Instant Pot Glazed Carrots are a quick and easy side dish made from baby carrots, brown sugar, butter, and a touch of cinnamon. The natural sweetness of the carrots is complemented by the savory butter sauce and sweet sugar topping. And with less than 5 minutes of prep time, you can have this simple recipe ready to enjoy for a special holiday dinner, Easter lunch, or even a weeknight meal in under 20 minutes!
Instant Pot Glazed Carrots Recipe
Growing up there were two vegetables my parents could easily get me and my sister to eat.
Steamed broccoli that was covered in cheese whiz, and brown sugar glazed carrots. (If you’re having doubts about your littles’ eating habits, please take myself as case in point that ANYTHING is possible!)
It was quite the nostalgic moment when I discovered you can make a healthier, easier, and quicker version of those sweet glazed carrots.
Healthier because we’re not using NEARLY as much sugar or butter as most traditional recipes call for…
Easier because we’re popping it all into an Instant Pot…
And faster because, once again, we’re using an Instant Pot! And thanks to its’ pressure cooker magic those sweet and slightly savory baby carrots will be soft, tender, and ready to enjoy in less than 20 minutes!
You can serve these up on any ole’ weeknight when you need a simple side dish. (These carrots seriously pair great with just about any main dish!)
Or you can pull this easy recipe out of your back pocket for your next Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter gathering when your loved ones are craving some glazed carrots.
Ingredients
There are only 5 simple ingredients you will need to make this Instant Pot Glazed Carrots recipe:
Carrots. A 2-pound bag of organic baby carrots is used in this recipe. These are great to use since they are already rinsed, peeled, and all a similar shape and size. Whole carrots can also be cut into slices (like in this Boiled Carrots recipe) but you will need to decrease your cook time by a minute.
Sugar. Just a little bit of brown sugar goes a long way. So don’t overdo it! (I did this when testing and the hubby said he felt like he was eating dessert! lol) You can also substitute the refined sugar with coconut sugar or even a liquid sweetener such as honey or pure maple syrup. If you’re nervous about making them too sweet, just add in a tablespoon at a time until it reaches your desired level.
Butter. This makes up the bulk of the sauce. If you’re dairy-free you can also substitute with a dairy-free butter alternative or use coconut or avocado oil instead. Olive oil is not recommended since it has a pretty strong taste that will overpower the sweetness of the carrots.
Cinnamon. This spice is optional, but just a pinch of it really adds a nice depth of flavor to the dish. You can also try substituting this with ground nutmeg if you’d prefer.
Salt. Adding a bit of salt gives the carrots a nice sweet and salty flavor. The salt also helps to bring out the natural flavors of the carrots, so don’t leave this out!
Steamer Basket
Before we jump straight into learning how to cook carrots in the Instant Pot, there is one appliance you MUST have before proceeding.
A steamer basket. (And preferably one with a nifty silicone handle so you don’t burn yourself on the hot metal!)
While yes you can technically make a trivet work, you will most likely end up with carrots that are too soggy.
Instead, when you place all of the baby carrots into the steam basket you are able to easily lift the basket out of the pot and away from all of the water that was used to cook them.
And voila! You have perfectly steamed Instant Pot carrots that aren’t mushy!
How to Cook Carrots in the Instant Pot
Once you have your steamer basket it’s time to get to cooking. Here are the steps you will need to follow to make this Instant Pot Glazed Carrots recipe:
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Pour water into the bottom of a 6-quart Instant Pot. The water creates steam inside of the Instant Pot so the carrots can cook.
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Add baby carrots to a steamer basket and place it into the pot. Using a steamer basket makes it much easier to remove the carrots once cooked. It also prevents the carrots from becoming too mushy. (step 1 above)
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Cook carrots on high pressure for 3 minutes. Quick release the pressure valve as soon as the timer goes off. Make sure you’re paying attention here! It will take about 5-7 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to full pressure and then another 3 minutes for the carrots to cook. (step 2 above)
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Remove the steamer basket from the Instant Pot and drain the water from the pot. Be very careful at this point as the pot is very hot!
