Copycat Cracker Barrel Carrots: Your Guide to Sweet Glazed Perfection at Home

Craving the comforting taste of Cracker Barrel’s famous glazed carrots but can’t make it to the restaurant? Look no further! This incredible copycat Cracker Barrel Carrots recipe brings that signature sweet and savory flavor right into your kitchen. Perfect for a family dinner, a festive holiday gathering, or as a delightful side dish to any meal, these carrots are surprisingly easy to make, require just four simple ingredients, and taste absolutely fantastic.

Recreating Cracker Barrel Magic at Home

There’s something uniquely comforting about Cracker Barrel. For many, including myself, it’s a nostalgic trip back to a simpler time, a haven of Southern comfort food that truly warms the soul. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, where Southern cuisine wasn’t readily available, Cracker Barrel became our cherished destination during road trips – a dependable spot for a hearty, home-cooked meal that never disappointed.

Even today, with the closest Cracker Barrel being about an hour away in northern Idaho, the lure of their delicious food is strong. I’ll confess, we’ve made the drive to Coeur d’Alene just for a taste of their incredible meals on more than one occasion. But during the deep winter months, or whenever that craving strikes, making Cracker Barrel recipes at home has become a delightful tradition.

Our journey to culinary recreation started with my husband’s favorite, Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings. After perfecting that, I realized how much we genuinely missed the restaurant experience and decided to expand our collection of beloved copycat recipes. We’ve been busy bringing more of our cherished restaurant favorites to the blog, and these sweet glazed carrots are a proud addition. This year, I’m particularly focused on expanding our side dish offerings, and these carrots are a perfect example of the delicious additions you can expect.

Today, we proudly paired these delightful Cracker Barrel Carrots with a new Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe I’m developing, and the combination was simply fantastic. You’ll love how quickly this carrot recipe comes together – less than 60 minutes from start to finish – making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights, special occasions, or any time you want a taste of that classic comfort.

Simple Ingredients for an Unforgettable Taste

One of the best things about this copycat Cracker Barrel Carrots recipe is its simplicity. You only need four basic ingredients to create a side dish that tastes like it came straight from your favorite country kitchen. The full printable recipe card with exact measurements and step-by-step instructions is available below, but here’s a quick glance at what you’ll need:

• Baby Carrots: Convenient and perfectly sized for a single bite, baby carrots are the star of this dish. Their natural sweetness is enhanced beautifully by the glaze.
• Butter: Essential for richness and creating that smooth, luxurious glaze that coats every carrot.
• Brown Sugar: This is the secret to the signature sweet and slightly caramelized flavor. Brown sugar melts into a syrupy glaze that gives these carrots their irresistible appeal.
• Salt: A pinch of salt is crucial to balance the sweetness of the brown sugar, enhancing the overall flavor profile without making the dish overly sweet.

Essential Equipment for Your Kitchen

Gathering the right tools will make preparing these glazed carrots even smoother. You likely have most of these items already in your kitchen:

• Teaspoon/Tablespoon: For accurate measuring of your ingredients, ensuring the perfect balance of flavors.
• Saucepan with a Lid: A 2-quart saucepan is ideal, providing enough space to comfortably cook the carrots and allow for proper simmering. The lid helps steam the carrots and speeds up the cooking process.
• Kitchen Spoon/Stirring Utensil: To gently stir the carrots as they cook and ensure the glaze is evenly distributed.
• Serving Dish: A large bowl or serving dish with a bit of a lip is perfect for presenting your finished carrots. This helps keep the delicious glaze contained and makes serving effortless.

How to Make Cracker Barrel Carrots: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Making these copycat Cracker Barrel carrots is incredibly straightforward. While complete details are in the recipe card below, here’s a quick overview of the cooking process:

1. Prepare the Carrots: Begin by thoroughly washing your baby carrots. Once clean, add them to your saucepan and cover them completely with water. Ensuring they are fully submerged allows them to cook evenly.
2. First Simmer: Cover the saucepan with a lid and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat and let the carrots simmer for 30-40 minutes. You’re aiming for them to be just getting tender – not fully soft yet, as they will cook more in the glaze.
3. Create the Glaze: Carefully drain about half of the water from the saucepan. This leaves enough liquid to create the glaze without making it watery. Now, add the brown sugar, butter, and salt. Stir all these ingredients together until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves, coating the carrots beautifully.
4. Final Simmer for Tenderness: Continue to simmer the carrots in this sweet glaze for another 10-15 minutes. During this time, the carrots will become perfectly fork-tender, and the glaze will thicken slightly, clinging to each carrot.
5. Serve: You’ll know they’re ready when a fork easily glides through a carrot. Serve immediately and enjoy the delightful taste of Cracker Barrel at home!

