Made in your oven or air fryer, these Carrot Fries are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Such a fun way to eat vegetables, this healthy side dish is sure to delight everyone and is the perfect addition to so many meals!
I love a fun, out-of-the-box veggie side dish to make dinner a little more fun (while still being veggie-loaded). These Carrot Fries are the latest and greatest way to make vegetables at dinner exciting AND delicious. They are easy to make, cook up to perfection in your oven or air fryer, and remind me of sweet potato fries! Pair them with your favorite dipping sauce (I have a few ideas listed below) and dinner magic has been made!
Bonus: They are vegetarian, plant based, gluten free, dairy-free, and can easily be made Paleo. Done in about 20 minutes, they are the perfect side for a busy weeknight or to serve as a snack or appetizer.
Tips for making the best Carrot Fries
Cut the carrots all the same size. Or as close as you can. This way, the carrots will cook at an even rate. We found that cutting them between 1/4-1/2 inch thick made for the ideal carrot fry.
Don’t skip the corn starch. I mean, you can, but the carrot fries won’t have the lovely crispiness on the outside that really makes them feel like a fry! If you don’t want to use cornstarch, you can sub arrowroot starch (or sometimes called arrowroot flour).
Don’t crowd the carrots. When baking your carrot fries in the oven, it is important to give them room to roast and crisp up. When crowded, vegetables will steam in an oven. When using your air fryer, you can stack the carrot fries a bit more, but don’t overfill the air fryer basket. This can result in the carrot fries on the top being crisp, but the ones in the middle soft and steamed.
Flip the carrot fries midway through cooking. When baking them in your oven, flip the fries after about 15 minutes. If you are using your air fryer, shaking the basket halfway through cooking (at about 6 minutes) will help to move the fries around so they all cook up evenly.
Watch them. Every oven and air fryer cooks a little differently, so watch your carrot fries and pull them when they are crispy and browned.
Enjoy warm! Like all fries, these are best enjoyed fresh and hot!
Can I leave out the cornstarch?
Yes, the carrot fries will still taste good without it, but they may not get as crispy.
Change up the seasonings!
Use dill, chili powder, cumin, coriander, or any seasoning blends you like. If you have a seasoning you like on potatoes, it will most likely work well on these Carrot Fries, too.
Dips to enjoy with these Carrot Fries
What would fries be without dip? Here are some dips that are amazing with the carrot fries.
- Ketchup (of course). Here is a homemade version.
- Mustard. Yellow mustard, spicy mustard, Dijon mustard…they are all great with these fries.
- Ranch. Here is an easy homemade version.
- Aioli.
- Zucchini Avocado Dip. For even more veggie-loading!
- Green Goddess Dressing or Dip. Here is a homemade version.
More fun, out-of-the-box veggie sides that you’ll adore
- Cauliflower Tots (Baked or Air Fryer)
- Mexican-Style Corn Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
- Pesto Veggie Pasta Salad
- Easy Roasted Radishes
- Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- Parmesan Kale Chips
Did you try these Carrot Fries and now you’re hungry for more?
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Carrot Fries (Oven or Air Fryer)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds whole carrots ends trimmed
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot starch
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- Ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Oven method
- Preheat oven to 425℉. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease with oil. If your baking sheets are small, consider baking in two batches to prevent crowding.
- Peel and cut carrots into ¼-½ inch thick fry shapes. It is okay if they are not perfect, but aim to keep the fries about the same size so they cook evenly. Add carrot sticks to a large bowl and toss with the oil.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a few grinds of black pepper. Sprinkle over the carrots, then toss to coat.
- Spread the carrot fries on the baking sheets, making sure no fries are overlapping or touching. Again, if you need to, consider baking in two batches so that they have enough room to roast up. Crowding will result in steamed carrots versus roasted.
- Roast for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and flip the fries. Return to oven and roast for 5-10 more minutes or until crispy and browned. Serve hot with the dip of your choice.
Air fryer method
- Peel and cut carrots into ¼-½ inch thick fry shapes. It is okay if they are not perfect, but aim to keep the fries about the same size so they cook evenly. Add carrot sticks to a large bowl and toss with the oil.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a few grinds of black pepper. Sprinkle over the carrots, then toss to coat.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400℉ for 3 minutes. Once hot, add carrots and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket at the 6 minute mark and again at 10 minutes. TIP: If you are using an air fryer with a smaller basket (like me), cook the carrots in two batches. Note: Every air fryer is a bit different, so keep an eye on your fries to make sure they don't burn. Also, don't skip on shaking the basket to help rotate the fries during the cooking process.
- Once carrot fries are crispy and browned, serve right away with the dip of your choice.
Nutrition
The nutritional information is provided as an estimate only and may vary based on the product type, servings and other factors. If you are following a diet, please consult with a professional nutritionist or your doctor. Stay healthy!
Comments
I used the air fryer method and arrowroot flour. Super crispy!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them as much as we do! They are a fun veggie side, for sure! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
Made these for the first time today and YUM! 🤤 Almost have a sweet taste to them. Similar to sweet potato fries but better! 🥕🥕🥕
I am so glad you liked them, Mandy! I agree that they are so like sweet potato fries but a little extra something special
I love this recipe and will use it often. I halved the batch and may have ate them all with my lunch! I used the air fryer method and it worked well!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it as much as we do, Sarah!
I never would have come up with this idea on my own, so I’m so glad I found this recipe. These are easy and tasty!
Aren’t they a fun way to eat carrots!? So glad you enjoy them as much as we do!
I should have waited a little longer to post my comment because later on my husband said to me: “Are these easy to make because they are sneaky good!”
Ha! I love it!
Wow! These are delicious, easy to make, and the perfect side. They have pretty much become a weekly staple at our house! Thank you, Taesha, for another incredible recipe.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Andrea!
What kind of air fryer do you use? I had one but the basket was so small that it wasn’t practical.
I have a Ninja air fryer. It has a small basket but works for our family of 3. My friend who has a family of 5 has their double basket model and says it is perfect for them.