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    Home » Course » Side Dish

    Air Fryer Carrots

    Published: Aug 26, 2020 · Modified: Nov 14, 2022 by Erin Carter · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    These are the best air fryer carrots. They are so easy to make in less than 30 minutes, and I've included sweet and savoury options that are made with simple pantry staple ingredients. These roasted carrots make a delicious, healthy side dish that's perfect anytime.

    A tray of air fryer carrots with salt and parsley on top.

    Why you will love this recipe:

    • Whether you like sweet or savoury carrots I've included recipes for both! The sweet version has cinnamon and just a little sugar, while the savoury version is salty with hints of spice from black pepper.
    • I've included an optional lemon dill dressing recipe for you to enjoy with these air fried carrots that takes the taste to the next level!
    • Making carrots in an air fryer is so easy! It takes less than 30 minutes to roast the carrots perfectly.
    • This recipe uses very little oil, is low in calories, and tastes amazing!  
    • Because these carrots are so fast and easy to make they are perfect for meal prep or those busy weeknight meals
    • When carrots are cooked in the air fryer they turn out perfectly roasted, with the best crisp texture.
    • This is a healthy side dish that also makes great leftovers.
    • If you love roasted carrots you will also love roasted carrots and parsnips.

    Taste and texture:

    Whether you prefer sweet carrots or savoury carrots, I've included delicious options for both. The lemon dill dressing makes the savoury carrots taste even better. When cooked in the air fryer carrots turn out nice and crispy, never soggy or mushy.

    Key ingredients and substitutions:

    • Fresh carrots - the star of the show for this recipe, carrots are one of my favourite root vegetables that are healthy and full of beneficial vitamins and minerals. You can use any type of carrots that you like including baby carrots, rainbow carrots or tri colour carrots.
    • Avocado oil or coconut oil - I've tested the recipe with both and either work! You could also use olive oil. These help make the carrots nice and crisp when you cook them. I don't recommend trying to make these carrots with no oil.
    • For the sweet carrots: ground cinnamon and coconut sugar - you could also use brown sugar or maple sugar instead, whatever you have in your pantry. If you use maple syrup they will turn out more glazed looking.
    • For the savoury carrots: ground black pepper to add just a little spice to the carrots. 

    How to cook:

    To make the sweet carrots:

    Step one:

    First, peel and slice the carrots into ~1 inch sized slices or rounds.

    Step two:

    Next put the sliced carrots into a bowl and add the other ingredients. Stir well until the carrots are coated evenly in the cinnamon sugar mix.

    Step three:

    Transfer the coated carrots to the tray or basket of your air fryer. Turn your air fryer on to 380 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the carrots for 20-25 minutes, stirring the carrots once to ensure the sides cook evenly. Cook the carrots until they have the texture that you like.

    Step by step directions for making sweet air fryer carrots.

    To make the savoury carrots:

    Step one:

    Peel the carrots and cut them in half, and then cut the larger half in half again length wise so that the pieces are all around the same size (they will look like sticks - see the photo below for reference).

    Step two:

    Transfer the cut carrots to a bowl and add the oil and seasonings, stirring well until the carrots are coated evenly.

    Step three:

    Transfer the carrots to the tray or basket of your air fryer. Turn the air fryer on to 380 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the carrots are the texture you desire.

    Step four:

    Top the cooked carrots with the optional lemon dill dressing or serve plain. Which ever you prefer!  

    Step by step directions for making savoury carrots in the air fryer.

    Tips:

    • If you have a larger air fryer like the one I use, you can easily double these recipes and make 2 lbs of carrots.
    • The optional lemon dill dressing makes a thick dressing or dip. If you prefer a thinner version, add a little water before blending.
    • Note that the sweet carrots recipe is not Whole30 compliant, but the savoury carrots and the dressing are. Both recipes are gluten free, vegan and paleo.
    • These carrots can be eaten as a side dish, or for a snack.

    Variations and add ins:

    • Feel free to add other spices to the carrots. Ground nutmeg or ginger would be great on the sweet version, while onion powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, paprika, turmeric or chili powder would kick the savoury carrots up a notch and make them a little spicy!
    • You can use pretty much any oil you wish to make these carrots. My favourites are coconut oil (melted) and avocado oil.
    • For the sweet carrots, instead of coconut sugar I have tried brown sugar and maple syrup and both work well. Honey is also another option.

