7 Ways to Make a Meal Out of Frozen Carrots

Frozen carrots are a freezer staple in all their many forms: crinkled, sliced, diced, and spiralized. If you’re like us, you already rely on them for quick sides, but these root vegetables are capable of far more than you might give them credit for. Here are 7 ways to turn a bag of frozen carrots into a meal.

Adding a handful of this naturally-sweet root veggie means you get an extra dose of veggies to start the day, and you can also skip the added sweeteners. Carrots pair especially well with fruits like orange, mango, and pineapple, so try adding a handful to any of these smoothies:

• Tropical Turmeric Smoothie
• Creamy Orange Date Smoothie
• Mango Yogurt Smoothie

Take your pick of sweet or savory muffins — carrots can go both ways. Start with thawed diced carrots and mix them straight into the batter as you normally would shredded carrots or other vegetables.

No matter what cut of frozen carrots you’ve got stashed in the freezer, they have a place in your weeknight stir-fry. Toss them into the wok straight from the freezer, and dinner is ready in minutes.

Simmered in broth, frozen carrots will turn tender in no time. Blend with coconut milk to make a lush and creamy soup.

Toss the carrots straight from the freezer into a hot, oil-slicked pan, season them just the way you like, and you’ve got a healthy dose of veggies to round out any grain or noodle bowl.

Hearty carrots add a subtle natural sweetness to curries and stews. They’re quick-cooking, so wait to stir them into the pot until the last minute or two of cooking. Carrots also make a nice substitute for all types of winter squash.

A big handful of frozen carrots is just the ticket for bulking up that leftover rice lingering in the back of the fridge and turning it into a totally satisfying and filling fried rice dinner.