Roasted Air Fryer Carrots
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These air fryer carrots are seasoned to perfection and deliciously crispy. This easy side dish requires just a few simple ingredients and is ready in less than 25 minutes from start to finish.
These air fryer carrots are not only very easy to make, but they are also incredibly delicious. Carrots are naturally sweet and full of flavor. Roasting carrots in the air fryer brings out their sweetness and intensifies the flavor.
They also get crispy (not quite like Air fryer French fries but close enough), meaning you won’t have to convince anyone to eat their veggies.
Air fryer carrot sticks can be made with baby carrots or whole carrots. All you have to do is quarter them into sticks, toss them with oil and seasonings, and cook until crisp. Then, garnish with some parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Pure perfection!
If you want to switch it up, you can make these air fryer roasted carrots with sliced carrots instead of carrot sticks, or vary the seasonings to your taste. I have multiple suggestions in the “variations to try” section below.
Reasons to love this recipe
- Tastes just like oven-roasted carrots, with far less work and hands-on time.
- Cooks in half the time of the traditional oven method.
- A healthy side dish that is crispy and perfectly seasoned.
- A great substitute for French fries and delicious dipped in ketchup or your favorite dressing or sauce.
Here’s what you need to make the recipe
Ingredient notes
- Baby carrots – I find whole carrots more flavorful when roasted, but you can use baby carrots for convenience if desired. If using whole carrots, make sure to peel them.
- Oil – I used avocado oil for these, but you can use olive oil if you would like to add a little flavor.
- Seasonings – Since carrots are naturally sweet and flavorful, they don’t need to be heavily seasoned to enhance the taste. I used black pepper, garlic powder, and salt.
- Parmesan cheese – Everything is better with a little bit of cheese added in. Parmesan is added as a garnish and makes eating healthy vegetables even easier.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
Tools
You’ll need an air fryer to make this recipe. Here are the two that I recommend
- Basket style (Phillips 7 QT, 1725W) – easier to flip food but cooks a smaller amount (2-3 servings).
- Oven-style (Ninja Dual Heat Air Fryer – 1800W) – The oven-style ones usually take more space, but what’s unique about this Ninja one is that it flips vertically for easy storage on the countertop. Most importantly, it allows you to cook six chicken breasts, 2 lbs roast, or 4 lbs of fries – perfect for families of 4 or more.
TIPS
- Chop the carrots the same size for even cooking.
- No overcrowding – Always arrange food in a single layer and cook in batches if needed.
- Toss or flip the food halfway during cooking to make sure the food is cooked evenly.
Variations to try
Even though carrots are naturally sweet and delicious, you may want to add some additional seasonings and flavors to give them an extra punch of flavor. Here are a few easy and delicious options:
- Parmesan garlic: Add the oil to a medium-sized bowl and add in 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan + 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder + 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Toss with the carrots until fully coated, and cook in the air fryer for 12-14 minutes.
- Honey roasted garlic: If you want something a little sweeter, drizzle your carrots with 2 tablespoons of honey and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder before placing it in the air fryer.
- Maple glazed with rosemary: A popular flavor combination for fall, maple and rosemary carrots are fancy enough for entertaining guests. Add 2 tablespoons maple syrup and 1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary before cooking.
- Brown sugar with butter: For a mix of sweet and savory, add 2 tablespoons of melted butter, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Toss well to combine and cook in the air fryer for 12-14 minutes.
- Ranch: Omit the seasonings and cheese. Toss your carrots with a packet of ranch dressing mix before cooking in the air fryer. If you don’t want the ranch infused into the carrots themselves, dip your seasoned carrots in ranch dressing after cooking instead.
Roasting other veggies with carrots
Potatoes and carrots – Potatoes and carrots go very well together, but carrots do cook faster than potatoes. To ensure both are done at the same time, make sure to cut your potato into smaller sticks than your carrots.
