Name: Slow Cooker Carrots with Herbed Honey Butter Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 190 min
Ingredients: 1 pound carrots; 3 tablespoons butter; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 teaspoon dried dill; 1/2 teaspoon salt

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Are carrots one of those veggies that present a struggle for your reluctant eaters at mealtime? I’ve discovered the secret sauce, literally, to take a basic vegetable side and make it scrumptious! Try Slow Cooker Carrots with Herbed Honey Butter Sauce for a sweet and savory side dish that can’t get any easier.

cooked pieces of carrots in a green serving bowl

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My quest to make carrots more appealing to my family started way back when my daughter was little. I used to serve mixed veggies as a side to her lunches. One day I walked into the kitchen and she had eaten the other veggies but had the little carrot squares all lined up on the counter next to her – not to be eaten!

To this day, she is still not a huge fan of cooked carrots, unless I serve them in a honey butter sauce like this one.

Ingredients Needed

Have you ever bought a token bag of carrots in your grocery order and then let it sit in the fridge veggie drawer for days? Maybe adding just a little “extra” will convince your family members – and you! – to eat a serving of tasty veggies with your next main meal. The glaze-like sauce will do the trick and you probably already have all the ingredients!

You’ll need:

Carrots – Carrots are such a budget-friendly vegetable, especially if you buy a bag of whole carrots. Wash, peel, and slice them into “coins,” which look exactly like they sound – little round circle slices! The thinner that you slice the carrots, the faster they will cook so factor this into your preparation.
Butter – A rich, grass-fed butter is such a delicious option, but any butter will work for the yummy sauce.
Honey – Can I just say – yum! This is the key to my daughter’s carrot consumption. Maybe it will be yours too!
Dried dill – The best simple seasoning for so many veggies. You can also try any of your favorite spices that would pair well with honey.
Salt – The savory to the sweet – a sprinkle of kosher salt or sea salt is a nice touch, too!

This combination yields perfectly softened carrots with an elevated taste from the simple sauce.

How To Make Slow Cooker Carrots

You could cook carrots over the stove, but why not “set it and forget it” in the slow cooker to ensure tender veggies that are saturated with a sweet and salty flavor?

Follow these simple steps for 10 minutes or less of prep!

Wash, peel, and slice the carrots into coins.
Next, melt the butter in a microwave-safe dish or on the stove and stir in the honey, dried dill, and salt.

butter sauce with herbs melted in a measuring cup

Put carrots in the slow cooker and pour the honey-butter mixture over the top.

fresh carrots pieces in slow cooker topped with herbed sauce

Lastly, cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours until the carrots are fork-tender.

white slow cooker filled with cooked carrots in a butter sauce with herbs

Note: Some dishes with carrots can work WITH the peel left on, such as pot roasts or stews. When cooking carrots as a side, peeling them allows them to soften more evenly and present a better taste and texture. In my opinion, they generally tend to look more visually appealing, too!

Recipe Substitutions or Variations

You might find that a tiny tweak makes all the difference in convincing your children (or adults!) to sample some more veggies at each meal. What more could you ask for? Here are a few options to try:

I found that the sweet and savory mix of honey and butter pairs perfectly with the dill, but you could use any of your favorite herbs or seasoning blends. Instead of dill, try thyme, rosemary, or even a bit of cinnamon and paprika!
Try using baby carrots if you want to save time slicing and peeling. Some stores will also offer colorful carrot mixes of purple, white, and orange baby carrots and these look amazing next to any main meal!
To make this recipe dairy-free, use either dairy-free butter or olive oil.
You can substitute maple syrup for the honey if you like. If you prefer sweeter carrots, add a little more syrup or honey to adjust to taste. Take your carrots to the next level of spice by adding a little hot honey instead!

cooked carrots with herbed butter in a green bowl

Best Main Dishes To Pair With Slow Cooker Carrots

Sweetened slow cooker carrots are such a fantastic complement to any of your main dishes! And, when you use the slow cooker, it’s just THAT much easier to get a healthy, well-rounded meal on the table. I know that for my house, any dinner prep we can accomplish earlier in the day will make mealtime much less hectic.

Try pairing the carrots with pasta and Slow Cooker Italian Chicken, or a Southern-comfort food like my Easy Slow Cooker Round Steak Recipe.

The sweet flavor of carrots always seems to be a great complement to pork recipes as well. The herbed honey butter sauce would taste so good with Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Rice or Slow Cooker Herb Crusted Pork Roast. You can’t go wrong with a colorful array of sides like Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes, Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic, and carrots!

Storing and Reheating

These carrots would be a great meal-prep recipe to portion out for the week alongside a protein and a carb. Store your leftover carrots and sauce in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for about 30 seconds at a time.

If you’d like to freeze your leftovers, store them in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Allow the carrots to fully thaw in the fridge prior to reheating in the microwave or on the stove. You may wish to drain any liquid before reheating to prevent the carrots from becoming too mushy.

Slow Cooker Carrots FAQs

Can you overcook carrots in a slow cooker? Although carrots typically hold up well in slow cookers due to their firm texture, it is possible to overcook them. You might find that they become overly mushy if left on high heat for too long, or they can begin to dry out. If you notice they are dry without fully cooking, add a few tablespoons of water to the bottom of the slow cooker.
Can this recipe be made in advance? You can prep the carrots in advance by peeling and slicing! Store them in the fridge until ready to cook. Prepare your honey and butter sauce right before cooking since it will need to be warm to mix thoroughly.
How do you keep carrots from getting mushy in the slow cooker? Check on your carrots every hour or two (depending on the temperature setting) to keep them from getting mushy. When you can poke them through with a fork without mashing them, they should be ready to eat! Also, be sure to use fresh – not frozen – carrots to prevent added moisture that can make them mushy during cooking.
How long does it take to cook carrots in the slow cooker on low? The portions listed in this recipe should cook in 4-6 hours on low. Some slow cookers cook faster or at higher temps than others, so plan to check on the carrots a couple of times to test their doneness.