These Air Fryer Carrots are mouthwatering roasted carrots that are tender and caramelized to perfection, then finished off with fresh herbs. Get ready for some serious munching – this side dish is quick to disappear! Naturally vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, dairy-free and Whole30 compliant.
PIN HERE for later and follow my boards for more healthy recipes.
Easy Air Fryer Carrots Recipe
Making a healthy side dish for spring is easier than ever before with this Air Fryer Asparagus. You can keep this roasted asparagus as simple or dress them up however you’d like – their versatility makes them a fail-proof side dish for all sorts of different main courses! From big holiday Easter and Christmas feasts to light weekend lunches, these tender-crisp carrots makes an amazing addition to any meal.
Plus, they’re easy to make with fresh ingredients and guaranteed to get glowing reviews! All you have to do is slice up your carrots, coat them in the simple homemade glaze and roast them in the oven. They only require one bowl and one pan, so there’s minimal cleanup involved. Whether it’s a special holiday, a busy school night or a lazy weekend, it’s a swell time to whip up these roasted air fryer carrots.
Why Cook Carrots in the Air Fryer?
Roasting carrots in the oven can take forever, and it’s hard to get them just right, especially if you’re trying to bake an entree and a side dish at the same time. Well, that doesn’t have to deter you any longer! We are happy to report that the Air Fryer is a complete and utter game-changer. The air fryer cooks them with hot air instead, which circulates around the asparagus to get them nice and crispy on all sides.
It makes your veggies crispy on the outside and tender on the inside while infusing them with more flavor than ever before. And it cooks them so much quicker than the oven does! Once you start roasting your veggies in the air fryer, we promise that you’ll never look back.
What You’ll Need
Round up the following ingredients along with your cutting board and a sharp kitchen knife. Let’s begin!
For the Maple Roasted Carrots
- Fresh Carrots: Peeled and cut into 1-inch thick slices. Be sure to cut them at an angle.
- Avocado Oil: Or olive oil.
- Coconut Aminos: To add some umami goodness.
- Garlic Powder: Don’t swap this out for fresh garlic – it won’t provide the same flavor.
- Fine-Grain Sea Salt: Or kosher salt, added to taste.
- Freshly Cracked Black Pepper: To taste.
- Paprika: Or smoked paprika for an extra kick of heat.
- Nutritional yeast: Or grated vegan parmesan. Adds dimension and flavor.Regular parmesan works too if not dairy-free / vegan.
For the Garnish
- Fresh Parsley: And/or mint, chopped.
- Fresh Basil Leaves: Feel free to chop these up if you’d like.
- Shelled Pistachios: Toasted. We like to roughly chop a few and leave the rest whole.
Can I Use Frozen Carrots Instead?
Fresh carrots will give you the best flavor, but frozen ones can be used if that’s all you have on hand. Simply thaw them out in the fridge before working with them. You could also thaw them out in a bowl of cool water if preferred.
- Preheat Air Fryer: If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 375F.
- Peel and cut Carrots: Peel the carrots and use a sharp knife to cut the carrots into 1-inch thick slices on a bias (angle).
- Combine Carrots with Wet Ingredients: Place the carrots in a large bowl. Drizzle with oil and coconut aminos. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder and paprika.
- Add Nutritional Yeast and Toss: Sprinkle the carrots with nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan. Toss until all of the carrots are evenly coated.
- Roast: Add the carrots to the air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches as needed. Cook for 18-25 minutes (or more depending on your air fryer and the size and thickness of your carrots), until tender, shaking halfway through.
- Garnish: Once done, sprinkle with a little bit more parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
- Enjoy! Serve warm.
Tips for Success
Trying out a new recipe can sometimes lead to disappointment – not today! These tips and tricks will help you get the results you’re hoping for.
- Wash the Carrots: Even though you’ll be peeling the carrots before you slice them up, we still recommend giving them a good scrub (and drying them off well afterward). This ensures the removal of dirt and bacteria.
