Name: Slow Cooker Carrots
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds whole carrots ((can also use baby carrots)); 3 Tablespoons salted butter; 2 Tablespoons brown sugar ((or honey)); 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Using only 4 ingredients, these easy slow cooker carrots are a definite crowd-pleaser. Coated in a butter and a brown sugar glaze, it’s the perfect balance of tender and crunch in every bite!

These carrots make a great Thanksgiving side dish alongside a baked ham or turkey. No need to create extra space for them in the oven…they’ll cook low and slow in the crockpot all afternoon. Of course you could always make glazed carrots on the stove, but I love the simplicity of this slow cooker version!

We all want nothing more than to be able to enjoy gatherings with our loved ones during the holidays. Any dish that allows for more time to mingle is a win in my books. Crockpot carrots are effortless, use only a few simple ingredients and are so flavorful.

These really are a dish you can make for just about any occasion or no reason at all. Make these slow cooker glazed carrots for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner or on any busy weeknight! They are inexpensive, healthy and most of us always have them on hand anyway.

Cooking carrots in a crockpot results in the natural sugars to be released. The added brown sugar glaze elevates the sweetness but it never overpowers the flavor. A vegetable side dish that everyone will love, even the kids!

4 simple ingredients

Carrots: Your choice of whole or baby carrots. You can’t go wrong either way, but I personally love to peel and chop mine.
Butter: Grab the salted butter to use for this dish. It adds a richness to the glaze.
Brown sugar: This gives the glaze the perfect sweetness. Honey also works too.
Salt: A small amount of kosher salt helps boosts the flavor even further.

How to make slow cooker carrots

Prep. Peel and slice the carrots into 4-5 pieces. Cutting them on a slight angle gives them a bit of a rustic feel. Otherwise, cut them how you like! Place them into the slow cooker.
Melt the butter. In a small saucepan, melt the butter. You can brown it if you’d like, which will give the carrots a bit more of an earthy flavor. Follow this by adding in the sugar and salt and cook to combine.
Coat the carrots. Pour the butter over the carrots sitting in the crockpot. Stir well to combine, making sure all carrots are coated evenly. Cover with the lid and cook until tender.
Keep warm. If you aren’t ready to serve them immediately, turn the crockpot onto the warm setting until ready. Salt and pepper to taste and add optional fresh parsley for garnish.

Cooking tips

Thicker glaze. For an optional thicker glaze using all the remaining juices in the cooker, continue cooking uncovered until glaze has thickened up.
Make ahead. Make these ahead of time and heat through before serving.
Caramelization. For an added outer crispy exterior and nice caramelization, finish them off in the oven. Be careful not to burn them as the sugars will do that quickly!
Added flavor. Sprinkle some cinnamon for an added layer of flavor.
Variety. For even more added convenience, use baby carrots so that there’s no chopping involved. Or for a pop of color, use rainbow carrots.

Storing & reheating

Glazed carrots will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days. To reheat, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cook until heated through. You may want to make and add some extra glaze. Unfortunately these do not freeze very well, as they will loose their firmness and texture.

More easy slow cooker sides: