Glazed Baby Carrots in Slow Cooker (Vegan)

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Follow this recipe tutorial at home to cook buttery and brown-sugar-glazed baby carrots in your slow cooker. It’s such an easy vegan side dish that relies on just 4 simple and accessible plant-based ingredients. After slow-cooking for 4 hours, the baby carrots emerge fork-tender, and ready to serve!

These easy glazed baby carrots are made in the slow cooker, only have a few simple ingredients, are rich and buttery, and will be a side dish to impress! This recipe is inspired by Instant Pot maple-glazed carrots, another baby carrot side dish. This one has a few different ingredients and uses a different device. Both are super yummy and will make your meal planning fuss-free and easy.

I don’t know about you, but when I’m bustling around the kitchen prepping for a special event (and trying to not screw my head through the ceiling while attempting to get a meal on the table), the last thing I need is the pressure of throwing together all the little extras that will make this special meal one that will blow their socks off! That’s why I love vegan side dishes ideas that you can cook in the slow cooker. Just set it and forget it!

Whether you are planning for a special event or a simple family meal, if you have some easy plant-based slow cooker recipes on-hand it will make your meal planning and preparation so much easier!

Using other devices like a slow cooker can free up oven and stovetop space. Plus it can free up your time as well when you can set it and forget it! You can make everything from the main course, side dishes, or even dessert using your slow cooker.

Would you believe I often have a couple of devices going on my countertop when I’m putting a full-course meal on the table? Apple spice cake is an easy dessert to make and a real crowd-pleaser too! And don’t forget the comfort of mashed potatoes with garlic, cream cheese, and chives or creamed corn casserole. All vegan and all made in the slow cooker to make your special dinner planning and prep a snap!

Ingredients needed to cook slow cooker baby carrots

• 2 lbs baby carrots
• sea salt
• brown sugar
• vegan butter
• parsley or thyme for garnish
• You’ll also need a slow cooker to cook the carrots

the baby carrots

Purchase fresh baby carrots that are moist and dark orange. I would never use baby carrots that have that dry and whitish look. Not only with the texture be affected but the flavor will be as well. I’ve noticed when baby carrots start to get that old look, they also develop an “old taste”.

Also, if the carrots are past expiration but still look fine from the outside of the bag, check to see if they have started to get slimy. And then throw them out! Slow-cooker baby carrots will be moist and juicy if the freshest carrots are used.

Could I use sliced carrots instead of baby carrots?

Yes, sliced carrots will work. You will need to peel and then slice evenly for even cooking. Again, make sure the carrots you use are fresh, dark orange, and a little juicy for best results.

The vegan butter

We are a vegan family and so of course, we use vegan butter. It is important that you like the taste of the vegan butter you use. The flavor won’t improve cooking in the slow cooker for four hours! There are a lot of brands out there and some are a little meh…

If you are not vegan, then use any butter you wish. But do use salted butter. This recipe was developed using vegan butter, which is salted.

How to make glazed baby carrots in the slow cooker

It’s really ridiculously easy to make this tasty vegan side dish and almost doesn’t need a recipe!

• Spray the inner liner or cooking pan of the slow cooker with cooking spray.
• Add the carrots to the slow cooker and top with the brown sugar, salt, and slices of vegan butter.
• Cover with the lid and cook on high for four hours. Halfway through, lift the lid and stir around.
• Garnish with a little fresh parsley or thyme.

I like to spoon any of that savory-sweet liquid over the top of my cooked carrots to keep them extra juicy.

What size slow cooker is best for glazed baby carrots?

A small 3-4 quart slow cooker will be perfect for this recipe. I have several different slow cookers and often use them at the same time when prepping for a special dinner event. It’s nice to have a smaller capacity slow cooker that doesn’t take up as much space and perfectly fits the ingredients. I use this slow cooker by Cuisinart when I make these brown sugar carrots.

Could you use a larger-capacity slow cooker for this recipe? Well, you have to know your slow cooker and how it does with various amounts of ingredients. I have a larger slow cooker by Ninja that I absolutely love – for large-capacity ingredients. It tends to burn recipes of lower capacity. But not all larger cookers do…

Serving suggestions for glazed baby carrots

You can serve slow cooker baby carrots directly out of the crockpot if you are serving buffet-style. That way you can leave your slow cooker set to “warm” or “buffet”. Or spoon the carrots into a serving dish and place them on your table.

Spoon that yummy juicy liquid goodness from the bottom of your cooking pot on top of your glazed baby carrots!

I love the subtle herby flavor that a sprinkling of fresh thyme imparts to sweetened carrots. Or you could use fresh parsley if you are just going to a nice contrast of colors.

These glazed baby carrots will keep in the fridge for up to five days if tightly covered. Warm them in the microwave before eating. Or, if you are like me, I’m okay with eating them cold!

The printable recipe card for making glazed baby carrots in the slow cooker