- Add some Maple Syrup: Toss the carrots with some maple syrup, vegan honey or your favorite sticky liquid sweetener for a delicious glaze.
- Use Your Hands to Toss the Carrots: It’s easiest to toss the carrots with the glaze using your bare (washed!) hands. You’ll get an even coating on each slice in no time!
- Prep in Advance: It’s possible to prepare your air fryer carrots up to 5 hours before you roast them. Simply leave them sitting in the glaze mixture at room temperature, covering them well.
- Switch up the herbs: Sometimes, we like to add in some cumin or cayenne pepper to bump up the flavor!
- Garnish with balsamic or nuts: Drizzle with a balsamic glaze or chopped nuts to take this simple side dish up a notch!
Serving Suggestions
Not sure what to put on the table beside these roasted carrots? Let’s go over a few good options.
- Pair with Grilled Chicken: Tender and juicy Grilled Chicken never fails to hit the spot. With iyr recipe, it always comes out just right!
- Serve with Vegan Pizza: Glazed carrots can be found as an appetizer at many European restaurants. Treat your loved ones to a healthy Italian meal by pairing them with Homemade Pizza! Yum.
- Pair with Smashed Potatoes: Want to partner these carrots with another nutritious side dish? You truly can’t go wrong with my Crispy Smashed Potatoes. They’re served with a simple basil pesto that your taste buds will worship.
Storing and Reheating Extras
Leftover air fried carrots should be kept in an airtight container in the fridge. Let them cool down before storing them and enjoy them within 4 days.
You can either reheat your carrots in the microwave or over the stove. Once they’re just warm, serve them with an extra sprinkle of salt and pepper for good measure.
Do Air Fried Carrots Freeze Well?
They do! Once they’ve cooled, transfer your carrots to a heavy-duty freezer bag, squeeze out all of the air and seal the bag. Frozen carrots will last for up to 6 months. Reheat them directly from frozen over a low-heat stove, increasing the heat a little bit after they’ve thawed.
More Healthy Air Fryer Side Dish Ideas
We are always interested in tasty ways to incorporate more veggies into our diet and have dozens of Air Fryer side dishes that are more than worthy of a recommendation, but we’ll stick to a few top favorites for now.
- Perfect Air Fryer French Fries
- Crispy Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Broccoli
These Air Fryer Carrots are mouthwatering roasted carrots that are tender and caramelized to perfection, then finished off with fresh herbs. Get ready for some serious munching – this side dish is quick to disappear! Naturally vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, dairy-free and Whole30 compliant.
- 2 large carrots peeled and sliced on an angle into 1-2” long similar-sized slices
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1/2 tablespoon coconut aminos , may sub with gluten-free Tamari or low sodium soy sauce
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/3 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1-2 tablespoons nutritional yeast or vegan grated parmesan cheese + more for topping
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
- 2-3 fresh basil leaves
- toasted shelled pistachios a few roughly chopped and some whole
- If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 350F.
Place the carrots in a large bowl. Drizzle with oil, coconut amninos and season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika and nutritional yeast / vegan parmesan.
- Add the carrots to the air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches as needed. Cook for 18-25 minutes (or more depending on your air fryer and the size and thickness of your carrots), until tender, shaking halfway through.
Once done, season with more salt and black pepper, as needed and garnish with a little bit more vegan parmesan, pistachios, a few basil leaves and some fresh chopped parsley and mint if desired. Serve warm and enjoy.
- To Store: Refrigerate cooled leftovers in an airtight container. Enjoy within 4 days.
- To Reheat: Gently warm carrots over the stove or in the microwave. Serve once just warmed with extra salt and pepper.
- To Freeze: Freeze cooled carrots in a heavy-duty storage bag. Reheat within 6 months without thawing.
- T0 Reheat From Frozen: Defrost carrots in a skillet over a low-heat burner, then slightly increase the heat to finish warming.
Chef John -
The carrots turned out perfectly! Delicious and satisfying, thank you!