    How to store:

    Store any leftover roasted carrots in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. 

    Nutrition info:

    One serving of the sweet carrots recipe has approximately 70 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of protein, 16 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fiber and 13 grams of net carbs. This recipe would be considered low calorie, but it is not low carb or keto.

    A bowl of cooked sprinkled with cinnamon and salt.

    Frequently asked questions:

    Are these carrots vegan?

    Yes! Both of these recipes are vegan. Feel free to swap the avocado oil and coconut oil for other vegan friendly oils such as vegan butter.

    How do I make these carrots Whole30 compliant:

    The savoury carrots recipe is already Whole30 compliant. To make the sweet carrots compliant you would need to omit the sugar.

    Are these recipes paleo?

    Yes! Both the sweet and savoury versions are paleo!

    Can I make this recipe with no oil?

    I do not recommend trying to make these carrots with no oil. The little bit of oil that is used helps makes the carrots crispy, rather than soggy when they cook.

    Do I need to preheat my air fryer?

    For this recipe you do not need to preheat your air fryer. If you do preheat it, subtract a few minutes of cooking time from the recipe.

    Can I use frozen carrots?

    No, for this recipe I recommend using fresh carrots.

    Other recipes you will love:

    • Healthy Sloppy Joes
    • Air Fryer Ribs
    • Spaghetti Squash in the Air Fryer
    • Healthy Broccoli Salad
    • Easy Asian Coleslaw
    • Dairy Free Spinach and Artichoke Dip

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    A plate of roasted, sliced carrots with parsley on top for garnish.

    Air Fryer Carrots

    These air fryer carrots are simply the best! Whether you prefer sweet or savoury there is a version for everyone. They're easy to make and ready in less than 30 minutes!
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 325kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    Sweet Carrots Ingredients

    • 1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into 1" sized pieces
    • 1 tablespoon avocado oil (melted coconut oil also works)
    • 2 tablespoon coconut sugar (maple syrup or brown sugar also work)
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

    Savoury Carrots Ingredients

    • 1 lb carrots
    • 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (or more to taste)
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (or more to taste)

    Optional Lemon Dill Dressing Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup raw cashews
    • 1/2 cup full fat coconut milk
    • 3 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
    • 1 tablespoon dried dill
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (or more to taste)

    Instructions

    Sweet Carrot Instructions

    • Peel and cut the carrots into ~1" sized pieces.
    • Place the cut carrots in a bowl and add the other ingredients. Stir well until the carrots are coated evenly.
    • Transfer the carrots to the tray of your air fryer. Turn your air fryer on to 380F and cook the carrots for 20-25 minutes, stirring the carrots once to ensure the sides cook evenly, until cooked to the consistency that you like.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Savoury Carrot Instructions

    • Peel the carrots and cut them in half, and then cut the larger half in half again length wise so that the pieces are all around the same size.
    • Transfer the carrots to a bowl and add the oil and spices, stirring well until coated evenly.
    • Transfer the carrots to the tray of your air fryer. Turn the air fryer on to 380F and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the carrots are the texture you desire.
    • Top with the optional lemon dill dressing or serve plain.

    Lemon Dill Dressing Instructions

    • Place all the ingredients into your Vitamix or food processor.
    • Blend well until smooth.

    Notes

    1. The nutrition calculator takes into account the ingredients for both recipes plus the dressing so they will not be accurate. 
    2. Feel free to swap avocado oil for coconut oil.
    3. Coconut sugar can be swapped with maple sugar or maple syrup. 
    4. If you like a thinner dressing, add a bit of water to the lemon dill dressing ingredients before blending. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 1048mg | Potassium: 937mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 37936IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    More Healthy Side Dishes

    • Carrot and Turnip Soup
    • Paleo Curried Butternut Squash Soup
    • Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup
    • Turnip and Apple Casserole

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristie

      September 11, 2020 at 6:27 pm

      Yuuuuummy!5 stars

      Reply

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    Hi everyone! My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialities in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

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