Preparation and Storage Tips

These glazed carrots are wonderful freshly made, but they also store well, making them a great option for meal prep or enjoying leftovers:

• Make Ahead & Storage: Store any leftover Cracker Barrel Carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The flavors often deepen overnight!
• Freezing/How to Freeze: For longer storage, freeze cooled leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty Ziploc bag. They will keep well in the freezer for up to three months.
• How to Reheat: Reheat refrigerated portions easily in the microwave until warmed through. For larger quantities or frozen carrots, you can gently warm them on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of water or a small pat of butter if the glaze seems too thick.

Recipe Variations to Suit Every Preference

This recipe is wonderfully adaptable! Feel free to customize it to your liking or dietary needs:

• Substitutions: If baby carrots aren’t available, you can easily use regular carrots sliced into uniform coins or sticks. Just ensure they are cut to a similar size for even cooking.
• Vegetarian Option: Good news! This copycat Cracker Barrel recipe is already 100% vegetarian, using only plant-based vegetables and dairy.
• Vegan Option: To make this dish entirely vegan, simply swap out the dairy butter for your favorite plant-based butter alternative. The texture and flavor will remain delicious.
• Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free, as all the core ingredients—carrots, butter, brown sugar, and salt—do not contain gluten. It’s a safe and tasty choice for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Alcohol-Free Option: Our recipe for this classic Cracker Barrel side dish is completely alcohol-free, and we haven’t encountered any traditional variations that typically use alcohol.
• Smaller or Larger Servings: The recipe as written yields ten servings. It’s incredibly easy to scale up or down. Simply double the ingredients for holidays or a big family dinner, or halve them for a smaller, more intimate meal.
• Make It Spicy: While Cracker Barrel doesn’t traditionally serve this dish spicy, you can add a fun kick! A few dashes of cayenne pepper, a pinch of paprika, or even a touch of red pepper flakes can introduce a pleasant warmth and depth of flavor.
• Sugar-Free: For a sugar-free version, replace the brown sugar with a granulated sugar-free brown sugar alternative. This allows you to enjoy the sweet glaze with reduced sugar content.

Expert Tips for the Best Cracker Barrel Carrots

Achieve glazed carrot perfection every time with these helpful tips:

• Rinse Thoroughly: Always give your carrots a good rinse under cold water before cooking to remove any dirt or debris.
• Adequate Water Coverage: Ensure the fresh baby carrots are completely covered with water in the pot during the initial boiling phase for even cooking.
• Test for Tenderness: The carrots are ready when they are easily pricked with a fork. Be careful not to overcook them into mushiness!
• Sweetness Balance: The brown sugar and butter are key to that delightful sweetness. Don’t be afraid to taste and adjust the amount of brown sugar to your preference for a sweeter or less sweet glaze.
• The Cracker Barrel Secret: If you’ve ever wondered how Cracker Barrel gets their baby carrots so tender and flavorful, this recipe truly captures their method!
• A Hint of Spice: For a subtle warm spice note, a small pinch of nutmeg can be a wonderful addition to the glaze.
• Savory Twist: Some home cooks like to add a tablespoon or two of bacon grease for an extra layer of savory flavor. While I haven’t tried it myself, it’s a popular variation for Southern-style dishes.
• Sugar Alternatives: If you don’t have brown sugar, white granulated sugar can be used. The flavor will be slightly different, perhaps less caramel-like, but still delicious.
• Butter vs. Margarine: We use butter for its rich flavor, but margarine can be used as a substitute if that’s your preference.
• Explore More Carrot Recipes: If you love these, be sure to check out all of our favorite recipes with carrots for more inspiration!

