When fall arrives, I love to incorporate root vegetables more into meals. However, my picky eaters always turn up their nose at cooked carrots! That is, until I started making these roasted air fryer carrots with brown sugar. They’re simple, slightly sweet, and satisfy everyone!
With just 6 simple pantry ingredients, these roasted carrots exemplify the concept of easy but delicious! Of course, there are lots of other things you can throw into the mix to add a twist of your own, but I’ll cover that later.
I love doing sliced carrots because I think they’re pretty to look at, and buying a bag of carrots is a super budget friendly option. However, you can use baby carrots as well, or cut your carrots into sticks, halves, or whatever shape you like!
Plus, carrot slices cook a lot quicker than larger cuts, which means you can eat them that much quicker! At under 10 minutes of cooking time, it’s a fast side to throw together even on a busy weeknight.
If that wasn’t enough convincing, carrots are also packed with nutrients like Vitamin A, so they’re a healthy choice as well. Don’t worry, I won’t tell your fussy eaters that part!
You can also delight your dinner guests by making my Air Fryer Hasselback Carrots that are brushed with honey and other seasonings!
Ingredients to Grab
½ pound carrots, tops removed (about 3-4 carrots, depending on size)
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste (I use ½ tsp and ¼ tsp respectively)
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
You may also use baby carrots, but the cooking time is about 20 minutes then, due to the larger size
The olive oil may be swapped for butter, or different cooking oil if preferred
The garlic powder is optional, but I like the balance of savory and sweet you get with it. Other tasty seasonings you could add include: Old Bay seasoning, Peri Peri seasoning, parsley, or thyme
For some variations, you can add 1 Tbsp of maple syrup or honey in place of half of the brown sugar to create different flavor profiles!
Step By Step Recipe
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
Peel, trim, and cut your carrots into approximately ½” thick slices on the diagonal
In a bowl, toss the carrots with the olive oil, brown sugar, and salt and pepper, stirring until they’re evenly coated
Spread the carrot slices into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer (some slight overlap is alright)
Cook on the air fry setting for 8-10 minutes at 400°F, pausing halfway through to shake the basket and flip the carrots around to promote even browning
Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve warm
What to Serve With Glazed Carrots
Chicken wings
Roasted duck
Short ribs
Roasted pork
Garlic bread
Roasted chicken
Fried green beans
Scallops
Meatloaf
Pork chops
Ham steaks
Salmon
Steaks
Turkey
Halloumi cheese
There are lots of great proteins and vegetarian options to serve alongside glazed carrots!
How Long Does It Take to Cook Carrots in an Air Fryer?
Cooking times will vary, but typically air frying carrots at 400°F (200°C) for 10-20 minutes should yield tender results. Remember to shake or stir them halfway through for even cooking.
The exact time will vary based on the size and shape of your carrots, as well as your specific air fryer.
Can I Use Honey as a Sugar Substitute?
Yes, you may use honey as a sugar substitute. Maple syrup and agave are other great choices.
However, you may want to toss the carrots in honey for sweetness after cooking in the air fryer, as honey tends to burn more easily.
What Other Spices Can Enhance the Flavor of the Dish?
Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or a pinch of cayenne can add depth to your dish. Fresh herbs such as parsley or thyme make a great topping as well.
Experiment with your favorite spices to tailor the flavor to your liking.
Can I Make This Recipe with Baby Carrots?
Yes, baby carrots work well for this recipe. You can cook them whole or cut them into your preferred shape.
You will, however, need to increase cooking time to 20 minutes to compensate for the different size compared to sliced carrots.
How Do I Prevent Carrots from Drying Out in the Air Fryer?
To prevent drying, make sure not to overcook. Check the carrots periodically and remove them once they are soft and browned to your liking.
Coating them in the oil or butter in addition to the seasonings helps them to retain moisture as well.
