Baby carrots are naturally sweeter than their bigger relatives and oftentimes the better choice to use when you’re cooking. They’re my favorite type of carrot because they hold more flavor before you do anything to them. This Sweet Citrus Glazed Baby Carrots side dish recipe is a foolproof way of adding a vegetable to your dinner table. Whether you’re making an Easter dinner or just looking for something that pairs with your family dinner, you can’t go wrong when you make this dish!

For the longest time, I could only get my kids to eat raw baby carrots. They’re always on sale at our local grocery store, so they’re a great vegetable choice for our family. After going through too much ranch dressing, I finally found a new way for our family to enjoy carrots when I made them like this.

I make them regularly to accompany family dinners – like a pot roast or pork loin. But they’re such a hit that they became a side dish at our Easter dinner table. Since carrots are in-season each spring, they’re a great choice for Easter too.

Looking for even more great foolproof vegetable side dish recipes? Here are some other choices that we love too:

• Lemon Butter Tri-Color Potatoes
• Southern Squash Casserole Recipe
• Oven-Fried Green Tomatoes

How To Make Citrus Glazed Baby Carrots

These carrots are stupid easy to make. All it takes is stirring a glaze and coating the carrots. I like to use a fresh naval orange to make the zest and squeeze fresh orange juice. Using a citrus zester and hand juicer, you can easily get what you need from the orange.

The Best Time To Buy Carrots

Did you know that California provides 80% of the fresh carrots for the U.S.? Due to their great weather, you can get fresh carrots almost year round at your local grocery store. However, carrots do have a season. They love to be grown in cold weather.

If you’re purchasing fresh local carrots, from a farmer, you’ll find them in the late spring and fall. That’s what makes them so great as an Easter side dish. I love shopping my local farmer’s market and it’s always a treat when I find baby carrots.

How To Store Leftover Citrus Glazed Baby Carrots 

If you have any leftovers, transfer them from the serving bowl to an air-tight storage container. You can refrigerate them to keep them fresh. Reheat them in the microwave for 30 seconds to minute, stirring once.

Can You Freeze Glazed Baby Carrots?

Reheating from frozen doesn’t produce that same fork-tender quality that you get in the beginning when you cook them. While you technically can freeze them, I would just enjoy them fresh instead. Make a new batch when you want more.

Why Is My Glaze Browning?

I promise that this is an easy recipe, but you DO have to stir the glaze constantly so it doesn’t burn. Once you keep stirring, it will turn to a glaze consistency when the sugar blends with the juice. Just don’t leave your glaze unattended and you’ll do great!

What You Need From The Grocery Store:

• Baby Carrots
• Brown Sugar
• Naval Orange
• Optional Garnish: Chopped Parsley

Step-By-Step Directions To Make Citrus Glazed Baby Carrots

Steam 1. 5 lbs baby carrots. Melt butter over medium in a saucepan. 

Add brown sugar, orange juice and orange zest, and stir until a glaze forms.

Turn off the heat and carefully stir in the carrots. Toss until well coated.