Smoked Carrots
on Dec 30, 2023
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Revolutionize your veggie game with these smoked carrots that are glazed in peach preserves and cooked on the smoker until tender yet crisp! Elevate the ordinary carrot to new heights that will have your guests excited to eat their veggies. This recipe isn’t just about adding another boring side dish to your barbecue spread; it’s about finding a new favorite side dish for your next barbecue. Smoked to perfection, glazed with a hint of sweetness, and infused with a gentle warmth of spices, these carrots are about to become the unexpected hero of your outdoor feast.
Ditch your steamer and try smoking carrots instead! I make them almost exclusively with my Traeger smoker. They’re the perfect side dish for a backyard barbecue.
Table of Contents
🥕 Why You Need These Smoked Carrots
- Sweet and smoky – these smoked carrots are far from boring!
- All you need are a few simple and easy-to-find ingredients.
- Quick and easy preparation – get dinner on the table quicker!
- The glaze adds a finishing touch that really takes this dish to the next level.
- Versatile recipe – if you don’t have peach preserves, use orange marmalade or your favorite jam.
- You’ll need a bit of patience as they cook, but they’re totally worth the wait.
- They pair well with a variety of dishes! Smoked carrots are perfect alongside meaty mains or other veggie dishes like smoked Brussels sprouts.
🤔 Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Carmelize the glaze! Once the carrots have smoked for a couple of hours and they only need to cook for another 10-20 minutes, remove the carrots from the grill grates and add them to a baking dish, and add the glaze. The glaze will carmelize during the cook and become thicker.
- Switch up the seasonings. The simple combination of ginger, garlic, and salt adds much to these smoked carrots, but you can also feel free to use what you like best. For herbaceous carrots, use thyme, rosemary, and/or basil. If you like spicy foods, try adding some cayenne pepper!
- Use a different glaze. You could also alter the glaze. A maple glaze or balsamic vinegar reduction would both be delicious.
- Serve with cheese. Add a healthy helping of grated Parmesan on top before serving for all of the cheese lovers in your life.
🍽 Ingredients – More than Just Carrots
You shouldn’t have a hard time finding the ingredients for this easy recipe! Make sure to refer to the printable recipe card for all of the details for smoked carrots.
- Carrots. Use whole, fresh carrots that have been washed and peeled.
- Ginger powder. Spicy, earthy, and warm, ginger complements the carrots really nicely.
- Garlic powder. A must-have for its rich, savory flavor, it adds a warm, aromatic depth to the dish.
- Salt. A flavor enhancer that is necessary for delicious carrots!
- Peach preserves. This is my secret ingredient for Traeger glazed carrots! Use it in the glaze, and sub in orange marmalade if you can’t find any peach preserves or jam.
- Butter. We need fat both for flavor and to help the glaze get its shine and consistency.
- Lemon juice. To brighten up the glaze and highlight the other citrus flavors!
👨🍳 How to Smoke the Carrots
It’s the moment of truth: time to learn how to make my Traeger glazed carrots! Scroll down to the printable recipe card for more detailed step-by-step instructions for this recipe.
- Preheat your Traeger or whatever smoker you have at home.
- Drizzle the carrots with olive oil and toss to coat evenly.
- Add the ginger, garlic, and salt and toss again.
- Place the carrots on the grill grate and smoke at 225°F for 2-3 hours.
- Make the glaze while the carrots cook.
- Remove the carrots from the grill and drizzle the glaze on top.
- Toss to coat one more time before serving!
😉 Tips for Smoking Carrots
- The sweetness of the glaze highlights the naturally sweet flavor of the vegetables. I use peach preserves, but again, you can also use orange marmalade instead. Or, use your favorite fruit preserves or jam!
- I personally like my carrots to be tender but still have a bit of a snap. Check for doneness by bending them — the tips should almost be able to touch before they snap in half. You could also simply use a fork to test them!
