Last Updated on 24 August 2026 by cooksimply
Get amazing honey roasted carrots in just 15 minutes with this easy air fryer recipe. The perfect vegetable side dish every single time.
To make honey roasted carrots in an air fryer, toss carrot batons in honey, olive oil, garlic powder and thyme, then air fry at 180°c (350°F) for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. For extra caramelised edges, turn the heat up to 200°c (390°F) for the final 3 to 5 minutes.
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 dinner and want a vegetable side, or looking for a healthier option, 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.
- Make tender, caramelised honey-roasted carrots in the air fryer with a perfectly glazed coating
- Swap ingredients and try variations so you can adapt the recipe to your taste and dietary needs
- Get even cooking every time and stop the honey glaze from burning
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. There’s no need to wait 20 minutes for an oven to come up to heat.
Great results. Air fryers provide even cooking, so your honey glazed carrots come out perfectly roasted every time, with caramelised edges and soft middles.
Frees up the oven. If you’re cooking a roast dinner or a festive meal, the air fryer handles your carrots while the oven stays busy with everything else.
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, and 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.
- Carrots of your choice, sliced into batons
- Honey – use runny honey so it coats evenly. If yours has set, warm it for 10 seconds first
- Garlic powder
- Fresh thyme
- Olive oil
- A 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 around 20 minutes.
Prep the carrots. Start by washing and peeling the carrots. Cut them into sticks or batons, making sure they are roughly the same size for even cooking.
Preheat the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 200°c (390°F) 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, 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 (350°F), shaking the basket halfway through to make sure they cook evenly. The carrots should be tender and slightly caramelised.
Caramelise the edges (optional). For stickier, more caramelised carrots, turn the heat up to 200°c (390°F) for the final 3 to 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them so the honey doesn’t catch.
Serve. Remove the cooked carrots from the air fryer and sprinkle over some more fresh thyme. They make a perfect healthy side dish for any meal.
Tips for perfect air fryer honey roasted carrots
- Cut the carrots into uniform pieces. This ensures they cook at the same rate.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. To get carrots that cook evenly and caramelise nicely, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. The hot air needs room to circulate. Cook in batches if you need to.
- Add the honey glaze from the start for the flavour to soak in, but if you find your honey catches or burns, hold it back and toss the carrots in honey for just the last 5 minutes instead.
- 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.
Tips, variations and substitutions
One of the best things about this recipe is how easily you can make it your own. Here are a few ways to switch it up.
- Swap the honey. No honey, or cooking for vegans? Maple syrup works beautifully and gives a similar sticky glaze. A sprinkle of brown sugar does the job too.
- Change the herbs. Fresh thyme is my go-to, but rosemary is lovely with carrots. Cut it fine so it doesn’t overpower the sweetness.
- Add some heat. A pinch of chilli flakes or cayenne pepper gives a sweet-and-spicy edge. Hot honey works brilliantly here if you have some.
- Make it savoury-sweet. A splash of balsamic vinegar in the glaze adds depth and helps the carrots caramelise. Crumble over some feta before serving for a salty finish.
- Go richer. Swap the olive oil for a knob of melted butter, or add a little alongside it, for a more indulgent glaze that’s perfect for special occasions.
- Try different carrots. Rainbow or heritage carrots make a striking side dish. Chantenay and baby carrots can be left whole, just add a few minutes to the cook time if they’re on the chunkier side.
Serving suggestions
These honey roasted carrots are endlessly versatile and go with almost anything. Here’s how I like to serve them.
- With a roast dinner. They’re a natural fit alongside roast chicken, beef or lamb, and they’re a firm favourite on the Christmas and Thanksgiving table.
- With weeknight mains. Serve them next to pork chops, sausages, or a simple baked salmon fillet for an easy midweek dinner.
- As part of a spread. Add them to a vegetarian mezze or a big sharing platter with other roasted veg, dips and warm flatbreads.
- On a salad. Let them cool slightly and toss through a grain salad with feta, rocket and toasted seeds for lunch the next day.
- As a snack. They’re good enough to eat straight from the basket, warm, with your fingers. No judgement here.
Storage and make-ahead tips
These carrots are easy to prep ahead and store well, which makes them handy when you’re cooking for a crowd.
- Make ahead. You can peel and cut the carrots up to 2 days in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge so they’re ready to toss and cook when you need them.
- Storing leftovers. Pop any leftover carrots in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to three days.
- Reheating. Reheat these honey roasted carrots in the air fryer for around five minutes at 170°c (330°F). This brings back their crisp edges far better than a microwave, which can leave them soft.
- Freezing. Roasted carrots can go soft once frozen and thawed, so I’d recommend eating them fresh or from the fridge rather than freezing.
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 at 180°c (350°F) for 25 minutes, turning halfway through.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature do you cook honey carrots at in an air fryer?
Cook them at 180°c (350°F) for around 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. If you want stickier, more caramelised edges, turn the heat up to 200°c (390°F) for the last 3 to 5 minutes. Starting lower stops the honey from burning before the carrots are tender.
Do you need to boil carrots before air frying?
No. Unlike roast potatoes, carrots don’t need parboiling first. They cook through and caramelise straight from raw in the air fryer, which is what makes this recipe so quick.
Why are my air fryer carrots not caramelising?
Usually the basket is too full. If the carrots are piled up, they steam rather than roast. Keep them to a single layer and cook in batches if you need to. A final blast at a higher temperature also helps the honey glaze catch and go sticky.
Can I make honey roasted carrots vegan?
Yes. Just swap the honey for maple syrup or a sprinkle of brown sugar. The method stays exactly the same and you’ll still get that sweet, sticky glaze.
How do I stop the honey burning in the air fryer?
If your air fryer runs hot and the honey catches, hold it back at the start. Cook the carrots in just the oil and seasoning, then toss them in honey for the final 5 minutes so it glazes without scorching.
Can I use baby carrots?
Absolutely. Baby carrots and chantenay carrots can go in whole, no chopping needed. Just check they’re tender before serving, and add a couple of minutes if they’re on the thicker side.
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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, making sure they are roughly the same size for even cooking.
- Preheat your air fryer to 200°c (390°F) for 5 minutes.
- Add the carrots to a large bowl, then add the honey, olive oil, salt, black pepper, thyme, and garlic powder. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Toss and combine until the carrots are evenly coated in the honey glaze and flavourings.
- Place the coated carrots in the air fryer basket in a single layer, taking care not to overcrowd them.
- Cook for 15 minutes at 180°c (350°F), shaking the basket halfway through to make sure they cook evenly. The carrots should be tender and slightly caramelised.
- For stickier, more caramelised edges, turn the heat up to 200°c (390°F) for a final 3 to 5 minutes, keeping an eye on them so the honey doesn’t catch.
- Serve and sprinkle with a little more fresh thyme.
These were fantastic