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!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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, or as a low stress side for Thanksgiving or Easter.
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!
Katie’s tip
You can also delight your dinner guests by making my Air Fryer Hasselback Carrots that are brushed with honey and other seasonings!
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Ingredients to Grab
- ½ pound carrots, tops removed (about 3-4 carrots, depending on size)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp light 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 (you can cook them whole or cut them into your preferred shape), but note the cooking time is about 20 minutes for whole ones, 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 Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. While not strictly necessary, it helps to ensure even cooking and saves a few minutes of cooking time, plus it’s easy to do while you’re prepping the carrots
- 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 in the brown sugar mixture
- 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 Brown Sugar 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!
Try these air fryer brown sugar carrots with my Korean Beef Short Ribs in the Air Fryer, Air Fryer Pretzel Crusted Chicken, Air Fryer Breaded Scallops, Bacon Wrapped Filet in the Air Fryer, Smoked Turkey Wings in the Air Fryer, or some Air Fryer Halloumi Fries.
Recipe FAQs
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 I Add?
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!
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.
Tips For the Best Air Fryer Carrots
- 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 brown sugar 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, air fry for about 5 minutes at 350°F, or add to a skillet and cook on the stovetop on medium heat until warmed through. Times will vary slightly based on quantity being reheated and size of the pieces
- Air Fryer Roasted Carrots and Potatoes
- Air Fryer Parsnip Chips
Final Thoughts
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 or Easter table as well. Carrots are colorful, naturally sweet, and only enhanced by the beautiful caramelization you get from the air fryer.
Make sure to pour that perfect brown sugar sauce from the bottom of the air fryer on top (yes, you better clean your air fryer for this one)!
Katie’s tip
If you love these sweet glazed carrots, make sure to check out my Air Fryer Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Bacon and sweet maple syrup!
Air Fryer Sliced Carrots With Brown Sugar Glaze
Equipment
- Spatula (or spoon, for stirring)
Ingredients
- ½ pound fresh carrots, tops removed (about 3-4 carrots, depending on size)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt (or more to taste)
- ¼ tsp black 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 (cut as evenly as possible for best results when cooking)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 coated1 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
- Drizzle any extra sauce from the bottom of the basket over the carrots, then garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve warm!
Notes
- You may also use baby carrots, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time to around 20 minutes for the larger size
- The olive oil may be swapped for butter, or different cooking oil
- 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 can vary slightly in terms of cooking time, so adjust as needed for your model
- 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
Nutrition
