Spiced Roasted Carrots with Lemony Whipped Feta - Kalejunkie (2024)

Warm roasted carrots sit atop a bed of creamy whipped feta for a Thanksgiving side dish that will please both the vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, at your dinner table. Introducing my Spiced Roasted Carrots with Lemony Whipped Feta, a delicious and easy dish that comes together in just 30 minutes. It’s made from perfectly spiced carrots, a creamy homemade whipped feta dip that comes together in seconds, and is garnished with fresh herbs and pomegranate arils for a bright flavor profile that is sure to stand out!

Friends, it’s my favorite time of the year: Thanksgiving. As someone who creates recipes for a living, there is absolutely nothing that I love more than bringing people together over food. It’s why I’ve devoted the past several years to creating recipes and community that brings people together, and I can’t believe there is a community of over 1 million Kalejunkie readers now!

There’s something so special about being able to make food from scratch and share it with the ones that you love, which is why I love creating simple and healthy Thanksgiving recipes that you can share with your family. This side dish is not only perfect for serving alongside your favorite turkey, but it also comes together in 30 minutes (and can be prepped ahead of time). Which means that you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your family. What could be better than that?

And for the ultimate Thanksgiving meal (KJ style, of course), I recommend pairing these carrots alongside my Cinnamon Bourbon Cranberry Sauce, my Vegan Stuffing, or my Creamy Green Bean Casserole. Yum!

What You Need to Make This Bright & Flavorful Vegetarian Side Dish

• Carrots: Carrots are the star of this dish! I recommend using baby carrots, however you CAN also use regular carrots! I just recommend chopping them in half to make them easier to cook and eat. See my notes in the recipe card for full instructions on this!
• Olive Oil: Olive oil is full of healthy fats and adds a delicious flavor to these carrots!
• Honey: Honey adds the perfect amount of sweetness to these carrots, without the refined sugars, and without making them too sweet.
• Spice Blend: To perfectly season these carrots, we’ll be using a blend of sea salt, ground black pepper, Aleppo pepper, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon. Yum!
• Feta Cheese: I always recommend using traditional greek feta that is packaged in brine, in a block, rather than pre-crumbled feta cheese, as it has the best flavor.l
• Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is not only thick and creamy, but it’s packed with protein, making the whipped feta both healthy and delicious.
• Lemon: You’ll need the juice of approximately one lemon (3 tablespoons) to add the perfect balance of acidity to the whipped feta!
• Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves add the best flavor to the whipped feta! I highly recommend them, here.
• Garnishes: These are optional, but I love adding these garnishes on top of the carrots and whipped feta to bring even more flavor to them! I recommend garnishing these carrots with some chopped parsley, olive oil, more Aleppo pepper, or pomegranate arils.

How to Make This Perfect Thanksgiving Day Side Dish

To make these carrots, start by preheating your oven to 400 F. Next, wash the carrots (and cut them, if desired), being sure to remove the stems. Add them to a large bowl, alongside the olive oil, honey, and all of the seasonings: the Aleppo pepper, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, sea salt, and black pepper. Use your hands to toss the carrots and fully coat them in the seasoning blend. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and transfer the carrots to the baking sheet, making sure they are spread out evenly. Roast the carrots for 20-25 minutes, until they are fork tender. At the halfway point, remove the tray from the oven and toss the carrots to ensure that they cook evenly.

While the carrots are in the oven, prepare the whipped feta by adding the feta cheese, greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic to a food processor and processing them until the feta reaches a smooth and creamy texture. If you prefer a thinner consistency to the feta, you can add in a few tablespoons of water and re-process until the feta reaches your desired consistency.

Once the whipped feta is done, spread it across a plate. Then, once the carrots are done, remove them from the oven and add them on top of the whipped feta. Garnish the carrots with some chopped fresh parsley, a drizzle of olive oil, more Aleppo pepper, or pomegranate arils, if desired. Then, serve and enjoy!

How to Prepare This Dish Ahead of Time

Let’s be honest: Thanksgiving Day is a busy day in the kitchen, which means that any recipe you can prepare ahead of time will make your life much easier. Luckily, this is one of those recipes that is super easy to prepare ahead of the big day!

To prepare these carrots ahead of time, prepare the carrots and whipped feta according to the instructions above. Then, store them separately in airtight containers, in the fridge, until you’re ready to serve them. Then, to reheat the carrots, line them up on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake them in the oven at 250 F for 10-15 minutes. Then, follow the plating instructions above, serve, and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along onInstagram,TikTok,andYoutube! I’m also now onPinterest,so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography byTanya Pilgrim