Easy Cranberry Apple Slow Cooker Carrots Recipe (2024)

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Cranberry Apple Slow Cooker Carrots is an easy and unique side dish perfect for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or Christmas. Cooking them in a slow cooker brings out their natural sweetness and I love cooking carrots this way!

I’m back with another drool-worthy recipe for you! Hi, it’s me, Jordan, by the way! We met last month over the Fall Harvest Salad I shared with you. I’m usually over at jz-eats.com, but today I’m here sharing an easy to make side dish perfect for fall!

Summer honestly went by way too fast for me. I can’t believe we’re already talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, the weather here in Maryland is about as ready for fall as I am. It’s not.Lately, we’ve had days in the 80’s which is so not normal for this time of year! Or try our Caramelized Carrots, they are great for Easter too.

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Helpful Tips, Tricks, and Equipment

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If you’re in themarket for a new slow cooker or don’t yet have one, this is my favorite one as it is a sous vide too!!
For a stronger flavor, you can add a tablespoon of bourbon to the saucepan with the butter.It smells so good.
Sticky, sugary slow cooker recipes can be hard to clean, so check out these tips for cleaning your slow cooker!
Cooking with slow cooker liners makes clean up super easy, these are the ones I use.
For a more casual dinner serve right from the slow cooker or for family-style use some lovely serving dishes.

Slow Cooker Carrots

Anyways, I want to tell you all about these carrots and why you’re going to love them so much. I already love carrots anyway I can get them from roasted carrots to simple butter carrots and don’t forget carrot cake!!

Around the holidays, we tend to use up every square inch of our kitchen, every rack in the oven, and every burner on the stove. Even the microwave seems to be occupied at all times!

That’s why I love crock pot recipes. I can put all the ingredients in the slow cooker, set it and forget it. Sometimes, I will even plug it in outside of the kitchen so I can have all the counter space.

If you’re bringing these slow cooker carrots to a friend or family’s home, slow cookers are easily transportable and can be plugged in anywhere to keep your dish warm. I loathe fighting over stove and oven space at Friendsgiving, so these slow cooker carrots are a lifesaver!

Slow Cooker Carrots Ingredients

This isn’t just any old carrot recipe, these are cranberry-apple slow cooker carrots. Two fall staple ingredients brought together to create a sweet and tangy side dish that just screams fall!

We’re using fresh cranberries and apples, a heaping of brown sugar to balance out the tart flavor of the berries, and some maple syrup to create a sticky glazey sauce for slathering over the carrots.

How to Make Slow Cooker Carrots

Slow cooker carrots are one of the easiest things I’ve ever made! The prep is simple and you don’t even have to think about the carrots while they cook for several hours.

When I first made this recipe I used full-sized carrots. I put all the ingredients in the slow cooker together and stirred them after about an hour to combine everything.

The next time I tested the recipe, I decided to chop the carrots into 1-inch medallions, combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan, and then transfer them to the slow cooker. I liked this method MUCH better. Baby carrots work too and don’t require extra prep (peeling and chopping) so I’ve listed them in the ingredient section of the recipe card rather than full-sized carrots.

To make the carrots, start by heating a medium-sized saucepan with butter over medium-low heat. Once the butter has melted, add the maple syrup and brown sugar. Stir until the brown sugar is completely dissolved and there are no clumps in the mixture.

Next, mix in the cranberries, apple, and carrots until they are fully coated in the sauce. If you are using full-sized carrots, pour the cranberry sauce mixture over them in the slow cooker and toss until fully coated. Cook everything on low for 4 hours.

Some Questions You Might Have About This Carrot Recipe

What type of carrots should I use?

I tested this recipe a few times and actually preferred using baby carrots or full-sized carrots sliced into 1-inch medallions. I found it easier to coat the carrots this way. They are easier to eat, too! Full-sized carrots make a really nice presentation though.

Which herbs can I use in this recipe?

Herbs like rosemary or parsley taste great with these slow cooker carrots. Be careful not to add too much rosemary or it will overpower the other flavors.

I love to garnish the carrots with fresh chopped parsley or a few of the carrot top leaves. The carrot tops can be bitter, so don’t use too many!

Can I caramelize the carrots?

If you want a nice, sticky caramelization on the carrots, place them on a foiled baking sheet and broil them on high for 2 minutes. Watch them carefully so they don’t burn!

What to serve with slow cooker carrots

Supreme Steak
Stuffed Roasted Turkey Breast
Lemon Rosemary Chicken

Other slow cooker recipes

Chili Lime Pulled Chicken
Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

More easy side dishes

Broccolini With Marcona Almonds
26 Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Cranberry Apple Slow Cooker Carrots Recipe

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes

Cranberry Apple Slow Cooker Cooker Carrots Recipe is an easy side dish for the holidays that frees up the oven for other uses. We have two variations of the recipe to show you.

Ingredients

16 oz baby carrots*
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 apple, cubed, I used a honey crisp
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar

Instructions

Soften butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat.
When butter is melted, add maple syrup and sugar, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved and there are no clumps. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add cranberries, apple, and carrots, toss to coat completely.
Transfer all ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for 3 hours.*

Notes

If using full sized carrots, drizzle the cranberry sauce mixture over them in the slow cooker and toss to coat.
This recipe produces firm carrots that still have a little crunch, if you prefer softer carrots, cook on low for 4 hours.