- Set the Instant Pot to the sauté function and add the cooked carrots back to pot along with the butter, or oil, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. (step 3 above)
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Sauté for 2-3 minutes or until the carrots are soft and tender. Serve carrots immediately with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and enjoy! (step 4 above)
Dietary Modifications
The recipe you’ll find below is already vegetarian, soy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free as written. Here are some adjustments you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:
Vegan and Dairy-Free. Use olive oil or a dairy-free butter alternative in place of the butter.
Paleo. Use an unrefined sugar, such as coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey, in place of the brown sugar.
Whole30. You can use one of the alternatives above for the butter or you can also use ghee. Also make sure to use an unrefined sugar.
Meal Prep and Storage
To Prep Ahead: There’s not much to do to meal prep this except to measure your ingredients out ahead of time.
To Store: Glazed carrots can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3-4 months.
To Reheat: The best way to reheat these brown sugar carrots is to add them to a covered skillet over medium-low heat. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until heated through.
FAQs
How long does it take to steam carrots in the Instant Pot?
Baby carrots can be cooked on high pressure in the Instant Pot for 3 minutes. Sliced carrots are ready in as little as 2 minutes while whole carrots can take up to 5 minutes.
How much water do you need to steam carrots in the Instant Pot?
You’ll need 1 cup of water to steam carrots in a pressure cooker. Less than this and you may end up getting a burn notice as most of the water will have evaporated off before the cook time is over.
Do I have to use a steamer basket to cook Instant Pot carrots?
A steamer basket is the easiest way to cook carrots in the Instant Pot. However, if you don’t have one you can also use a trivet with a piece of parchment paper on top in order to easily lift up the carrots once they’re done steaming. You can also cook the carrots directly in the water and then strain them once they’re done cooking.
Pro Tips and Tricks
- A steamer basket is the easiest way to cook Instant Pot carrots. It lifts the carrots up and away from the water so they don’t end up getting too much while cooking.
- Don’t overdo the sugar. If you’re nervous these will come out too sweet, test and taste the brown sugar glaze until you’ve added enough to your desired sweetness.
- A little pinch of cinnamon is a lovely addition. Try adding in nutmeg if you have a picky eater who doesn’t like cinnamon.
- Sprinkle on some fresh herbs before serving. This adds a nice pop of color and a wonderful fresh flavor to the glazed carrots.
Make it a Meal
These Instant Pot Glazed carrots make a wonderful addition to numerous meals. Here are a few main dish ideas that go well with this recipe:
Instant Pot Glazed Carrots Recipe
Instant Pot Glazed Carrots are a quick and easy side dish made from baby carrots, brown sugar, butter, and a touch of cinnamon. The natural sweetness of the carrots is complemented by the savory butter sauce and sweet sugar topping. And with less than 5 minutes of prep time, you can have this simple recipe ready to enjoy for a special holiday dinner, Easter lunch, or even a weeknight meal in under 20 minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. baby carrots
- 1 cup water
- 3 Tbsp. butter melted*
- ¼ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar*
- ¼-½ tsp. salt to taste
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- Parsley optional
Instructions
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Pour water into the bottom of a 6-quart Instant Pot.
-
Add baby carrots to a steamer basket and place it into the pot.
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Cook carrots on high pressure for 3 minutes. Quick release the pressure valve as soon as the timer goes off.
-
Remove the steamer basket from the Instant Pot and drain the water from the pot.
-
Set the Instant Pot to the sauté function and add the cooked carrots back to pot along with the butter, or oil, sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
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Sauté for 2-3 minutes or until the carrots are soft and tender.
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Serve with finely chopped fresh parsley and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Substitutions
- Coconut, vegetable, or olive oil may also be used instead of the butter if dairy-free or vegan.
- Coconut sugar, honey, or pure maple syrup can be used if avoiding refined sugars.
Pro Tips and Tricks
- A steamer basket is the easiest way to cook Instant Pot carrots. It lifts the carrots up and away from the water so they don't end up getting too much while cooking.
- Don't overdo the sugar. If you're nervous these will come out too sweet, test and taste the brown sugar glaze until you've added enough to your desired sweetness.
- A little pinch of cinnamon is a lovely addition. Try adding in nutmeg if you have a picky eater who doesn't like cinnamon.
- Sprinkle on some fresh herbs before serving. This adds a nice pop of color and a wonderful fresh flavor to the glazed carrots.
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