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Grilled Carrots with Honey Brown Sugar Glaze

Grilled carrots with honey brown sugar glaze are caramelized on the grill until tender, with deep, dramatic marks. They’re lacquered in a sticky honey-brown sugar sauce infused with thyme and a hint of cinnamon for an amber, glossy finish.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 255
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Carrots
  • 1.5 lb medium carrots peeled and halved lengthwise
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 0.5 salt to taste
  • 0.5 pepper to taste
Honey Brown Sugar Glaze
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice fresh
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 0.25 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.125 tsp cayenne pinch
  • 0.1 flaky sea salt for garnish
  • 0.1 extra fresh thyme for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Prep and grill the carrots
  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, then lightly oil the grates so the carrots won’t stick.
  2. Toss the halved carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
  3. Grill the carrots for 5-6 minutes per side (time varies by thickness) until tender and with prominent grill marks.
Make the honey brown sugar glaze
  1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, then stir in honey, brown sugar, lemon juice, thyme, cinnamon, and cayenne.
  2. Simmer the glaze for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened, then remove from heat.
Glaze and finish
  1. Transfer the grilled carrots to a serving plate and brush generously with the honey brown sugar glaze.
  2. Finish with flaky sea salt and extra fresh thyme for garnish.

Notes

Pro tip: keep the grill at medium so the glaze caramelizes without burning. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat gently (stovetop or microwave) and re-brush with any remaining glaze if you have it. Freezing is not recommended because the glaze can lose its glossy texture. For a lighter option, use a low-sugar brown sugar substitute and reduced honey to keep the caramel flavor with fewer calories.