These crispy and sweet Carrot Fries make a delicious snack or side dish and are made with just 5 simple ingredients. Whether you roast them in the oven or air fryer, they're a healthier alternative to traditional fries, ready in a little over 20 minutes.
Dip these low-calorie, low-carb fries in sriracha mayo, or fry sauce, and enjoy them as a satisfying snack, or serve them alongside your favorite burger!
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In my home, we consume carrots every single day. I add them to soups, salads, stir-fries, or enjoy steamed carrots as a snack or side dish.
We've been on a 'baked fries' mission lately! After successfully executing the 'no-fry' versions of our beloved French Fries and Sweet Potato Fries, hubby wanted to try carrot fries (his favorite vegetable!). We tried them with 3 different seasonings so far, and I have to say, we're addicted!
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What are carrot fries? Carrot fries are carrot sticks that are cut in the shape of french fries, seasoned, and cooked till they get crisp! They are much lower in calories and carbs as compared to traditional potato fries.
Carrot fries taste similar to sweet potato fries and make a great snack or a quick and tasty side dish for your burgers and grilled entrees.
I've been making roasted carrot fries in the oven for years and recently tried them in the air fryer. It is now my preferred way of making them. The air fryer carrot fries turn out slightly crispier than the oven-baked ones, in half the time!
In this recipe, I'll share the oven-baked as well as air fryer carrot fries with you so you can make them however you like. Let's get started!
Ingredients- Notes & Substitutions
This simple recipe requires only 5 ingredients, and chances are you already have them.
- Carrots: When picking carrots, look for firm carrots with bright colored skin. You can use baby carrots if that's what you have on hand, just know that they won't be as crisp since they have a higher moisture content.
- Seasoning: Just a splash of salt, pepper and paprika brings out the natural sweet taste of carrots. But feel free to switch up the seasoning based on the suggestions provided a little later in this post.
- Oil: I prefer to use avocado oil since it has a high smoke point, but any light neutral oil like olive or canola will do.
Seasoning Variations
Here are some of my tried and enjoyed seasoning combinations for these fries:
- Indian: ⅓ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ¼ teaspoon cayenne, ½ teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- Mediterranean: ⅓ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- Italian: 2 teaspoons Italian Herb Seasoning. Check for salt & pepper content and adjust accordingly
- Mexican: ⅓ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon Mexican chili powder
Scroll to the recipe card for a detailed list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Carrot Fries
This delicious side dish is so easy to make, you'll be making it over and over. Here are the step by step instructions for making carrot fries in the air fryer as well as an oven:
Step 1. Cut Carrots
Wash and peel carrots. To make fries, start by cutting them in half lengthwise, then cut each segment in half widthwise. Now, cut each piece into roughly ¼-inch sticks.
Step 2. Season Fries
Combine carrot fries with oil, salt, pepper, and paprika, or your preferred seasoning, in a large mixing bowl, and toss till carrots are coated with seasoning.
Now, air fry them or bake them in the oven as per the following instructions.
Step 3. Cook Carrot Fries one of two ways:
Carrot Fries in Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Spread carrots in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to split your carrots into 2-3 batches.
Secure the basket in place and cook for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Cook then until they're crisp on the outside and fork-tender.
Oven-Baked Carrot Fries
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spread carrot fries in a single layer on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
Serving Suggestions
These carrot fries are pretty versatile and can be served in many ways. They make great appetizers or snacks with sweet and spicy sriracha mayo or sweet fry sauce for dipping.
Serve them as a side with the burger of your choice. I regularly pair these with masala chicken burger, taco burger, or veggie burger.
How to Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, simply air fry for 2 minutes at 350°F.
I don't recommend freezing these fries as they will turn soggy and won't crisp up that well on reheating.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Customize the seasoning: Using the seasoning suggestions from above, you can dress them up to compliment your meal.
- Best results: These carrot fries taste the best when freshly air fried or baked. You can prepare and season them ahead of time, but cook them just before serving.
- Extra Crispy: To make them extra crispy, add 1 teaspoon cornstarch to the seasoning mix and toss carrots with it.
- Air Fryer vs. Oven: Both methods are equally hands-off, but the fries turn out crispier in the air fryer, so pick your preferred method of cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
The air fryer fries won't be as crispy as the deep-fried ones. However, you can wipe off any excess moisture before air frying the vegetables to get crisper skin.
Air fryer carrot fries are way healthier than their deep-fried version. They're also a healthier alternative to traditional fries since a serving of carrot fries contains only 78 calories as compared to roughly 175 calories in air fryer 'potato' french fries.
More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
These recipes are part of the Air Fryer Vegetables collection. Do check out other Air Fryer Recipes on the blog!
📖 Recipe
Carrot Fries - Air Fryer or Oven
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Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
Instructions
Air Fryer Carrot Fries
- Wash and peel carrots. To make fries, start by cutting them in half lengthwise, then cut each segment in half widthwise. Now, cut each piece into ¼-inch sticks.
- Combine carrot fries with oil, salt, pepper and paprika, or your preferred seasoning, in a large mixing bowl, and toss till carrots are coated with seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 2 minutes. Spread carrots in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to split your carrots in 2-3 batches. Cook for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket at the half way point. If you like them crispier, put them back in for another 2-3 minutes.
- Serve them warm with a side of Sriracha mayo or Fry Sauce for dipping.
Oven Baked Carrot Fries
- Alternatively, you can bake these fries in the oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spread carrot fries in a single layer on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway, at about 12 minutes.
Notes
- Customize the seasoning: Using the seasoning suggestions from above, you can dress them up to compliment your meal.
- Best results: These carrot fries taste the best when freshly air fried or baked. You can prepare and season them ahead of time, but cook them just before serving.
- Air Fryer vs. Oven: Both methods are equally hands-off, but the fries turn out crispier in the air fryer, so pick your preferred method of cooking.
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