Roasted Air Fryer Baby Carrots

Why It Works

These air fried baby carrots are soon to be your new favorite roasted vegetable and side dish!

Air frying carrots brings out their sweetness and makes them perfectly tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, and they do it faster than traditional roasting, with less oil and with less to clean up!

That’s why I use my air fryer to make everything from “boiled” eggs to pork tenderloin to tortilla chips, and more! I even made an Air Fryer Cooking Chart to print and reference while you cook.

🥕 Ingredients

Ingredients Notes:

• Use avocado oil or olive oil interchangeably.
• Optionally, add 1 Tablespoon of any extra herbs and spices that you like, like Italian seasoning or Ranch seasoning.
• For Honey Glazed Sweet Carrots: Add 3 Tablespoons of honey and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon.
• For Garlic Parmesan Carrots: Add 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 3 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, and 2 Tablespoons bread crumbs.

Step 1: Prep the carrots.

While the air fryer preheats, use a few paper towels or a kitchen towel to pat all the carrots dry.

👉 All the pieces should be approximately the same length and width. If you have some huge carrots compared to the others, cut them to a more uniform size.

Toss the carrots with olive oil and seasonings so they’re evenly coated.

Step 2: Cook the baby carrots.

Transfer the carrots to a preheated air fryer basket, arranging them in a single layer. Close the air fryer to begin air frying.

Halfway through cooking, stop and open the basket, then shake the basket or use a plastic spatula to turn the carrots over. This allows the pieces to cook and brown evenly!

Step 3: Test for doneness.

Close to the end of the cook time, open the air fryer basket to check on how they’re looking. Use a fork to pierce one of the pieces – it should easily slide through.

When the carrots are just beginning to brown and caramelize, they’re done, but if you like them a little darker, simply add 1-2 minutes to the cook time.

⏲️ Oven Instructions

To roast baby carrots in the oven, follow step 1, then spread the carrots on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C), and roast for 35-40 minutes, stopping halfway to flip the carrots with a spatula.

Expert Tips & Info

• Preheat your air fryer. Just as we roast your vegetables in a preheated oven, you also need to preheat your air fryer. If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat setting, simply turn it on and wait about 5 minutes before adding the food.
• Dry the carrots. Bags of baby carrots tend to be very wet, so use a few paper towels to dry them off before tossing them with oil and seasonings.
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. The carrots should be in a single layer, with enough room for the air to circulate. Cook in batches if you want to make larger quantities.
• To store leftovers: Allow the carrots to cool, then transfer them to an airtight bag or container. Store covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, per USDA.