Slightly sweet and earthy, the humble carrot is a delicious root vegetable we all know and love. These flavorful dishes showcase this colorful veggie in many different ways, including baked with spices, blended with fruit into smoothies and more. Plus, each recipe has earned four- and five-star ratings by EatingWell readers, so you’re sure to love every bite. Recipes like our Carrot-Pineapple Wellness Shots and Creamy Carrot Salad can be enjoyed any day or night of the week.
Carrot-Pineapple Wellness Shots
Photographer: Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley.
These wellness shots pack anti-inflammatory ingredients like ginger and turmeric into one small glass. Sweet pineapple and earthy carrot provide a naturally fruity base, while fresh ginger and turmeric bring their anti-inflammatory properties and a gentle, warming kick. A dash of black pepper enhances turmeric’s benefits. Refreshing, energizing and easy to prep ahead, they’re the perfect way to start your morning or recharge in the afternoon.
Creamy Carrot Salad
Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee.
Bright, crunchy and creamy, this salad delivers a delicious balance of sweet, tangy and warm flavors. A golden turmeric-yogurt dressing adds color and anti-inflammatory benefits, while honey and plump golden raisins offer natural sweetness.
Bang Bang Carrots
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelesa Zimmer , Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower.
These Bang Bang Carrots bring on bold flavors with minimal effort. The crowd-favorite “bang bang” flavor profile, with creamy, spicy-sweet and tangy notes, gives regular roasted carrots a vibrant kick. A sprinkle of sesame seeds adds crunch, while fresh cilantro brightens each bite. This side is perfect alongside grilled meats, rice bowls or as a colorful addition to any weeknight spread.
Melting Carrots with Garlic Butter
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf.
These melting carrots strike the perfect balance of earthy sweetness and savory richness, making them a versatile side dish for any occasion. A high-heat roast brings out their natural sweetness, while a buttery garlic-lemon sauce infuses them with bright, aromatic flavor and a texture that melts in your mouth. Serve them alongside a weeknight roast chicken or as part of a holiday spread—they’re sure to earn a spot in your regular rotation.
Carrot Lox
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen.
This carrot lox is a vegetarian take on traditional lox, made by marinating thinly sliced, roasted carrots to mimic the texture and flavor of cured salmon. Walnut oil gives the lox a rich, nutty depth, but if you don’t have it on hand, olive oil works well too. Using a mix of yellow and orange carrots adds visual appeal and makes the dish stand out on any brunch table. Serve it on bagels with cream cheese, capers and red onion for the full lox experience.
Carrot Cake Oatmeal
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Sally McKay, Prop Stylist: Pheobe Hausser
This carrot cake oatmeal is a comforting breakfast that tastes like dessert and fuels your morning. Steel-cut oats cook with carrot juice and water, then get mixed with warm spices and a touch of maple syrup. A topping of toasted pecans, coconut flakes and raisins adds the perfect touch of texture and that classic carrot cake flavor. While oats are naturally gluten-free, they can be contaminated during processing. If you’re following a gluten-free diet, look for oats labeled gluten-free.
Carrot-Cucumber Salad
Photographer: Brie Goldman Food Stylist: Annie Probst Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali
Carrot salads are refreshing, and this one—with cucumber, red onion and a zesty cilantro-chile vinaigrette—is sure to become a new favorite. It’s excellent served with grilled fish.
Simple Carrot & Cabbage Salad
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong
This simple carrot-and-cabbage salad is crisp and refreshing. It’s tossed in a light vinaigrette made with lemon, honey and Dijon mustard, allowing the natural sweetness of the carrots and the crunch of the cabbage to shine. Enjoy this salad on its own as a side dish, or try piling it onto a burger, stuffing it into tacos for extra crunch, or using it as a bright, tangy filling in a wrap.
Carrot Cake Bars
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
Classic carrot cake flavors abound in these easy bars. They’re rich like brownies, but their cake-like texture helps keep them light. A yogurt and cream cheese–based frosting topped with nutty walnuts completes this crowd-pleasing dessert.
Melting Carrots with Maple Butter
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Stanfield, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong
This recipe is a side dish that combines the natural sweetness of roasted carrots with the rich flavors of maple syrup. To bring on the flavor, carrots are roasted with a combination of melted butter and oil before a sweet and savory broth is added for the carrots to absorb, giving them their signature “melting” texture. The final touch is a sprinkle of fresh dill, or give them your own twist with your favorite chopped fresh herb.
Carrot Cake Smoothie
Photographer: Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This carrot cake smoothie is the perfect way to bring dessert vibes to breakfast! With a mix of carrot juice, banana, cinnamon, ginger and a hint of vanilla, it captures all the cozy flavors of carrot cake in a glass. Pro tip: Always add your liquids to the blender first before the solid ingredients. This creates a fluid base that helps pull the solid ingredients into the blades, ensuring a smooth and creamy consistency.
Roasted Carrot Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop stylist: Josh Hoggle
Sweet roasted carrots are the star of this salad, with some reserved for blending into a creamy, vibrant dressing. The carrot-based dressing—brightened with orange juice, whole-grain mustard and rice vinegar—adds a cohesive flavor to the salad. This roasted carrot salad works wonderfully as a side dish or as a main dish served with roasted chicken, salmon or tofu.
Andrew Zimmern’s Carrot-Ginger Vinaigrette
Victoria Seaver
Chef Andrew Zimmern shared his version of a zesty carrot salad dressing with ginger, tamari and toasted sesame oil. Steaming the carrot gives the dressing a silky-smooth texture. Serve it with salads and noodles or use it as a dipping sauce.
Orange-Carrot Turmeric Ginger Shots
Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
This colorful ginger-turmeric shot is a healthy beverage that may help reduce inflammation. Carrots and orange juice add an earthiness along with vitamins and beta carotene, while ginger and turmeric provide a nice warming spice. Whether enjoyed in the morning or midday, it’s a vibrant and nourishing addition to your routine.
Roasted Carrots with Sage Brown Butter
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Sylist: Kelsey Moylan, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali
When you need an easy vegetable side, make these carrots. A brown butter and sage sauce takes these carrots to another level, perfect for a holiday meal. They only take 15 minutes to roast, so pop them in the oven while you make the sauce. Use multicolored carrots if you want a medley of colors.
Sheet-Pan Carrots & Chickpeas with Tahini
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Roasted carrots and crispy chickpeas pack on the fiber in this vegan main dish. The tahini sauce strikes the perfect balance of nuttiness and sweetness. Tahini, made from ground sesame seeds, is a great pantry staple to have on hand. Use it to make dressings, simple sauces or any of these other healthy tahini recipes.
Carrot Soup
Jen Causey
This easy carrot soup recipe is a great way to use up a bag of carrots that were forgotten in your produce drawer. The carrots cook together with aromatics like onions, garlic and fresh herbs before being pureed into a silky smooth soup that’s delicious for dinner or packed up for lunch.
Carrot & Banana Muffins
Packed with flavorful and wholesome ingredients, these carrot-banana muffins make a good snack or breakfast.
