Air Fryer Carrots
, Updated Nov 24, 2025
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Traditional roasted carrots are brought to life in this air fryer recipe with garlic, lemon, thyme, paprika and maple syrup. Ready in under 15 minutes, sweet with a touch of spice, a bit of crunch and definitely family friendly.
Add these air fryer carrots to your holiday feast along with my Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potates and Air Fryer Green Beans!
Carrots in the air fryer? You bet! This easy side dish cooks fast and delivers crisp yet tender carrots with intense flavor and beautifully caramelized edges. And the best part? It’s SOOOO much faster and energy efficient than using the oven!
The concentrated heat of the air fryer brings out the carrots’ natural sweetness, enhanced by the drizzle of olive oil, maple syrup and lemon juice and kiss of paprika, thyme and red pepper flakes.
These air fried carrots will happily pair with most dishes – chicken, steak, salmon, grain bowls, you name it! They also work great as snack with my whipped cottage cheese dip – kids LOVE them served as finger food 🙂
Here’s What You’ll Need
The list of ingredients is short and you can play around with the spices and seasoning to your heart’s content. For basic air fryer carrots, simply use olive oil, salt and pepper. For a slightly jazzier version use my marinade below!
- Carrots: Peel them, slice them into even pieces and remember that smaller = crispier edges. You can use any type of carrots including baby and rainbow!
- Olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup (or honey), minced garlic, dried thyme, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
How to Make Air Fryer Carrots
- Wash and peel the carrots and trim the ends. Cut into even-sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.
- Toss carrots in a large bowl with the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic and maple syrup, spices, thyme and seasoning. Mix well so the carrots are completely covered.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Add the carrots in a single layer to the basket and cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Transfer the carrots to a serving dish and check the seasoning – done!
Serving Suggestions
This versatile vegetable side dish is just as happy on your holiday table as it is part of a quick weeknight dinner. Plus you can prep a batch early in the week to serve later!
- Holiday feasts: pair with Roasted Turkey Legs, Air Fryer Turkey Breast, Air Fryer Roast Pork, Slow Cooker Prime Rib, Baked Sweet Potatoes.
- Chicken dishes: Rotisserie Chicken, Air Fryer Chicken Breast, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
- Meat: Ribeye Steak, Herby Lamb Chops, Perfect Bone-in Ribeye, Air Fryer Steak Bites.
Recipe Variations
Carrots work well with both sweet and savory flavors and pretty much any herb you can picture. Spices like ground cumin, cloves, cinnamon and cayenne bring out the natural sweetness.
Go the minced ginger and garlic route for Asian flair, or toss with chopped dill, lemon juice, garlic and crumbled feta for a Mediterranean twist.
Leftovers and Storage
Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (180°C) for 2–3 minutes, adjusting the cooking time depending on your crisp-tender preference. You can also reheat them in your microwave, but they will lose some of their crunch.
You can freeze roasted carrots, but I would not recommend it – they can become a little mushy when thawed and reheated. You could add to stews or blend to add in soups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not really, as the skin is edible. But definitely give them a very good scrub first if you are leaving the peel on!
Chantenay carrots are a great option – no need to peel! Give them a good scrub and leave whole, but adjust the cooking time depending on size.
No need to boil first – they cook really fast in the air fryer and we want them to hold on to a crisp roasted texture.
Generally speaking, it takes between 10-15 minutes to air fry carrots, but you will need to adjust the cooking time depending on size and your desired tenderness. Sliced carrots cook faster while chunkier pieces will take longer.
Air fryer carrots have a crisp yet soft texture with slightly caramelized edges. For crispier results, avoid overcrowding in the air fryer basket as they will steam rather than roast. Blast them at a higher heat if you want more charred bits.
If you make this Air Fryer Carrots recipe, please leave a rating and comment – your feedback helps more readers find it. Follow me on Pinterest for more easy recipes and don’t forget to tag me on @Instagram or TikTok so I can see and share your creations!
Air Fryer Carrots
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) carrots
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (orange juice also works!)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- ¾ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes or paprika
Instructions
- Wash and peel the carrots and trim the ends. Cut them into even-sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.1 lb (450g) carrots
- Place the olive oil, maple syrup, lemon juice, minced garlic, seasonings and thyme in a bowl and stir to combine. Add the carrots and toss to combine.2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tsp dried thyme, ¾ tsp sea salt, ½ tsp black pepper, ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Add the carrots to the air fryer basket in a single layer (you may need to cook in batches)
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Check the carrots are cooked to your desired doneness – cook for a little longer if needed.
- Transfer the carrots to a serving dish and check the seasoning – done!
Notes
- Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (180°C) for 2–3 minutes, adjusting the cooking time depending on your crisp-tender preference. You can also reheat them in your microwave, but they will lose some of their crunch.
- You can freeze roasted carrots, but I would not recommend it – they can become a little mushy when thawed and reheated. You could add to stews or blend to add in soups.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.
