These Apricot Glazed Carrots with Bacon and Jalapeños are the perfect sweet and savory side for your Thanksgiving table.
In a few weeks, we’ll all be scrambling for some quick and easy sides for Thanksgiving, so this week I’ll be sharing two side dishes that are always a favorite at our holiday table.
First off, these tasty Apricot Glazed Carrots with Bacon and Jalapeños. They’re slightly sweet, slightly savory, and 100% easy and delicious.
I shared something similar way back at the beginning of the blog. It was a cold Spicy Sweet Potato Salad as a side for our Easter holiday ham. Instead of using a mayo dressing for the salad, I lightened it up with some apricot preserves and apple cider vinegar. I spiced it up with some jalapeños, and added some bacon because, well, we all know bacon makes everything better.
So I got to thinking, since I loved the flavors of the potato salad, but don’t usually serve cold salads for Thanksgiving dinner, why not substitute some carrots for the sweet potatoes, and serve it as a warm side for the holidays?
You won’t just love how tasty these are, you’ll love that you only need a handful of ingredients, and less than 30 minutes to make the recipe happen. Music to your ears for the holiday, right? Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. package baby carrots
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 4 slices bacon chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion finely chopped
- 1 jalapeno seeded, and finely chopped
- 1/4 cup apricot preserves
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
- extra chopped jalapenos for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add 1/2 tsp. salt and carrots and cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Drain.
- In a skillet, cook bacon over medium high heat until crisp. Remove from pan with slotted spoon to paper towel lined plate. Reserve 1 tablespoon grease in skillet.
- Saute onions and jalapenos in skillet until softened and golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Whisk in apricot preserves and vinegar and simmer until smooth. Add the carrots and toss until well coated. Cook for an additional 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer carrots to a serving dish and sprinkle with bacon and extra jalapenos. Serve warm.
Chris Scheuer
I love giving old recipes brand new clothes! These carrots sound amazing MaryAnn! I love the sweet and spicy combo. Pinned!
Mary Ann
Me too Chris. It was perfect with the carrots! Just as good as the sweet potatoes! Happy Monday!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Our thanksgiving is over, but these would be fabulous for Christmas! Love the sweet/spicy/savoury flavours you have goin’ here, especially the jalapeno! These will be hitting our dinner table soon. Pinned! Have a lovely week, my friend! XO
Mary Ann
Yes they would Dawn. I love the sweet and spicy flavor too. Thanks for pinning and hope you have an awesome week!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
I really REALLY love me some carrots, Mare, so these beauties are SCREAMING my name!! I am just dying over the combination of flavors here – SO GOOD! I’m not sure I can hold off to Thanksgiving to make these! I need a platter of these all to my self ASAP! Pinned! Cheers!
Mary Ann
Lol! Give them an early go Chey! They’re so easy and the sweet and savory combo is always a favorite. Happy Monday!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Oh yes! I am not a lover of naked vegetables, so I’m loving this flavourful spin on carrots. Will be trying these :)
Mary Ann
Me either Jennifer! I wish I was, but I need something more enticing! Hope you enjoy these!
Gerlinde@Sunnycovechef
Carrots are one the few vegetables my husband will eat . I still have some of my homemade apricot marmalade in the fridge , perfect for your recipe and who can say no to bacon. Thank you for the recipe and have a wonderful week Mary Ann.
Mary Ann
Yay! I think he’ll really enjoy these Gerlinde! Hope you have an awesome week too!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
LOVING this! The thing I struggle with most at Thanksgiving is finding sides that aren’t too labor-intensive and don’t need to go in the oven. This is a delicious solution to both problems! Thank you, Mary Ann! Have a great week :)
Mary Ann
Yes, these are so incredibly easy Kelsie! I know, I’m always trying to free up some oven space too!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks
Bacon does make everything better! These carrots look delicious and would make the perfect holiday side!
Mary Ann
Oh yes it does Rachelle! Hope you give them a go!
annie@ciaochowbambina
Oh my – I love how you came to the idea for this dish! The bacon and jalapeños are genius! I’m always wishing my carrot dishes had more flavor! Voila! Thank you!!
Mary Ann
It was awesome in the sweet potato salad Annie, so I figured why not carrots?! Enjoy!
Leigh Ann
I love anything savory with a hint of sweetness! These carrots look so perfect for any holiday table!
Mary Ann
Me too Leigh Ann. And apricot preserves have always been a favorite at our house!
Alida | Simply Delicious
Glazed carrots are by far one of my favourite side dishes and your version looks absolutely scrumptious Mary Ann!
Mary Ann
Thanks Alida!
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
OMG obsessed with the bacon and jalapenos!
Mary Ann
Me too Jennifer! You’ll love how easy these are and that they’ll take up no oven space for the holidays!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings
I love simple, flavorful sides like this for the holidays…in fact, the sides are always my favorite! This looks great! Happy Halloween girl!
Mary Ann
Thanks Karen! Hope you have an awesome Halloween too!
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes
Love that bright orange and those specks of green in between..This can brighten up any day! This is such an easy recipe…Although we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in India, but this could easily make for a great side dish for any of our family dinners!
Mary Ann
Yes, these are a perfect side for any dinner Deepika. Enjoy!
Natasha @ Salt & Lavender
I love glazed carrots! What an easy and fabulous side dish. I love carrots in general, so yeah… mmm!
Mary Ann
Hope you try them Natasha! I think you’ll really love the apricot glaze!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
We’re all done with Thanksgiving here in Canada, but these would be so perfect for my next Sunday supper! I’m thinking they’d go perfectly with a roasted chicken!! My husband will be very excited to see those jalapenos!
Mary Ann
They’re the perfect side for a roast chicken Sunday dinner Katherine. Hope your husband enjoys them! And the bacon!
Jennifer Farley
Beautiful colors! I love glazed carrots as a side dish this time of year.
Mary Ann
I love them too Jennifer. I even enticed my husband to try these. He loved the bacon and jalapenos.
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
You had me at jalapeños! I’ve been adding them to so many savoury dishes lately! This would be a perfect side for Christmas!
Mary Ann
Yay! So glad you like this one Leanne! Perfect side for Christmas dinner!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen
Yum – just love simple, delicious food like these gorgeous carrots, Mary Ann. Such a bright and pretty color too.
Mary Ann
These are so simple Geraldine. Perfect for the busy holiday season.
Matt Robinson
I’m obsessed with these MaryAnn, the flavors are amazing!!
Mary Ann
Thanks Matt!
Kevin | Kevin Is Cooking
My kinda carrots, love these flavors Mary Ann! It’s been forever since I had some time to look at my friend’s blogs and I’ve missed yours. So happy my afternoon turned out that I had spare time. I try to stay up to date with social postings, but it’s good to stop by the site now and again, right? Cheers!
Mary Ann
So glad you stopped by Kevin!