Air Fryer Carrots (Three Ways)

Taking your vegetable side dishes up a notch with these Air Fryer Carrots. They’re quick and easy, and you can enjoy them three different ways, with sweet, savory and spicy options included in the recipe!

I’ve been trying to change up our vegetable side dishes lately, which is not an easy task when you have a picky eater in your house. 

Luckily, carrots are always a winner. They’re readily available and affordable, and it’s easy to change up their flavour profile with different seasonings.

Why you’ll love this recipe for air fryer carrots

• Variety: The recipe includes sweet, spicy and savory versions so these carrots can be made to suit different tastes.

• Quick: You can have this side dish on the table in about 25 minutes, and that includes time to peel, chop and season.

• Simple: You only need fresh carrots, oil and a few seasonings, most of which you probably already have stocked in your pantry.

• Versatile: Roasted carrots go well with salmon, pork, chicken or beef, and they add flavour and texture to salads and grain bowls. 

What you’ll need to make these air fryer roasted carrots

• Fresh carrots
• Extra virgin olive oil

For the savory version

• Garlic powder
• Dried basil, oregano and parsley
• Salt and pepper

For the spicy version

• Ground cumin
• Smoked paprika
• Cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper

For the sweet version

• Coconut sugar
• Maple syrup
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Salt

How to roast carrots in the air fryer

• Peel and slice your carrots about 1/4-inch thick. Wash and pat them dry with a paper towel.

• Add the carrots to a large bowl and evenly coat with oil. Add your seasonings of choice and toss to coat.

• Place in the air fryer basket and air fry on 400F for 18-20 minutes, or until fork tender. Give them a shake or stir after about 10 minutes.

How long does it take for air fried carrots to get tender?

At 400F, four cups of sliced carrots (1/4-inch thick) will need about 20 minutes in the air fryer to become fork tender. Start checking them at about 18 minutes. After 20 minutes, if the carrots are still a little crunchy, just air fry them for another few minutes.

How do you reheat air fryer roasted carrots?

These carrots are best enjoyed right out of the air fryer. If you have leftovers, you can reheat them in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, or until heated through. Be careful not to overheat as they may get rubbery.

What type of air fryer was used in this recipe?

This recipe was tested in a 2.75 quart Philips air fryer and in a larger capacity Cuisinart air fryer/convection/toaster oven.

The carrots were air fried on the same temperature, but cooked a little quicker in the larger capacity Cuisinart as there was more surface area to spread out the carrots.

The recipe instructions are based on the Philips air fryer, so if you’re using a larger capacity air fryer, you may need to reduce the air frying time by a few minutes. 

Recipe tips and substitutions

• I used a wavy vegetable cutter to make the rippled carrots, but you can just slice them with a knife.

• Make sure your carrot slices are all about 1/4-inch thick so they cook evenly.

• You can buy pre-cut carrot chips at the grocery store to save time. I haven’t tried them in the air fryer, but they tend to be a bit thinner. So if you go this route, you may wish to reduce your air frying time slightly.

• Unlike some other veggies that get crispy in the air fryer, these carrots get tender. If you air fry them longer, they may get a little crispy around the edges but they may also start to burn. So just keep an eye on them.

• I used dried herbs in this recipe instead of fresh, as dried herbs coat the carrots more evenly and hold up better in the air fryer.

• The spicy version is more than moderately spicy, so if you like things on the milder side, just omit the cayenne pepper. The sweet version also has a spicy kick. If you want them strictly sweet, just leave out the crushed red pepper flakes.

• If you half the recipe (which we often do for two people), just reduce the air frying time to 12-15 minutes.

Other air fryer side dishes you might enjoy

• Air Fryer Baby Potatoes

• Air Fryer Butternut Squash

• Air Fryer Tortilla Chips

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

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