Garlic Butter Sautéed Carrots Recipe

Name: Garlic Butter Sautéed Carrots Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 16 ounce bag baby carrots; 2 Tablespoons salted butter; 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil; 3-4 large cloves fresh garlic; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (to taste); 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (to taste); 2-3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley,

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

This Sautéed Carrots recipe is so easy and not the typical sugary-sweet cooked carrots you usually find! They're sautéed with a savory mix of butter and garlic and finished with fresh parsley for a simple side dish that's sure to please!

A close up overhead image of the sauteed carrots in a pan.

Jump to:

Why You'll Love Garlic Butter Carrots
Ingredient Information and Substitutions
How to Make Savory Cooked Carrots
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips For Making Pan Fried Carrots
What To Serve With Buttered Carrots
Other Vegetable Dishes to Try...
Garlic Butter Sautéed Carrots Recipe

Why You'll Love Garlic Butter Carrots

When I was a kid, I was not into cooked carrots. Probably because I always seemed to have them boiled in some sort of orange juice concoction and the whole thing was way too sweet for me. I don't mind that recipe now, but I still am not a huge fan of it.

This recipe for sautéed carrots is not the mushy, overly sweet cooked carrots recipe of yore. This is a spin-off of my husband's Grandmother's legendary Garlic Green Beans aka the way to make anyone love green beans. Think about it: anything tastes way better if you sauté it in butter and garlic.

Fresh minced garlic adds the most delicious flavor to the butter. The dish is finished with freshly chopped parsley to add a delicious freshness that elevates this dish to one that you'd be proud to contribute to any holiday table (but still easy enough to throw together for your weeknight dinners). Here are a few more reasons to try this recipe for garlic butter carrots:

Wonderfully savory
Ready in under 30 minutes
Minimal ingredients
Family-friendly
So easy!

The side of a pan of sauteed carrots with a wooden spoon in it.

Ingredient Information and Substitutions

Baby Carrots - Easier to use than full-size — you don't have to worry about peeling or chopping! That said if you have larger carrots on hand you can use those too. Just make sure to cut them into smaller, uniform-size pieces.
Butter - To sauté your buttered carrots! I prefer salted.
Olive Oil - Also needed for sautéing. I love using a mixture of butter and oil as it's a lot more flavorful and the oil keeps the butter from burning.
Garlic - It wouldn't be garlic carrots without a healthy helping of garlic. I'm using 3-4 large cloves of the fresh stuff, but measure with your heart. You can also use garlic powder, but the flavor won't be as pronounced.
Seasonings - You'll also need Kosher salt, ground black pepper, and fresh parsley.

An overhead image of labeled ingredients for this recipe.

How to Make Savory Cooked Carrots

Step 1: Microwave carrots

Place the carrots in a microwave-safe bowl with a splash of water and cover. Microwave carrots for 3-5 minutes, or until beginning to soften.

A covered bowl of carrots in a microwave.

Step 2: Make the garlic butter

Add the butter and olive oil to a sauté pan and heat over medium. When the butter is melted, add the minced garlic and stir. Cook for about 2 minutes — be careful not to burn it!

Butter and oil melting in a hot skillet.

Step 3: Sauté carrots

Drain any excess water from the carrots and add them to the garlic butter. Sauté for about 10 minutes, being sure to stir as you go. Season to taste with salt, pepper and parsley and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Parsley being sprinkled over the cooked carrots.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you store carrots?

I keep mine in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.

Do carrots have to be peeled before cooking?

As mentioned, for this recipe I recommend using baby carrots. They're already cleaned, cut, and ready to use. Again, if you choose to use whole carrots, peel them and cut to be around the same width for the best results.

How long does it take to soften carrots?

I steam them in the microwave for 3-5 minutes depending on how thick the carrots are. Remember, this will make finishing the carrots in the sauté pan go a lot quicker! I don't recommend skipping this step.

How long to cook carrots?

It should only take about 10 minutes on the stove as long as you microwave the carrots for 3-5 minutes first! So in total, less than 20 minutes.

How long do sautéed carrots last?

These will keep for around 3-5 days when properly covered in the refrigerator.

A close up side angle shot of carrots with parsley in a pan.

Tips For Making Pan Fried Carrots

You can also pre-cook these by boiling for 2-3 minutes. I prefer to microwave carrots for 3-5 minutes to steam them before adding them to the sauté pan. Both methods work!
Keep a close eye on the garlic because burnt garlic will ruin any recipe, adding a bitter flavor. If the garlic burns, wash the pan out and start over again.
Prepare the ingredients in advance, as these buttered carrots come together pretty quickly once you get started.
Season to taste- I like to add some salt and pepper, taste, and adjust as necessary.
Prep Ahead: Clean carrots if not buying baby carrots, wash parsley.
Leftovers and Storage: These will keep for around 3-5 days when properly covered in the refrigerator.

An overhead image of a pan of carrots with a wooden spoon in them and a blue towel, parsley and garlic on the side around it.

What To Serve With Buttered Carrots

Round out your meal with these tasty recipes:

Other Vegetable Dishes to Try...

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down. Check out my Amazon Store for all my favorite tools, including those used in this recipe. And follow @thelifejolie on Instagram and TikTok!