Tender, crisp, and perfectly seasoned Air Fryer Carrots! You only need a few ingredients to make this easy, 20-minute, budget-friendly, and nutritious side dish.
I love carrots because they are common, affordable, and seemingly humble, but when cooked with the correct techniques, they turn into flavorful, caramelized powerhouses! This air fryer carrots recipe is my new favorite way to enjoy them. They’re an easy-to-make, downright tasty side dish featuring balanced herbs, spices, and tender, caramelized veggies.
This carrot air fryer recipe is simple and accessible enough for everyday weeknights but flavorful and impressive, perfect for Sunday supper and dinner parties. I’m even planning on making it for Thanksgiving this year!
Adjust the recipe to your tastes or the seasonings you have on hand by making one of my variations, or double the recipe when feeding a crowd! For more healthy carrot recipes, check out my Roasted Beets and Carrots, Gochujang Oven Roasted Carrots, and Carrot Top Pesto.
Ingredients
Carrots: You will need 1 pound of whole carrots. Orange, rainbow, or other colors all work! Scrub, trim, and cut the carrots in half lengthwise before seasoning them.
Oil: Choose Olive or avocado oil if possible. These healthy oils offer savory richness, complementing the sweetness of the air fried carrots while preventing them from sticking to the air fryer basket.
Seasonings: Garlic powder, dried oregano, and cumin powder add layers of savory, herbal, and earthy flavor. Salt and pepper enhance and complement. You can use sea or kosher salt. For the most potent spices, always use ones with a good expiration date.
How to Make Air Fryer Carrots
- Prepare the carrots. Rinse and scrub them well. Trim the ends and cut the carrots in half lengthwise.
- Oil carrots. Place the cut carrots in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the oil over the vegetables and toss to coat.
- Season. Sprinkle the spices over the carrots and toss them again until evenly covered.
- Place in the air fryer. Spread the carrots in the air fryer basket in one even layer, leaving a bit of space between them so there is room for the hot air to circulate. If there isn’t enough room, you may need to cook them in batches.
- Air Fry. Air fry at 350°F for 12 minutes or until you can easily pierce the carrots. Air fry for a few more more minutes if needed. Serve immediately.
Recipe Pro-Tips
- Scrub the carrots well. Rinse and scrub them thoroughly with a vegetable scrub brush or clean toothbrush. This removes the dirt and debris without peeling off the carrot skin, which contains a lot of nutrition.
- Cut them into even-sized pieces. Ensure even roasting by cutting the carrots into similar sizes. If some are larger than others, cut them into quarters.
- Leave room between the carrots. To caramelize and cook properly, the carrots should be spread in an even layer in the air fryer. If they are packed in, the carrots can become soggy or mushy. If needed, cook them in batches and keep freshly cooked carrots in an oven preheated to 200°F until serving.
- Air fry carrots until fork-tender. You will know they are done when you can easily pierce them with a fork.
Recipe Variations
Adjust the air fried carrots recipe in any of the following ways to adapt to taste preferences, available ingredients, or meal themes!
- Essential Seasonings: Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper for simple but delicious air fryer roasted carrots.
- Sweet Heat: Smokiness and light heat are a delicious complement to sweet carrots. Increase the cumin to 1 teaspoon and substitute the dried oregano with 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika. You can also add 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger or cinnamon.
- Italian: For Mediterranean-style roasted carrots in the air fryer, omit the ground cumin and swap dried Italian seasoning for the oregano. Drizzle the hot carrots with balsamic glaze before serving.
- Lemon Pepper: Swap 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon zest for the cumin powder for a fresh citrus twist on this air fry carrots recipe.
- Cheesy: Add rich savoriness to the carrots by seasoning them with 1-2 teaspoons of nutritional yeast before cooking, or sprinkle them with a few tablespoons of grated vegan parmesan before serving.
- Root Veggie Combo: Use the same seasoning blend on any combination of your favorite winter vegetables, such as butternut squash, parsnips, sweet potatoes, or a combination.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the carrots hot, immediately after air frying, as a versatile side dish to go with everyday dinners, Sunday suppers, and your favorite main dishes, such as:
Storage Directions
- Refrigeration: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: For longer storage, place the roasted carrots in a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 3 months. Defrost them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 300°F for 3-5 minutes or in the microwave on medium heat until hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you do not need to peel the carrots before air frying them. You can peel them if desired, but I prefer to keep the skin on because of its nutritional value. Thoroughly rinse and scrub them before cutting to remove the debris and dirt commonly found on carrot skin.
Cook halved carrots in the air fryer for 12 minutes or until fork-tender. Larger carrots may need more time. Baby carrots only need 8-10 minutes of cooking time and less if they are halved.
Yes, you can double or triple this recipe as desired, though you will likely need to cook them in batches if your air fryer isn’t large enough to accommodate them in a single-spaced-out layer. If cooking in batches, keep the cooked carrots warm in a 200°F oven while roasting the rest.
More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
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Place the cut carrots in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the oil over the carrots and toss to coat.
Sprinkle the spices over the carrots and toss them again until evenly covered.
Spread the carrots in one even layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a bit of space between them so there is room for the hot air to circulate. If there isn’t enough room, you may need to cook the carrots in batches.
Air fry at 350°F for 12 minutes or until the carrots are fork-tender. Add a couple more minutes if needed. Serve immediately.
- Refrigeration: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: For longer storage, place the roasted carrots in a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 3 months. Defrost them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 300°F for 3-5 minutes or in the microwave on medium heat until hot.
- Cut them into even-sized pieces. Ensure even roasting by cutting the carrots into similar sizes. If some carrots are larger than others, cut them into quarters.
- Leave room between the carrots. Leave room between the carrots in the air fryer so they are evenly exposed to the hot air and caramelize properly. If they are packed in, the carrots can become soggy or mushy. If needed, cook them in batches and keep freshly cooked carrots in an oven preheated to 200°F until serving.
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