Smoked Carrots With Brown Butter (3 Simple Steps)

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Want to make the humble carrot shine at your cookout?

You have to have this smoked carrot receipt!

They are the best side dish for any occasion!

You wouldn’t believe it but the kids actually fight over these!

It can be tricky getting the smoke level right, so follow my steps below.

Why Smoke Carrots?

Carrots may not be top of mind when it comes to throwing vegetables on the barbecue.

But trust me when I say they are absolutely delicious.

A bit of smoke with the sweetness of the carrots is next-level tasty.

Throw them in with some asparagus, potatoes, and onions. You’ll have all the sides you need for your smoked meats.

Carrots are inexpensive, low in calories, and rich in nutrients. Why wouldn’t you smoke them?

Smoked Carrots Are The Perfect Side

These declious carrots are the perfect side for

Baby Back Ribs

Smoked Chicken

Grilled New York Strip

Smoked Brisket

Smoked Tuna

Smoked Meatloaf

Smoked Pork Belly

Pulled Pork

T-Bone Steak Smoked and Reverse Seared

Choosing the Perfect Carrot

If possible, find carrots with the green tops still attached.

They will look fantastic on the plate, and the entire thing is edible.

Choose carrots that are uniform in size, as they will be ready at the same time. Saves having to go back and forth checking each individual carrot.

Smaller ones will tend to fall through the grill grates, and larger ones will take too long to cook. 

The outside tends to burn while the center remains crunchy and uncooked.

Avoid anything soft and flexible with noticeable spots.

Preparing Carrots for Smoking

Give the carrots a light scrub and a good rinse to remove any dirt or chemical residue.

There’s no need to peel them, and no need to panic over any hairy bits.  They’ll cook right off.

The skin helps keep the nutrients and flavor intact, so peeling is unnecessary.

Seasoning the Carrots

As with most vegetables, you can go as simple or as bold as you like with seasonings.

Savory flavors like salt and pepper work well with carrots.

Or you can try a barbecue rub with paprika, garlic salt, and onion powder.

Perhaps sweet glaze is more your style.

For a sweet glaze, you could use maple syrup, honey, and balsamic vinegar, or brown sugar and bourbon.

However, in this recipe, we keep it simple. We start by coating the carrots in olive oil, then season them with salt and pepper.

How Long Should I Smoke the Carrots?

You need to smoke the carrots for 60-90 minutes.

Cook away from direct heat and keep the temperatures low to medium, so the skin doesn’t char or burn.  .

You want them cooked and tender, but still with a bit of firmness to them.

Soggy, overcooked carrots aren’t great!

What Temperature To Smoke Carrots?

You should smoke your carrots at 300°F for 60-90 minutes.

The longer the cooking time, the stronger the smokey flavor in the carrots.  

Of course, the time will really depend on what you already have on the grill.

Best Wood Pellets for Smoking Carrots?

Vegetables tend to pair well with lighter wood chip flavors like cherry, oak, maple, and apple wood.

Stronger flavors tend to overpower the delicate flavors of vegetables like carrots.

Of course, if you already have chips loaded in your pellet grill, run with these.

Recipe – Simple Smoked Carrots

What You Need For Smoked Carrots

• Bunch of Carrots with tops attached
• Melted butter
• Sea salt
• Ground black pepper
• Fresh parsley, chopped

Method:

Step 1 – Preheat the Grill

Preheat the smoker to 300°F.

Step 2 – Prepare the Carrots

Wash and give the carrots a light scrub then pat dry.

There’s no need to peel the carrots.

Step 3 – Season the Carrots

Coat the carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper, avoiding the carrot tops.

Line a baking sheet with baking paper and arrange carrots in a single layer.

Step 4 – Smoke the Carrots

Place the baking tray on the smoker, in indirect heat.

Smoke until they are fork tender (about 60-90 minutes).

Step 5 – Brown Butter

In a small saucepan melt some butter. Stir until it turns brown and remove it from the heat. Serve the carrots with the butter on the side

Step 6 – Serve the Carrots

Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

Serve and enjoy!

It takes only a couple of ingredients to bring the plain old carrot to life. 

Adding some smoky flavor gives you extra delicious carrots.

Try this recipe for a simple dish that packs a big punch.

Smoke On!

Charlie

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