Honey-Glazed Roasted Carrots with Thyme and Orange Zest

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

Sweet roasted carrots enhanced with honey, fresh thyme, and bright orange zest make a simple yet flavorful Christmas side dish. This Mediterranean-inspired Christmas recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs carrots, olive oil, honey for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 120 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs, peeled and cut into 2-inch sticks carrots
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tsp orange zest
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. In a large bowl, toss 2 lbs peeled and cut carrots with 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until evenly coated.
2. Step 2: Spread the carrots on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until edges are caramelized and carrots are tender when pierced with a fork.
3. Step 3: Remove carrots from oven and immediately sprinkle with 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves and 1 tsp orange zest. Toss gently to combine and serve warm as a bright, sweet side dish.