These Carrot Fries are warm, crispy, seasoned to perfection and out of this world! This 20-minute recipe made with carrots and your favorite seasonings can be made in the air fryer or oven and is sure to become a family favorite side dish, snack or appetizer. Gluten-free, paleo, dairy-free, vegan and Whole30-compliant!
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Updated April 2022
Crispy Air Fryer Carrot Fries
French fries will always be a classic, and this Air Fryer Carrot Fries recipe makes it easier than ever to make them! They come out nice and crispy, and you can season them however you’d like. You can forget about fast food french fries, because these homemade ones are so much better!
They come together in 20 minutes or less, and all you have to do is flip them over halfway through the cooking process. Other than that, your air fryer does all the work for you!
Want to switch up your fries? Try our Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries or Air Fryer Avocado Fries and if you like cooking with your air fryer, be sure to check out my air fryer guide for helpful tips and tricks.
Are Air Fryer Fries Healthier?
Not only are air fryer french fries easier than oven-baked fries, but they’re actually healthier too! You only need half a tablespoon of oil to make them. They also get crispier in the air fryer than they do in the oven. This guilt-free, mess-free recipe will have you serving everything with a side of fries!
What You’ll Need
You only need a few basic ingredients to make these carrot fries. You can switch up the seasonings, if desired, or adjust the amounts you use to taste.
- Carrots: Peeled and cut into matchsticks.
- Avocado Oil: Or olive oil.
- Coarse Sea Salt: Or kosher salt, to taste.
- Freshly Cracked Black Pepper: To taste.
- Garlic Powder: You’ll need about 1/4 teaspoon.
- Smoked Paprika:
- Tapioca starch: Gives them that crispy texture. You can also use arrowroot starch or cornstarch if not grain-free.
- Chopped Parsley: For serving.
For the optional Aioli:
- Vegan mayo: Or avocado oil mayo
- Sriracha: Or hot sauce of choice,
- Garlic powder
- Fresh lime juice
- Fine grain sea salt
How to Make Carrot Fries in the Air Fryer
This recipe differs a little bit depending on the air fryer you’re using. Some require preheating, some don’t – either way, the process is super simple!
- Preheat Air Fryer: If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 400F.
- Peel and cut Carrots: Use a vegetable peeler to peel the carrots and cut them evenly into 1/3 – 1/2 “ thick pieces to resemble fries.
- Season Carrots: In a large bowl combine the carrot sticks, oil, tapioca starch, garlic, paprika, salt and black pepper. Toss to combine well.
- Cook: Working in batches (depending on the size of your air fryer), place the fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not crowding or overlapping. Air fry at 380°F for 12 to 16 minutes (or longer), flipping halfway through. Remove them from the air fryer once they’re golden brown, or when they’ve reached your desired crispiness.
- Make the sauce: While the carrot fries are baking, make the aioli by combining the mayo, Sriracha, lime juice, garlic powder and salt in a small bowl. Stir well. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- Serve: Transfer the fries to a serving platter and sprinkle them with coarse salt and chopped fresh parsley. Serve with your desired dipping sauces and enjoy!
Oven Method:
- Preheat the oven: Preheat oven to 425F and Line a large baking sheet (or two as needed) with parchment paper.
- Peel and cut Carrots: Use a vegetable peeler to peel the carrots and cut them evenly into 1/3 – 1/2 “ thick pieces to resemble fries.
- Season Carrots: In a large bowl combine the carrot sticks, oil, tapioca starch, garlic, paprika, salt and black pepper. Toss to combine well.
- Cook: Bake for 15 minutes, then rotate the pan and flip the carrots. Bake again for 10-15 minutes more, or until golden brown with a crisp edge.
- Serve: Transfer the fries to a serving platter and sprinkle them with coarse salt and chopped fresh parsley. Serve with your desired dipping sauces and enjoy!
Tips for Success
New to making french fries? Not used to cooking with the air fryer? These tips and tricks will answer all your questions!
- 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.
- Avoid Overstuffing the Air Fryer Basket: Your fries should not be touching very much or overlapping at all in the air fryer basket. They need a little space in order to crisp up. I highly recommend working in batches. If the earlier batches get cold before it’s time for serving, you can heat them back up in the air fryer for a minute or two.
- Use a Fry Cutter: If you want to cut out perfect fries in a matter of seconds, a fry cutter is the way to go. Otherwise, just make sure all the fries are the same size (about 1/4 inch thick).
- Season & Cook to Taste: Feel free to play around with the seasonings you use according to your tastes and preferences. And when it comes to the crispiness of the fries, don’t be afraid to try one out to make sure it’s satisfactory.
- Don’t Forget to Flip: It’s important to flip your fries over at the halfway point. You can use tongs to do this safely and easily.
Serving Suggestions
French fries are a fantastic side dish for all sorts of entrees! The following recipes are especially tasty with a side of air fryer fries.
- Serve with Sandwiches: These Chaffle Sandwiches are tons of fun, and they go so well with french fries! Made with eggs, cheese, veggies and a waffle maker, these low-carb sandwiches hit the spot every time.
- Pair with Steak: Steak and potatoes are a classic combination. My husband loves pairing these fries with a juicy Air Fryer Steak!
- Serve with Chili: My family is obsessed with this Vegan Chili, and we also love these fries! It only makes sense to put the two together. So yummy!
- You can’t beat the classic combo of fries with a Burger in a Bowl!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftover carrot fries should be refrigerated in an airtight container and reheated within 4-5 days. Reheat your french fries in the air fryer at 360°F for 3 to 5 minutes, or until they’re warm and crispy.
Do Carrots Freeze Well?
They do! Once they’ve cooled, transfer your carrot fries 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 Air Fryer Recipes
Looking for more tasty things to make in your air fryer? You’ll love these easy air fried side dishes too!
These Carrot Fries are warm, crispy, seasoned to perfection and out of this world! This 20-minute recipe made with carrots and your favorite seasonings can be made in the air fryer or oven and is sure to become a family favorite side dish, snack or appetizer. Gluten-free, paleo, dairy-free, vegan and Whole30-compliant!
- 1 lb carrots peeled and cut into matchsticks (⅓ - ½-inch thick)
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon tapioca starch can sub arrowroot starch or cornstarch if not grain-free
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- Flakey salt and chopped fresh parsley for garish
- ¼ cup vegan or avocado oil mayo
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha or hot sauce of choice
- 1/3 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- Fine grain sea salt to taste
If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 400F.
For the oven, preheat oven to 425F and Line a large baking sheet (or two as needed) with parchment paper.
- Use a vegetable peeler to peel the carrots and cut them evenly into 1/3 - 1/2 “ thick pieces to resemble fries.
- In a large bowl combine the carrot sticks, oil, tapioca starch, garlic, paprika, salt and black pepper. Toss to combine well.
Once the air fryer is ready, spray the basket with oil spray to prevent sticking. Place the carrot fries into the basket in a single layer, being careful not to have any overlapping (you may have to work in batches). Cook for 8-12 minutes, until they are a nice golden golden brown, shaking the basket halfway through cooking.
Spread the carrot fries in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then rotate the pan and flip the carrots. Bake again for 10-15 minutes more, or until golden brown with a crisp edge.
While the carrot fries are baking, make the aioli by combining the mayo, Sriracha, lime juice, garlic powder and salt in a small bowl. Stir well. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- Once the carrot fries are done, allow to cool for a minute then carefully transfer to a plate and garnish with flakey salt and fresh parsley. Serve with aioli.
Nutritional info is calculated without the aioli dipping sauce.
- 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.
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