If you or your family think that cooked carrots are just "meh," this recipe for baked grated carrots will change your mind - I promise! And we won't even talk about how thrifty and how easy it is to throw together - this really is an amazing recipe.
For more great recipe ideas, check out the Quick Healthy Recipes page.
I can imagine you may be thinking "so what?" about a recipe for baked grated carrots, but let me just say, you will not believe how good these are. Actually, I usually forget how good these are (because who thinks about cooked carrots, really?) until I put them back on the menu after the glut of glorious summer vegetables are done.
I'm pretty sure it has to do with grating the carrots - it brings all the natural sweetness out. Then adding the garlic and lemon juice, well, it's just a wonderful combination. And that in itself is another revelation - lemon and garlic with carrots? But just trust me on this - everyone loves these carrots.
I'm confident that the people you know who say they don't like cooked carrots will like this recipe. I haven't met anyone yet who didn't - and that includes my kids who definitely fall into the "no cooked carrot" camp.
Lemon Garlic Baked Grated Carrots
This recipe could not be easier:
- Grate the carrots. A food processor does this in about 3 minutes.
- Dump all the ingredients into the bowl you'll bake it in, stir, and bake.
That's it! So you can have this simple side dish on the menu for any day of the week.
Of course if you had to grate all the carrots by hand, it might be a little more time consuming, but would really add only a couple of minutes. You could also buy a bag of grated carrots at Trader Joe's or something.
Just do whatever you need to do to get these on your table!
Maybe these baked grated carrots wouldn't taste as good in the summer, I don't know. There are so many other vegetables to choose from during that season. But in late fall and winter when other vegetables are harder to come by or more expensive, these really do taste fabulous. In fact, I have a hard time not licking the bowl clean, and we do fight over the leftovers (if there are any!).
Menu Idea
One of my favorite menus to serve these carrots with is:
- rotisserie slow-cooked chicken
- Grandma's Tasty Rice
- A green salad with a balsamic vinaigrette or honey mustard dressing. So easy and so good.
And really, there are few vegetables that are easier than carrots, plus this dish costs less than $1, takes about 5 minutes to put together and just 30 minutes in the oven while you prep the rest of the meal. Love.
Go ahead and give them a try. And prepare to be amazed.
Amazing Lemon Garlic Baked Grated Carrots
Ingredients
- 4 cups peeled and grated carrots about 5 large carrots
- 1 tablespoon melted butter plus more for baking pan
- 1 tablespoon olive oil*
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives optional
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place grated carrots in a buttered 1 ½ to 2 quart casserole.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Other Easy Side Dishes To Try:
Simple & Delicious Heritage Recipe: Grandma’s Baked Tasty Rice
Amazing Garlic Green Beans {with Skillet or Grill Options}
Parmesan Rice Cakes (great use of leftover rice!)
Spicy Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower
Note: Originally published in the first year of the blog (2009) as simply "baked grated carrots" (what was I thinking - not very enticing, is it?), these carrots are so good - and such a regular part of our winter meals - that it deserved to be republished with new photos and a chance to grace all of your menus.
