This air fryer carrots recipe is quick, easy, and packed with flavor. They roast up tender with a slight crisp, thanks to a perfect mix of honey, butter, and spices. In just 20 minutes, you’ve got a sweet and savory side dish that goes with anything!
🥕 Best carrots in the air fryer recipe
Carrots are packed with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, making them a nutrient-dense side dish. Air frying keeps them crispy without excess oil, so you get all the flavor with fewer calories. I love how easy it is to make a batch of these for meal prep—they reheat well and always add a pop of color and nutrition to my plate!
❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Quick & easy: Cooks in just 15 minutes with minimal prep.
- Crispy & tender: The air fryer gives these carrots the perfect texture.
- Sweet & savory: A touch of honey (or maple syrup) balances the buttery goodness.
- Customizable: Switch up the seasonings to match any meal.
- Healthy & nutritious: Packed with fiber, vitamins, and natural sweetness.
🗝️ Key ingredients & substitutions
Just 5 simple ingredients:
- Carrots: Fresh, whole carrots work best, but baby carrots or frozen carrots also do the job. Just adjust the cook time as needed.
- Honey or Maple Syrup: Adds a touch of natural sweetness. Skip it if you prefer a more savory flavor.
- Butter or Oil: Butter gives a rich taste, but olive oil, avocado oil, or ghee work just as well.
- Salt & Black Pepper: Essential for balancing flavors. Feel free to adjust to taste.
- Parsley: A fresh, herby touch to finish it off.
🥣 How to make air fryer carrots
- Preheat the air fryer: Set it to 390°F (200°C) so it’s ready to go.
- Prep the carrots: Slice them into sticks or circles—whatever you prefer! If using baby carrots, cut them in half for even cooking.
- Mix the flavors: In a bowl, stir together honey and melted butter. Add salt and black pepper to taste.
- Coat the carrots: Toss them in the honey-butter mix until they’re fully covered.
- Air fry in a single layer: Spread them out in the air fryer basket so they cook evenly.
- Cook for 15 minutes: Shake the basket halfway through to get that perfect crisp.
- Check for doneness: They should be golden brown and slightly crispy on the edges. If needed, add another minute or two.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with parsley or extra seasonings if you like. Then dig in!
🪄 Recipe notes & tips
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: Spread the carrots out in a single layer so they crisp up instead of steaming.
- Skip peeling: The skin has nutrients, and a good wash is usually enough. But if you prefer peeled carrots, go for it!
- Adjust the seasoning: Love spice? Add a pinch of chili powder or cayenne. Want it extra savory? Try garlic powder or smoked paprika.
- Check the size: Smaller carrot pieces cook faster. If they’re too thick, they might need an extra couple of minutes.
- Make them extra crispy: A light sprinkle of parmesan cheese in the last few minutes adds a delicious crunch.
🫙 Storage instructions
- Refrigerate: Store cooled carrots in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3–5 minutes, or microwave until hot.
- Freeze: Keep them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
- Refresh the texture: If they lose crispiness, a quick air fryer blast brings them back to life!
✨ Variations
- Spicy: Add a pinch of chili flakes, cayenne, or chili powder for a bit of heat.
- Garlic Butter: Swap the honey for extra butter and mix in garlic powder or minced garlic.
- Herby: Toss with dried rosemary, thyme, or Italian seasoning.
- Smoky & Savory: A little smoked paprika or cumin adds a deep, warm flavor.
- Cinnamon-Sweet: For a cozy touch, sprinkle with cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg.
- Parmesan Crusted: Add a sprinkle of parmesan in the last few minutes for a crispy, cheesy finish.
- Maple Dijon: Mix in a bit of Dijon mustard with maple syrup instead of honey for a tangy twist.
- Paleo: For paleo air fryer carrots, switch the butter for ghee or oil like olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil.
- Whole30: For a Whole30 version, stick to the paleo guidelines but skip the honey.
- Vegan: To make these carrots vegan, use dairy-free butter or oil, and switch the honey for maple syrup.
🍽️ What can I serve with Air Fryer roasted carrots?
At Christmas, we serve these Air Fryer roast carrots with Christmas roast beef and our other favorite side dishes like Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, or parsnip puree.
For Thanksgiving, we switch the centerpiece to a delightful roasted turkey and add some turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed rutabaga, green bean casserole, and stuffing.
We also love making carrots in the air fryer for Easter (of course!). The Easter Bunny needs their carrots! We serve the air-fried carrots with roast chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and Brussels sprouts with bacon.
For Sunday lunch, we often make a pork tenderloin or Air Fryer Pork Loin to go with these air fryer carrot fries. While the meat rests, it’s the perfect time to make carrots in the air fryer!
❓ Frequently asked questions
Yes! No need to thaw—just follow the same instructions. They may cook slightly faster since frozen carrots are often pre-cooked.
Nope! The skin has nutrients, and a good scrub is usually enough. But if you prefer peeled carrots, go for it.
Make sure they’re in a single layer and not overcrowded. Adding a sprinkle of parmesan in the last few minutes also helps!
Absolutely. Just skip the honey or maple syrup, and season with extra spices for a more savory flavor.
😋 More air fryer recipes you will love
- Acorn Squash in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Rice Paper Dumplings
- Air Fryer Vegan Jalapeño Poppers
- Air Fryer Toasted Walnuts
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Carrots Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.1 lbs carrots
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tbsp butter dairy or plant-based, or ghee/olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste (see note 4 for more seasoning ideas)
- Parsley chopped, to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F/200°C.
- Slice carrots into sticks or circles.1.1 lbs carrots
- In a mixing bowl, mix honey and butter together.1 tbsp honey or maple syrup, 1 tbsp butter
- Add salt and pepper to taste.Salt and black pepper
- Mix carrots with butter and honey.
- Place all the carrots in the air fryer basket in a single layer so they cook evenly. Cook carrots for 15 minutes, shaking the carrots halfway through. The carrots will be golden brown and a little crispy when they're finished.
- Garnish with parsley, if desired.Parsley
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: Spread the carrots out in a single layer so they crisp up instead of steaming.
- Skip peeling: The skin has nutrients, and a good wash is usually enough. But if you prefer peeled carrots, go for it!
- Adjust the seasoning: Love spice? Add a pinch of chili powder or cayenne. Want it extra savory? Try garlic powder or smoked paprika.
- Check the size: Smaller carrot pieces cook faster. If they’re too thick, they might need an extra couple of minutes.
- Make them extra crispy: A light sprinkle of parmesan cheese in the last few minutes adds a delicious crunch.
Storage instructions
- Refrigerate: Store cooled carrots in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3–5 minutes, or microwave until hot.
- Freeze: Keep them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
- Refresh the texture: If they lose crispiness, a quick air fryer blast brings them back to life!
Very tasty. Great way to free up space on the stovetop too!