Quick and easy with this simple recipe, air fryer carrots produce a concentrated, roasted flavour so much faster than the oven. A delicious side dish with any meal.
Air Fryer Carrots
Air fryers really can be a great addition to the kitchen, producing similar results to oven roasting in less time, for less energy (and expense) and with less oil.
This air fryer carrots recipe is a perfect example of something that the air fryer does really well, or as a back up if you don’t have enough oven space when cooking a big roast.
See also
- Air fryer sausages are fuss free and mess free
- for a delicious everyday treat, try these fabulous air fryer tomatoes
- This recipe for carrot and lentil soup is satisfying and full of flavour
In Neil Gaiman’s novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane, the narrator describes the childhood experience of being given roasted carrots for the first time, ‘blackened and sweet’, and feeling disappointed in boiled carrots ever after. I know exactly what he meant roasted carrots are simply better.
I think carrots really benefit from roasting. Supermarket carrot varieties are picked for their storing potential over flavour and their flavour isn’t helped by boiling them.
Air frying or roasting them, on the other hand, produces a wonderful concentration of that rich, sweet flavour with delicious caramelized edges.
Air fryer roasted carrots are delicious with just about anything and having been using my air fryer for well over a year now it is my favourite and most fuss free way to cook them.
Why make air fryer carrots
- effortless, mess-free cooking
- delicious with everything
- fast
- so much more flavour than boiled carrots
- more cost effective than using the oven
Air fryer carrot ingredients
- Carrots – you don’t want an heirloom variety here. Just everyday supermarket carrots
- Olive oil – unprocessed extra virgin
- Seasoning – black pepper and sea salt. Parsley to garnish is optional
How to make air fryer carrots – step by step
Before you start, read my step-by-step instructions, with photos, hints and tips so you can make this air fryer carrots recipe perfectly every time.
Scroll down for the recipe card with quantities and more tips at the bottom of the page.
Step One – Top, tail and peel the carrots. Then cut them into chunks and slice the largest pieces in half lengthwise. You want all the pieces about the same thickness so they cook evenly.
Helen’s Fuss Free Tip
I find the perfect size is about the length from my first finger joint to the end of my index finger. This is a great guide to cutting all the pieces of carrot to approximately the same length.
Step Two – Tip the prepared carrots into a bowl, add the seasoning and the oil, and stir well to coat the carrots. Transfer the carrots to the air fryer basket.
Step Three – Cook for 18–20 minutes at 185° C / 365° F, shaking every 5 minutes until the carrots are done. When cooked, they should feel tender if you poke them with a fork.
Step Four – Your air fryer carrots are ready when they have shrunk about a quarter and are turning golden at the edges. Transfer to serving bowl and garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Serving suggestion
These air fryer roasted carrots go with all sorts of dishes. They are delicious with roast meats and traditional ‘gravy dinners’ such as steak and kidney pies or shepherd’s pie, but they also go well with many vegetarian dishes and are good with Middle Eastern flavours.
Add cold leftovers to grain salads or enjoy them with pesto. They are also delicious in a roast carrot dip or any of my carrot soup recipes.
Variations
- Sprinkle spices over towards the end of cooking. Try them with smoked paprika or sumac.
- Add cumin or caraway seeds.
Storage
Best served hot and fresh from the air fryer.
Fridge – Keep leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 3 days. Return to the air fryer for a few minutes to reheat or use in dips, salads and soups.
Which air fryer?
There are so many to choose from that it can be a little confusing. I currently use the Cosori 5.5L which has a basket about 8″ square and it suits my needs perfectly.
I nearly always cook for two. This air fryer will roast a medium chicken, and is easily big enough for everything I want to cook in it, without taking up too much space on the counter.
It will hold a 7″ square baking/roasting tray, and I can bake 9 cupcakes or scones at a time.
Since I bought it in July 2022, there are newer models but it remains ideal for my needs.
When buying, go as large as you can without going crazy, as you will use your air fryer almost daily once you get used to it.
Hints and tips
- You will get the best results cooking these directly in the basket so the air can surround them. That said, I know I and others often prefer to use a liner for ease of clean up. If you do too, cook the carrots on a mesh trivet standing in the liner.
- Do not over crowd the basket. You do not want more than a single layer of carrots, allowing some space in between them.
- These air fryer roasted carrots are pretty speedy, but you can speed the process up by putting them in a bowl and covering them with boiling water to parboil in the microwave for 4 minutes before you drain and steam dry them. Then coat them in oil as at step 2 above and proceed as normal, reducing the air fryer time to 8–10 minutes.
FAQs
You can but you don’t need to. If you are in the habit of pre-heating, set the air fryer to preheat as you prepare the carrots.
Yes, just cut them evenly and they will be fine.
Yes, but remember it burns easily, so add two or three minutes before the end of cooking. The same goes for springs of woody herbs like rosemary.
More delicious vegetable side dishes
- Mashed celeriac – delicate and sophisticated
- Honey roast parsnips – winter luxury
- Parmentier potatoes – a French classic
- Slow cooker red cabbage and cranberries – jewel like colours
- Explore more side dishes
Air Fryer Carrots
Ingredients
- 500 g carrots
- 1 tsp olive oil
- salt and pepper
To garnish
- 1 handful chopped parsley
Instructions
- Top, tail and peel the carrots. Then cut them into chunks and slice the largest pieces in half lengthwise. You want all the pieces about the same thickness so they cook evenly.500 g carrots
- Tip the prepared carrots into a bowl, add the seasoning and the oil, and stir well to coat the carrots. Transfer the carrots to the air fryer basket.salt and pepper, 1 tsp olive oil
- Cook for 18–20 minutes at 185° C /365° F, shaking every 5 minutes until the carrots are done. When cooked, they should feel tender if you poke them with a fork.
- Your air fryer carrots are ready when they have shrunk about a quarter and are turning golden at the edges. Transfer to serving bowl and garnish with chopped parsley if desired.1 handful chopped parsley
Notes
Storage
Best served hot and fresh from the air fryer. Fridge – Keep leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 3 days. Return to the air fryer for a few minutes to reheat or use in dips, salads and soups.Hints and tips
- You will get the best results cooking these directly in the basket so the air can surround them. That said, I know I and others often prefer to use a liner for ease of clean up. If you do too, cook the carrots on a mesh trivet standing in the liner.
- Do not over crowd the basket. You do not want more than a single layer of carrots, allowing some space in between them.
- These air fryer roasted carrots are pretty speedy, but you can speed the process up by putting them in a bowl and covering them with boiling water to parboil in the microwave for 4 minutes before you drain and steam dry them. Then coat them in oil as at step 2 above and proceed as normal, reducing the air fryer time to 8–10 minutes.
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