Carrots are one of those inexpensive ingredients that I always feel good about throwing in my shopping cart, especially in the spring when Easter cooking and baking starts to come to mind. They’re affordable, reliable, and delicious, but I’m here to tell you that they’re more than just a side dish! This roundup of 15 easy carrot recipes will help you extend this humble bag into soups, sides, salads, and desserts. without increase your grocery bill.
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Contents
Soups and stews
Soup and stews are my favorites when I want the carrots to do a little more than just sit on the side of the plate. These recipes make them much heartier, whether blended until smooth or simmered in a hearty pot.
1. Creamy Carrot Soup
Carrot soup
This rich and creamy carrot soup recipe features sweet roasted carrots, warm ginger, and browned butter for out-of-this-world flavor!
Recipe at $5.81 / serving at $1.45
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I love that this carrot soup gains extra depth from the roasted carrots, browned butter, ginger, and thyme, giving it a richer, more homemade taste that other blended vegetable soups may lack. The cup of heavy cream also makes it very creamy. 😋
2. Thai Coconut Curry Carrot Soup
Thai Carrot Curry Soup with Coconut
You only need a few ingredients to make this light and satisfying Thai Carrot and Coconut Curry Soup. It is a creamy product, a little sweet, a little spicy and very delicious.
Recipe at $6.69 / serving at $1.12
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This Thai Carrot and Coconut Curry Soup gets its BIG flavor from creamy coconut milk, Thai curry paste, and the natural sweetness of carrots. To make it vegan, simply replace the butter with coconut oil and check that your curry paste is vegetarian!
3. Spicy lentils with carrots
Spicy lentils with carrots
These hot, sweet and savory spicy lentils hold up well to leftovers and make the perfect vegetarian meal prep.
Recipe at $4.19 / serving at $1.04
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I think these spicy lentils with carrots are a delicious meatless dinner because the cumin, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, and carrots give them a warm, layered taste. This one also holds up really well to leftovers!
Fresh carrot salads
I love carrots in cold, room temperature dishes as much as in hot dishes, especially once spring arrives. These easy carrot salads are fresh so they’re super easy to pair with dinner any night of the week.
4. Carrot and feta salad
Roasted Carrot and Feta Salad
A simple and inexpensive side dish, this Roasted Carrot and Feta Salad combines sweet roasted carrots with salty feta and fresh parsley for a simple salad.
Recipe at $2.49 / serving at $0.41
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Our Carrot and Feta Salad shows how far roasted carrots can go, and I love that it’s flexible enough to be served warm, cold, or slightly warmed, whatever I’m craving.
5. Orzo salad with carrots
Carrot and orzo salad
This carrot and orzo salad is light, fresh, and lets the natural flavors of carrot, parsley, and lemon shine through, with just a touch of feta for fun.
Recipe at $4.07 / serving at $1.02
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This carrot orzo salad keeps things light with roasted carrots, orzo, cumin, parsley, lemon juice, and just a little feta. I sometimes like to add a little garlic powder with the cumin, but it’s absolutely delicious either way!
Easier Carrot Side Dishes
These are the carrot side dishes I make regularly on weeknights, but several of them are also great for Easter or the holidays when I need something affordable and easy to prepare!
6. Sweet Glazed Carrots
Glazed carrots
Just five ingredients and 20 minutes make these easy and delicious Glazed Carrots. Perfect for busy weeknights or holiday meals!
Recipe at $1.65 / portion at $0.41
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I would absolutely keep these Glazed Carrots in mind for Easter because they’re made with just five ingredients, come together in 20 minutes, and have a brown sugar buttery finish that makes them totally holiday-worthy!
7. Air Fryer Carrots
Air Fryer Carrots
These air fryer carrots are flavorful, super easy to make, inexpensive, and a perfect addition to any weeknight dinner.
Recipe at $2.51 / serving at $0.62
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These air fryer carrots are a quick side dish when I need something on the table FAST, and the recipe uses butter, olive oil, garlic powder, and dill for a super easy flavor boost.
8. Roasted carrots
Roasted carrots
This roasted carrots recipe is easy, inexpensive, healthy, and delicious, making it my favorite side dish for any weeknight dinner!
Recipe at $2.50 / portion at $0.62
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I love this roasted carrot recipe for its simplicity. The dry heat of the oven caramelizes the carrots nicely and turns a few basic seasonings into an easy side dish that I can make any night of the week.
9. Spicy Pickled Carrots
Pickled carrots
Spicy Pickled Carrots are an easy and delicious snack that can also be served as a side dish or condiment with your favorite dishes.
Recipe at $2.38 / serving at $0.30
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These pickled carrots are a fun change of pace! They’re a quick pickle made with economical vinegar, jalapeño, red onion, cumin, and oregano, and they work as a snack, side, or bright topping for other meals. I often add other vegetables that need to be used up (think cauliflower or green beans) to get the most out of the marinating liquid!
Carrot cake everything
If there’s one place carrots never go to waste in my kitchen, it’s in baking. This mix of cakes, muffins, and breakfast pastries takes the familiar flavor of carrot cake and incorporates it into all kinds of easy homemade treats.
10. Classic Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake Recipe
This carrot cake recipe is soft, moist, and topped with the best cream cheese frosting EVER. Made with simple pantry staples and freshly grated carrots!
Recipe at $13.92 / serving at $0.93
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I’m all for this carrot cake because it’s moist, moist, filled with freshly grated carrots, warmly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, and finished with a thick cream cheese frosting and chopped pecans.
11. Carrot Cake for Two
Carrot Cake (serves two)
Make just enough carrot cake to make you and a loved one happy. No leftovers to “accidentally” taste!
Recipe at $1.30 / portion at $0.65
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This small batch carrot cake is great because it’s just enough for two people and is a smart way to use up the last carrot(s) lying around in the fridge!
12. Carrot Cake Muffins
Carrot Cake Muffins
These soft, moist and moist Carrot Cake Muffins are full of delicious carrot cake flavors and make the perfect sweet treat any time of day!
Recipe at $4.42 / serving at $0.44
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These carrot cake muffins bring together shredded carrots, warm spices and a moist crumb in a breakfast-friendly bake that’s ready in less than an hour! I highly recommend using freshly grated carrots in this one for the best texture and moisture.
13. Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
Carrot Cake and Baked Oatmeal
This Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal is packed with healthy carrots, just a little sugar and sweet touches of raisins and a cheesecake-inspired topping.
Recipe at $5.16 / serving at $0.86
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This Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal is one I would happily make in advance because it transforms the flavors of carrot cake into a convenient breakfast with oats, carrots, raisins, and a creamy cream cheese filling.
14. Carrot Cake Bars
Carrot Cake Bars
This easy Carrot Cake Bars with Cheesecake Swirl recipe is a simple spring dessert made with fresh carrots, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cream cheese!
Recipe at $3.90 / serving at $0.43
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These easy carrot cake bars skip the heavy frosting and whip up creamy cheesecake swirls right in the batter for a simple dessert. And perfect for spring!
+ A classic evergreen breakfast
I wanted to end with a recipe where carrots play a useful role without taking over. This latest recipe incorporates them into a hearty breakfast with plenty of other textures and flavors.
15. Morning Glory Muffins
Morning Glory Muffins
Morning Glory Muffins are a unique blend of fruits, vegetables and nuts, all packed into a naturally sweet muffin!
$4.47 recipe / $0.25 each
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Our Morning Glory Muffins feature carrots, applesauce, raisins, walnuts and coconut for a deliciously hearty breakfast that’s simple but so satisfying! They freeze very well too.
