Clean Eating BBQ Carrots Recipe (2024)

Share on FacebookShare on PinterestShare on X (Twitter)Share on Reddit <use href="#<svg width="1em" height="1em" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="scriptlesssocialsharing__icon flipboard" fill="currentcolor" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" role="img"><title>flipboard</title><path d="M24.997 13.001h-5.998v5.998h-5.998v5.998h-5.998v-17.995h17.995zM1.004 1.004v29.991h29.991v-29.991z"></path></svg>" xlink:href="#flipboard"> Share on Flip it

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

These grilled baby carrots are proof that life is always better with a delicious grilled side dish on your dinner plate! This easy, healthy, grilled carrots are one of our favorite healthy side dishes!

Normally, you’d fire up the grill and cook some thick, juicy steaks or burgers. But I’m going to show you how delicious your side dishes can be when you cook them on the grill too!

Clean Eating BBQ Carrots Recipe (1)

Are Grilled Baby Carrots Healthy?

You betcha! Grilling carrots brings out all the delicious flavors of these yummy veggies without adding too much fat or other unwanted ingredients. This clean eating dish is about as simple as it gets!

FAQs

Who knew there could be so many questions about baby carrots?! Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions about this delicious root veggie.

How Are Baby Carrots Made?

Believe it or not, baby carrots are made, not grown. That is to say, they don’t grow into the shape of a baby carrot. Baby carrots are larger carrots that are cut by machine into smaller, uniform pieces. Leftover “shavings” typically end up in cattle feed.

Can You Grill Baby Carrots?

Yes! And the recipe below will show you how!

The Best Baby Carrots To Grill

The truth is, any type of baby carrot will grill wonderfully. You can use a bag of orange baby carrots, or get fancy with multi-colored carrots where available. You can even use larger carrots and cut them into smaller pieces yourself.

How Long Does It Take To Make Baby Carrots Soft?

Can You Cook Carrots With The Skin On?

You can! You don’t have to peel carrots at all. However, if you don’t peel them, you’ll want to give them a good scrub under clean water to make sure there is no dirt left behind.

Do Packaged Baby Carrots Need To Be Washed?

Yes and no. It’s rare for baby carrots to have any actual pathogens on them. But if they do, simply rinsing them in water won’t get rid of them. That being said, it’s not really necessary to wash packaged baby carrots, though you can if you feel more comfortable doing so.

How Do You Keep Baby Carrots Crisp?

The best way is to store them in water, in the fridge, in an airtight container. Then simply dry them before use.

Can You Rehydrate Old Carrots?

In theory, yes. If you have older, wrinkly carrots, you can soak them in water to help rehydrate them. Hot water works best. However, once your carrots get to this point, it’s worth considering either tossing them or composting them.

Clean Eating BBQ Carrots Recipe (2)

Do You Need To Peel Carrots Before Roasting?

No. If you are using store-bought baby carrots, they are already peeled anyway. If you are cutting up large carrots at home, the choice is yours. If you don’t peel them, just be sure the clean your carrots really well.

How To Store Baby Carrots In The Refrigerator

You have two choices.

  1. Store them in water.
  2. Store them in a container.

Should I Store My Baby Carrots In Water?

Storing baby carrots in water is the best way to preserve them for the longest time possible.

How long do baby carrots last in water?

While the timing will vary, on average, then will last 3-4 weeks if stored in an airtight container with water.

Should I Store My Baby Carrots In A Container?

You can, yes. The best way to do this is to wrap them in a paper towel, and then place them in a container with an airtight lid.

How Long Do Baby Carrots Last In A Container?

If stored in an airtight container with a paper towel, they will last you up to 3 weeks.

Recipe Notes

  1. Cooking times will vary based on the temperature of your grill. 30 minutes is an approximate time.
  2. These little buggers really hold their heat! Cooling them for a bit before eating them is a wise decision.

What To Serve Grilled Baby Carrots With

These grilled baby carrots will pair nicely with just about anything you cook on the barbecue. But we enjoyed these with somegrilled citrus chicken. Delicious! You can also try:

  • Potatoes
  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Turkey
  • Lamb
  • Other vegetables such as corn or potatoes

Recipe Variations And Garnishes

You can top these off with garnishes. This will not only change the flavors to keep things interesting but will make a nice presentation as well. We eat with our eyes first! While the carrots typically have their own natural sweetness, drizzling a little honey or maple syrup over them for a light glaze will really enhance that.

