30-Minute Maple Roasted Carrots with Balsamic

Oct 5, 2017 (Last updated Oct 19, 2026) by Hannah Sunderani

Say hello to these nourishing and wholesome roasted carrots with maple syrup and balsamic vinegar! They roasted carrots are sweet, tangy, and deeply caramelized, with crisp golden edges and tender interior. This recipe is so easy to throw together – made by roasting carrots in the oven with a simple mixture of avocado oil, maple syrup and balsamic vinegar; painted onto the carrots and cooked until golden and supple. I like to top mine with a bit of crunch from sweet pomegranate seeds and toasted slivered almonds.

All-in-all, this is a simple maple roasted carrots recipe that feels more elevated and restaurant-worthy than simple roasted carrots, with just a few ingredients and minimal effort to achieve it! I love to serve these maple and balsamic roasted carrots alongside my Harvest Kale Caesar Salad, and my Mushroom Wellington, or White Bean Sausage. It’s also a great side dish to bring or serve during the Holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

So, let me tell you exactly whey you need this recipe, so you can make them pronto!

The Ingredients:

• Carrots: I like to use tri-color carrots because it presents so beautifully, but standard orange carrots work great here! There’s no difference between the colours – they bake just the same. We’ll scrub the carrots well and then slice in half lengthwise to expose the centre before brushing with the maple oil mixture. I also recipe tested this with a carrot and parsnip mix and it worked really well! If you wanted to try that duo it’ll be delicious.
• Avocado Oil: Used in the maple syrup mixture to brush the carrots before roasting. A little oil helps the carrots get crisp and golden. Most recipes online use butter, but I prefer using avocado oil because it’s vegan, dairy-free and without saturated fat.
• Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup gives these carrots a lovely maple flavour, and the sweetness helps to enhance the naturally sweet flavours in the carrots. It’s a match made in heaven!
• Balsamic Vinegar: Balsamic works really nicely in this recipe by balancing the sweetness from the naturally sweet carrots and maple syrup with a bit of acidity. Balsamic vinegar is a much more mellow acid, compared to lemon or lime; with an almost fruity base that adds another level of flavour to these carrots!
• Thyme: This savoury and earthy herb really helps to ground the recipe, and helps to root the dish into feeling autumnal in tone. I also recipe tested with parsley, which was really nice too – but it didn’t have the same deep finish I was looking for with the changing season towards cooler weather. I also recipe tested these carrots without thyme and it was still delicious, although my preference is to add it if you can for it’s savoury and grounding notes.
• Slivered Almonds: Toasted almonds in a skillet are a lovely finish to this recipe! They add a pleasant nutty crunch that I absolutely adore. You can absolutely skip if you prefer – if you’re nut-free, the recipe is still delicious without. But, I highly recommend this simple step as it really helps to elevate this recipe into a restaurant-worthy side dish!

So there we have it! A simple and delicious roasted carrot side dish that will really please a crowd! I truly think you’ll find that getting a healthy serving of carrots on your plate has never been easier with this wholesome and decadent recipe.

I hope you love these roasted carrots with maple and balsamic as much as I do! If you do make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think! I truly love hearing from you, and I’m always here to answer any questions you might have. It brings me so much joy to bring to into my kitchen and share the recipes I’m cooking up, and to hear your feedback!

And of course, tag me on Instagram with your pictures using the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations.

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