Carrots are a staple in many kitchens around the world. They’re versatile, nutritious, and naturally sweet. When you combine them with honey and roast them to perfection, they become an irresistible side dish or snack. Using an air fryer to make honey roasted carrots not only saves time but also enhances their flavour, making them crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. So next time you’re serving up dinner and want a vegetable accompaniment – or looking for a healthier side dish – you have to try these honey-roasted carrots with fresh thyme.
And the best part? Air frying these carrots means you have an even healthier simple side dish – perfect for family dinners or busy weeknights. Or even for festive meals including Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Why use an air fryer for this carrot recipe?
Air fryers have revolutionised the way we cook, offering a healthier alternative to traditional frying without compromising on taste. Here are a few reasons why you should consider using an air fryer for honey roasted carrots:
Healthier cooking – Air fryers use minimal oil, which means fewer calories and less fat compared to traditional frying methods.
Quick and efficient – They cook food faster than conventional ovens, saving you time in the kitchen.
Great results – Air fryers provide even cooking, ensuring your honey glazed carrots are perfectly roasted every time.
Choosing the right carrots
For the best honey roasted carrots, start with fresh, high-quality carrots, organic if you can spend a little bit more. Here are some tips for selecting the perfect carrots:
Colour – Choose vibrant orange whole carrots. The colour indicates high levels of beta-carotene, which benefits your health.
Size – Opt for medium-sized or large carrots. They cook more evenly and have a balanced sweetness. However, you can choose prepared mini baby carrots or chantenay carrots – these will work, too.
Firmness – Make sure the carrots are firm to the touch. Avoid those that are soft or have cracks.
Ingredients needed
For this air fryer honey roasted carrots recipe, you’ll only need a few simple ingredients:
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Carrots of your choice, sliced into batons
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Honey
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Garlic powder
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Fresh thyme
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Olive oil
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Pinch of salt and black pepper
The perfect honey roasted carrots air fryer recipe
These honey air fryer carrots are simple yet incredibly delicious, bringing out the natural sweetness of the carrots and enhancing it with honey, fresh herbs, garlic and seasoning. This is an easy recipe – giving you the perfect nutritious side dish and ready for the dinner table in less than 20-25 minutes.
Prep the carrots – Start by washing and peeling the carrots. Cut them into sticks or batons, ensuring they are roughly the same size for even cooking.
Preheat the air fryer – Preheat your air fryer to 200°c (390F) for 5 minutes. This step ensures that the carrots start cooking immediately and helps achieve that perfect roast.
Add the honey glaze and flavourings – Add the carrots to a large bowl, and then add the honey, olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and garlic powder. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
Coat the carrots – Toss or mix the carrots until they are evenly coated with the honey glaze and thyme.
Air fry the carrots – Place the coated carrots in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 15 minutes at 180°c (350F), shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. The carrots should be tender and slightly caramelised.
Serve – Remove the cooked carrots from the air fryer and serve – you can sprinkle some more fresh thyme. They make a perfect healthy side dish for any meal.
Tips for perfect air fryer honey roasted carrots
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Cut the carrots into uniform pieces. This ensures they cook at the same rate.
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Don’t overcrowd the basket. To ensure the carrots cook evenly and become crispy, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary.
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Feel free to experiment with different herbs and spices. Fresh rosemary, cumin, a dash of balsamic vinegar or a touch of cayenne pepper can add an interesting twist to the dish. For extra saltiness, you could even crumble feta cheese on top. If you don’t have honey, you can substitute it with maple syrup or even sprinkle it with some brown sugar.
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Monitor the cooking time. Depending on your air fryer model and the size of your carrot pieces, cooking times may vary. Keep an eye on them to avoid burning.
How to cook honey-glazed carrots in a regular oven
The oven instructions aren’t very different. Instead of putting the honey-glazed carrot sticks in the air fryer, spread them out on a baking sheet or baking tray covered in parchment paper and roast in a pre-heated oven of 180°c (350F) for 25 minutes.
How to store leftovers
Other air fryer recipes you might like
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Air fryer honey roasted carrots
Ingredients
- 1 kg medium-sized carrots
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1-2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves only
- A pinch of salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Wash and peel the carrots. Cut them into sticks or batons, ensuring they are roughly the same size for even cooking.
- Preheat your air fryer to 200°c (390F) for 5 minutes.
- Add the sliced carrots to a large bowl, and then add the honey, olive oil, salt, black pepper, thyme, and garlic powder. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Toss/combine and make sure the carrots are coated in the honey glaze and flavourings.
- Place the coated carrots in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook for 15 minutes at 180°c (350F), shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. The carrots should be tender and slightly caramelised.
- Serve and sprinkle with some more fresh thyme.
These were fantastic