Bacon-Wrapped Maple-Glazed Carrots Recipe

This is truly a recipe for bacon lovers, including chef and recipe developer Susan Olayinka of The Flexible Fridge. "I just believe that bacon gives an amazing taste to anything that is wrapped in it," she said. "No matter what you match it with, it ups the taste and adds a depth of saltiness and so much flavor — it just makes everything so tasty."

Since the bacon is cooked in the oven, its yummy goodness also gets a distinctly crisp texture. This simple recipe requires just three ingredients: carrots, some streaky bacon pieces, and a bit of maple syrup. Not familiar with the phrase streaky bacon? Olayinka, who lives in London with her husband and son, says the term really means a thin slice of bacon — which is what Americans usually tend to cook with anyway. 

This dish takes a little time because the maple syrup is put on the bacon twice, but it's worth it. The prep won't take long at all, and the cooking takes about a half-hour. But the entire time you're baking, the wonderful smell of sizzling bacon will fill your home, so we think it's worth it.

The first step in making this recipe requires that you gather the Ingredients. With just three items, this will be easy. You need 10 carrots, 10 rashers of streaky (or thin) bacon, and a quarter-cup of maple syrup. You might also want some chopped parsley to add a dash of earthiness (or basil for a slight sweetness) and color to it.

You can also make a vegetarian version of this dish. Olayinka recommends using veggie bacon and wrapping it around the carrots with a little olive oil to help it stick to the vegetable since it won't be as adhesive as normal bacon.  

Ready for your 10 minutes of prep? First, wash the carrots, slice the stems off, and place them onto a parchment-lined baking tray. "I didn't peel the carrots, but I just wash them, and if they're not organic, I would wash them with a clean sponge," said Olayinka. 

Wrap one piece of bacon around a carrot, ensuring that the end of the bacon is tucked in so it doesn't come out. Do this for the remainder of the carrots. "I do it all in one, and I wash my hands after," said Olayinka.

Next, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Brush about half of the quarter-cup of maple syrup on all the bacon-wrapped carrots. Be careful to thoroughly glaze all of the vegetables. Place into the oven on 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.

After the time is up, take the pan out of the oven and coat with another layer of maple syrup. Then put the carrots into the oven again and cook for another 15 minutes. "Maple syrup is perfect for the carrots," said Olayinka. "It adds to the sweet and salty taste, and it also creates more crispness as the sugar crystallizes."

After 30 minutes of cooking, take your bacon-wrapped, maple-flavored carrots of the oven because they are now ready to be served. You can garnish the dish with chopped parsley or basil, both of which will add flavor and a bit of color. 

This side dish works well on so many levels. It dresses up a basic dinner like meatloaf, and it adds a vegetable everyone will want on their plate during a holiday meal. "These carrots will pair really nicely with a roast dinner," suggests Olayinka. "So things like roast lamb, chicken." You can also add other vegetables to accompany it like a salad and potatoes.