My mom always threw this together right before the big spring dinner.

This is one of those quietly brilliant side dishes my mom always threw together right before our big spring dinners. Just four basic ingredients, a single pan, and about 15 minutes, and somehow these brown sugar glazed carrot coins would be the first thing gone from the table. They’re sweet, buttery, and glossy, with just enough salt to keep them from tasting like dessert.

If you’re juggling a main dish and a couple of sides after a long workday, this is the kind of recipe you can literally toss together at the last minute and still feel like you made something special from scratch.

These brown sugar glazed carrots are perfect alongside baked ham, roasted chicken, turkey, or a simple pork loin. I like to serve them on a plain white plate or platter so that bright orange, glossy glaze really pops.

Round out the meal with something starchy like mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or warm dinner rolls to soak up any extra buttery syrup. A crisp green salad or steamed green beans adds a fresh, lighter contrast to the sweet, rich carrots, making the whole plate feel balanced without a lot of extra work.

4-Ingredient Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

Servings: 4

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch coins

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions