Name: Air Fryer Beets (Easy Roasted Beets)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 3 cups fresh beets (peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (see note)); 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; Pinch ground black pepper

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Air Fryer Beets roast up sweet and tender with just oil, salt and pepper, and make an easy roasted beets side dish or salad topping! You'll want to add this simple and delicious recipe to your dinner rotation!

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This recipe is a little different than your typical roasted beets recipe for a few reasons:

The beets are peeled and cubed, instead of whole, so they're more like home fries.

They're roasted in the air fryer not the oven. While I love oven roasted beets, sometimes I like using the air fryer for side dishes because it saves a little time and frees up valuable oven space for cooking main dishes.

This recipe includes three different kinds of beets. In addition to the more popular red beets, I've added colourful golden beets and candy cane beets to the mix.

Different varieties of beets

Beets (or beetroot) are root vegetables that grow best in cooler climates. While they're available year round, peak season for beets is usually mid-summer into late fall.

Beets comes in different shapes and colours, from red beets to bright yellow golden beets and candy cane striped beets. Here's a quick overview of the varieties used in this recipe:

Red beets: This is the most common variety. They're a deep maroon colour and often come in round and long sizes. They're great for roasting and have a sweet taste.

Golden beets: These beets have a golden/bright yellow flesh with an orange skin. They're not quite as sweet as red beets but are just as delicious roasted and work well in soups too.

Candy cane beets (Chioggia beets): They have a red-ish/pink exterior and are red and white striped on the inside, which resembles a candy cane pattern. Once roasted, some of their striped colouring fades but they have a sweet and earthy flavour.

What you'll need for these air fryer beets

This recipe is super simple and only requires a few basic ingredients:

Fresh beets
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

How to roast beets in the air fryer

Peel and cut your beets into roughly 1-inch pieces.

Add the beets to a large bowl along with the oil, salt and pepper. Toss to combine.

Place the beets in the air fryer basket and air fry on 400F for 18-20 minutes, or until fork tender.

What goes well with beets?

You can serve these air fryer beets on the side with any kind of protein. (They'd make a great addition to your Christmas or Thanksgiving menu!)

I love to add them to salads and grain bowls such as this roasted beet and walnut salad.

You can also add them to beet hummus, or eat them as they are with some goat cheese and pumpkin seeds.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to peel beets before air frying them? Since this recipe requires the beets cut into smaller pieces, I would suggest peeling them first. When roasting whole beets, however, many people leave the skins on and remove them after roasting, as they usually just slip right off the beet flesh.

How long should you air fry beets? At 400F, three cups of beets (1-inch pieces) will need about 18-20 minutes in the air fryer. If you double the recipe (as I've done in the photos you see here), you will need to air fry them for 25-30 minutes. The key is to air fry them until fork tender and a little caramelized around the edges.

How long do air fryer roasted beets last and how do you reheat them? These beets are best enjoyed right out of the air fryer. If you have leftovers, you can store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days. To reheat them, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 375F for about 10 minutes, or until heat through.

Can you freeze roasted beets? While some recipes note that you can freeze roasted beets, I think this works best if it's whole beets. I tried freezing these beet home fries, and I didn't care for the texture once they were defrosted and reheated. They were too soft and a little rubbery.

Additional recipe tips and substitutions

Make sure your beets are all about 1-inch thick pieces so they cook evenly. If you cut your beets into smaller or bigger pieces, you will need to adjust the air frying time accordingly.

You can easily double the recipe. Just increase the air frying time to 25-30 minutes.

Feel free to change up the seasonings with garlic, spices or dried herbs. You can also add more salt and pepper to taste.

While I used three different kinds of beet in this recipe, you can stick to just one kind. The cooking time will be the same for whichever variety of beet you choose.

The red beets will add some discolouration to the golden and candy cane beets. So just keep that in mind for presentation purposes. The candy cane stripe on the Chioggia beets will also fade once roasted.

Other beet recipes you might enjoy

Golden Beet Soup with carrot and ginger is vegan and comes together in one pot.

Oven Roasted Root Vegetables are paired with kale, rosemary, goat cheese and pumpkin seeds.

Beet Hummus Tart with sautéed asparagus and an almond flour crust.

If you make these air fried beets, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below.

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