As a snack or a side, sweet and salty Air Fryer Baby Carrots are a great way to get your veggies in.
When it comes to ease and convenience in the world of vegetable prepping, baby carrots for the win! Already peeled and washed, they’re ready to eat straight out of the bag, which makes them perfect for snacking, packing in school lunches, or serving as a healthy side with sandwiches. But when you see the way some olive oil, seasonings, and heat transform these little cuties into tender, salty bites that still maintain the carrot’s natural sweetness, you’ll find another way to use these already-prepped veggies: air fryer baby carrots.
So, what exactly is a baby carrot? Seems like a funny question to ask; I mean, we know what baby means, right? And there are baby carrots, which are harvested before maturity. But baby carrots in the bag are not really babies; instead, they are actually cut from larger carrots, peeled, and then shaped into all the same uniform size. Their history is pretty interesting. In 1986, California farmer Mike Yurosek, dismayed by the large number of misshapen carrots that wouldn’t sell and hating to waste what was otherwise perfectly good produce, hand-cut the “ugly” ones into baby-size and then sent a bag to his local grocery store. Their response? “We only want those.” So, I’m sure it will come as no surprise that Farmer Yurosek became known as the “father” of the baby carrot, changing an entire industry because now—according to one source—baby carrots account for about 70% of all the carrots we buy.
The ones we buy are actually referred to as “baby-cut” carrots, and they are appealing in so many ways. In addition to their sweet taste and crunchy texture, they lend themselves beautifully to cooking, particularly in the air fryer. A little olive oil, some salt and pepper, and the earthy taste of thyme coat the carrots as the outsides crisp up in the air fryer, and the interior becomes tender. Air frying is such a healthy way to cook vegetables—in our recipe, we use only a tablespoon of olive oil for an entire pound of baby carrots—and the clean-up is a snap!
More Reasons Why We Love to Air Fry Baby Carrots
Baby carrots are a great way to get some essential nutrients into our diet, including in their air-fried form. Baby carrots are rich in vitamins A and K, as well as beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant. They’re also high in fiber and low in calories and fat. Studies have shown they can even improve skin health because of the carotenoids they contain.
Because baby carrots are packed with filtered water to keep them hydrated, they might seem wet when you open the bag. That’s okay! For our recipe, just pat them dry before tossing them in the seasoned olive oil. But even with this preventative moisture, they can still dry out—when this happens, they might take on a whitish appearance. But they are still perfectly good, and when you use them in air fryer baby carrots, that white blush will disappear!
Ingredients
- 1 pound baby carrots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
How to Make Air Fryer Baby Carrots
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
Step 2: In a bowl, toss the baby carrots with olive oil, salt, pepper, and dried thyme until evenly coated.
Step 3: Place the seasoned carrots in the air fryer basket, spreading them out into a single layer.
Step 4: Cook for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the carrots are tender and slightly caramelized.
Step 5: Serve the air fryer baby carrots hot as a delicious and healthy side.
FAQs & Tips
How to Make Ahead and Store
Cooked and cooled air fryer baby carrots can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. We don’t recommend freezing these carrots, as they can get mushy when thawed.
Does This Recipe Work for Other Vegetables?
Sort of…you can toss pretty much any veggies in olive oil with seasonings and cook them in the air fryer, but with this particular recipe, in terms of temperature and timing, make sure you choose veggies that are similar in size and texture to baby carrots.
Can I Roast the Baby Carrots in the Oven With This Recipe, Instead of Using an Air Fryer?
Sure. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Follow Step 2 in this recipe and then roast them in the oven for 20 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Air fryer baby carrots are incredibly versatile. You can use them in the same ways you’d use raw carrots, like beside some celery and Blue Cheese Dressing on a platter of Crispy Baked Chicken Wings or to add sweetness to your favorite salads (I love them in this Lentil Salad, on top of a classic Wedge, and mixed into Pea Salad because, well… peas & carrots!).
Cooked carrots are often naturally paired with red meat because their flavor is a perfect complement to rich, beefy dishes. Air fryer baby carrots are so delicious when served alongside saucy entrees like Beef Stroganoff, but they also complete a meal of Pan-Seared Steak and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. They are also terrific with plant-based “meat” dishes, like Vegan Meatballs, or as substitutes for real meat. I substitute air fryer baby carrots for the shredded chicken when I’m making a vegetarian version of Green Chile Rice. Yum.
Air Fryer Baby Carrots
Ingredients
- 1 pound baby carrots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- In a bowl, toss the baby carrots with olive oil, salt, pepper, and dried thyme until evenly coated.
- Place the seasoned carrots in the air fryer basket, spreading them out into a single layer.
- Cook for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the carrots are tender and slightly caramelized.
- Serve the air fryer baby carrots hot as a delicious and healthy side.
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