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    Home » Vegetable Recipes » Steamed Carrots

    Steamed Carrots

    Last updated: Apr 28, 2022 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

    Jump to Recipe Card

    Steamed carrots are delicious. They have a fresh, naturally sweet taste and require minimal seasoning.

    It's one of those simple-yet-fabulous recipes! It's ready in about 25 minutes, and it goes well with countless main dishes.

    Steamed carrots served on a white plate.

    I love carrots. 🥕I enjoy them raw, dipped in ranch dressing, or in a Greek yogurt dip. They make a great snack. It's convenient that a big bag of fresh carrots keeps in the fridge for several weeks when properly stored.

    I also like them cooked, and steaming is, by far, my favorite way of enjoying them. I've got nothing against labor-intensive side dishes or complex vegetable recipes. But sometimes, especially during the workweek, the simplest recipes truly are the best.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe card

    Ingredients

    You'll only need four simple ingredients to make steamed carrots. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    Fresh carrots: I usually use standard large carrots in this recipe, simply because that's what I have in the fridge. Not baby carrots and not ultra-thin ones.

    Melted butter: I love using creamy European butter because it's so delicious. But any butter will be great. It's up to you if you'd like to use salted or unsalted butter. I usually use unsalted butter.

    Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use, or the dish could end up too salty.

    Instructions

    Steaming carrots is easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

    Your first step is to start boiling the water.

    While you wait for the water to boil, prepare the carrots. Peel them, cut off the ends, and cut them into fairly equal-sized chunks, as shown in the video below. Then place them in a steamer basket.

    Steam until tender-crisp. This should take 10-12 minutes, depending on how thick the carrot chunks are. You don't want to overcook them and make them mushy.

    Season the cooked carrots with melted butter, salt, and pepper, and serve.

    A photo collage showing the steps for steaming carrots.

    Expert tip

    Make sure not to overcook the carrots. You want to steam them until just tender - so check with a fork, and start checking after 10 minutes. It's better to slightly undercook them than to overcook.

    Frequently asked questions

    How long does it take to steam carrots?

    Not very long. I like to steam them until just tender, but still firm. Never soft or mushy. This only takes about 12 minutes. Sometimes even less, depending on the thickness of your carrots.

    Is it better to boil or steam them?

    I prefer steaming. It's a gentle cooking method that allows the vegetables to remain tender-crisp.

    Can I skip the butter?

    Yes! Although it's delicious, if you'd rather skip it, you can simply season the carrots with salt and pepper. They're very good with or without butter.

    Variations

    These minimally cooked carrots have a fresh, naturally sweet flavor, so they require minimal seasoning.

    A sprinkle of kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, and perhaps a drizzle of melted butter are all it takes to dress these delicious, simply prepared carrots.

    The best way to vary this recipe is to experiment with more spices. You can sprinkle the cooked carrots with a bit of garlic powder and dried thyme, for example, in addition to salt and pepper.

    You can also drizzle them with a small amount of honey in addition to butter.

    Serving suggestions

    These tasty carrots make a great side dish to any meat or fish. Their mild sweetness makes them an especially great side dish to honey-baked chicken. And I also like to serve them with baked pork chops and with pork roast.

    Storing leftovers

    Leftovers keep well in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. They're not as good as when freshly cooked, but they're still tasty even on the fourth day.

    You can gently reheat them in the microwave, covered, on 50% power. But I've also been known to snack on them cold! They're surprisingly good.

    Steamed carrots served on a white plate with a napkin.

    Related recipes

    • Honey-Glazed Carrots
    • Roasted Carrots
    • Keto Carrot Cake
    • Carrot Chips

    👩🏻‍🍳 I typically publish a new or an updated recipe once a week. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe card

    Steamed carrots.
    4.98 from 169 votes
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    Easy Steamed Carrots

    Steamed carrots are so delicious. They have a fresh, naturally sweet taste and they require minimal seasoning.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 110kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    INGREDIENTS

    • 4 large carrots
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
    • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Add 1.5 inches of water to a saucepan and bring the water to a boil over high heat.
    • Peel the carrots, cut off the ends, cut them in half crosswise and then cut the fat halves in half lengthwise, as shown in the video below. Your goal is to achieve fairly equal-sized chunks of carrot. Place the prepared carrots in the steamer basket.
    • When the water boils, carefully place the steamer basket in the saucepan, cover, and steam the carrots until just tender - check with a fork, and start checking after 10 minutes. Also, keep an eye on the water to make sure they don't completely evaporate.
    • Remove the carrots from the steamer onto a serving plate. Drizzle them with melted butter and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

    WATCH THE VIDEO:

    NOTES

    Make sure not to overcook the carrots. You want to steam them until just tender - so check with a fork, and start checking after 10 minutes. It's better to slightly undercook them than to overcook.

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    DISCLAIMERSMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

    NUTRITION PER SERVING

    Serving: 0.5recipe | Calories: 110kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 380mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g
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    More Vegetable Recipes

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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    A photo of Vered DeLeeuw.

    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered Deleeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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