Ultrathin carbon-coated LiMnPO4 (ULMP/C) nanoplates were prepared through an ethylene glycol- (EG-) assisted pyrolysis method. Different from most of LiMnPO4/C works, the obtained ULMP/C possessed relatively small particle size (less than 50 nm in thickness) and preferable carbon coating (~1 nm in thickness, 2 wt.%). As a reference, LiMnPO4/C (LMP/C) composites were also fabricated via the traditional hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), galvanostatic charge-discharge, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were performed to characterize the crystalline phase, morphology, structure, carbon content, and electrochemical behaviors of samples. The electrochemical performance of bare and carbon-coated LiMnPO4 was evaluated as cathodes in lithium ion batteries. As a result, the obtained ULMP/C nanoplates demonstrated much higher reversible capacities (110.9 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles at 0.1 C) and rate performances than pure LMP and LMP/C composites. This facile and efficient EG-assisted pyrolysis method can enlighten us on exploiting advanced routes to modify active materials with ultrathin and homogeneous carbon layers.