Welcome to a whole new world of ways to enjoy carrots! Sweet mashed carrots get a serious upgrade in this creamy, cheesy carrot casserole. The cheesy filling and yummy, buttery cracker topping make for something everyone will love at your next Sunday dinner or family get-together. This is a perfect recipe to make if you have lots of extra carrots and need to use them up. Be prepared to serve it as you ask for the recipe!
For other recipes with carrots, try ours Honey Roasted Carrots or us Delicious creamy carrot soup.
Why our recipe?
- Sweet mashed carrots get an upgrade with creamy, cheesy goodness.
- A Ritz cracker topping gives a buttery crunch on top for the win.
- This is a great way to switch things up for your veggie side to serve with any meal.
This Cheesy Carrot Casserole is a great way to use up carrots and get everyone eating more carrots. With just a few ingredients and a few steps, you'll love how easy it comes together. The buttery crunch of the Ritz cracker topping is the perfect finishing touch, giving this dish an irresistible contrast of textures. It's a fun and delicious way to change up your usual side dishes and everyone is guaranteed to come back for seconds!
Material notes
- Carrots: Peel and chop your carrots before you cook them. You can also use frozen carrots if needed. Baby carrots also work.
- White Onion: This recipe calls for chopping onions. If you don't have white onions on hand, a yellow onion will work too.
- Sour Cream: We recommend full-fat sour cream, but low-fat sour cream can be used alongside plain Greek yogurt.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: This recipe is all about cheese and carrots, so you'll definitely want to make sure you have that before you get started! Feel free to use mild or sharp cheddar cheese depending on your preference.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: Even more cheese! We always recommend grating your own Parmesan as it melts better.
- Ritz Crackers: These buttery and crunchy crackers make the most delicious toppings. Use another similar buttery cracker instead. 1 sleeve equals about 1 cup of crumbs.
Carrots cut short
If you want to peel your carrots, here are some time-saving options.
Baby carrots: These work just the same and don't require peeling, saving you some prep time. Simply give them a quick rinse and adjust the cooking time, as they may soften a bit too quickly.
Frozen Carrots: Frozen carrots can be used as a convenient alternative. Let them thaw slightly before cooking, and be aware that their texture will soften and the cooking time will need to be significantly reduced.
Pre-cut carrots: Many grocery stores sell pre-peeled and chopped carrots in the produce section. They save time and work perfectly in this casserole.
Carrots are being prepared
For this recipe, you will be chopping the carrots and mashing them, so you want to make sure to boil the carrots until they are very tender. Depending on how big your carrots are, they may need to cook longer. Once they are soft enough, you can use a potato masher or a food processor to mash them.
Please direct forward
This is a great side dish to make ahead of time. You just make the filling first and then cover the pan and either refrigerate it overnight, then bake as directed. You can also cover it and freeze it for up to a month, then bake for 50-60 minutes with a tinfoil cover for the first half of the baking time. In either case, make the cracker topping separately and then add it to the casserole just before baking.
Storage and reheating instructions
Keep in fridge Leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
to freeze Store leftovers in an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheat Bake portions in oven at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
