These golden-brown Air Fryer Baby Carrots deliver the perfect blend of sweetness and tender-crisp texture in just 20 minutes. A fantastic side dish that transforms ordinary carrots into a delectable vegetable treat, complete with a mere 107 calories per serving.
Whether you’re planning a quick weeknight dinner or searching for a nutritious snack, these vitamin-rich carrots offer a hassle-free cooking method that preserves their natural flavors while creating an irresistibly caramelized exterior.
Essential Ingredients
- Baby Carrots: 1 pound, washed and halved for even cooking
- Butter: 2 tablespoons, helps create a delicious caramelized exterior
- Honey: 1 tablespoon, optional but adds natural sweetness
- Seasonings: Salt and pepper to taste (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preparation: Wash baby carrots thoroughly and cut them into halves for uniform cooking
- Assembly: Place the prepared carrots in an air fryer-safe baking pan
- Seasoning: Coat the carrots evenly with butter and add salt and pepper if desired
- Air Frying: Set temperature to 380°F (193°C) and cook for 15 minutes
- Check & Adjust: At 10 minutes, test for desired tenderness – continue cooking if softer texture is preferred
- Serving: Remove from air fryer, add your favorite toppings, and serve while hot
Cooking Techniques
Air frying gives these baby carrots a lovely tender-crisp texture! The hot circulating air creates sweet, perfectly cooked carrots every time. For extra-tender carrots, just add a few more minutes of cooking time. The butter helps create a nice golden color while keeping the carrots moist. Watch them closely after 10 minutes – they can go from perfect to too soft pretty quickly!
Variations & Add-ins
Want to jazz up your carrots? Try these tasty twists:
- Drizzle with maple syrup instead of honey for a different sweet note
- Sprinkle with garlic powder and dried herbs like thyme or rosemary
- Add a dash of cinnamon for a warm, cozy flavor
- Toss with a little olive oil instead of butter for a dairy-free option
- Finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or dill
Serving Suggestions
These sweet and buttery carrots make a perfect side dish for almost any meal! They’re great alongside roasted chicken, grilled steak, or baked fish. For extra flair, drizzle the honey over the hot carrots right after cooking – it’ll melt into a beautiful glaze. Kids usually love these too, since the natural sweetness of the carrots comes out during cooking!
Storage Tips
Keep any leftover carrots in an airtight container in your fridge – they’ll stay fresh for 3-4 days. To reheat, just pop them back in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350°F, or warm them in the microwave. The texture might be a bit softer after storing, but they’ll still taste great!
Air Fryer Baby Carrots
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb baby carrots halved
- 2 T butter
- 1 T honey optional
Instructions
- Wash baby carrots and cut into halves.
- Add the carrots to a baking pan or other oven safe bakeware.
- Season the carrots with 2 T of butter. Optional: salt and pepper
- Cook at 380 degrees F (193 C) for 15 minutes.
- Check at 10 minutes, if you like the tenderness you can stop the cooking now. If you want your carrot softer, continue to cook.
- Then remove, serve with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
