Name: Easy Cooked Carrots
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 5-6 carrots (about 4 cups); 3 tbsps butter; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika; 1/4 tsp pepper

Quick and easy go to side dish when you are in a hurry. Make these yummy carrots in less than 10 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Time: 7

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Quick and easy recipe for microwave cooked carrots. Perfect for a last-minute side dish you can have on the table in less than 10 minutes.

I have a super quick and easy recipe for you! My life has been in chaos for the last 2 weeks straight, so I haven’t had time to really plan out meals, and we were also trying to clean out our fridge and pantry before moving.

These easy microwave carrots are the perfect quick side dish you can throw together in a pinch. If you are like me, you ALWAYS have carrots on hand, and the other ingredients are just household staples.

How to Cook Carrots in the Microwave

You’ll need 5-6 large carrots, peeled and washed. I recommend slicing the carrots into 1/2″ rounds to cook evenly in the microwave. It should be around 4 cups of sliced carrots.

Place the carrots, 3 tablespoons of butter, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a microwave-safe bowl.

Stir everything together. Microwave on high, uncovered for 2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir again to incorporate the melted butter and brown sugar. Microwave again for another 2 minutes. Check the doneness of the carrot slices. If they are not finished, continue microwaving at 1-minute intervals until the carrots are fork-tender.

These cooked carrots are incredibly simple to make. The butter cooks them while the brown sugar gives the carrots a little caramelization. The garlic and smoked paprika is a nice added flavor boost.

What to Serve With Microwaved Carrots

You can serve cooked carrots with just about any entree. We typically have microwaved carrots with pork dishes, but will also serve with beef. Here a few recipe ideas to serve cooked carrots with:

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long to Microwave carrots

Microwave the carrots for 4-5 minutes depending on the thickness of the slices. I recommend checking after 2 minutes and stirring, then microwaving for another 2 minutes. If the carrots are not completely done, microwave at 1-minute intervals until the carrots are fork-tender.

Can I microwave baby carrots?

Yes, you can microwave baby carrots. If you plan to use baby carrots, you may want to slice them in half lengthwise. It may also require an extra minute or two in the microwave to fully cook. I recommend checking them after the 5-minute mark and microwaving them at 1-minute intervals until they are fully cooked.

Do I have to use brown sugar?

No, you don’t! If you prefer to omit the brown sugar, you can still cook the carrots the same way. The brown sugar just gives the carrots a little bit of sweetness and caramelization. It’s not a necessity in this recipe for cooked carrots.

More easy side dish recipes:

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Prep Time:2

Cook Time:5

Total Time:7

Equipment

Ingredients

5-6 carrots about 4 cups
3 tbsps butter
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

Wash, peel, and chop the carrots into approximately 1/2" rounds.
Place the carrots in a microwave-safe bowl with brown sugar, butter, and seasonings.
Microwave the carrots on high, uncovered, for 4-5 minutes, or until fork-tender. You will want to stop half way through cook time to stir up the melted butter and brown sugar.
Microwave at additional 1-minute intervals until the carrots reach your desired softness.

Nutrition

Servings: servings

Calories: 114kcal

Author: Amanda

Easy Microwave Cooked Carrots

How to Cook Carrots in the Microwave