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 Christmas recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs carrots, olive oil, and 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch sticks
• 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.