Healthy Carrot Fries Air Fryer Recipe: A Delicious Side Dish
Ditch the traditional potato fries and dive into a healthier, colorful alternative! These Air Fryer Carrot Fries are the perfect accompaniment to any meal, whether it's burgers, chicken, or salmon. Packed with a punch of spice and topped with grated parmesan cheese, they are sure to be a hit.
Hungry for more healthy fries recipes? Check out my Air Fryer Avocado Fries.
Why I Like This Recipe
We have burger night 1x a week in our house. Whether it’s lettuce wrap burgers, real burgers with buns, or burger bowls (if you haven’t tried that, you’re missing out). We always have our burgers with some sort of “fry” on the side. Sometimes it’s regular fries, other times, it’s sweet potato fries or zucchini fries.
These carrot fries are the perfect side dish for any burger.
They are delicious, crunchy, and packed with flavor.
The fries are full of a combination of spices and slightly spicy, so if you're making this for kiddos, just omit the red pepper flakes.
The parmesan cheese makes them crunchy and crispy. So don’t be afraid to add plenty of parmesan!
They are also the perfect side to any chicken, steak, or salmon dish.
Air Fryer Carrot Fries Ingredients
1 lb large carrots, peeled and washed
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (divided into 1/4 cups)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
How to Make Air Fryer Carrot Fries
Start by washing and drying the carrots. Peel and remove the tops. Cut them in half, then in half lengthwise, and again in half. Aim for evenly sized fries so they cook at the same rate.
Mix the cornstarch, 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes in a bowl.
Toss the carrots with avocado oil, ensuring they are coated. Add the seasoning mixture to the carrots and toss again to coat evenly.
Place the carrot fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese on top of the fries.
Air fry at 350°F for 20-22 minutes or until the fries are golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on them after 15 minutes to prevent burning.
Once cooked, remove the carrot fries from the air fryer and garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with your favorite dip on the side.
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, place them in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 minutes, although note that this may remove some of the crispiness.
Enjoy your delicious and healthy carrot fries as a side dish or snack! Serve them with my Persian Chicken or Lemon Butter Salmon for a delicious, protein-packed meal.
Dips to Enjoy With the Carrot Fries
Ketchup
Mustard: I love a spicy mustard too!
Ranch: The creamy and tangy flavor of ranch is a perfect match for carrot fries.
Avocado Ranch: For a twist on traditional ranch, try creamy avocado ranch for a unique dipping sauce.
Tips for Making These Fries Crispy
These carrot fries will be crisp, but don’t expect them to be crunchy, AKA crispy, without deep frying them!
It’s important to make them in smaller batches if needed. You don’t want to overcrowd the air fryer basket.
Place them in a single layer. No crowding or piling them on top of each other.
Every air fryer is different, so you may need to keep an eye on them after 15 minutes to ensure they are not burning. Also, you may need to keep them in for a few extra minutes to continue cooking, depending on the power of your air fryer.
They are best served immediately upon cooling slightly!
If you don’t have an air fryer, preheat the oven to 400F and try baking them in there for about 20-25 minutes. Again, keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t burn!
Did you love this recipe? Check out my Air Fried Zucchini Fries for another healthy snack or side dish.
Storage
Store the carrot fries in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, pop them in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 minutes to heat. However, note that this may take away some of the crispiness due to the moisture from being stored in the fridge. But they will still be delicious!
FAQ
What is the best temperature to cook carrot fries in an air fryer?
The best temperature to cook carrot fries in an air fryer is 350°F. This temperature allows the carrots to cook evenly and become crispy on the outside while remaining tender on the inside. Keep an eye on them after 15 minutes to ensure they don't burn, and adjust the cooking time as needed depending on the power of your air fryer.
How long does it take to cook carrot fries in an air fryer?
Carrot fries in an air fryer typically take around 20-22 minutes to cook at a temperature of 350F. It's important to make sure they are in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking. Every air fryer is different, so you may need to keep an eye on them after 15 minutes to prevent burning. Additionally, if you don't have an air fryer, you can try cooking them in the oven at 400F for about 20-25 minutes.
Is it possible to make crispy carrot fries in an air fryer?
While the carrot fries may not be as crunchy as deep-fried fries, they still turn out deliciously crispy. Make sure to cut the carrots into uniform sizes so they cook evenly.
Coat them in a mixture of cornstarch, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. This coating helps to create that crispy texture.
Also, ensure that the carrot fries are arranged in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Overcrowding the basket will prevent them from crisping up properly.
Do carrot fries need to be turned over during cooking in the air fryer?
Carrot fries do not need to be turned over during cooking in the air fryer. The hot air circulation in the air fryer ensures that the fries cook evenly on all sides, so there's no need to flip them halfway through. Simply place the carrot fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket and let them cook until they are crispy and golden brown.
Carrot Fries Air Fryer Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb large carrots, peeled and washed
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (divided into 1/4 cups)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Begin by washing and drying the carrots. Peel and remove the tops. Cut them in half, in half lengthwise, and again in half. You should be able to cut 3 strips from the larger end and 2 strips from the smaller end. Aim to keep the fries in the same size so they cook evenly.
- In a bowl, mix together the cornstarch, 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes.
- Toss the avocado oil into the carrots and mix to coat. Add the seasoning mixture and toss to coat again.
- Add the carrot fries to an air fryer basket in an even layer. Sprinkle the remainder of 1/4 cup parmesan cheese to the top of the carrots. Note: It’s important to make sure they are in a single layer.
- Air fry at 350F for 20-22 minutes. Finish with chopped parsley and add your favorite dip on the side!
