Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
These Air Fryer Baby Carrots are the most flavor yet simple side dish. They are the perfect accompaniment to any protein or side for upcoming holiday meals. The baby carrots are tossed with a few simple ingredients, roasted in the air fryer, and served over a bed of whipped feta because cheese is a must when it comes to vegetables.
One of my step dad's favorite side dishes is roasted carrots. He makes them all the time and has experimented with a few different recipes. One that I remember being a hit with our family involved ricotta and grilled lemons.
So I figured I would put my spin on roasted carrots and incorporate the air fryer of course. What is your favorite vegetable to make in the air fryer?
The air fryer is great for roasting baby carrots because it is able to achieve the perfect amount of caramelization on the outside in much less time than the oven, like these air fryer sweet potatoes. It also gives the lemon slices some great color.
To compliment the sweetness of the roasted carrots, I like to serve them over a bed of lemony whipped feta and garnish with chopped parsley and dill for a little freshness. Hope you enjoy!! xx
Jump to:
Highlights
- Perfectly roasted and caramelized carrots
- Air fryer roasts much faster than the oven
- Served over lemony whipped feta
- Perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish
- Ready in less than 20 minutes
- Simple ingredients & super easy to make
- Gluten free
Ingredient Notes
- Baby Carrots: You can swap these for 1 pound of sliced full size peeled carrots. I recommend cutting the carrots in half lengthwise and then into 2 - 2.5 inch pieces. You can also use frozen carrots but I do not think they have as good of a texture.
- Olive Oil: Swap for avocado oil or vegetable oil.
- Honey: Swap for brown sugar.
- Whipped Cream Cheese: Swap for regular cream cheese, greek yogurt, or sour cream, but according to this article, whipped cream cheese is the best option.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Helpful Equipment & Tools
- COSORI Air Fryer Max XL: The best air fryer! Great price point, basket size, and very powerful.
- 2 Pack Black Kitchen Tongs: Safe tips for air fryer baskets. Great quality and super durable.
- Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini Prep Plus Food Processor: Great for small batch recipes. Easy to clean compared to a large capacity food processor.
Instructions
Overview
- Season the baby carrots.
- Air fry.
- Prepare the whipped feta.
Step by Step
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl combine the carrots, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper. Toss well.
Step 2: Place the carrots in a single layer into the air fryer basket.
Step 3: Air fry at 390 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until done to your liking, shaking the basket halfway through.
Step 4: While the carrots are air frying, add the feta, cream cheese, and lemon zest into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until smooth. This may take a couple of minutes.
TIP - Be sure to shake the basket halfway through so that the carrots become caramelized on all sides.
Make Ahead & Storage
- Make Ahead: The whipped feta can be made the day before serving. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Remove it from the fridge about 30 minutes before serving so it can soften.
- Refrigerator: Store leftover air fryer baby carrots and feta in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat the air fried carrots in the air fryer at 360 for 4-5 minutes or until hot or in the microwave in 1 minute increments. Do not heat the whipped feta.
- Freezer: I do not recommend freezer leftover air fryer baby carrots.
Expert Tips
- Dry carrots. I find baby carrots have alot of excess water in their bag. Place the carrots on a plate or bowl lined with paper towels and pat them dry. Removing the excess moisture helps them roast better.
- Toss well. This ensures the carrots are well and evenly coated in the olive oil, honey, and seasoning.
- Check the carrots halfway through. In most of my air fryer recipes, I recommend checking on the food at least once while it is cooking. This is because every air fryer cooks slightly different.
- Do not overfill the basket. If you want the carrots to roast properly, only fill the basket so there is a single layer of carrots with some slight overlapping. Cook in batches if needed.
- Make the whipped feta. The feta is technically optional but if you like feta cheese, it is a must. It adds such a nice flavor that compliments the carrots perfectly. If you are not a fan, check the variations down below.
Recipe Notes
- These carrots can be served on their own without any feta or garnish. These are optional components if you are looking to create a more complex dish. The carrots are still tasty on their own, I just like to add a little something extra to boost the flavor.
- The carrots are not overly sweet. The honey compliments the natural flavor of the carrots but does not make them taste particularly sweet.
- You can use a basket or air fryer oven for this recipe.
Variations
- Oven: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place seasoned carrots on a baking sheet and roast for 30-40 minutes or until carrots are done to your liking. Stir 2-3 times throughout the cooking process.
- Parmesan cheese: Skip the feta all together and top the roasted baby carrots with a generous amount of freshly shaved or grated parmesan reggiano cheese.
- Rainbow carrots: Use rainbow carrots for a fun pop of color. Follow the cutting instructions stated above under ingredients notes.
- Herbs: Add 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary, oregano, parsley, or thyme for a more savory flavor.
- Extra charred/soft: Add 3-4 minutes to the air frying time for softer or more done carrots.
FAQs
These pair well with any protein (steak, chicken, fish, etc.). They are the perfect side for the fall, winter, and holiday season.
No. Most frozen foods are not supposed to be thawed before cooking. Air fryer from frozen.
Yes, and you should. Frozen vegetables should not be thawed before cooking.
Reheat leftover roasted carrots for 4-5 minutes at 360 degrees in the air fryer.
Yes you should peel carrots. Peeling removes dirt and rough parts of the skin. Baby carrots are already washed and peeled so they are a great time saving option.
Roasting carrots caramelizes their natural sweetness giving them a richer and more complex flavor.
Related Recipes
Air Fryer Baby Carrots
Ingredients:
- 1 pound (16 ounce bag) baby carrots, pat dry*
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil*
- 2 teaspoons honey*
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Whipped Feta
- 4 ounces feta cheese crumbles
- 1 ounce whipped cream cheese*
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Garnish
- sliced lemon halves
- chopped parsley
- dill
Instructions:
- Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the carrots, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper (and sliced lemons if using). Toss well.
- Place the carrots in a single layer into the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 390 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until done to your liking, shaking the basket halfway through.
- While the carrots are air frying, add the feta, cream cheese, and lemon zest into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until smooth. This may take a couple of minutes.
- Serve the carrots over the whipped feta and garnish with parsley and dill.
Leave a Reply