during the last few minutes of cooking to ensure maximum glazed goodness.

Carrot-Cilantro Bulgur Recipe

Bulgur is a form of whole wheat often used in European and Indian cuisine. Made with shredded carrot and chopped cilantro, this nutritious dish is high in fiber and protein and low in saturated fat.

Carrot-Ginger Turmeric Sauce Recipe

Turmeric has some fantastic health benefits and is well worth keeping in rotation in your kitchen. Fresh turmeric looks similar to its rhizome relative—fresh ginger—but with an orange hue. Look for it in well-stocked produce departments and natural-foods stores. Its orange flesh adds vibrant color and turmeric-forward flavor to this sauce. Cooking the vegetables in a touch of coconut oil before pureeing them adds a hint of coconut flavor and also makes them soft enough to create a silky-smooth sauce (but go easy—it's high in saturated fat). Try drizzled over roasted leg of lamb or grilled chicken thighs, or thin with a little more vinegar and olive oil and use it as a salad dressing.

Roasted Carrots, Radishes, and Chickpeas Recipe

This is a lovely side dish that pairs with pretty much any protein—or serve it with a salad for a perfectly light spring dinner. Carrots and radishes are more flavorful in the spring, their true season, than any other time of year—the former have more intense flavor and the latter a sweeter, less pungent bite. Here, both get roasted with chickpeas, which cook to a crisp, dense texture. Just be sure to dry the chickpeas well first so they don’t steam.

Coffee-Roasted Carrots Recipe

This is our take on San Francisco chef Daniel Patterson’s renowned dish of carrots roasted on whole coffee beans. For a lighter approach with spring carrots, we use just a little instant coffee and roast the carrots quickly in high heat. The carrots develop wonderfully subtle bittersweet flavor, though their springtime brightness shines through. Fennel pollen adds a hint of anise; you can find it on Amazon.

Cider-Glazed Carrots with Walnuts Recipe

A few pantry staples—apple cider vinegar, dry mustard, and paprika—turn this traditional side into something spectacular. Be careful not to over-reduce the glaze; it should have a thin, syrupy texture.

Carrot Hummus Recipe

Carrots add a pretty orange hue and subtle sweetness to this smooth and creamy hummus. Choose milder red chiles, such as New Mexico-style or guajillo dried chiles, for heat that's not overpowering.

Carrot Orecchiette Recipe

Lighten up pasta night with a healthy dose of veggies. The trick to this dish is to thinly slice the carrots so they cook through quickly. Large carrots work best here. For faster prep, use a mandoline for slicing (This one, from OXO is nice).

Pea, Radish, and Carrot Salad Recipe

Pretty ribbons of rainbow carrots, bright radishes, and vibrant green snap peas make this spring side a feast for the eyes. Go for multicolored radishes if you can—the more color the better here. Sprinkling the carrots and radishes with a pinch of salt and setting them aside while you make the dressing softens them just enough to make them easier to eat without losing any of the crunch. The miso-ginger flavors in the carrot dressing would pair well with stir-fried chicken tenders seasoned with reduced-sodium tamari and a touch of sesame oil.

Roasted Carrots with Pine Nut Gremolata Recipe

Starting the carrots at a high temp gives them a beautifully browned exterior; finishing at a lower temp keeps them tender. You can sub sherry vinegar for the malt vinegar if you like. Pair the carrots with seared chicken or fish.

Beet, Carrot, and Pistachio Salad Recipe

Bring a bit of sunshine to your plate with this golden beet and purple carrot salad. Both vegetables are usually available year-round. Fresh dill has a grassiness that will transport you to warmer days; it also contrasts beautifully with the earthy sweetness of the beets. Use any extra remaining dill in yogurt dressings, toss with roasted vegetables, or stir into beaten eggs before scrambling.

The Ultimate Carrot Cake Recipe

These layers are tender, so remove from pans carefully!

Raw and Roasted Carrots and Fennel Recipe

This salad demonstrates the magic that happens when you showcase both the raw and cooked sides of ingredients.

