Air fryer carrot fries, a healthier twist on the classic indulgence, have been gaining popularity in recent years as a nutritious alternative to traditional potato fries. And, with good reason! Made in your air fryer, these crispy, flavorful carrot fries are a guilt-free snack. Packed with essential vitamins, lower in calories, and boasting a lower glycemic index compared to their potato counterparts, carrot fries are a delicious way to satisfy those cravings while getting more veggies into your diet.
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Raise your hand if your air fryer is the one kitchen appliance that you own that truly earns its real estate on your kitchen counter.🙋🏻♀️ I've made everything from potato skins to cinnamon apples in mine, and they always come out perfect. No turning on the oven, which wastes electricity and heats up your house in the summer. Plus, you can generally use much less oil in air fryer recipes.
So, here's my latest air fryer obsession - air fryer carrot fries. They're crispy and slightly sweet and the paprika/garlic marinade kicks them up a flavor notch.
Serve them with Sriracha aioli, or your favorite dipping sauce. I've given you a few creative serving suggestions below. Enjoy!
💚Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
💚You'll love air fryer carrot fries if you're looking for a low-carb version of traditional french fries made from potatoes. One medium sized carrot contains about 6 grams of carbohydrates, whereas one potato contains 37 grams of carbs.
💚They're a great snack that's guilt free. Carrots are packed with essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.
💚Looking for a healthy snack for your little ones, but they're resistant to steamed carrots? They'll love these!
🛒Ingredients
- Carrots: Any kind of carrot will do, big or small. You can even use purple or yellow carrots for this recipe. Generally, 4 large carrots weigh about 1 pound (453 grams), so obviously if you use smaller garden carrots like I have, you'll need more.
- Paprika: I like to use smoked paprika in this recipe. I love how the smokiness balances out the sweetness of the carrots.
- Garlic Powder: I know that I always recommend fresh garlic over garlic powder, but this recipe is an exception. The temperature is too high for fresh garlic. It will burn and taste bitter, so stick with garlic powder for a nice mellow garlicky flavor.
- Olive Oil: I used olive oil in this recipe. I did use 2 tablespoons for extra crispy carrot fries, but if you want to omit some of the fat, you could also use 1 tablespoon.
- Salt & Pepper: A must for air fryer carrot fries! There's quite a bit of black pepper in this recipe, which adds a bit of a kick. Obviously you can omit the salt if you're on a low-sodium diet.
👩🍳How To Make Air Fryer Carrot Fries
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for a few minutes if your air fryer requires pre-heating.
- Peel the carrots and cut them into thin strips resembling French fries. Try to make them as uniform in size as possible for even cooking.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to create a flavorful seasoning.
- Add the carrot strips to the bowl with the seasoning mixture. Toss them gently until all the carrots are evenly coated.
- Place the seasoned carrot fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding to allow proper air circulation for crispy results. You might need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Cook the carrot fries in the preheated air fryer for approximately 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. The exact cooking time may vary based on the thickness of your carrot strips and the desired level of crispness.
🍽️Serving Suggestions
- Chipotle Dipping Sauce: Prepare a creamy and smoky chipotle dipping sauce by combining your favorite vegan mayonnaise, adobo sauce (from canned chipotle peppers), lime juice, and a pinch of salt. The spicy and tangy flavors of the sauce complement the sweetness of the carrot fries. Have a look at my recipe for measurements and ratios.
- Greek Yogurt Dip: Create a refreshing and tangy dip using vegan Greek yogurt as the base. Mix in some minced garlic, chopped fresh dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. This creamy dip adds a cool and herby element to balance the flavors of the carrot fries.
- Avocado Lime Crema: Mash a ripe avocado and combine it with vegan yogurt, lime juice, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt. This creamy and zesty crema pairs well with the slightly sweet carrot fries, adding a burst of flavor.
- Spicy Sriracha Ketchup: Give classic ketchup a kick by adding sriracha sauce to taste. Stir it well and serve as a spicy condiment alongside the carrot fries. Adjust the amount of sriracha according to your preferred level of spiciness.
- Vietnamese Peanut Sauce: Sweet and crunchy carrot fries would be delicious with Vietnames Peanut Sauce, either drizzled over the top, or used as a dipping sauce.
- Mediterranean Salad: Pair your carrot fries with a fresh and vibrant Mediterranean-inspired salad. Toss together a mix of chopped cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice. The light and crisp salad provides a refreshing contrast to the warm and crunchy carrot fries. Try my Jerusalem Salad for a simple, fresh salad.
❄️Storage & Reheating
To store leftover air fryer carrot fries, follow these steps:
- Allow the carrot fries to cool completely to room temperature. It's important to cool them down before storing to prevent moisture buildup and maintain their crispness.
- Transfer the cooled carrot fries to an airtight container or a sealable plastic bag. Make sure the container is large enough to accommodate the fries without crushing them.
- Place the container or bag in the refrigerator. Carrot fries can typically be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
When you're ready to enjoy the leftovers:
- Preheat your air fryer to the original cooking temperature (typically around 400°F or 200°C).
- Spread the carrot fries in a single layer on the air fryer basket or tray.
- Reheat the carrot fries in the air fryer for 2-4 minutes, or until they are heated through and regain their desired level of crispness. Keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.
Note: It's important to remember that reheated carrot fries may not be as crispy as when they were freshly made. They may lose some of their initial texture, but the reheating process will still warm them up and make them enjoyable.
🙋🏻♀️Frequently Asked Questions
There are a few possible reasons why your French fries may not be getting crispy in the air fryer. First, it could be due to excessive moisture on the surface of the fries, which prevents them from crisping up. Secondly, overcrowding the air fryer basket can restrict air circulation and hinder the fries' ability to crisp evenly. Lastly, insufficient cooking time or temperature might be a factor, so ensure that you're following the recommended cooking instructions for your specific air fryer model.
Yes, you can use frozen carrots, but I recommend that you thaw them before adding the oil and spices and air-frying them.
Yes, you can, but they won't be nearly as crispy as they would be with oil added. If you're looking to reduce your fat intake, you could try spraying the carrot fries with an oil spray, sprinkling them with spices and cooking them in the air fryer.
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Carrot Fries
Ingredients
- 4 large carrots
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: fresh herbs for garnish such as parsley or cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for a few minutes if your air fryer requires pre-heating.
- Peel the carrots and cut them into thin strips resembling French fries. Try to make them as uniform in size as possible for even cooking.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to create a flavorful seasoning.
- Add the carrot strips to the bowl with the seasoning mixture. Toss them gently until all the carrots are evenly coated.
- Place the seasoned carrot fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding to allow proper air circulation for crispy results. You might need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Cook the carrot fries in the preheated air fryer for approximately 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. The exact cooking time may vary based on the thickness of your carrot strips and the desired level of crispness.
Notes
- Allow the carrot fries to cool completely to room temperature. It's important to cool them down before storing to prevent moisture buildup and maintain their crispness.
- Transfer the cooled carrot fries to an airtight container or a sealable plastic bag. Make sure the container is large enough to accommodate the fries without crushing them.
- Place the container or bag in the refrigerator. Carrot fries can typically be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
- Preheat your air fryer to the original cooking temperature (typically around 400°F or 200°C).
- Spread the carrot fries in a single layer on the air fryer basket or tray.
- Reheat the carrot fries in the air fryer for 2-4 minutes, or until they are heated through and regain their desired level of crispness. Keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.
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