What to Serve with Cracker Barrel Carrots

These slightly sweet and wonderfully tender Cracker Barrel Carrots are incredibly versatile. They complement a wide range of dishes, from breakfast to dinner, making them a fantastic addition to almost any meal. Here are some menu planning suggestions:

Sides: Pair them with other comforting classics like BLT Pasta Salad, rich Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams, classic Southern Style Green Beans, savory CrockPot Bourbon Baked Beans, a hearty CrockPot Tater Tot Chicken Casserole, creamy Slow Cooker Corn Pudding, warm Easy Homemade Banana Bread, or crispy Hasselback Potatoes.

Main Dishes: These carrots are a perfect accompaniment to main courses such as a savory Bacon Pot Pie, comforting Crock Pot Swedish Meatballs, hearty Crock Pot Steak Stroganoff, creamy Crockpot Mushroom Pasta Casserole. They also pair wonderfully with breakfast-for-dinner options like Easy German Apple Pancake, a decadent French Toast Casserole, flavorful Apple & Raisin French Toast, or fluffy Cracker Barrel Pecan Pancakes. Don’t forget they’re a great side for a crockpot turkey.

Desserts: After a meal featuring these carrots, satisfy your sweet tooth with desserts like light 2 Ingredient Lemon Bars, warm Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling, refreshing Orange Dreamsicle Salad, classic Bisquick Peach Cobbler, chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, fun Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies, quick Air Fryer Donuts, buttery Cinnamon & Sugar Crescents, sweet Raspberry Coffee Cake, or easy Biscuit Donuts.

When to Serve These Delicious Carrots

The beauty of these sweet glazed carrots lies in their versatility. They’re suitable for almost any meal and occasion:

• Breakfast: A surprisingly delightful addition to a hearty breakfast spread.
• Brunch: Perfect for a leisurely weekend brunch.
• Lunch: A fantastic side for a midday meal.
• Dinner: An ideal accompaniment to any main course, from weeknight meals to Sunday roasts.
• Holiday Meals: A festive and flavorful choice for special gatherings.
• Thanksgiving Dinner: A classic and beloved vegetable side.
• Christmas: Adds a pop of color and sweetness to your holiday table.
• Easter: A fresh and vibrant side for your spring celebration.

More Cracker Barrel Recipes You’ll Love

If you enjoyed making these carrots, you’ll love exploring our other copycat Cracker Barrel recipes:

Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings

Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole

Cracker Barrel Green Beans

Cracker Barrel Pancakes

Cracker Barrel Fried Apples

Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheddar Chicken

You can also find this fantastic recipe featured in our comprehensive sloppy joes side dish roundup and our epic side dishes to serve with ham collection!

Looking for more delicious ideas? Explore our extensive collections of copycat recipes, irresistible dessert recipes, and convenient CrockPot Recipes.

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Copycat Cracker Barrel Carrots Recipe

How to make copycat Cracker Barrel Carrots at home. This easy carrot recipe makes a great holiday side dish.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings: 10

Calories: 69 kcal

Author: Tammilee Tips

Ingredients

• 2 lbs Baby Carrots
• 3 Tablespoon Butter
• 1.5 Tablespoon Brown Sugar (can add more if you want them sweeter)
• 1 teaspoon Salt (add to taste)

Instructions

1. Wash the carrots, add them to a saucepan and cover completely with water.
2. Cover and bring to a boil, allow to simmer for 30-40 minutes until carrots are just getting tender.
3. Remove half of the pan water carefully. Add in brown sugar, butter, and salt and stir together. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until carrots are fork tender.
4. A fork should easily stick through the carrot when they are ready to be served.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Copycat Cracker Barrel Carrots Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 69 | Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g (6%)

Saturated Fat 2g (13%)

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 9mg (3%)

Sodium 334mg (15%)

Potassium 218mg (6%)

Carbohydrates 9g (3%)

Fiber 3g (13%)

Sugar 6g (7%)

Protein 1g (2%)

Vitamin A 12615IU (252%)

Vitamin C 2mg (2%)

Calcium 32mg (3%)

Iron 1mg (6%)

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.