  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Soy sauce
  • Maple syrup
  • Honey
  • Fresh thyme
  • Fresh rosemary (or any fresh herbs you enjoy)
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Flavored salt
  • Ranch dressing
  • Vinaigrette dressing

About The Ingredients

Baby carrots– You can purchase baby carrots, or simply cut large or medium carrots into 2-inch pieces.

Black pepper

Onion granules– Or onion powder.

Garlic powder – Or garlic powder.

Oil– Any oil you prefer. Avocado oil is particularly good for cooking at higher temperatures.

How To Make Grilled Baby Carrots

Clean Eating BBQ Carrots Recipe (3)

Place all ingredients inside a large, plastic, zipper-top bag or large mixing bowl.

Clean Eating BBQ Carrots Recipe (4)

Toss them well to coat the carrots with oil and spices.

Clean Eating BBQ Carrots Recipe (5)

Place a piece of aluminum foil on the BBQ grill and place your carrots on that. Spread them out so that they are in a single layer. (You can also use a barbecue skillet, grill basket, or cast-iron skillet). Close the lid on the grill and allow to cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally with BBQ tongs. Cook until they are fork tender.

Storage

Keep leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freezing

If you want to freeze leftovers, wrap them up well and then place them in an airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheating

Thaw in the fridge for at least 24 hours.

To reheat, you can warm these in the microwave, or in a skillet on your stovetop. (Or on your grill over low heat.)

Recipe Supplies

For this recipe, you’ll need either aluminum foil or a grill skillet, or a grill top pan and some tongs or a metal spatula. What you use will depend on how you want to cook these. A grill top pan is perfect for a gas grill. Simply set it on your grill grate and cook like it’s your stovetop. Same for a charcoal grill, though I often prefer to use a cast iron grill pan for that.

More Grilled Vegetable Recipes

  • Grilled Zucchini
  • Grilled Zucchini Salad

Grilled Baby Carrots Recipe Card

Clean Eating BBQ Carrots Recipe (7)

Grilled Baby Carrots

Enjoy this delicious side dish with just about anything you can cook on the barbecue!

4.60 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate Add to Collection

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 69kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. organic baby carrots
  • 1 tsp. black pepper
  • 1 tbsp. onion powder
  • 1 tbsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients inside a large, plastic, zipper-top bag or large mixing bowl.

    Clean Eating BBQ Carrots Recipe (8)

  • Toss them well to coat the carrots with oil and spices.

    Clean Eating BBQ Carrots Recipe (9)

  • Place a piece of aluminum foil on the BBQ grill and place your carrots on that. Spread them out so that they are in a single layer. (You can also use a barbecue skillet or cast-iron skillet). Close the lid on the grill and allow to cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally with BBQ tongs. Cook until they are soft and easily pierced with a fork.

    Clean Eating BBQ Carrots Recipe (10)

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz. | Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 91mg | Potassium: 317mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 15640IU | Vitamin C: 3.4mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1.2mg

This recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 4/7/11.

Share on FacebookShare on PinterestShare on X (Twitter)Share on Reddit <use href="#<svg width="1em" height="1em" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="scriptlesssocialsharing__icon flipboard" fill="currentcolor" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" role="img"><title>flipboard</title><path d="M24.997 13.001h-5.998v5.998h-5.998v5.998h-5.998v-17.995h17.995zM1.004 1.004v29.991h29.991v-29.991z"></path></svg>" xlink:href="#flipboard"> Share on Flip it
Clean Eating BBQ Carrots Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to cook carrots for best nutrition? ›

Another study showed both boiling and steaming increased levels of beta carotene. But try to cook carrots whole, as cutting can reduce nutrients by 25%. Wait and wash veggies just before cooking to preserve nutrients. In fact, cooking veggies whole is often the best choice to preserve nutrients.

How many carrots should you eat a day? ›

Generally speaking, it's safe (and a good idea!) to eat as many carrots as you'd like. Yes, there are rare cases where people have consumed so much beta carotene (from foods like carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, oranges and pumpkins) that their skin developed an orange hue (a condition called carotenemia).

How to make Gordon Ramsay carrots? ›

Cooking instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan, then add the carrots and parsnips and toss to coat in the oil. Add the thyme, cinnamon, star anise and some seasoning. Cook over a medium heat for 15-20 minutes, turning the vegetables frequently, until golden brown and almost cooked through.

