Boiled Carrots Recipe (How To Boil Carrots)

Want to learn how to boil carrots, how long to boil carrots, and have other questions? This perfect boiled carrots recipe will answer them and show you how to in easy, simple, and quick steps using just 3 ingredients.

Use in other recipes that require it or serve it as a healthy side dish to boiled potatoes, rice, and stove top chicken thighs.

Related posts: Instant pot carrots, oven roasted carrots.

Boiled Carrots Recipe

This boiled carrots recipe is easy, quick, and simple. The carrots come out sweet, tender, and delicious. It's a straightforward recipe that is ready in less than 15 minutes.

Carrots are naturally sweet and do not require much to make them tasty. Infact It requires just water however additional ingredients like salt, pepper, butter, herbs can be added. Some variations are honey glazed, or brown sugar coated to make them extra sweet, and savory.

Carrots are a healthy side dish, low in calories, and packed full of nutrients.

This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, plant-based.

No waiting for the oven or instant pot before you can cook carrots. Let me show you how to cook carrots whether boiling for baby, for soup, as a side dish, or to use in other recipes.

Do you peel carrots before boiling?

It's not necessary to do so as long as you wash the carrots and they are free from dirt. The peel does contain nutrients that you still get from peeling. It's personal preference and I sometimes peel as I have done in this post.

Can you boil whole carrots?

Absolutely. You can boil whole carrots however cooking time will take longer than cut ones. Follow this recipe and add additional cooking time (see cooking time below). It's cooked when tender and pierceable with a fork.

What herbs pairs with carrots?

Thyme, parsley, chives, dill or Italian seasoning are some herbs that can be used on it.

Ingredients 

Carrots- Whole carrots, Organic carrots, or baby carrots.

Salt and Pepper

Butter (Optional) 

Parsley for garnish (Optional)- Substitute with chives, dill. 

How to Boil Carrots 

Wash the carrots well to get rid of any dirt, or peel off the skin. 

Cut into shape. You can either slice, dice, cut diagonally. Just make sure they are similar in size for even cooking. 

Add the carrots in a pan, add water to cover at least water 2 inches above the carrots.

Cover the pot and boil on medium heat for 5 minutes or till tender. 

When it's cooked, drain the water and immediately add black pepper, salt, butter, parsley to the carrots if desired.

Serve and enjoy.

You can use the water as vegetable stock.

How to Boil Carrots in the microwave

Yes you can also cook it in the microwave if you don't have access to stove or if that's the way you prefer to do it. Here's how to boil carrots in the microwave :

Wash the carrots or peel the skin off.

Cut into shape like round, or diagonally. Just make sure the sizes are similar in sizes for even cooking. 

Put the carrots in a microwave-safe bowl, add water that is at least 1-2 inches above the carrots then cover with microwave cover.

Use the high temperature settings of the microwave, and microwave for 4. Check if it's cooked and if not add additional time checking every 2 minutes until it's cooked.

When it's cooked, bring out the bowl, and drain the water.

Immediately add black pepper, salt, butter, parsley if desired.

Serve and enjoy it warm.

How long to boil carrots

Depends on the cut and the size it takes 5 minutes on the stove depending on the cut and size. 

If cut into ½ -2 inches, it takes about 3-5 minutes.

When cut into about 2-4 inches, it takes 5-8 minutes

If boiling whole carrots, it takes up to 10 minutes.

If boiling frozen carrots, add additional 2-3 minutes.

How to boil baby Carrots - Baby carrots will take from 8 - 10 minutes to cook.

What to Serve with

It is perfect with many dishes some of which are

Chicken - lime chicken, baked chicken wings, whole chicken, stovetop chicken breasts.

Steak - air fryer steak, instant pot steak

Potatoes - Mash, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes. 

Rice - Long grain rice, spicy rice, rice and peas.

How to Store

To store leftovers, let it cool completely then put in an airtight container then store in the fridge for up to 5 days. It can be reheated in the microwave or on the stove.

To reheat in microwave, put in a microwave safe plate and heat on high temperature for 2 minutes or till warmed through.

To reheat on the stove, add into a pot of boiling water and cook for a minute or till heated through. Be careful not to cook it too soft.

Tips

• Cut into similar size.

• If using organic carrots no need to peel just wash and make sure it's clean.

• Use the water from cooking as vegetable broth in soups, and sauces. 

• You can add butter to the carrots. I like adding garlic butter sauce.

• Cooking time depends on the size of the cut.

• To know if carrots are boiled, pierce with a fork if it goes in easily it's tender and cooked.

• You can top with parmesan for a cheesy taste. 

More Vegetable Recipes

Mediterranean roasted vegetables

Instant pot cabbage

Boiled broccoli

Air fryer vegetables

Sauteed Vegetables

I hope you like this recipe as much as we do. If you find this post helpful, rate it 5 stars and leave me a comment below. I love reading from you.

Don’t want to miss a thing? Subscribe to the blog for free weekly recipes in your email. Also, follow recipe vibes on Instagram and Pinterest. Subscribe to my Youtube channel for recipe videos.