Savor the irresistible taste of these Air Fryer Carrots coated in a delicious honey balsamic glaze. The carrots combine a mix of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors, offering a gourmet twist to your meal. Plus, they’re incredibly simple to whip up!
Air fryer carrots are my secret weapon in the world of side dishes. They’re easy to make, with a great texture and light caramelization, and you can flavor them with anything you like! From garlic and butter to honey and cinnamon, any combo works with this classic veggie. For this recipe, I’m using another one of my favorite ingredients: balsamic glaze. If you are familiar with balsamic vinegar, you’ll love the thicker, sweeter cousin, balsamic glaze – it adds a deep, tangy, savory taste to bland vegetables.
Ingredients
- Carrots: You can choose whether or not to peel them, but make sure they’re well-rinsed and cut in half longwise.
- Olive Oil: Or avocado oil, or another cooking oil of your choice.
- Butter: Melt the butter before using it.
- Honey: Maple syrup would also be great.
- Garlic: Freshly minced, or you could substitute garlic powder in a pinch.
- Salt and Pepper
- Balsamic Glaze: This is usually sold near the vinegars, oils, or condiments.
- Chives: Freshly chopped, for garnish.
How to Make Air Fryer Carrots
This method is about as easy as it gets – perfect for busy cooks and busy weeknights. Here’s the skinny:
- Prep the Air Fryer. First, set the air fryer to preheat to 400˚F. Next, give the air fryer basket a light spritz of cooking spray.
- Season the Carrots. Mix the olive oil, butter, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl, and then dump in the carrots. Toss to coat.
- Air Fry in Batches. Add some of the seasoned carrots to the air fryer basket, enough to make a single layer. Cook them for about 10 minutes, flipping or shaking the carrots halfway through cooking. Move the cooked carrots to a serving plate, and then air-fry the remaining carrots the same way until they are all cooked.
- Serve! Drizzle the cooked carrots with balsamic glaze, garnish with chives, and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Carrots: For carrots, the key is to monitor their cooking time closely. I like to use long, large carrots for this recipe, bu you have a variety of options: baby carrots, whole carrots sliced into coins, sticks, or chunks, and even colorful varieties like purple and white carrots. While you can also air-fry frozen sliced carrots, note that they won’t achieve the same level of crispiness as fresh ones.
- Balsamic Vinegar vs Balsamic Glaze: Balsamic vinegar is a type of vinegar that’s intensely flavored with a sweet, woodsy, herbal fragrance. Balsamic glaze is simply balsamic vinegar that has been simmered to evaporate the water and leave a thicker, richer version.
- Shake the Basket: Depending on the size and shape of the carrots, you can skip flipping each one and simply shake the basket once or twice to ensure even cooking.
- Serve Immediately: I find that air fryer carrots tend to soften a bit as they sit, so recommend serving them right away for the crispiest, best texture.
What to Serve with Carrots
Air fryer carrots go with almost anything. Try these Ranch Pork Chops for a family-pleasing main course that’s a breeze to make. I think a Cheesy Chicken Spinach Bake would be a match made in heaven. You can also serve them with a hearty helping of Southwest Chicken Alfredo. Around the Holidays, Prime Rib and Roasted Turkey are always a safe bet!
How to Store and Reheat the Leftovers
Like many veggies, these will keep fresh in your refrigerator for 4 to 5 days, covered tightly. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Reheat them in the microwave for a couple of short bursts, or pop them back in the air fryer for a few minutes at 350˚F to warm them up.
More Air Fryer Veggie Recipes
- Air Fryer Zucchini Crisps
- Crispy Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli
- Air Fryer Avocado Fries
- Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Air Fryer Carrots
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots, rinsed, peeled, and halved lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- chopped fresh chives, or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400˚F and lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, melted butter, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add the carrots to the honey mixture and toss to coat.
- Working in batches, add carrots to the air fryer basket in one single layer; cook for about 10 minutes, flipping, or shaking the carrots halfway through cooking.
- Transfer the cooked carrots to a serving plate and drizzle them with balsamic glaze.
- Garnish with chives and serve.
Notes
- Carrots: I used long carrots for this recipe, but you can use any type of carrot that you like or have on hand; baby carrots, large carrots, purple carrots, etc… For a prettier presentation and faster cooking, I suggest to cut the carrots in half, longwise.
- Prepping the carrots: If your carrots are longer, you may find it easier to toss them, with the honey butter, in a rectangular dish, like a 9×13 baking dish. OR, use a pastry brush to brush the carrots with the mixture instead of tossing them in a bowl.
- Cooking the carrots: I have a single basket air fryer and that is why I cook the carrots in batches. IF your air fryer can fit all the carrots, and in one single layer, then it’s fine to cook them all at once.
- Balsamic Glaze: Make sure you are using a balsamic glaze and NOT balsamic vinegar.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