How do you get the most flavor out of carrots? ›

Here's some of our favorites to sprinkle on carrots:
  1. Garlic (minced, powder or granules)
  2. Onion powder or granules.
  3. Black malabar pepper.
  4. Cinnamon (Cassia for sweeter, Ceylon for sweetness with some more complex savory and vanilla flavors)
  5. Nutmeg powder.
  6. Cayenne pepper powder.
  7. Ginger powder.
  8. Aleppo chili.
Mar 28, 2021

What is the healthiest way to eat carrots? ›

Carrots provide more antioxidants when boiled or steamed than when eaten raw, according to a January 2008 report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. In fact, researchers found that boiling carrots until tender increased the concentration of carotenoids by 14 percent.

How do you eat carrots without losing nutrients? ›

Carrots - To preserve beta-carotene, a substance that helps the body obtain vitamin A, carrots should be cooked for about five minutes over medium to high heat. Grab a pot and add enough water to cover all the carrots.

Is eating carrots good for weight loss? ›

As a low-calorie food, carrots can increase fullness and decrease calorie intake in subsequent meals ( 33 ). For this reason, they may be a useful addition to an effective weight loss diet.

Do carrots have a lot of sugar? ›

While it is true that carrots contain natural sugars, they are not considered high in sugar when compared to many other fruits and vegetables. The glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) are measurements that tell you how carbohydrate-based foods will impact blood glucose levels.

What makes carrots taste better? ›

#1 Roasted

This is our CSA members' favorite way to enjoy our farm's fresh carrots. Slice or keep them whole if baby sized and toss with salt and pepper as your most basic preparation, or optionally add garlic, dill or honey to change it up. Roast on a baking sheet at 400 degrees until tender. So, so, so sweet!

What not to mix carrots with? ›

For the same reason, one shouldn't mix orange with carrot as when taken together, they may cause heartburn and excess bile reflux. Only a few fruits are starchy in nature. These include green bananas and plantains.

What spice goes well with carrots? ›

I buy a mild chili powder in the Mexican food aisle that has no heat, and will blend it in with whatever chili powder I'm using to cut the heat without sacrificing flavor. Ancho chili powder is also quite mild and would work great for these spice roasted carrots, or you can substitute equal parts paprika and cumin.

Why do my carrots taste bad? ›

It's simply the result of a chemical reaction that happens due to improper storage. Credit that reaction to the naturally occurring ripening agent, ethylene gas.

Why do you soak carrots? ›

This will allow them to rehydrate and become crunchy again. I recommend using filtered water so it doesn't have the items in it that tap water might contain, like chlorine. This tip will allow you to extend the shelf life of your carrots.

Are carrots healthier raw or boiled? ›

Carrots. Raw carrots are fine, but cooked carrots are better for you. Cooking carrots allows beta carotene, an antioxidant compound that gets converted to vitamin A in the intestine, to absorb more easily in the body, explains Beckerman.

Does boiling carrots destroy nutrients? ›

Some vegetables contain water-soluble vitamins and phytochemicals and these can leech out when boiled. Picture boiling carrots; if you leave them to boil too long the water takes on an orange hue, which comes from some of the vitamins.

Are carrots better steamed or boiled? ›

Steaming allows you to retain more of the nutrients compared with boiling,” Jenna Hope confirms, because leaching, whereby some nutrients draw out into the water, doesn't occur as much. “Naturally, it may not provide as much flavour as, for example, roasting, so serve with a pesto or tahini.”

Is it healthier to roast or boil carrots? ›

Cooking breaks down the vegetable's cell walls, making its nutrients more available. Of course, how you cook them matters—boiling vegetables can leach out nutrients, so it's better to steam, sauté, or roast. If you still prefer boiling your carrots, throw them in the water whole—you'll keep the most nutrients.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Last Updated:

Views: 5900

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Birthday: 1994-06-25

Address: Suite 153 582 Lubowitz Walks, Port Alfredoborough, IN 72879-2838

Phone: +128413562823324

Job: IT Strategist

Hobby: Video gaming, Basketball, Web surfing, Book restoration, Jogging, Shooting, Fishing

Introduction: My name is Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner, I am a zany, graceful, talented, witty, determined, shiny, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.