Shaved Carrot, Cucumber, and Sweet Onion Salad Recipe

A 5-minute soak in the vinaigrette softens the carrots slightly and removes a bit of the pungent bite from the onion.

Israeli Carrots Recipe

The vivid garlic-and-herb vinaigrette contrasts with the sweet carrots.

Creamy Carrot and Lemongrass Soup Recipe

Look for lemongrass paste in the refrigerated produce section, near the packages of fresh herbs. Bonus: One serving of this soup delivers 100% of your daily dose of vitamin A.

Herb-Roasted Carrots Recipe

A simple side of roasted carrots is the breather a crowded table needs--a bit of palate relief (and ease for the cook) that still looks elegant. Use leftover cilantro in turkey chili or tacos.

Tricolor Beet-and-Carrot Salad Recipe

This salad takes advantage of both multicolored beets and carrots to create one stunning salad platter. Get ahead by roasting the beets up to a week in advance. You can also shave the carrots a day ahead and refrigerate the ribbons in ice water.

Shortcut Carrot Sheet Cake Recipe

This moist, delicious carrot cake has traditional ingredients like carrot, pineapple, and walnuts, with the addition of toasted coconut flakes to dress up cream cheese icing. The ease of assembly is the kicker here: a box mix enhanced with fresh ingredients comes together in minutes and is sure to impress guests. 

Rum and Honey-Roasted Cayenne-Cumin Carrots Recipe

There's a LOT going on with these spicy, sweet, and rum-infused carrots--and we're not complaining.

Creamy Carrot-and-Broccoli Slaw Recipe

Prepared slaw mix has gone beyond traditional cabbage to include shaved broccoli and even Brussels sprouts as the base, making it a great quick side for busy weeknights. Broccoli slaw is as endlessly adaptable as any package of mixed greens: Try a creamy yogurt dressing, or opt for a vinaigrette, like sesame-ginger, warm bacon-and-shallot, or curry-and-cumin.

Tahini-Carrot Soup with Pistachios Recipe

Luscious, velvety carrot soup gets its body from tahini, not yogurt or cream. Tahini's ability to stand in for dairy makes it a go-to for vegans and those who keep kosher. This sub keeps the soup in super-savory territory as well.

Pan-Roasted Carrots Recipe

This recipe gives you a faster route to “roasted,” lightly caramelized carrots. Instead of cooking in the oven (and waiting for it to preheat), here you cook the carrots on the stovetop in a cast-iron skillet.

Carrot Mash with Crème Fraîche Recipe

Simmered carrots are lightly buttered, but a bit of tart cream adds an extra-silky richness. We like the smooth texture you get from pureeing in a food processor; if you prefer a chunkier texture, use a potato masher. Garnish with green onions for added color.

Sweet-and-Spicy Carrots and Peas Recipe

Just a little brown sugar helps the carrots caramelize quickly.

Parmesan Carrots with Lemon-Parsley Dressing Recipe

You don’t need a steamer basket for perfectly tender vegetables, just a skillet and lid. A small amount of liquid gently steams the carrots in the pan, then the lid comes off so the liquid can evaporate and the vegetables can caramelize. Sweet, crisp-tender carrots take on bold flavors well—try sharp cheeses, earthy spices, or chile sauces. If you’d like to steer the dish toward the sweet side, steam in fresh orange juice rather than water and toss with 1 teaspoon light brown sugar. Use a vegetable peeler to get wide curls of Parmesan cheese, then break into smaller shards.

Tarragon Carrots with Green Beans Recipe

Looking for a simple side dish to make for dinner? These green beans and carrots are a delicious way to eat your veggies and they come together in under 15 minutes. The tarragon carrots really steal the show with their fresh, herbaceous flavor, while the haricots verts add a little crunch.

Sweet-and-Sour Carrots Recipe

These Sweet-and-Sour Carrots are a delicious side for grilled meat or roasted chicken. Toasted sesame oil, sweet chili sauce, and apple cider vinegar come together to form a flavor-packed sauce that helps the carrots shine.