What happens when you bake extra sharp cheddar cheese, fresh baby carrots, cream, and flavored croutons together all in one dish? You get this supremely tasty and savory, Creamy Cheesy Carrot Casserole.
This is the perfect, easy vegetable side dish for your next holiday meal that everyone will be talking about!
This tasty carrot casserole is super creamy and delicious. The extra sharp cheddar, butter and light cream hug the sweet, tender baby carrots in a rich, cheesy sauce.
There's a nice zing from the Worcestershire in the simple homemade cream sauce, and the buttery crunch from the croutons (which surprisingly hold up well even when this is made ahead of time) makes this veggie casserole extra flavorful and unique.
This cheesy carrot side dish pairs well with ham, chicken, pork and turkey. It's perfect for a family dinner, but also makes an excellent holiday side dish.
I often serve it at Easter and Thanksgiving, along with other favorite sides, including Cheddar Parmesan Mac and Cheese, Cheesy Rice Zucchini Casserole and Pickled Red Beet Salad!
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👪Why you'll love it
| Vitamin packed vegetable side dish- fresh baby carrots are the star of the show in this tasty side, offering a wonderful dose of potassium and vitamin C! Bonus: Carrots are much cheaper than so many other raw vegetables, making this casserole very affordable! Easy, make ahead recipe- There is minimal effort in making this dish other than pre-cooking the carrots (and honestly, that really isn't much work). This cheesy carrot casserole also keeps well in the fridge and can be made several hours in advance, which comes in handy for busy weeknights and for holiday meal planning. Kid approved- Kids love baby carrots because they're sweet. Mix them with the smooth and rich cheese sauce and crispy, crunchy croutons, and you have a winner for a family dinner! |
🥘Ingredients
- cooked, sliced baby carrots- baby carrots are sweeter and already peeled--fresh carrots are also better over frozen because they have more flavor and also aren't as mushy
- cheddar and garlic flavored croutons- adds a wonderful crispy crunch and flavor to this dish
- extra sharp cheddar cheese- provides a superb creaminess with a little bit of tang. Choose to grate it yourself rather than buying shredded, which has a waxy coating that affects the cheese's taste
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten- help to hold all the goodness together
- light cream- adds to the creaminess, without going overboard; you could swap this for whole milk
- butter- provides additional flavor
- Worcestershire sauce- adds a robust tang to the sauce
- salt- accentuates the flavors
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪Instructions
- Step 1: Cook carrots until just tender, then place in a greased casserole dish.
- Step 2: Add the grated cheese.
- Step 3: Mix in the croutons.
- Step 4: Make the sauce; pour it on top; cover and bake.
Hint: To save time, grate the cheese while the carrots are cooking.
🥣Substitutions
You can use plain croutons if you can't find cheddar and garlic flavored.
🍽Equipment
- cutting board and chef's knife
- medium saucepan with lid
- colander
- cheese grater
- 2 quart casserole dish, lightly greased
- measuring cups and measuring spoons
- small, microwave safe bowl
- mixing spoons
🍶Storage
Refrigerate, store in an airtight container and enjoy within 5 days.
Because of the croutons, freezing isn't recommended.
To reheat, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
💭Top Tip
Make sure all of the croutons are covered by the sauce before baking this carrot casserole. This prevents them from drying out in the oven. It's okay if they get a little crisp and golden brown, but they shouldn't look burnt.
🥄Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
🍴Pairing
Cheesy Carrot Casserole is a great vegetable side dish to include on your holiday menu, especially for Easter and Thanksgiving. These are my favorite dishes to serve with it:
📋Recipe
Creamy Cheesy Carrot Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 cups (about 2 lbs.) cooked, sliced baby carrots
- 2 cups cheddar and garlic flavored croutons may substitute plain croutons
- 1 cup freshly grated, extra sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten
- ¼ cup light cream may substitute whole milk
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Cook sliced carrots on stovetop until just tender. This usually takes about 15 minutes (check with a fork periodically). Drain in colander and allow to cool slightly.
- Once the carrots are slightly cooled, pour them into a greased 2-quart casserole dish. Then add the grated cheese and mix.
- Next, add the croutons and mix.
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe mixing bowl (covered with plastic wrap with a little gap for venting).
- Cool slightly, then add the light cream to the bowl and stir.
- Add the slightly beaten eggs, Worcestershire sauce and salt; stir to combine.
- Pour sauce over carrot mixture, making sure that the croutons on top are coated.
- Bake, covered, in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 20 minutes; uncover and bake 5-10 minutes more or until bubbling and slightly brown.
- Let stand 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy!
Barbara K. says
I'll have to try this as a change from my usual dinner side.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
I hope you enjoy it! This is an excellent side dish with poultry!
Bonnie R. says
This is great for its protein value and sounds easy and tasty.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
You're so right! It's absolutely delicious. I hope you give it a try!