Maple Roasted Carrots with Cumin & Spiced Yogurt

Sweet meets savory in these maple roasted carrots: warm cumin and a touch of maple syrup create caramelized edges, with a swish of tangy spiced yogurt and a crunchy pistachio finish. They're weeknight-easy yet holiday worthy, ready in about 30 minutes, and flexible for different carrot sizes (oven or air fryer). If you love a side dish that looks restaurant-fancy but cooks itself on a sheet pan, this one's about to be on repeat.

If you've never tasted maple roasted carrots, you are in for a real treat. Because it's so easy, this is a great side dish for weeknights but also beautiful enough for a special meal or holiday table.

The warm spices pair magnificently with the sweet roasted carrots, the spiced yogurt sauce is tangy and creamy with just a hint of heat, and the pistachios provide a nutty crunch.

Jump to:

• ⭐️ Why You'll Love These Maple Roasted Carrots
• 🥕 Ingredient Notes
• 📝 Variations & Substitutions
• 🥕 Doneness & Cut Size Guide for Roasting Carrots
• 🔪 How To Make Maple Roasted Carrots
• 👩🏼‍🍳 Make Ahead, Storage, & Reheating
• Air Fryer Instructions
• 👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips
• 🍽️ What to Serve with Maple Roasted Carrots
• 💬 Frequently Asked Questions
• 🥔 More Side Dish Recipes
• Maple Roasted Carrots Recipe

⭐️ Why You'll Love These Maple Roasted Carrots

• Sweet-savory magic: maple, warm cumin, spiced yogurt, and crunchy pistachios
• Texture: Creamy, crunchy, and caramelized edges
• Weeknight-easy, holiday perfect: 30 minutes, minimal prep, & beautiful on a platter.
• Flexible: whole, halved, or quartered carrots; dairy-free and vegan swaps below.

🥕 Ingredient Notes

• Carrots - Buy the freshest carrots you can find. If you want more of a dramatic presentation, buy carrots with the greens attached (can usually be found at a local farmers market). If you have more to use up, try my roasted butternut squash carrot ginger soup or roasted garlic carrots & green beans.
• Maple syrup - Use Grade A maple syrup for robust flavor and best caramelization.
• Ground cumin - Adds warm and savory depth that complements the sweetness of the carrots.
• Greek yogurt - Use 2%-5% fat yogurt, or (unsweetened) plant-based yogurt to make it dairy-free.
• Cayenne pepper - Optional gentle heat.
• Lemon - Zest & juice brightens the sauce.
• Pistachio & Parsley - Color, crunch, and freshness. You can also almonds or walnuts in place of pistachios.

📝 Variations & Substitutions

• Vegan/Dairy-free: Substitute any plant-based yogurt (coconut yogurt, almond milk yogurt, etc.) to make it dairy-free.
• Chipotle-Lime: Use ½-1 teaspoon chipotle powder, substitute lime zest & juice in place of lemon, and finish with cilantro instead of parsley.
• Miso-Maple: Whisk 1 teaspoon of white miso into the maple syrup mixture to give it more savory depth.

🥕 Doneness & Cut Size Guide for Roasting Carrots

🔪 How To Make Maple Roasted Carrots

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Scrub carrots and pat dry (no need to peel them). Slice carrots in half lengthwise and place on a large baking sheet.

In a small bowl, combine olive oil, salt, cumin, cinnamon, pepper, and maple syrup. Using a pastry brush or your hands, spread mixture onto carrots. Be sure to cover all of the carrots.

Roast carrots for 25-30 minutes. Optional: broil for an additional 1-2 minutes for glossy edges.

While carrots are roasting, make the yogurt sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, salt, lemon zest, lemon juice, and cayenne. Set aside.

Transfer roasted carrots to a platter and drizzle with yogurt sauce. Top with toasted pistachios and fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

👩🏼‍🍳 Make Ahead, Storage, & Reheating

• Make ahead: Roast carrots to 90% done, cool, and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• Reheat: In a preheated 375 degree F. oven, warm carrots for 8-10 minutes (or air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes).
• Store: In an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Store yogurt and pistachios separately.
• Meal prep tip: Toss leftovers into salads, grain bowls, or wraps.

Air Fryer Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 380ºF for 3 minutes.

Season carrots with olive oil, cumin, salt, and pepper (hold the maple syrup).

Arrange in a single layer in the basket (work in batches; 1 lb. per batch for the best color).

Air fry using the timing guide below, shaking/turning halfway.

Plate over spiced yogurt; top with pistachios and parsley.

Timing Guide at 380ºF.

• Thin whole carrots: 10-12 minutes
• Medium, halved lengthwise: 12-14 minutes
• Large, quartered lengthwise: 14-16 minutes
• Baby carrots (well-dried): 13-16 minutes

👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Be sure to cover the entirety of the carrots when you add the olive oil/spice mixture. Turn carrots a few times to ensure every bit of carrot is enrobed in the mixture.
• Space out carrots. When roasting carrots, aim to make a single layer to prevent them from steaming.
• When making this recipe for guests who don't eat dairy, serve yogurt sauce on the side so your guests can serve themselves.
• I don't recommend freezing leftovers, as the carrots could become mealy.

🍽️ What to Serve with Maple Roasted Carrots

Pair with hearty mains and simple starches, like garlic buttered pasta, savory potato fritters, and miso salmon.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

🥔 More Side Dish Recipes

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