Honey Roasted Carrots {Air Fryer}

Air fryer honey-roasted carrots are a delicious side dish for any night of the week. They are also perfect for the holidays when your oven and stovetop are so full you can’t put another thing in them.

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We love the air fryer for roasting vegetables; it does a fantastic job in about the same amount of time it takes to preheat the oven. These honey-roasted carrots are one of our favorites. The honey brings out the carrots’ natural sweetness.

What You Need

• Carrots: It’s best to use fresh carrots instead of frozen or canned carrots. You can use large carrots or baby carrots, whichever you have.
• Honey: Use local honey if you can find it. It is said to help with seasonal allergies.
• Brown Sugar: The honey and oil help the brown sugar stick to the carrots.
• Oil: Just a little bit of olive oil or another mild-flavored oil. You could also substitute melted butter.
• Salt and Pepper: Kosher or Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper are best.

Optional Variations

Adding other herbs or spices to the carrots gives them a unique flavor profile.

• Add garlic powder and onion powder for a bit of earthy flavor.
• Use dried or fresh herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, or parsley.
• Add a bit of cayenne pepper or chili powder for a little kick.
• Use cinnamon with either a bit of spice or without for a delicious.
• You can also add other vegetables like brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, squash or broccoli. See our Roasted Vegetable Salad for instructions.

If you have extra carrots to use up, try these carrot coconut muffins for a delicious breakfast or snack.

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How to Make Honey Roasted Carrots

Arrange the carrots in a single layer in the air fryer basket with some room in between the pieces. Air fry for eight minutes.

Carefully remove the basket and flip the carrots with a spatula. Continue air frying for another 8-10 minutes, until they are tender enough for your taste and caramelized.

Tips for Your Success

These simple tricks will help you get perfectly caramelized, tender carrots every time.

• Cut the carrots into similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly. Thin pieces will finish much faster than thick chunks.
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Give the carrots a little space so hot air can circulate and brown the edges instead of steaming them.
• Toss the carrots halfway through cooking. This helps every piece caramelize evenly and prevents one side from getting too dark.
• Add the honey before cooking so it has time to caramelize and create that glossy roasted finish everyone loves.
• Check for doneness with a fork. The carrots should be tender in the center but still hold their shape, not turn mushy.

Tools That Make This Recipe Work

If you don’t already have these, this is where most people struggle.

• Air Fryer – The key to tender carrots with caramelized edges in a fraction of the time. Without one, you’ll need to roast them in the oven, which takes longer and won’t deliver the same crisp finish.
• Mixing Bowl – Makes it easy to coat the carrots evenly with honey, oil, and seasonings. Skipping it often leads to patchy flavor and uneven browning.
• Chef’s Knife – Cuts the carrots into uniform pieces so they cook at the same rate. Uneven cuts can leave you with some carrots overcooked while others stay too firm.
• Spatula – Helps toss and turn the carrots halfway through cooking for even caramelization. Without it, some pieces can brown too much while others barely crisp.

What to Serve Air Fryer Carrots With

Air Fryer carrots are a great vegetable to serve any night of the week. They go well with chicken, fish, beef, pork, just about anything.

• NY Strip Steak
• Smoked Whole Chicken
• Sweet and Spicy Pork Chops
• Fried Bass

FAQs