Perfectly Roasted Air Fryer Carrots
Perfectly caramelized Air Fryer Carrots roast in just 25 minutes and complete any dinner! This recipe is made with baby carrots that are tender on the inside and slightly crispy on the outside. You’ll never want to make roasted carrots another way after experiencing how easy it is to make them in your air fryer.

Discovering how to cook perfectly tender veggies in the air fryer has been a complete game changer for dinner time. Not to mention that veggies cook way faster in the air fryer than roasting them traditionally in the oven!
These air fried baby carrots are soon to be your new favorite roasted vegetable and side dish!
Air Fryer Carrots Recipe
Ever wondered the difference between baby carrots and regular ones? It’s quite simple! Baby carrots are carrots pre-peeled and pre-cut to about 2-3 inches in length. If you want to skip the chopping and prep work, grab a bag of baby carrots.
Baby carrots will also cook in less time than whole carrots, without sacrificing on flavor or nutrition.
Plus, we usually have baby carrots around to dip into sriracha hummus or whipped feta! So it’s a quick win to make roasted carrots with our dinner.
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. All wins in my book!
If you didn’t know, we are *quite* obsessed with our air fryer and use it to make everything from “boiled” eggs to pork tenderloin to tortilla chips, and more! Our Air Fryer Cooking Chart makes it so easy to know just how long to cook your favorite veggies and proteins to perfection.
Don’t forget to always clean your air fryer properly after cooking! Find out exactly how to clean your air fryer.
🥕 Ingredients
The beauty of roasting in the air fryer is that it takes a simple recipe to the next level. The air fryer does all the hard work of bringing all the flavors together. Just like when roasting butternut squash or sweet potatoes, you only need the veggie, oil and salt and pepper.

You’ll need:
- baby carrots: for this recipe you’ll need one pound of baby carrots. If you only have full size carrots, that is no problem at all. You’ll want to cut them into ½ inch thick rounds or match size sticks to cook evenly.
- olive oil or avocado oil: These two oils always do the best in the air fryer. They are high heat oils that are much healthier options than other neutral oils.
- salt: use flaky sea salt or pink Himalayan salt
- black pepper: ground black pepper perfectly seasons these carrots
- other seasonings: feel free to add 1 tablespoon of your favorite seasonings 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 breadcrumbs.
Balsamic carrots: Drizzle 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze after carrots are cooked.
How to Cook Carrots in Air Fryer

Prep the carrots. While the air fryer preheats, use a few paper towels or a kitchen towel to pat all the carrots dry.
Toss the carrots with olive oil, salt, pepper (and any additional seasoning) so they’re evenly coated.

Cook the 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!

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 or be fork tender.
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 Roasting Instructions
To cook oven-roasted carrots, follow step 1 to prepare your carrots, then spread 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.
Pro Tips for Your Air Fryer
- 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 container. Store covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, per USDA.
Serve your air fryer carrots with your favorite main dish like brown sugar pork chops, turkey meatballs or Greek yogurt chicken thighs!
FAQ
Carrots contain about 9 net carbs per cup, so they’re not the best choice for those following a Keto way of eating. However, they’re a better option than some starchy vegetables like potatoes or corn. They’d likely fit with a lower carb way of eating in moderate amounts.
Yes! Cook directly from frozen (without defrosting) and follow the same instructions. Add 2 minutes of cooking time if necessary.
Carrots contain vitamin A, beta-carotene, and fiber. This recipe is appropriate for Whole30, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten free diets.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Broccoli. Get perfectly crispy broccoli, using either fresh or frozen broccoli!
- Garlicky Mushrooms. Garlicky and oh so delicious.
- Breakfast Potatoes. Perfect any time of day!
- Beets. Earthy, sweet beets are beautifully caramelized and delicious!
- Zucchini & Onions. A great way to use up your extra garden goodies in the summer.
- Green Beans. Kids and grown-ups love this recipe!
I’d love to hear about your experience making this recipe!
Please leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @cookathomemom.

Roasted Air Fryer Baby Carrots
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. baby carrots
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Meanwhile, use a few paper towels or a kitchen towel to pat all the carrots dry. Toss the carrots in the oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer to the preheated air fryer basket and arrange in a single layer. Cook for 23-25 minutes, stopping halfway to turn the carrots or shake the basket.
- Use a fork to pierce one carrot to test if they're done cooking. It should easily slide through. Transfer the carrots to a plate, season to taste, and enjoy.
Notes
- Honey Glazed Sweet Carrots: Toss the carrots with the oil, salt and pepper, plus 3 Tablespoons of honey and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon before cooking.
- Garlic Parmesan Carrots: Toss with the oil, salt and pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 3 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, and 2 Tablespoons bread crumbs.
- To cook in the oven: 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.
- To store leftovers: Transfer to an airtight container or bag and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, per USDA.