18 Delicious Carrot Recipes for Every Meal of the Day

Including breakfast, dinner, and dessert!

Sticky Roasted Carrots with Citrus
Photo: Blaine Moats

Never again subject yourself to boring boiled carrot recipes. Our best carrot recipes are exploding with garden-fresh flavor. With ideas for roasted carrot recipes, carrot soup recipes, carrot cake, and carrot cookies (for cream pies!), we've rounded up recipes using carrots for every meal of the day. So go ahead, take your pick—or try all of our delicious carrot recipes.

01 of 18

Air-Fried Balsamic Glazed Carrots

Balsamic Glazed Carrots on white platter
Antonis Achilleos

Craving a glazed carrot recipe but don't want to heat up your whole kitchen? Or shy on oven space, say, on a holiday? We've got your back with this air-fryer vegetable option. Simply "fry" the honey-coated carrots in the countertop appliance, toss with balsamic glaze, and garnish with chives. Colorful, craveable, and cool.

02 of 18

Carrot and Chickpea Skillet

Carrot and Chickpea Skillet with wooden spoon
Blaine Moats

One serving of this garbanzo bean, cauliflower, and sautéed carrots recipe will be all the proof you need that vegan eating can be flavorful and satisfying. (It packs in 14 grams each of protein and fiber!) One BHG home cook deems this "a great single-skillet meal," and we couldn't agree more. Smoked paprika and cumin lend warm, smoky notes that play nicely with the sweet-tart orange juice and savory vegetable broth.

03 of 18

Carrot-Pecan Ice Cream Cake

Carrot-Pecan Ice Cream Cake
Andy Lyons

Instead of serving ice cream with your carrot cake, stack it between the layers of said cake. This recipe using fresh carrots isn't shy on them, with 1½ cups of shredded carrots in the batter alongside chopped pecans, shredded coconut, and dried cranberries or raisins. Bake and cool the ice cream cake (we promise it's worth the wait), then choose your ice cream pairing—rum raisin, vanilla, butter pecan, or cinnamon ice cream all taste out-of-this-world here.

04 of 18

Carrot Orzotto

Carrot Orzotto
Andy Lyons

Craving creamy risotto, but can't find or don't have arborio rice? We use the same technique with easy-to-find, affordable orzo in this carrot side dish recipe. In addition to the shredded carrot mixed with the itty-bitty pasta, we infuse the chicken broth base with carrot juice to deliver a double dose of garden flavor in the same one-pan 30-minute dinner recipe.

05 of 18

Carrot and Zucchini Bars

Carrot and Zucchini Bars
Andy Lyons

Think cookie bars—essentially denser 9 x 13 cakes—can't be good for you? This baked carrot recipe is about to change your mind. Our carrot bars are packed with naturally-sweet raisins and honey, heart-healthy walnuts, and low-cal zucchini. A citrus-cream cheese frosting caps things off with just enough decadence.

06 of 18

Sticky Roasted Carrots with Citrus

Sticky Roasted Carrots with Citrus
Blaine Moats

Think of this oven-roasted carrots recipe as the revamp of Grandma's honey-glazed carrots recipe. Two big bunches of carrots play the starring role, with a supporting cast of red onion, plenty of citrus, chiles, and maple syrup. The sidekick—a swoosh of sweet and nutty tahini-orange sauce—is what really takes this dish to gourmet heights.

07 of 18

Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup

Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup
Kritsada Panichgul

"This stuff is addictive! Looks fancy for a quick lunch or appetizer when company comes, even though it's super-simple to make," raves one BH&G reader. This elegant carrot soup recipe gets a dash of sophistication via leeks (in place of onions) and a showy crème fraîche swirl on top.

08 of 18

Chicken and Parmesan Noodles

Chicken Parmesan Noodles
Blaine Moats

This is not your average, ho-hum chicken dinner. With nutty Parmesan, tender grilled chicken coated in fresh basil pesto, and satisfying angel hair pasta, this delicious carrot recipe tastes like something you might order from a fancy restaurant. Only you need to know it takes a mere 20 minutes, start to finish.

09 of 18

Ginger-Carrot Cake

Ginger Carrot Cake
Con Poulos

Freshly grated ginger adds a spicy twist to this beloved American classic. No need to wait for spring or Easter to whip it up—this warmly-spiced carrot cake is a delight (and a total crowd-pleaser) in any season. Crunchy walnuts lend a lovely textural boost, while tangy orange juice brightens things up. In tandem with the earthy carrots, the flavors make this one of our favorite layer cakes of all time.

10 of 18

Tuscan Bean Soup

Tuscan Bean Soup
Karla Conrad

Think outside of the can. The can of store-bought soup, that is. Cannellini beans, baby carrots, and spinach are the stars of this Italian-inspired carrot soup recipe that comes together in a single Dutch oven and can be spoon-ready in just 20 minutes.

11 of 18

Carrot-Parsnip Mini Cakes With Orange Drizzle

Carrot Parsnip Mini Cakes

Carson Downing

Parsnips add an extra layer of earthy flavor to this carrot bread recipe. An orange drizzle brightens up each bite and adds the perfect citrus flavor. Serve the recipe as mini loaves or bake in one larger pan.

12 of 18

Pan-Roasted Cabbage, Carrot, and Celery Root

Casserole dish filled with Pan-Roasted Cabbage, Carrot, and Celery Root
Blaine Moats

In a cast iron skillet, carrots, cabbage, and celery root become caramelized and tender. Flavor the earthy blend with garlic, red pepper flakes, and apple cider vinegar. One reviewer called it "so good" and said it was a total hit at Thanksgiving.

13 of 18

Coconut Acorn Squash & Carrot Soup

Coconut Acorn Squash and Carrot Soup
Andy Lyons

You'll need just seven ingredients to get this soup on the table. Use a blender to puree acorn squash, carrots, and coconut milk until velvety. For texture, top each bowl with fried onions, basil, and toasted squash seeds.

14 of 18

Harvest Carrot Cake with Skillet Fruit

Harvest Carrot Cake with Skillet Fruit
Andy Lyons

One simple ingredient ensures this carrot cake recipe is extra moist and flavorful. Canned pumpkin or mashed sweet potato ensures the finished cake is the perfect texture. Top it with a vanilla buttercream and cooked fruit.

15 of 18

Beef and Carrot Ragu

Beef and Carrot Ragu
Andy Lyons

Toss a handful of ingredients into your slow cooker and you're well on your way to having this short rib ragu on the dinner table. Carrots add subtle sweetness that perfectly balances the rich meat.

16 of 18

Roasted Caraway Carrots

Roasted Caraway Carrots
Blaine Moats

It'll only take 10 minutes to prep this roasted carrot recipe. The results are caramelized and tender. Serve it with a homemade fennel aioli.

17 of 18

Honey-Carrot Cake with Mascarpone Cream

Honey Carrot Cake with Mascarpone Cream
Andy Lyons

Rather than a classic cream cheese frosting, we're topping this carrot cake with a honey mascarpone whip. It brings out the flavor of the honey and vanilla in the cake.

18 of 18

Almond-Carrot Cake Smoothies

Almond-Carrot Cake Smoothie
Kelsey Hansen

This hearty smoothie is a delicious breakfast all in one glass. Blend carrots with banana, oats, Greek yogurt, and almond butter. Top each glass with whipped cream.

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