Easy Air Fryer Carrots Recipe (Made 5 Ways!) (2024)

By Anjali Shah on August 5, 2021 · Last Updated on October 21, 2022

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These delicious, crispy, roasted air fryer carrots are unbelievably easy to make! Make them sweet, savory or spicy based on your preferences. Ready in minutes, this simple air fryer recipe is an easy way to incorporate a great side dish into the rotation for lunch or dinner! The whole family will love these delicious carrots made in the air fryer.

Looking for an easy side dish for dinner or the holidays? This quick carrots recipe made in the air fryer is a great option for an appetizer or side filled with nutrients and fiber! Roasted air fryer carrots are a delicious side dish for just about any main dish, from casseroles to pasta dishes!

Whenever we aren’t in the mood to turn our ovens or stovetops, we turn to the air fryer! Not only does this recipe allow us to cook in a cooler kitchen, but it makes fixing fresh carrots a true breeze. We love this easy recipe because it is made with minimal ingredients that deliver on flavor.

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There are so many different ways to prepare carrots, but one of our favorite ways is just with a little oil, few simple ingredients, and fresh herbs. But we have also included five drool worthy variations below!

Serve these carrot sticks to kids in their lunchboxes or meal prep a batch of these carrots to get you through the week. Whenever we’re in the mood for a quick lunch at home, we can just pull these carrots of the refrigerator and enjoy them either warm or cold!

Not only can you enjoy this air fryer recipe as a side dish, but you can pack these carrots into your favorite vegan quesadillas and vegetable bowls! These carrots can go with almost anything!

The best part about these easy air fryer carrots is they are the perfect balance between crispy and tender. Using this air fryer method is a great way to get carrots cooked to perfection every single time! Not only are these delicious carrot fries packed with flavor, but they’re also ready in about 15 minutes!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

• Naturally gluten-free and vegan, this recipe is a healthy side dish you can feel good about whenever you’re craving something nutritious and nourishing!
• Easy and quick: Whenever you’re needing to balance your meal out with a colorful side dish, you can trust that this recipe will deliver maximum results! Even beginner cooks can make this recipe!
• Super kid-friendly and versatile! Since the original recipe contains only minimal ingredients, that means it’s great for all ages! This is the perfect type of food to introduce to those growing toddlers.
• Different variations! You can customize this recipe anyway you’d like with any sweeteners or different seasonings. For more info, be sure to scroll down!
• Healthy: Carrots are packed with Vitamin C, beta carotene and antioxidants, and your body will thank you!

🥘 Ingredients

This is just a general list of ingredients you need for the recipe! For the full measurements, be sure to scroll down to the recipe card. You can find carrots at any local farmers’ market or grocery store.

• Carrots: We just used a bunch of organic orange carrots, but you can easily use rainbow carrots for this air fryer recipe. You can even use baby carrots! Be sure to thaw the carrots first if using them from frozen.
• Oil: Avocado oil, olive oil, or melted coconut oil are great for this recipe. All you need is just a little oil for these carrots!
• Seasoning: Just a sprinkle of sea salt and black pepper!
• Garlic: Fresh garlic is what we used, but in a pinch, you could use garlic powder.
• Fresh herbs: The fresh thyme and parsley are what allow this recipe to stand out so be sure not to skip out on those! Feel free to change things up with rosemary, or even dill!

🍽 Equipment

• Quart-sized or largerair fryer
• Baking sheetor basket for air fryer
• Large or medium Mixing Bowls

📖 Variations (Carrots 5 Ways)

There are so many different twists you can put on this delicious air fryer carrots recipe! Here are five of our favorites:

• Sweet: Bring out the natural sweetness of these carrots! Instead of adding garlic, pepper, and herbs to the marinade, try making these air fryer carrots with brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or even a cinnamon sugar mixture! You’ll end up with a nice sweet glaze on these roasted carrots.
• Savory Air Fryer Carrots with Parmesan Cheese: Right after cooking, when the carrots are still hot, add some shredded parmesan cheese over top. It will melt slightly and will become a gooey cheese crust! There are a few different ways you can Extra Flavor:
• Other Savory Flavors: Try a drizzle of some balsamic glaze over these carrots or try different spices: onion powder, dried Italian seasoning, or ground cumin would all work well.
• Make it Spicy: Add a dusting of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper into your olive oil marinade for these carrots!
• Air Fryer Carrot Fries: Cut the carrots into french fry sized pieces (in quarters lengthwise) and follow the directions in the recipe card below. These can make a perfect side dish for burgers and sandwiches, and are healthier than french fries. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces!

🔪 Instructions

Preheat: First, preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius. (Note: The temperature will vary slightly depend on the type of air fryer you have.)

Wash & Cut: Meanwhile, either wash the whole carrots or peel them with a vegetable peeler. Next, cut carrots in half length-wise.

Mix & Coat: Next, mix the oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and thyme leaves in a large bowl. Then, add the carrots to the oil mixture and toss carrots until they are coated.

Cook: Place carrots in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for ten minutes. Toss after five minutes to ensure the carrots are evenly cooked or until fork tender.

Garnish & Serve: Finally, garnish the coated carrots with fresh parsley and transfer carrots to a serving bowl or large dish. Serve warm.

❓Recipe FAQs

👨‍👩‍👧 How to Serve

You will want to serve these carrots to your family or yourself alongside almost any meal!

• Great as a side dish to any main course
• Inside these vegan black bean tacos or fajitas
• With burgers or sandwiches
• As an addition to salads

💭 Expert Tips

• For best results, always be sure to preheat the air fryer and make sure all carrot pieces are the same size so they cook evenly.
• Store these leftover carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, in skillet on low heat or in the air fryer!
• Use spray oil if preferred instead of olive oil. Lightly spray the carrots, sprinkle with seasoning and thyme, toss to coat. Continue to follow the remaining steps.
• If you end up with really large carrots, you may need to cut them in half width wise and then in half (or thirds) again lengthwise. You want each carrot stick to be about 4 inches in length and about 1/2 inch wide.If your carrots are quite small, no need to cut them at all!
• You can easily cook these carrots in the oven if you do not have an air fryer. The oven may just take a little longer!
• Feel free to combine these carrots with other air fryer vegetable recipes like air fryer brussels sprouts, air fryer broccoli, and so much more!

🍲 More Quick Recipes And Side Dishes!

• Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Fried Potatoes And Onions
• Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
• Air Fryer Yuca Fries
• Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets
• Healthy Mashed Potatoes
• Air Fryer Frozen Tater Tots
• Tortilla Chips in the Air Fryer

If you want to learn more about cooking in a microwave airfryer combo check out my complete guideline.

📋 Recipe Card