The only thing better than roasted carrots? Roasted carrots and onions! Yes, simply adding an onion to your tray of roasted carrots makes them even more fun to eat. Add part of a red and yellow onion, and you get a beautiful variation in color and texture. The onion gets tender with charred tips, with an unbelievably sweet flavor. It’s the perfect accent to carrot coins, seasoned with garlic and thyme. We’re always looking for ways to mix up our healthy side dish routine, and this one delivers.
Ingredients for roasted carrots and onions
This recipe is very simple: there’s not too much technique required and no unusual ingredients. But we’ve got a few tricks to take the flavor over the top! Here’s what you’ll need for roasted carrots and onions:
Carrots: Your large, run of the mill carrots work great here. You could also do long slender bunches of carrots, but you’ll need to weigh them without the greens. Rainbow carrots would look beautiful. What not to use? Baby carrots. Their flavor is engineered to be overly sweet. Red onion and yellow onion: Use two different colors of onions for a little variation in flavor and color. The contrast between purple of the red onion and the orange carrot is particularly nice. Balsamic vinegar & olive oil: The vinegar gives the veggies a bit of acidic brightness. Garlic powder & dried thyme: Thyme goes particularly well with carrots, but you could omit if you don’t have it on hand.
Tips for making roasted carrots and onions
How long to roast carrots? How long to roast onions? You’re in luck: they both roast in about the same time. Here’s the basic info to know about these roasted carrots and onions. Try it once, and you can memorize the idea and make it on repeat:
Roast carrots and onions at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. The tip top temperatures are perfect for these vegetables, making them perfectly caramelized. Slice the carrots on the bias (diagonal). This is just a suggestion, but to us this makes them tastier! Bake for 30 to 35 minutes total. Stir about 20 minutes in. Roast until just tender!
How to French cut an onion
For recipes like roasted carrots and onions or roasted peppers and onions, we like to cut the onion in a special way. It’s often called French cut, though it doesn’t really have a standardized name. We think this makes the prettiest slices! Here’s how to do it:
Cut off the ends and halve: With a large chef’s knife, cut off the top and root end of the onion. Stand the onion on the flat cut side, and cut it down the center. Remove the paper: With your fingers, remove the paper and outer layer of the onion. Cut following the curve of the onion! Place the onion half on its flat side. Then cut slices following the curve of the onion, from the tip to the root. Go to minute 1:40 of our How to Cut an Onion video to see!
Benefits of eating carrots
We’re glad you’re here because…there are so many good reasons to eat carrots! You could be choosing a side of noodles, and instead you’re making roasted onions and carrots. Carrots aren’t just good for your eyesight, like the old adage. Here’s some nutrition info about carrots and why to eat more of them (source):
Low in calories, high in fiber: One cup of chopped carrots has only 52 calories and 3.6 grams of fiber. (source) Packed with Vitamin A (beta carotene): This root veggie has 428% of your daily vitamin A in 1 cup! It’s present as beta-carotene, an antioxidant that could help in cancer prevention. Your body converts beta carotene into Vitamin A. High in Vitamins C, K and potassium: Carrot are also are high in these vitamins.
More carrot recipes
There are so many more tasty ways to eat carrots…and we’re full of them! Here are some of our favorite carrot recipe ideas:
Slice them into thin and crispy Carrot Fries! Make a fruity Carrot Smoothie or blend up nutrient-rich Carrot Juice Make a pot of Carrot Ginger Soup or Simple Carrot Soup Glaze them up for Honey Glazed Carrots Make light and carefree Easy Steamed Carrots or Perfect Boiled Carrots Mix up a batch of tangy Carrot Salad Add broccoli to the mix with Roasted Broccoli and Carrots Go simple with herby Perfect Sauteed Carrots
This roasted carrots and onions recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
More healthy side dishes
There are so many different veggie-based side dishes to try! Here are some we’d recommend: 5 from 2 reviews
Bake up a pan of these crispy and mind-blowing Brussels Sprouts with Maple Glaze Top your fries with feta to make Greek Fries Go simple and colorful with Ultimate Sauteed Vegetables Make uniquely delicious Easy Roasted Onions or Simple Sauteed Onions Red potatoes and fresh herbs make a divine pairing in Classic Roasted Potatoes Make sweetly tender Roasted Peppers and Onions or Roasted Bell Peppers Get your daily Vitamin C quota with Sauteed Peppers or Sauteed Peppers and Onions Make a meal more filling with Easy White Beans
