11 Thrifty Carrot Recipes to Serve for Dinner Tonight

You may think of carrots as synonymous with spring, thanks to Easter carrot cake and a certain chocolate-loving bunny, but this colorful root vegetable is also a low-cost and nutritious winter staple. We love them because they have a natural sweetness and crunch that kids love, so they’re a no-brainer for healthy snacking and a vegetable side dish that won’t cause a tantrum. Oh, and did we mention they’re super simple and easy to cook with?

When shopping for carrots, there is a wide variety to choose from. Carrots are sold as baby-cut, whole with stems, shredded, rainbow—there’s a carrot for every occasion. The vegetable has a long fridge life, about three weeks for raw, unpeeled carrots stored in the refrigerator in a plastic bag, and about a week for carrots that have been peeled in the packaging they come in (such as baby or shredded carrots). Roasted, braised, boiled, or even noodle-ified, these carrot recipes prove this veg is a winner for easy weeknight meals.  

Hummus Chicken with Roasted Carrots

Carrots and hummus move from afternoon snack to evening meal in this five-ingredient sheet pan recipe. Combine whatever leftover creamy hummus you have on hand and a sprinkle of smoky cumin for a simple marinade for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Roasted together with baby carrots, it’s a slam dunk weeknight meal that you can prep in five minutes.   

Sheet Pan Apricot Chicken and Carrots

This savory-sweet, meal-in-one chicken dish makes a tasty main course for any dreary winter night that could use a burst of bright flavors. Sliced carrots become fork-tender and sweet roasted alongside chicken leg quarters covered in a tangy Dijon-apricot glaze. A foil-lined sheet pan keeps cleanup easy, and using chicken legs from a value pack makes this recipe easy on the wallet, too.  

Stovetop Sweet Potato and Carrot Tzimmes  

Though it literally translates to “big fuss” in Yiddish, our take on tzimmes, a classic Jewish side dish, is really quite simple. A medley of carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, and three kinds of dried fruit simmer to tender perfection on the stovetop. Orange juice, honey, and warm spices combine into a thick, spoon-hugging sauce that melds all the earthy-sweet flavors together. Serve alongside chicken for an easy weeknight dinner or kugel for a festive feast

Slow Cooker Butter Braised Carrots with Dill  

This family-friendly side dish comes together with just four ingredients and five minutes of prep time, but it tastes like a million bucks. The slow cooker does most of the work for tender baby carrots slathered in a honey-butter glaze finished with a pop of fresh dill. Serve with your favorite roasted meat or fish for a complete meal without any time standing over the stove.  

Pepper Jelly Roasted Carrots  

This memorable side dish counterbalances carrots’ natural sweetness with just the right amount of spice. Pepper jelly and two kinds of freshly squeezed citrus create a bold, fiery glaze for tender roasted carrots. Cutting the veggies lengthwise with the stem still attached to create an eye-catching presentation that elevates this easy recipe to special occasion-worthy on a weeknight. 

Carrot Pad Thai with Ground Pork  

Ribbons of gently sautéed carrots replace traditional noodles in this reimagined take on pad Thai. Fresh ginger, fish sauce, and lime infuse this lower-carb version with a bold, Southeast Asian-inspired flavor. Ground pork brings the protein while store-bought broccoli slaw and chopped peanuts add an appealing crunch.   

Pasta with Bacon and Creamy Carrot Sauce  

Add this to carrots’ impressive resume: pasta sauce. A quick spin in the blender turns boiled carrots into a thick, velvety sauce amped up with nutty Parmesan. Smoky bacon and fresh dill round out the flavors of this five-ingredient meal with orecchiette that hits the table in 35 minutes.

Pork Chops with Carrot Puree  

Add more color, flavor, and nutrients to your plate by swapping out regular ol’ mashed potatoes for a creamy puree of carrots and sweet potatoes. The earthy sweetness pairs perfectly with all kinds of savory proteins, like this rosemary-scented seared pork chops—ready in 35 minutes.

Bacon-Wrapped Carrots 

Here’s a way to make carrots even more delicious: Wrap them in bacon. Roasting carrots turns them fork-tender and coaxes out more of their natural sweetness. Smoky, salty, crispy bacon offers the perfect contrast of both taste and texture. A drizzle of honey, parsley, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper finish this impressive side that’s both company-worthy and weeknight-easy.

Curried Carrot-Ginger Soup 

Carrots bring a natural sweetness to this flavor-forward and cozy soup. The root vegetable is paired with curry powder, ginger, and garlic for a natural zing and blended with sweet potato to create a luxurious and creamy texture. Bonus: It’s all added to a slow cooker, so dinner is ready when you are.  

Carrot Hummus 

Swap chickpeas for carrots in this veg-forward twist on the classic dip. The traditional flavors of garlic, lemon, tahini, and olive oil help keep the dip reminiscent of your favorite hummus, but with a natural sweetness. Serve alongside crackers for the perfect snack.