Air Fryer Baby Carrots
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Ready in just 25 minutes, these air fryer baby carrots are perfect for busy nights. With a sweet, caramelized flavor, these baby carrots are soft on the inside but have a slightly crispy exterior that even kids love.
As a mom of three, weeknights after school are naturally chaotic. Cooking carrots in the air fryer help take away some of the insanity because they’re so easy to make. With just two main ingredients plus salt and pepper, these baby carrots have become a favorite at our house.
I pair them the most with main dishes like pineapple pork chops, BBQ chicken thighs, or air fryer tilapia. However, given my boys love the slightly sweet taste, I’ve been known to whip them up multiple times per week because I know they’ll get devoured.
Why This Recipe is a Family Favorite
One reason to love this air fryer baby carrots recipe is that there is such little prep work! No peeling or chopping; all you need to do is give them a quick rinse and pop them into the air fryer basket. And by using my air fryer cooking chart, you’re never second-guessing your cooking time. This is a huge time-saver on weeknights.
Learn how to cook anything in your air fryer with our free cook time chart!
Normally, we enjoy carrots raw for snacks dipped into whipped feta or homemade ranch dressing. But since the air fryer almost caramelizes the baby carrots, bringing out their natural sweetness, this is a super kid-friendly side dish.
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my important mom-tested cooking tips for making this recipe! I’ve made this countless times, so I can save you from a failed attempt.
- Take the time to pat the carrots dry. If they’re too wet going into the air fryer, they’ll steam rather than roast, and you won’t have that caramelized flavor.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. You want the carrots in a single layer so that the air can circulate as they cook. This is what helps give them their crispy exterior. If necessary, cook them in batches to make larger quantities.
- Once you’re done cooking, try to clean your air fryer immediately to prevent anything sticking and making your next use easier. Use this blog post on how to clean your air fryer to help.
Ingredients
You’ll want to add these ingredients to your grocery shopping list:
Though regular carrots will work for this recipe, baby carrots save you time since they’re pre-peeled and pre-cut to about 2-3 inches in length. If you want to use larger carrots, you’ll need to do some prep work.
Olive oil allows the seasonings to stick onto the carrots. Know that avocado oil can easily work here as well. Just don’t use coconut oil or the texture of the carrots may change as they cool down.
This recipe uses minimal seasonings, just salt and pepper, but there are plenty of herbs and spices that would work. For a simple boost of flavor, use a homemade spice blend like Italian seasoning or Greek seasoning. Otherwise, fresh herbs like dill and rosemary are great choices.
Recipe Variations
Honey cinnamon baby carrots: The honey gives the veggies an even sweeter flavor. To make them this way, add 3 tablespoons of honey and 1/8th teaspoon of cinnamon to the carrots after seasoning them with salt and pepper.
Garlic parmesan: A savory choice, toss the carrots with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder and 3 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese along with the salt and pepper. For a crispier texture, add 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs.
Balsamic glazed carrots: Drizzle 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar or a reduced balsamic glaze over the carrots after they’re cooked.
How To Make Air Fryer Baby Carrots
For the full instructions, see the recipe card! ⬇️
Jump to Recipe
- Preheat the air fryer so that cooking times are accurate. While you wait, toss the carrots with oil, salt, and pepper until coated.
- Add the carrots to the air fryer basket, taking a moment to arrange them in a single layer so that they crisp up a bit.
- Halfway through cooking, give the basket a shake to shuffle them up so that everything caramelizes evenly.
- Give the air fried carrots a quick test for doneness, ensuring they’re tender in the middle. I suggest that you taste one so you can add more seasoning if needed.
Tips For Success
- Using frozen baby carrots? There’s no need to defrost the carrots first. Instead, follow the same instructions from the recipe, but add two minutes of cooking time if needed.
- Preheat your air fryer: This saves you time in the long run because you’re not guessing on cook times. Preheat your machine before adding in the vegetables. If your model doesn’t have a preheat setting, simply turn it on and wait about 5 minutes before adding the food.
- Cooking times: You want the carrots to be tender on the inside when pierced with a fork but slightly crispy on the outside. Once the timer is up, check them before serving to see if they need to cook a minute or two longer.
Make it kid friendly: My kids love this side dish no matter how I make it. However, for special occasions we drizzle the carrots with a bit of maple syrup or honey, and I find that they’re gobbled up even faster than normal!
Storing and Freezing
Refrigerator: Let the carrots cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freezer: You can definitely freeze the carrots in a freezer-safe bag once they're cool. But since they absorb water, the consistency will change as they thaw, so they may be a bit mushy.
To reheat the baby carrots, put them back into the air fryer for a few minutes. It doesn't take long, as you're just warming them through.
Serving Suggestions
I love baby carrots in the air fryer so much because they pair well with just about everything!
Our favorite ways to serve them are alongside ranch chicken, grilled chicken drumsticks, or my kids' favorite, healthy sloppy Joes.
Air Fryer Baby Carrots FAQs
No, there’s no need to parboil the carrots before cooking them in the air fryer. They become tender enough.
Of course! If you’re making a double batch, you’ll want to air fry them in multiple batches. This way, they will still turn out with a caramelized taste and texture. Make sure when you place them in the basket that they’re in a single layer only.
After you make this recipe, please give it a star rating below- comment to let me know how it went!
Air Fryer Baby Carrots
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound baby carrots *see Notes for using whole carrots
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Meanwhile, use a few paper towels or a kitchen towel to pat the 1 pound baby carrots dry. *If using whole carrots, wash and peel them, then use a knife to cut them into pieces about 1 inch long.Toss the carrots in the 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
- Arrange the veggies in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 23-25 minutes, stopping halfway to turn the carrots over or to shake the basket.
- Use a fork to pierce one carrot to test for doneness. Remove when the fork easily slides through. Transfer the carrots to a serving bowl or platter, season to taste, and enjoy.
Equipment
Notes
- To use whole carrots: Wash and peel the carrots. Lay the veggies on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut each carrot in half from top to bottom, then cut each long piece in to several 1-inch long pieces.
- 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.
- Storing leftovers: Transfer to an airtight container or bag and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- 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.
Nutrition
2026 Update: This recipe is still a favorite of ours! It's been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and include extra cooking tips. We hope you love it as much as we do!
Other Easy Side Dish Recipes
If you need more ideas to get side dishes on the table, try whipping up these easy roasted Yukon gold potatoes, air fryer zucchini, or steamed parmesan broccoli. All of these sides make each meal nutrient and flavor-packed.
Love these! I always have extra carrots…such a good use.