Bring some vibrant veggies to the next cookout and impress your friends with this easy side dish.
If you think grilling is hard, think again. While the art of grilling can be tricky at first, easy recipes like grilled carrots can help us build up a solid practice. In the end, you have a decadent side dish that everyone at the cookout can fall in love with.
With a nice balance of salty, herbaceous, and slightly sweet, this side is made to satisfy. It goes great with a wide variety of mains, whether plant-based or meaty. And it’s not much effort to add your prepped carrots to the grilling rotation, as they only take a few minutes to cook. This is because we parboil them first, which pre-cooks the carrots to make them all nice and tender. Grilling simply finishes the job, adding a beautiful, rich char and smoky flavor.
I’m not a fan of grilling, but I do like grilled carrots. So, in my family, it becomes a team effort—I prepare the carrots by parboiling and seasoning them, then hand them off to the grill master. In what seems like no time, these salty and fragrant carrots come out tender and tasty, with plenty of opportunity for creative ways to serve them.
Why serve carrots with lemon slices?
By themselves, carrots taste earthy and slightly sweet. But when splashed with a hint of lemon juice, their flavor brightens and turns a little tangy. Any bitterness that might have lingered now becomes even sweeter, and super refreshing. Serving grilled carrots with lemon slices gives your guests an option to squeeze out as much juice as they’d like, so each person is satisfied. It’s both a classy and considerate touch that all can appreciate, even if they choose not to use the lemon.
How do I store leftovers?
Although they’re best enjoyed fresh, leftover grilled carrots can also be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for 2-3 days. I enjoy them cold and fresh out of the fridge, but you can also reheat them in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes.
Serving suggestions
Once you’ve garnished your grilled carrots with chopped parsley and lemon wedges, the fun part begins. Serve this side as an earthy complement to Baked Hamburgers, Black Bean Burgers, or Hawaiian BBQ Chicken. Feel free to let it mix and mingle on the picnic table with other classic cookout dishes like Old-Fashioned Potato Salad, Baked Beans, and Instant-Pot Corn On The Cob.
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium carrots, sliced in half lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, roughly chopped (for garnish)
- Lemon wedges, optional, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to medium-high. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Parboil the carrots for 5 minutes, then drain.
- Place parboiled carrots in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, tossing to coat evenly.
- Place the carrots, cut side down, on the grill. Grill for 5-8 minutes until fork-tender and char marks form, flipping halfway through cooking.
- Remove the carrots from the grill. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and an optional squeeze of lemon juice. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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