Sautéed Carrots with Bacon Dijon Dressing
Sautéed carrots tossed with a bacon Dijon dressing is an irresistible side dish. The slightly caramelized carrots get a spicy and smoky layer of flavor that makes them truly delectable!
Carrots are truly magnificent as a side dish. These honey-glazed carrots stand the test of time. But any recipe that has bacon added to it levels it up immediately – am I right? That’s why you’re going to fall head over heels for these sauteed carrots that are coated in an incredibly delicious bacon Dijon dressing. Plus, the smell of the sweet and savory flavors as the carrots cook is just *a chef’s kiss*.
This carrot side dish can be served any time of year, but it really hits home for a Thanksgiving side dish. So grab a big bundle of carrots this season to make the best-sautéed carrots ever.
Sautéed Carrots Recipe Ingredients
Here’s a quick run-through of the ingredients you’ll need.
- Carrots: I’m sticking with orange carrots for a unilateral orange tone. But you could also use rainbow carrots for an even more colorful side dish.
- Bacon Dijon Dressing: For the dressing you’ll need diced bacon (which will be cooked in the pan), Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Chives: This is optional, but highly suggested! It adds a pop of green and a fresh herbal contrast.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
Helpful tip: Dice the bacon as soon as you pull it out of the fridge. Otherwise the bacon will soften and it’ll be a bit harder to dice into smaller pieces.
How To Sauté Carrots
First, let’s get the bacon cooked until slightly crisp. Then transfer the bacon bits to a paper towel-lined plate and pour out some of the bacon fat from the pan. Keep enough just to sauté the carrots in!
Cook the carrots undisturbed and covered for 3 to 4 minutes. This will give them some time to let the edges caramelize in the bacon fat and soften while covered.
Stir in the bacon Dijon dressing. Give the carrots a quick stir and add the dressing ingredients – no need to make the dressing separately, you can simply mix it all together in the pan. Toss everything together until the carrots are evenly coated. And for the final touch, sprinkle those fresh chives on top!
Helpful tip: If you like your carrots with a bit more crunch, cook the carrots for a minute less, or leave the pan uncovered for the first couple of minutes.
Storage Tips
- To store: Leftover sautéed carrots can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- To freeze: Although they’ll be a bit softer over time, you can still freeze sautéed carrots. Store them in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months.
More Sautéed Side Dish Recipes
Aside from roasting, sautéed vegetables are a great way to get your favorite veggies on the dinner table fast. Here are a few more delicious ideas for the week!
- Sautéed Cabbage (or Fried Cabbage for extra bacon goodness!)
- Garlic Sautéed Spinach
- Parmesan Sautéed Zucchini
- Sautéed Garlic Ginger Bok Choy
If you give these sautéed carrots a try, let me know how they turned out in a comment below! I have a feeling you’re going to love them.
Sauteed Carrots with Bacon Dijon Dressing
Ingredients
- 4 pieces bacon, diced into ¼-inch pieces
- 1 ½ pounds carrots, peeled and thinly sliced on a diagonal
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon thinly sliced chives
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the bacon and cook for for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat from skillet.
- Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the carrots to the skillet, cover, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes without stirring, allowing the bottom edge to caramelize.
- Remove the lid and stir uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the crispy bacon, mustard, honey, vinegar, salt, and pepper and stir for an additional minute, to combine.
- Garnish and toss with freshly chopped chives before serving.
Thank you so much for gathering an Easter menu! I picked these carrots as one of our sides. So easy to make and great flavor!
Glad this side dish worked out great for Easter!
I made this for Thanksgving it was a big hit. I will make it again soon. Not just for Thanksgiving.
Glad this was a hit for Thanksgiving!
This recipe is simple enough for a weeknight addition. Loved the addition of bacon as well as the sweetness of the carrots.
Oh yes, perfect for any time really!
Wonderful! I made this for Thanksgiving. Received praise around the table. Emails after begging for the recipe. Unexpected flavor and great depth of richness. I cleaned and cut the carrots day before. Made Dijon sauce while they were simmering. Very easy to put together while the Turkey is being carved. We had lemon almond green beans also. Lots of colors on our plates.
Tip: Costco sells organic carrots 5-6 pounds for 3.99. I didn’t make all of them so I shared the rest of the raw carrots with a neighbor. Of course she wanted the recipe too! This will become an occasional everyday veggie for us. Just delicious and easy to make.
Thank you, Lisa.
Glad this dish was a hit for Thanksgiving Kathy!
Delicious side dish at the thanksgiving table!
You had me at Dijon and bacon! I made these for one of our Thanksgiving sides and everyone loved them. We have lots of food allergies in our family and everyone could eat these! Thanks for a delicious recipe!
Glad everyone enjoyed this carrot dish Cindy!
Tried this on a whim this year (at Thanksgiving dinner) and hands down the most talked about dish at dinner. Will definitely be making again and not just once a year!
Glad this dish was such a hit Megan!
These carrots were the star of the show at our family’s thanksgiving dinner! I loathe cooked carrots, but this recipe sounded so delicious and I was intrigued to try it. I am not kidding when I say these are probably my new favorite side dish. They were bright, flavorful, perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious!
Glad everyone enjoyed this carrot dish!
Going to make this for a friend’s thanksgiving side. Wondering if baby carrots cut in half length-wise will work as well? Have to make ahead of time, so I will undercook the carrots a bit. Thank you!
I think you could definitely give that a try! Let us know how it turns out. :)
How do you reheat this if you make it ahead of time?
You can either microwave it or saute it again on the stove. And if you’re making it ahead of time, I’d reduce the cook time on the carrots, just so that they don’t soften too much on reheating.
Holy cow, these were simply AMAZING!! I was planning on bringing this for Thanksgiving and tried it out tonight! Everyone loved it & super easy! Can I ask what cut/brand of bacon you buy ?
Woot! So happy you loved the recipe Jennifer! I usually buy Applegate Organics bacon. :)
To say these sauteed carrots are amazing is an understatement. Definitely my new favorite carrot recipe!!
So happy you love the recipe Kay!
I tried this‘ recipe’ last night, guessing at the proportions from the photo. Is there an actual recipe or do we just wing it?
Hi Jane – the recipe card with exact proportions is right above where you wrote this comment. You can also find it with the “jump to recipe” button at the top of the page.