Carrots with Thyme

Name: Carrots with Thyme
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds carrots cut on the diagonal into 1/2 inch slices; 1 tablespoon butter; 4 sprigs thyme, leaves stripped off, plus extra for garnish if you like.; 1/2 cup water; Sea salt

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A quick, simple recipe that blends sweet carrots with thyme for the perfect side dish to chicken, beef or fish. It’s the side dish you’ve been looking for!

Carrots with fresh thyme on a white plate.

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Why we love this recipe
Ingredients you need
Ingredients notes and substitutions
Here’s how you make this recipe
Recipe FAQs
Want to round out your meal?
Other carrot recipes we love
Could you leave us a review?
Carrots with Thyme

Why we love this recipe

So, I never seem to have a problem figuring out main courses to make for dinner. There are so many recipes waiting in the queue for me to get around to them, I worry that I will never get around to all of them.

But side dishes…they are a whole different kettle of fish. They stump me (unless they involve potatoes, and then I am full of ideas!).

So when I figure out a good one I make it on the regular, and that is the story with this recipe for carrots with thyme.

It’s the simplest of side dishes – fresh sliced carrots gently simmered with butter and water and a little salt and (here’s the part that makes all the difference) a handful of fresh, sweet-smelling thyme.

More and more you can find cute little packets of just the right amount of fresh thyme in the produce section of your supermarket, and of course in the summertime you can grow it in pots outside.

Ingredients you need

Ingredients for carrots with thyme on a wooden board.

Ingredients notes and substitutions

Carrots: We like getting regular old carrots and cutting them on the diagonal into slices, but you can use baby carrots (they will need longer to cook), or you can cut them into long strips – you be you, carrot-wise!
Fresh Thyme: Look for this herb in the produce section of your supermarket. You can also sub in fresh oregano or even mint if you prefer.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.

Here’s how you make this recipe

STEP 1: Peel and slice some carrots into 1/2 inch slices.

STEP 2: Combine the carrots with some butter, water and some fresh thyme leaves. Bring it to a simmer and cook until the water is absorbed, about 10 minutes or so. Season with a little salt if you like and serve it up!

Recipe FAQs

Do I need to peel the carrots?

Technically no, especially if they are organic carrots – you can just give them a good scrub. I like to peel them just for the prettier look.

Can I use baby cut carrots for this recipe?

You can! Because they are bigger than the sliced carrots, they will need more cooking time – about 20 minutes or so.

How can I tell when the carrots are done?

A small knife should go in easily. If the water has been absorbed and the carrots aren’t tender enough yet, just add a little more water and cook for a few more minutes.

Have a question that I didn’t cover?

Leave your question (or comment or suggestion) in the Comments box below the recipe and I will answer pronto!

Want to round out your meal?

This carroty side dish goes perfectly with any chicken dish (we are currently loving it with this chicken with white wine sauce) or on the side of some seafood…looking at you, filet of sole!

And for dessert, let’s have Heath Bar Birthday Cake! Even if it’s not your birthday!

Other carrot recipes we love

Looking for more side dish inspiration? Here is our complete collection of side dish recipes!

Could you leave us a review?

If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.