Recipe Pro Tips
This recipe is easily doubled if you want to feed a larger group of people, though you may need to split it into batches depending on your air fryer’s size. As written, this amount is suitable for a 4-qt or larger air fryer
My carrots were perfectly cooked and caramelized after 8 minutes in a Ninja air fryer. Other air fryers may vary slightly in terms of cooking time
Make sure to cut your carrots as evenly as possible for best results in terms of even cooking. For very large carrots, you can cut your slices in half
Drizzle the glaze from the bottom of the basket or drip tray over top of the carrots for the perfect finishing touch!
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftover glazed carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer term storage, seal and freeze for 3-6 months. The texture changes slightly, but they’re still very good!
To reheat your brown sugar carrots, microwave on high for about 1 minute, or air fry for about 5 minutes at 350°F, until warmed through.Times will vary slightly based on quantity being reheated and size of the pieces
These roasted air fryer sliced carrots with a brown sugar glaze are so simple yet delicious! With just 6 ingredients that you probably have in the pantry and under 10 minutes cooking time, it’s the perfect side dish for even your busiest nights.
Of course, they’re equally perfect for company, and I often give them a spot on my Thanksgiving table as well. Carrots are colorful, naturally sweet, and only enhanced by the beautiful caramelization you get from the air fryer.
Make sure to drizzle that perfect brown sugar sauce from the bottom of the air fryer on top (yes, you better clean your air fryer for this one)!
These air fryer carrot slices with brown sugar glaze take less than 10 minutes to cook. With just 6 pantry ingredients as well, it’s a perfect quick, easy, and delicious side dish!
½Poundfresh carrots, tops removed(about 3-4 carrots, depending on size)
1Tbspolive oil
2Tbspbrown sugar
1Tspgarlic powder
½Tspsalt(or more to taste)
¼Tspblack pepper(or more to taste)
Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F
Peel, trim, and cut your carrots into approximately ½” thick slices on a diagonal
½ Pound fresh carrots, tops removed
In a bowl, toss the carrots with the olive oil, brown sugar, and salt and pepper, stirring until they’re evenly coated
1 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tsp garlic powder, ½ Tsp salt, ¼ Tsp black pepper
Spread the carrot slices into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer (some slight overlap is alright)
Cook on the air fry setting for 8-10 minutes at 400°F, pausing halfway through to shake the basket and flip the carrots around to promote even browning
Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve warm
Notes
You may also use babycarrots, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time to around 20 minutes to adjust for the larger size
The olive oil may be swapped for butter, or different cooking oil if preferred
The garlic powder is optional, but I like the balance of savory and sweet you get with it. Other seasonings you could add include: Old Bay seasoning, Peri Peri seasoning, parsley, or thyme
For some variations, you can add 1 Tbsp of maple syrup or honey in place of half of the brown sugar to create different flavor profiles!
This recipe is easily doubled (or more) if you want to feed a larger group of people, though you may need to split it into batches depending on your air fryer’s size. As written, this amount is suitable for a 4-qt or larger air fryer
My carrots were perfectly cooked and caramelized after 8 minutes in a Ninja air fryer. Other air fryers may vary slightly in terms of cooking time
Make sure to cut your carrots as evenly as possible for best results in terms of even cooking. For very large carrots, you can cut your slices in half
Drizzle the glaze from the bottom of the basket or drip tray over top of the carrots for the perfect finishing touch!
Store leftover glazed carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer term storage, seal and freeze for 3-6 months. The texture changes slightly, but they’re still very good!
To reheat your brown sugar carrots, microwave on high for about 1 minute, or air fry for about 5 minutes at 350°F, until warmed through. Times will vary slightly based on quantity being reheated and size of the pieces
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, any changes or additions, garnishes added, and actual quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Keyword air fryer carrots brown sugar, air fryer carrots recipe, air fryer glazed carrots, air fryer vegetables, easy carrot recipes, quick and delicious side dishes, roast carrots in air fryer, sliced carrots in air fryer, sweet glazed carrot recipe
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
