Air Fryer Carrots
Oct 23, 2022, Updated Nov 18, 2023
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Savor the irresistible taste of these Air Fryer Carrots, coated in a rich honey balsamic glaze. The carrots combine sweet, savory, and tangy flavors, offering a gourmet twist to your meal. Plus, they’re incredibly simple and quick to whip up!
Why You’ll Love My Air Fryer Carrots
- Perfect texture: The air fryer gives carrots golden edges and tender centers in minutes! No mushy vegetables here.
- Faster than roasting: They cook quicker than traditional roasted carrots but still deliver that lightly caramelized flavor we all love.
- Big flavor flexibility: From garlic and butter to honey and cinnamon, or even maple, like in my maple roasted carrots, this veggie handles bold flavors beautifully. This version uses balsamic glaze for a rich, tangy-sweet finish that makes these carrots anything but basic.
- Part of your air fryer rotation: If you already love easy veggie sides like my honey garlic butter carrots or parmesan carrots, this air fryer version is another quick, reliable way to get carrots on the table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Carrots: I used long, large carrots for this recipe. You can choose whether to peel them, but make sure they’re well rinsed and cut in half longwise. Note that baby carrots, whole carrots sliced into coins, sticks, or chunks, and even colorful varieties like purple and white carrots will work, but you may need to adjust the cooking time.
- Olive Oil: Avocado oil, or any other cooking oil, can also be used.
- Butter: Melt the butter before using it.
- Honey: Maple syrup would also be great.
- Garlic: Freshly minced, or you could substitute garlic powder.
- Salt and Black Pepper
- Balsamic Glaze: This is usually sold near the vinegars, oils, or condiments, and it’s not the same as balsamic vinegar.
- Chives: Freshly chopped, for garnish.
How to Cook Carrots In An Air Fryer
This method is about as easy as it gets, and it’s perfect for busy cooks and busy weeknights.
- 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
- 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-fried carrots tend to soften a bit as they sit, so I recommend serving them right away for the crispiest, best texture.
What to Serve with Carrots
Air fryer carrots go with just about anything. Serve them alongside Ranch pork chops for an easy, family-friendly dinner, or pair them with a cheesy chicken spinach bake for something extra comforting. They’re also great with a hearty Southwest chicken Alfredo.
From prime rib and roasted turkey to slow-roasted lamb shoulder at Easter, these air fryer carrots fit right in on any holiday table.
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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
- Prep. Preheat the Air Fryer to 400˚F and lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Combine the ingredients. 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.
- Cook. Working in batches, add the carrots to the air fryer basket in a single layer; cook for about 10 minutes, flipping or shaking the carrots halfway through cooking. Continue with the remaining carrots.
- Add the balsamic glaze and serve. Transfer the cooked carrots to a serving plate and drizzle them with balsamic glaze. Garnish with chives and serve.
Equipment
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.
Common FAQs
Cut large carrots in half, longwise, and cook at 400˚F for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking.
Yes, but reduce the cooking time to 5-7 minutes.
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.
These were yummy! I made my own glaze from balsamic vinegar and ended up burning it!!! So I didn’t have enough glaze for my carrots. I could only skim a little off the top that I didn’t burn. Next time, I buy the store stuff so I don’t have this problem!!! But even without all the glaze, the carrots were super yummy!!!
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
No Air Fryer. Can this be done in oven?
Temp and time please TY
wow! I found my new favorite side dish! It looks amazingly delicious!
That’s great! I hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! ๐
These carrots are so good! Even the kids enjoyed eating them!
That’s great! I’m very happy everyone loved it! Thank YOU! ๐
The glaze on this really makes it fantastic. So convenient in the AF too!
Those are some of the best looking carrots I have ever seen. I need to try these!
Thank YOU! Please enjoy! ๐
The presentation of this recipe is as great as the flavors! I love the way you cut them longways instead of crosswise.
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it! ๐