Air Fryer Carrots

by KetoFocus.com

A healthy alternative to french fries

Air fryer carrots are turned into healthy carrot fries that are flavorful, cheesy, and fork tender. They're made with fresh carrots, savory seasonings, and parmesan cheese. They're family and kid-approved and a dish the whole family will love!

Air fryer carrot fries are a simple side dish you can serve on a busy weeknight. Just like other vegetable dishes you can cook in the air fryer, like Air Fryer Asparagus or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, these roasted carrots get perfectly roasted in minutes.

Crispy roasted carrot fries in an air fryer basket.

These cooked carrots are a healthy alternative to carb heavy dishes. They’re a great side dish to eat as an appetizer or with a main dish for dinner. If this is your first time making carrot fries, you’re going to love how simple and delicious they are! Prepped, cooked, and ready to eat in just 30 minutes, they’re a great addition to game day or a family meal.

How to cook carrots in the air fryer

To cook carrots in the air fryer, it takes little effort.

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 F | 200 C.
  2. Prep your carrots if making carrot fries: Peel and cut carrots lengthwise into strips like fries.
  3. Season the carrots: Transfer into a large bowl with oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese. Toss all together.
  4. Air fry carrots: Place carrots in the air fryer basket in a single layer if possible, but don’t overload the air fryer. You might need to cook 2-3 batches. Air fry for 12-16 minutes, shaking basket halfway through. Repeat the same with other batches. Top air fried carrots with parsley, more cheese and seasonings if desired.
    Serve immediately.

Four carrots next to a small bowl of olive oil and other small bowls with seasonings and parmesan cheese inside.

Key ingredients

There are only a few simple ingredients needed to make these seasoned carrots.

  • Carrots – Can use baby carrots, rainbow carrots or regular carrots. Peel the carrots before cutting them into long rectangular shapes.
  • Extra virgin olive oil – You can also use coconut oil or avocado oil.
  • Sea salt – Kosher salt is another great option.
  • Black pepper – Freshly ground pepper has the best flavor.
  • Garlic powder – A little garlic powder goes a long way in flavoring these carrots or try using freshly minced garlic.
  • Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated parmesan cheese adds depth to these carrots. You can leave it out if you prefer a dairy-free option. Or toss with a little crumbled feta before serving.
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Air Fryer Carrots Ingredients

  • 1 lb carrots, peeled
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Air Fryer Carrots Directions

  • Air Fryer Carrots
  • Close up of cooked carrots in an air fryer basket.

    How to cut carrots into fries

    Cutting carrots fries is really easy once you get the hang of it. Since they’re wobbly, be sure to cut carefully.

    • To start, use a sharp knife and trim both ends of the carrot.
    • Peel away the woody skins using a vegetable peeler.
    • Cut each carrot in half down the middle widthwise, then cut lengthwise through the center.
    • Lay each piece cut side down and cut the thicker end into thirds and the thinner end into halves to create a french fry shape.
    Carrot fries topped with herbs and parmesan cheese on a plate.

    Variations

    This easy air fryer carrots recipe is easily adaptable. You can even switch it up and make them sweet or savory. Here are some options to get you started.

    Savory: Add some herbs like fresh thyme, oregano, or rosemary. Or different seasonings like paprika, turmeric, or coriander.

    Sweet: Another delicious way to cook these carrots is to make them sweet. Substitute ingredients like sugar free sweeteners, sugar free brown sugar, or maple syrup for spices, fresh herbs, or seasonings.

    Types of carrots

    There are a few different types of carrots you can use to make these roasted air fryer carrots.

    • Imperator carrots: This type of carrot is long and skinny. They are sweeter and great for eating fresh or cooking.
    • Danver carrots: Danver carrots are thick at the top and come to a pointed end near the root. They’re deep orange and have great flavor.
    • Nantes carrots: These carrots are bright orange, uniform in shape, and smooth. They’re also great for juicing and eating fresh.
    • Chantenay carrots: Chantenay carrots are short and great for freezing and canning.
    • Rainbow carrots: These carrots come in all different colors ranging from purple, red, and yellow. They’re a common variety you’ll find at grocery stores and farmer’s markets.
    • Baby carrots: Baby carrots are made mostly from Imperator carrots and are marketed for munching as a snack. Making air fryer baby carrots are a simple way you can use up any leftover carrots in your refrigerator.
    An air fryer basket with roasted carrots inside topped with herbs.

    What to serve with air fryer carrots

    This easy side dish pairs with dips, sauces, and with other main courses.

    Try serving roasted carrots with Buffalo Chicken Dip, Spinach Artichoke Dip, or Ranch Dressing.

    Pair them with main dishes like Tomato Chicken Burrata, Pizza, or Chicken Tenders.

    Storage information

    Refrigerate: Store these carrot french fries in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to five days.

    Reheat: When you’re ready to eat leftover carrots, reheat them in the air fryer. If you reheat them in the microwave they’ll be limp (but still taste good).

    Freezing air-fried carrots is not recommended. They’re best served fresh and it’s easy to make more if you want.

    Air Fryer Carrots: FAQS

    Why are my carrot fries soggy?

    If your carrot fries turn out soggy after cooking, you can easily fix this next time. This happens when there's too much moisture on the carrots. Dry them off with paper towels before air frying them for crispier skin.

    How long does it take to air fry carrots?

    Similar to other air fryer recipes, roasting carrots in the air fryer doesn't take as long as they do in the oven. Depending on the thickness of the carrot and the air fryer used it may take about 12-16 minutes to cook carrots in the air fryer.

    Are air fryer carrots healthy?

    Yes! These root vegetables are very healthy with only a little oil added and are perfect low carb alternative to french fries.

    Can I use frozen carrots?

    Yes, you can make air fryer roasted carrots using frozen carrots. They may not be crispy and more on the soft side since frozen carrots have more moisture compared to fresh, raw carrots.

    Nutritional information & Macros

    Nutrition Information

    Air Fryer Carrots

    Servings: 4

    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 91
    Fat 4.5g
    Protein 2.3g
    Total Carbs 11.3g
    Net Carbs 8.1g

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    1 Comment

    1. What a simple and delicious recipe! I’ve never tried air fried carrots. They crisped and caramelized nicely making them sweet and yummy. I used mozzarella (it’s what I had on hand) and still turned out great! Thank you!

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