Smashed Carrots

It only takes 5 simple ingredients for the easiest, tastiest smashed carrots recipe. Red pepper flakes and brown sugar welcome a touch of buttery caramelized heat to the table!

Why this recipe works

Smashed carrots truly make a smashing presentation. Seriously though, these carrot coins are really easy to make, great for meal prepping, and are the perfect way to jazz up a regular ole side dish. Plus, you can release some built-up tension in the process. We’ll highlight the carrot’s natural sweetness in this recipe with a touch of brown sugar and balance it out with red pepper flakes for a complementary dose of heat.

Smashing food is just… fun. Right? You can do it with a whole slew of different veggies. Smashed broccoli, smashed potatoes, smashed cauliflower. I could go on and on. But for now, let’s give everyone’s favorite vibrant orange veg the love it deserves. By smashing them.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

CARROTS – Look for carrots that are really big. They will likely be sold individually by weight rather than in bags

SEASONINGS – We opted for brown sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes for a little spicy sweet action. You can play around with the seasonings if desired. If you aren’t a fan of heat, keep them sweet with just brown sugar. We’ve also tried them sprinkled with parmesan cheese or sprinkled with cayenne or chili powder.

How to Make Smashed Carrots

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Preheat the oven to 450 F.
2. Peel the carrots and trim off the root ends.
3. Starting at the fat end, cut carrots into 3/4-inch coins. When you start getting to the more narrow end of the carrot, stop slicing. Reserve the narrow ends for another dish.
   
   CHEF TIP – Try one of our delicious carrot recipes with the remaining carrots!
   
   
4. Drop carrot coins into boiling water and cook for 20 minutes. Drain carrots.
5. Spray baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray.
6. Place boiled carrots onto the baking sheet. Use the flat end of a drinking glass to carefully smash the carrots. You want to break them down but not break them apart.
7. Brush the smashed carrots with melted butter.
8. Sprinkle carrot coins with brown sugar and Kosher salt. Optional: Sprinkle seasoned carrots with red pepper flakes if you would like a little heat.
9. Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes.
10. Turn up to broil for 5 minutes, watching carefully so they just char and don’t burn.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Smashing carrots helps them cook quicker in the oven due to their flat surface area. On top of that, they have a nicely tenderized texture when you break through the exterior. There’s really no rhyme or reason!

Store leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This smashed carrots recipe is perfect for meal prepping! You can reheat them in the microwave or toss them in a skillet over medium-low heat.

Serving Suggestions

Serve smashed carrots with anything you’d typically eat with steamed or baked carrots. I especially enjoy them alongside chicken, steak, fish, or scallops. They can also be served cold tossed into crisp salads. Enjoy!

More Related Recipes

• Smash Burger
• Glazed Carrots
• Smashed Potatoes
• Air Fryer Carrots
• Smashed Broccoli

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