Old Fashioned Carrot Casserole

If you haven’t made a casserole with carrots yet you should for the next holiday as a healthy side dish! We have shared How to Cook Carrots in a number of different ways but this is the latest creation and so delicious. A vegetarian treat that goes with any main dish.

Of course there are ways to enjoy this veggie without cooking it at all. Sticks dipped in Ranch dressing is a kid fave that many have enjoyed for years. Recently we made Raw Carrot Salad Recipe that was on TikTok and so popular, that was wonderful too with a light dressing shaved in spirals.

Now I normally don’t shred these unless I am making this or our Apple Carrot Muffins. Usually peeled and cut into dials for a stew or sticks for snacking you will need thinner, smaller pieces so each bite becomes super tender and soaks up the sauce to give it a bit of a savory element to it.

Ingredient Notes

You are going to want about 2 lbs fresh carrots peeled and shredded, or chopped baby carrots if that is all you have. Your best bet is to use a cheese grater so each shred is the same size and small to get nice and tender.

Shredding Carrots with a Box Grater

Place the box grater on a stable surface, such as a cutting board or a clean countertop. Hold the grater by its handle, ensuring a comfortable grip. Take one of the trimmed carrots and position it against the side of the grater with the finest grating holes.

With a firm grip , push it down and across the grater’s surface, using a downward motion. Be sure to keep your fingers away from the grating holes to avoid injury. Continue grating until you have shredded the desired amount. For safety, avoid grating down to the very end to prevent accidentally grating your fingers.

Can you use canned carrots?

You could but just know that they will get quite soft, mushy you might think, and would need to be chopped into smaller pieces.

Use about 1/2 cup of butter (I like salted) or dairy free plant based alternative works too but you would want to add a pinch of salt with that one ideally for flavor.

I like to add some parmesan cheese or sharp cheddar cheese but this is optional. Red onion diced is optional of course

Heavy cream will make it creamier than milk and a large egg should be added at room temperature

Can you add Ritz crackers?

Some like to make this a carrot casserole recipe with ritz crackers and you could alter this one to do that one if you wanted to as well. Those would be crushed and sprinkled over the top to add a bit of texture and more of a savory element to it.

Another choice if you wanted to add more flavor and wow would be to sprinkle some crispy fried onionson the top. A great addition to any soft dish. If you needed to make this dairy free you could use coconut milk instead of cream (whisked with a bit of cornstarch since it isn’t as thick) and vegan plant based butter product.

Can you add broccoli?

If you did want to integrate a bit of other veggies into the mix you could. They would need to cook at the same rate so everything gets tender together. With broccoli and cauliflower florets you would want to chop them smaller so everything is about the same size. Only use 3/4 cup of each one and cut down a bit of the main ingredient by 1 cup.

How to Make Cheesy

The last ingredient is optional but we like all things cheesy if it pairs well and surprisingly it does. If you wanted a dairy free option Daiya has great shredded cheddar that tastes amazingly similar to the real thing.

How Long to Cook Carrot Casserole in Oven

You are going to need about 25 minutes to get the right texture. It is important to give it enough time to soften so it is easy to chew and the shredded vegetables soak up the creamy ingredients they are surrounded by as well.

Tips

Resting is necessary at the end so it can solidify more and can be served in more solid blocks vs. scooping out of the baked carrot casserole dish. We often serve this with our Ground Beef Casserole with Potatoes for dinner.

What Else Can I Make with A Lot of Carrots?

Now that you have perfect shreds you can use them in a wide range of recipes. Add them into Quick and Easy Casseroles, salads for extra crunch and color, incorporate them into coleslaws for a fresh twist, mix them into baked goods like Zucchini Carrot Muffins, or even use them as a topping for sandwiches and wraps.