How to Boil Carrots

Learn How to Boil Sliced and Whole Carrots that come out perfectly soft, tender, and full of their own naturally sweet flavor! Once boiled, you can then serve this easy side dish with fresh parsley, dill, or chives and a drizzle of oil for a quick weeknight dinner or special holiday occasion!  And with only four healthy ingredients, this recipe is completely gluten-free, vegan, Whole30 and can be ready in as little as 10 minutes!

Easy Boiled Carrots Recipe

Most people associate carrots as either being cooked in a delicious brown sugar sauce… (like these Instant Pot Glazed Carrots and Slow Cooker Glazed Carrots.)

Or found in sweet treats like these Carrot Cake Muffins.

But did you know Boiled Carrots are actually loaded with their own naturally sweet flavor? (Much like with boiled sweet potatoes and boiled beets!)

Yep! They have a natural sweetness, so you won’t even need any additional sweetener to make this great side dish.

Not to mention, they pair exceptionally well with a ton of different herbs and ground spices. (Fresh parsley, dill, and cumin, just to name a few!)

You can cut fresh carrots into smaller pieces so they boil even faster. Or cook the entire carrot for a more impressive-looking addition to any meal.

Either way you slice it, you’ll be able to have this simple and healthy side dish ready to serve in as little as 10 minutes!

Plus, carrots are full of beta carotene, which is excellent for eye health, and they’re super kid-friendly!

How to Make Boiled Carrots

Below, you’ll find the simple steps to follow to make this perfect boiled carrots recipe.

Peeling and Slicing the Carrots

Before you get to cooking carrots, you will first want to prepare them. 

Rinse raw carrots under running, cool water. Remove any remaining dirt and debris with a paper towel or dish towel. Carrots are root vegetables and grow under the ground so they often have quite a bit of dirt on them.

Remove the outer skin from the carrots by using a vegetable peeler. Carrot skin sometimes has a bitter taste and is better if removed. However, this step is optional and you can choose to leave the peel on the carrots if you’d prefer.

Cut the carrots at a bias (at an angle) to get ¼”-thick slices. Cutting at an angle gives the carrots a very pretty presentation. Feel free to cut them exactly perpendicular to the long axis of the carrots.

If boiling whole carrots or baby carrots, you can skip this step. For whole carrots, cut and remove the green tops from the carrots or leave them on if you’d prefer.

Boil Until Tender

Once they are peeled and either sliced or kept whole, you will want to follow these simple steps to boil carrots.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Make sure the water level is high enough so the carrots are completely submerged.

Add sliced carrots to the pot of water and bring the water back to a boil over high heat.

Boil sliced carrots for 4-5 minutes, baby carrots for 6-7 minutes, and whole carrots for 10-15 minutes. The amount of time will vary slightly depending on the thickness of the carrots, so be sure to test for doneness with a fork before draining.

Drain in a Collander

Carrots will be done boiling when they are fork tender. Simply place a fork into the carrots to determine if they are cooked through.

Remove carrots from the pot of hot water with either a slotted spoon or drain them in a colander in the sink. It’s important that you remove as much of the water as you can from the surface of the carrots so they are not soggy when served.

How to Serve Boiled Carrots?

Carrots are packed with SO much flavor and do not need much when it comes to additional seasonings before serving.

A little drizzle of oil or melted butter and a sprinkle of salt work wonders to bring out their natural flavor.

These fresh herbs pair exceptionally well with boiled carrots: dill, parsley, thyme, cilantro, chives and green onions.

You can also add any one of these sweeteners to boiled carrots just before serving: pure maple syrup, honey, brown sugar, and coconut sugar.

Many different ground spices also pair wonderfully with boiled carrots: cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, paprika, and coriander.

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep Ahead: Slice and peel carrots and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• To Store: Place boiled carrots in a food storage container store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• To Freeze: You can freeze leftovers for up to 3-4 months. Thaw and eat as a side dish or add it to soups and stews.
• To Reheat: Add leftovers to a large skillet over medium heat and cook for 3-4 minutes or until heated through.

How to season boiled carrots?

You can season boiled carrots just about any way you choose! Opt for a sweet style with cinnamon and brown sugar, or go for a savory version with butter and fresh herbs, or a seasoning blend like Italian seasoning, Greek seasoning, Blackened seasoning, or even Taco seasoning!

Are boiled carrots healthy?

If you’re not eating them raw, boiling carrots is the healthiest way to eat them. The only other ingredient needed to boil them is water which adds no fat, calories, or carbs.

Do I need to peel carrots before boiling?

You do not need to peel carrots before boiling, but most find the skin of the carrot to be somewhat bitter and is best if removed.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Peel the carrots. This step before boiling removes any bitter taste.
• Cut carrots at a bias. An angle makes them look more elegant for a special occasion.
• Give it flavor. Add on fresh herbs, ground spices, and even extra sweetener to up the flavor game!
• Save time. You can use baby-cut carrots if you’re in a rush.
• Pay attention. The boiling time will vary based on the size of the carrots.

What to Serve with Boiled Carrots?

Carrots are a very versatile and simple side dish that also happen to be gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, Whole30, and Paleo. Because of this, they are a healthy option that pairs well with numerous dinner recipes.

Honey Mustard Chicken, Basil & Lemon Baked Salmon, and Lemon Chicken Piccata are some main dish ideas to go along with these boiled carrots.

Of course, you can choose other options like Honey Balsamic Chicken, Lemon & Dill Salmon, and Bacon Wrapped Scallops.

More Carrot Recipes

You can prepare carrots in SO many ways. Try any of these side dish recipes next time you’re craving this root veggie.

Crockpot Glazed Carrots and Instant Pot Brown Sugar Carrots are super easy recipes.

Or, try Air Fryer Carrots or Honey Roasted Carrots.

These Quick Pickled Carrots are the perfect addition to so many dishes, as well.