Carrots with Thyme

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!

If you’ve ever wondered how to make carrots disappear from the serving bowl in record time, this recipe is the answer! These Carrots with Thyme are buttery, tender, and infused with the cozy flavor of fresh thyme, making that everyday veggie feel just a little bit special.

🔎 A quick look at this recipe

⭐️ Why this recipe works

• 🥕 Tender, buttery carrots that let their natural sweetness shine.
• 🌿 Fresh thyme adds elegant flavor without overpowering the carrots.
• ⏱️ Ready in about 20 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights.
• 🧈 Only five simple ingredients that you may already have on hand.
• 🍽️ Pairs with almost any main course, from roast chicken to steak to holiday ham.
• ✨ Pretty enough for holidays but easy enough to make any night of the week.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Easy to double when you’re feeding a crowd.
• 🥄 A foolproof side dish that’s as comforting as it is elegant.

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 notes

• 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.

💡 Ingredient substitution ideas

Missing something or want to swap in something different? Check out the links below to find more ingredient substitution ideas. 👇🏻

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

🍽️ Want to round out your meal?

This carroty side dish goes perfectly with any chicken dish (we are currently loving it with buttered steak, 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!

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Carrots with Thyme

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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!

• Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x
• Category: Side Dish
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 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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Instructions

1. Combine carrots, butter, thyme and water in a large skillet, and bring to a simmer.
2. Cook until the water is absorbed and the carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.  You can check for doneness by poking one piece with a paring knife – it should go in easily.  If your carrots need more time, add a little more water.
3. Season to taste with sea salt and serve!

Notes

• 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.

👩🏻‍🍳 Variations on this recipe

This simple carrot recipe is easy to customize! Here are some delicious ways to make it your own:

• 🍯 Add a drizzle of honey for a touch of natural sweetness.
• 🧄 Stir in minced garlic during the last minute of cooking for a savory twist.
• 🍋 Finish with fresh lemon zest for a bright, fresh flavor.
• 🧀 Sprinkle with grated Parmesan just before serving.
• 🌰 Top with toasted pecans or walnuts for a little crunch.
• 🌿 Swap the thyme for fresh dill, parsley, rosemary, or tarragon.
• 🌶️ Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for gentle heat.
• 🥓 Toss with crispy crumbled bacon for an irresistible smoky flavor (my fave!).
• 🍊 Add a splash of orange juice during cooking to enhance the carrots’ natural sweetness.
• 🧈 Finish with browned butter instead of regular butter for a rich, nutty flavor.

These variations all keep the recipe simple while giving you plenty of ways to match the carrots to the rest of your meal.

🧡 Other carrot recipes we love

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

⭐️ We want to know what you think!

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 below.