- Every smoker is different, so keep a watchful eye on your veggies as they cook. Check-in on them after about 2 hours or so to make sure they don’t burn or dry out.
- Choose the right carrots. Look for medium-sized carrots that are firm. They will hold up well to the smoking process and won’t risk overcooking like small carrots.
❓ FAQ
Your choice of wood can really affect the flavor profile of your Traeger glazed carrots, so it’s important to choose wisely! I suggest using mesquite, cherry, maple, or pecan for the best results. Typically, mild and fruit woods are recommended as they work really well with vegetables.
No blanching is needed for this smoked carrots recipe! The low and slow smoking process ensures that the carrots come out tender. You don’t need to partially cook them before.
Yup! Simply wash and prepare them as you would whole carrots, but don’t worry about peeling them. Add the seasonings as directed, then smoke at 225°F for about 30 minutes, or until tender and crisp. They don’t need to cook as long as full-sized carrots!
🥡 Storing and Reheating
You can store your smoked carrots in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Make sure to let them cool completely before placing them in the refrigerator.
I recommend reheating them in your smoker or oven. Preheat to 350°F, then heat for 10-15 minutes or until completely warm.
If you want to make a double or triple batch of Traeger smoked glazed carrots to enjoy later, smoke them, but don’t add the glaze. Once they’re cooled, place them in a freezer-safe airtight container and then store them in the freezer. They will keep for 2-3 months.
When you’re ready to eat, let them thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat as instructed above, then add the glaze!
🤤 Other Smoking Veggie Recipes
Traeger
Smoked Brussels Sprouts
Side Dishes
Smoked Green Bean Casserole
Traeger
Smoked Cauliflower
Side Dishes
Traeger Smoked Asparagus
💨 Go Fire up That Smoker
Smoked carrots are a fantastic way to update an ordinary side dish. The touch of smokiness comes together with the natural earthy and sweet flavors of carrots to create something tasty and unique. And the glaze bumps this recipe up by adding just enough sweetness.
With just a handful of basic ingredients, a quality smoker, and a bit of patience, you’ll be able to create a dish that’s sure to impress!
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Smoked Carrots
Transform your typical, boring carrot dish with these smoked carrots, elegantly infused with a wonderful smoky flavor and complemented by a sweet, tangy peach glaze.
Easy to prepare in less than 10 minutes and irresistibly delicious, these carrots are the perfect blend of health and flavor. Ideal for any backyard barbecue or family dinner, they offer a unique twist on a classic vegetable. Whether as a standout side or a healthy snack, these smoked carrots are sure to impress and become a new favorite in your grilling repertoire
Ingredients
- Whole fresh carrots, washed and peeled (1-½ to 2 pounds)
- 1 teaspoon ginger powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup peach preserves (or orange marmalade)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
Prepare the Carrots
- Preheat the Traeger smoker to 225°F.
- Place the carrots on a baking sheet or a large bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over the carrots and toss to coat them.
- Sprinkle the ginger, garlic, and salt over the carrots and toss to coat the carrots.
- Place the carrots directly on the grill grate of the Traeger pellet grill. Smoke at 225°F for 2-3 hours until they are tender when pierced with a fork.
Make the Glaze
- Combine the preserves, butter, and lemon juice in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15-second intervals until everything is melted.
- Mix the ingredients well to form a glaze.
- Remove the carrots from the Traeger and place them in a large bowl. Drizzle the glaze over the carrots and gently toss them to coat them in the glaze.
Notes
- I used peach preserves in this recipe, but you can also use orange marmalade or other fruit preserves or jam.
- I like my carrots to be tender but still have a bit of snap. You can check if they are done after smoking by bending the carrots. The tips of the carrot should almost touch before the carrot snaps in half. Or just use a fork to test the carrots. The fork should pierce with a little effort.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 142Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 215mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information is a guideline only, is calculated automatically by third party software, and absolute accuracy is not guaranteed.
