I've been loving these whole roasted carrots that are deliciously sweet and soft with a fresh apple slaw recipe overtop! It's the perfect combination of sweet, crisp, and tangy to create a a crave worthy dish packed with fresh produce. And I know it can be intimidating to take hard, crunchy carrots and imagine them as a crave worthy dish but I promise you it's possible! Roasting carrots for enough time, with proper seasoning, and adding extra flavor from something like a balsamic or slaw will transform this vegetable for you.
Not only is this dish perfect for the fall season and holiday celebrations, it's also great as a side dish, a snack to meal prep, or as the base for a meal.And if you're looking for more fall inspired eats for this time of year, be sure to check out my Seasonal Harvest Salad, a favorite of for us!
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Ingredients for Balsamic Roasted Carrots with Fresh Slaw
Carrots - You can't go wrong here, simply buy your carrots, wash, then peel them! For a more even roasting time, you can try and use carrots around the same size.
Honeycrisp Apples - My favorite apple of the season, the crisp texture and sweet flavor is perfect for this fresh apple slaw recipe.
Red Onion - Adds a slight bite and tanginess to the slaw that compliments the sweetness of the apples and beets.
Prepared Beets - This is an easy ingredient as I LOVE to use my favorite pre-prepared beets from Love Beets. They're already cooked, soft, and ready to go! Find them in the refrigerator section of the store, usually near the lettuces.
Fresh Mint - A simple ingredient that really elevates the beet slaw. When you chop the mint then let it marinate with the slaw ingredients, the fresh, minty flavor melds with everything else to create this delicious slaw.
Crumbled Feta - Another tart flavor to balance out the sweetness of this dish, I love crumbling feta overtop for a creamy and cheesy bite.
Balsamic Glaze - The finishing touch to these oven roasted carrots, drizzling balsamic overtop as you garnish is the final step. I love balsamic as a dressing and it doesn't disappoint with these whole roasted carrots! We buy it in a six count from Amazon because we go through it that quickly!
How to Roast Carrots in the Oven + Fresh Apple Slaw
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
- Prepare ingredients: peel carrots (set aside) and then dice apple, chop red onion, chop mint, chop beets. These final four ingredients will make up the slaw. Fold them together in a mixing bowl and set aside.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with olive oil. Place peeled, whole carrots on the sheet. Massage carrots with olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, remove the carrots from the oven and using a spoon, scoop the slaw to cover the carrots.
- Place back in the oven and cook for an additional 18-20 minutes until carrots are easily pierced with a fork.
- Garnish roasted carrots with a balsamic glaze drizzle and crumbled feta then enjoy!
Best Roasted Carrots: Sweeten, Spice, and Garnish
The best part about these roasted carrots is how adaptable the recipe is. Once your carrots are roasted, the options for toppings are endless! For instance, if you're craving something sweeter, try swapping the balsamic glaze for a drizzle of honey. And if you're looking for something with a bit more heat, try adding a drizzle of sriracha.
You can also get creative with toppings for these oven roasted carrots by adding different textures or flavors.
- To add some crunch, I think sprinkling sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, pecans, or pepitas overtop would be a great idea!
- If crumbled feta isn't for you, try swapping that for another like goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, or whatever sounds good. To keep it dairy free and/or vegan, simply omit the cheese all together or use a vegan option.
- For extra flavor and to make this more into a meal, try adding a meat like bacon bits or pulled chicken to these carrots. And if you're vegan, an egg or some toasted tofu would be a great addition as well!
Apple Slaw Recipe Substitutions
This apple and beet slaw is a personal favorite of mine with the combination of sweet and tangy but you can switch it up too! Try swapping out the apple or beets for something like:
- shaved brussel sprouts
- cabbage
- fennel
- radishes
I think it's fun to shop seasonally for this and see what fruit or veggie combinations you can create. And if you're feeling real adventurous, try adding dried cranberries, fresh lemon juice, or roasted garlic to the slaw for an extra pop of flavor!
Looking for more delicious veggie recipes? You'll love these
Fall Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash
Crispy Parmesan Brussel Sprouts
Whole Roasted Carrots with Fresh Apple Slaw
Ingredients
- 8 whole carrots
- ½ cup honeycrisp apple
- ½ cup red onion
- ½ cup prepared beets, note: I buy the brand Love Beets and find them in the refrigerator section near the lettuce
- ½ cup crumbled feta*
- ¼ cup fresh mint + 1 T, for topping
- 4 T balsamic glaze
- 2 T olive oil or cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
- Prepare ingredients: peel carrots (set aside) and then dice apple, chop red onion, chop mint, chop beets. These final four ingredients will make up the slaw. Fold them together in a mixing bowl and set aside.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with olive oil. Place peeled, whole carrots on the sheet. Massage carrots with olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, remove the carrots from the oven and using a spoon, scoop the slaw to cover the carrots.
- Place back in the oven and cook for an additional 18-20 minutes until carrots are easily pierced with a fork.
- Garnish roasted carrots with a balsamic glaze drizzle and crumbled feta then enjoy!
Notes
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It's my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved, something that you think it might need, or just say hi!
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you're using MyFitnessPal, search 'A Paige Of Positivity' and find Whole Roasted Carrots and Fresh Apple Slaw
1 serving: 12 grams Carbs | 6 grams Fat | 3 grams Protein
**Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
