Instant Pot Carrots

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Instant Pot Carrots are an easy, one-pot side dish with a simple honey dijon glaze. They come together in less than 30 minutes with very little hands-on time!

You guys, this carrot recipe is quick, easy and healthy! It’s the perfect side dish for busy weeknights as the Instant Pot does most of the work while you prepare the rest of dinner (like these super easy air fryer frozen meatballs)!

Overhead view of honey dijon carrots in a bowl and topped with chopped herbs.

We’ve been enjoying these carrots with braised beef short ribs and easy scalloped potatoes, but they’re also on the menu for the upcoming holiday season!

For Thanksgiving, these sweet carrots pair perfectly with buttery roasted turkey thighs, creamy garlic mashed potatoes and sous vide green beans.

What I love about this recipe is that the carrots are cut into pieces for quick cooking, which also results in every little piece being covered in the delicious honey dijon glaze (which is amazing on this Instant Pot cauliflower too)!

If whole carrots are more your love language, you’ll enjoy this recipe for sous vide carrots. And if you love the ease of baby carrots (no peeling or chopping required!), then you'll want to try this air fryer carrots recipe.

Check out the Instant Pot carrots story!

Why this recipe works

These carrots are made in one pot and are almost hands off. The carrots and glaze ingredients are mixed together and steamed in the Instant Pot insert, so you dirt up very few dishes!
Carrots are so versatile! They go with chicken, pork and beef, and pair nicely with almost all side dishes!
Carrots are available year round and they’re budget friendly so you can add them to the weeknight dinner menu a few times a week and serve them for large family gatherings!
The honey dijon glaze complements the natural sweetness of the carrots. You’ll love their fork tender texture too!

Ingredients

Refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and quantities.

You’ll need 1 pound of carrots for this recipe, cut into 2-inch pieces. I used carrots that were about 1-1 ½ inches in circumference.

The base of the cooking liquid is a ¼ cup of chicken broth. I normally use this crockpot chicken broth, but you can also substitute vegetable broth or even water.

For maximum flavor, you’ll add 2 tablespoons of grainy Dijon mustard to the carrots. I prefer grainy but you can also use smooth Dijon mustard. Some mustards are also a little saltier than others, so you may want to cut back on the salt you add to the recipe if your mustard is extra salty.

To enhance the sweetness of the carrots, 1 teaspoon of honey is added to the glaze. You can also use maple syrup or agave syrup if you prefer.

Step by step instructions

Combine all the ingredients in the Instant Pot and mix together.

Chopped carrots and glaze ingredients in the Instant Pot insert.

Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes. Use the quick release to release the pressure.

For carrots smaller in circumference, reduce the cook time by 1-2 minutes. I used carrots about 1-1 ½" in circumference for this recipe.

Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté setting and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes.

Expert tips

For even cooking, make sure you cut your carrots into roughly the same size pieces.
I used carrots that were about 1-1 ½ inches in circumference. If your carrots are smaller, you should reduce the cook time in the Instant Pot by 1-2 minutes.
Make sure you quick release the pressure. If you naturally release it, the carrots will continue cooking and could end up overcooked and soft.
For the chicken broth, you can use store-bought or homemade. This Instant Pot chicken bone broth is one of my favorites to use.
While the carrots need just 4 minutes to pressure cook on high and 2 minutes to sauté, you’ll want to factor in time for pressure to build and release in the Instant Pot.
You can substitute melted butter for the olive oil, just make sure it’s unsalted.

Common questions

Do you need to use a trivet or steamer basket for the carrots?

No, you don’t need to use a trivet or steamer basket to cook these carrots. They cook right in the Instant Pot insert with the cooking liquid so they can absorb all of the flavor.

Can you make this recipe vegan?

Absolutely! To make these Instant Pot carrots vegan just use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and maple syrup or agave syrup in place of the honey.

Can you use baby carrots for this recipe?

Yes, you can easily substitute baby carrots. It's a great way to save time as you don't need to peel or chop baby carrots. Since they're smaller, however, I suggest reducing the pressure cooking time by 1-2 minutes.

Can you make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can make these carrots a day in advance and reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.

Up close view of carrots with honey dijon glaze and chopped herbs.

Serving options

For an easy weeknight meal, we love these carrots paired with air fryer steak tips and roasted frozen broccoli.

You can also serve them for Sunday dinner with a sous vide whole chicken or sous vide chuck roast.

For the holidays, you’ll want to serve these easy carrots with honey baked ham, truffle mashed potatoes, traditional stuffing and cranberry chutney.

Instant Pot carrots in a bowl with a fork inserted into it.

Other Instant Pot side dishes

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!