Carrots and broccoli – Broccoli cooks faster than carrots. Remove them from the air fryer around the 10-minute mark or sooner depending on the air fryer.
Parsnips and carrots – Since carrots and parsnips take the same amount of time, they can easily be air-fried together. Just make sure to peel both the carrots and parsnips, and cut them into a similar size and shape.
Beets and carrots – Beets and carrots cook take about the same time to cook (18-20 minutes at 400F), so as long as you cut them into a similar size they should cook together very well.
Meal prep and storage
Carrots are rich in vitamins and minerals. This makes them perfect for meal prep since they make a healthy addition to almost any meal. Here are my best tips and tricks for preparing and storing them:
Prep ahead: Cut the carrots 3 days in advance and refrigerate them in an air-tight container.
Store: Save the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days.
Freeze: Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. No need to thaw before reheating.
Reheat: To reheat, cook the carrot fries in the air fryer at 375°F for about 2-3 minutes to reheat. Serve immediately.
Serve it with
These air fryer carrot fries are crispy, easy, and incredibly versatile. They go well with almost any dish, but here are a few of my favorites:
- Cilantro lime dressing with Greek yogurt – A versatile and flavorful condiment that adds bold flavor to all of your favorite meals, side dishes, and more! Ready in just 5 minutes.
- Juicy air fryer chicken wings – Juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, these air fryer chicken wings are finger-licking good!
- Authentic tandoori chicken – The most flavorful and authentic chicken that is crisp on the outside and succulent on the inside – just like it is supposed to be! The recipe includes both Instant Pot and oven versions.
- Indian-inspired chicken lettuce wraps – this flavorful Indian take on the classic chicken lettuce wrap recipe will have you clamoring for seconds. The best part is you can make this for dinner in under 20 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Potatoes and carrots can be cooked together, but potatoes will cook more slowly than carrots. To make sure the vegetables are done at the same time, chop your potatoes so they are smaller in size than the carrots in the recipe.
Yes, you can air fry frozen carrots. You will need an additional 3-5 minutes of cooking time when compared to fresh carrots. Be sure to shake the basket or tray at the halfway point to ensure even cooking.
Yes, you can make air-fried carrots without oil, but they will not cook as evenly or brown as nicely. An alternative that will still allow for even browning is to spray the carrots lightly with a cooking spray before placing them in the air fryer.
Deep-fried carrots are high in fat and calories, but if you want to create a healthier version, making air-fried carrots at home is a great alternative. These require just a bit of oil and are low in calories and fat, and high in vitamins and minerals.
Other veg side dishes to try
- Roasted air fryer broccoli
- Air fryer roasted sweet potatoes
- Honey glazed Instant Pot carrots
- Air fryer sweet potato fries
Air Fryer Carrot Fries Recipe
Air Fryer Carrots
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb baby carrots or whole carrots
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder optional
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Wash the carrots and pat them dry using a clean towel or paper towels. If using, whole carrots peel them.
- Chop the carrots into 1/4 inch wide fries. If using baby carrots – chop them into half and then chop each half into two pieces.
- To a medium-sized bowl, add oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix well to combine.
- Toss the chopped carrot in the marinade and make sure it is coated evenly.
- [Optional step] Line the air frying tray with parchment paper.
- Transfer the carrots over the parchment paper – don't overcrowd them. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to make them in batches.
- Place the air fryer tray in the air fryer and cook at 400°F. Set the timer for 12-14 minutes. Note: Basket style air fryer cooks faster (12 minutes) whereas oven style needs 14 minutes.
- Stir around the 6-minute mark and continue to cook till the carrots have started to brown around the edges for an additional 6-8 minutes. [Note: If using an oven-style air fryer, rotate the tray and if using the basket-style air fryer, shake the basket to ensure even cooking]
- Serve the carrots with freshly grated parmesan cheese and parsley.
Disclaimer: Approximate nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and can vary depending on the exact ingredients/brands used. If you have health issues, please work with a registered dietician or nutritionist.
