These Air Fryer Carrot Fries are a simple and delicious side dish for toddlers and kids. Carrot sticks are lightly coated in cornstarch, seasoned with garlic powder and nutritional yeast, and air fried until golden and tender with the perfect fry-like texture. They're easy to make, packed with flavour, and a fun way to switch up serving carrots at family meals!
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My kids have always loved carrots. For the past while, I simply steamed them and served them plain. Since they seemed to enjoy them, I never felt the need to change things up! Then my youngest turned two and suddenly started politely (and sometimes not so politely) handing back every vegetable on her plate.
I've had to get a little more creative with how I serve vegetables, and these Air Fryer Carrot Fries have been a hit. They have a soft, fry-like texture, a slightly cheesy flavour from the nutritional yeast, and come together with just a handful of simple ingredients.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love These Air Fryer Carrot Fries
- Perfect fry-like texture: Seriously the best texture. Tender on the inside with lightly crisped edges.
- Simple ingredients: Made with just a handful of simple ingredients and can easily be mixed and matched depending on what you have on hand.
- Kid-friendly: A fun and tasty way to switch up how you serve carrots.
- Ready in under 20 minutes: Perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
- Packed with flavour: Garlic powder and nutritional yeast add a delicious savoury, slightly cheesy flavour.
- Great for dipping: Pair with ketchup, hummus, ranch, or your favourite dip for an interactive side dish.
- Air fryer easy: No need to turn on the oven, just toss, air fry, and serve!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Carrot Fries
Here is what you'll need to make these air fryer carrot fries.
- Carrots: The star of the show! Carrots become tender and naturally sweet when cooked in the air fryer, making them a fun and colourful side dish for toddlers and kids.
- Cornstarch: The cornstarch really plays a major role in these carrot fries. It helps create a crispier, more fry-like texture in the air fryer.
- Olive Oil: Just a small amount of olive oil helps the seasonings stick to the carrots and become golden and tender as they cook.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder adds an additional flavour boost and is a great addition to carrot fries.
- Nutritional Yeast: Nutritional yeast gives these carrot fries a slightly cheesy, savoury flavour that pairs perfectly with the garlic seasoning.
- Salt and Pepper: A simple sprinkle of salt and pepper helps bring all the flavours together.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Here is an overview of how to make these air-fryer carrot fries, or you can scroll down to the full recipe card!
Wash, peel, and cut the carrots into ¼ inch fry-sized sticks. Place the carrots in a large bowl.
Add the cornstarch and toss until evenly coated.
Add the olive oil, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper. Toss again until the carrots are well coated.
Arrange the carrots in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to do two rounds. Air fry at 375°F for 13–15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking, until the carrots are tender and lightly golden. Serve warm on their own or with your favourite dip!
Hint: For the best texture, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Arranging the carrot fries in a single layer allows the hot air to circulate evenly, helping them become more golden and fry-like. If needed, cook them in two batches.
Substitutions
- Carrots: You can swap the carrots for parsnips, sweet potatoes, or even zucchini. Keep in mind that cooking times may vary depending on the vegetable used.
- Cornstarch: Arrowroot starch or tapioca starch can be used in place of cornstarch with similar results.
- Olive Oil: Avocado oil works well as a substitute and is great for air fryer recipes.
- Garlic Powder: Onion powder can be used instead, or try a combination of both for extra flavour.
- Nutritional Yeast: If you don't have nutritional yeast, you can simply leave it out.
- Seasonings: Feel free to customize the seasoning blend. Smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, or a pinch of cumin can all add a different flavour twist!
Variations
For a cheesy, parmesan carrot fry, try these Parmesan Crusted Carrot Fries.
For other fun vegetable recipes, try out these Crispy Kale Chips or these Smashed Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese.
Equipment
- Air fryer
Storage
These carrot fries are definitely best enjoyed right away, or at least the same day they're made. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the carrot fries back in the air fryer at 375°F for about 5 minutes, or until warmed through.
Toddler Tip
Many toddlers love to dip! Serving these carrot fries with a favourite dip can make them more fun and engaging to explore. Try offering them with ketchup, hummus, ranch, tzatziki, guacamole, or a simple yogurt-based dip.
Exploring, dipping, licking and touching foods are all valuable ways children learn about food!
What To Serve Carrot Fries with?
These Air Fryer Carrot Fries make a great side dish for dinner, snack, or added to a lunchbox! You can pair them with these Chicken and Spinach Nuggets (also uses the air fryer), or on the side of a Rotisserie Chicken Focaccia Sandwich! For a full list of dinner ideas to serve these carrots with, check out my post on Easy Dinner Ideas for Toddlers!
They also make a delicious snack served with a dip like ketchup, hummus, ranch, or tzatziki!
FAQ
Yes! These carrot fries become soft and tender with a slightly crispy exterior when cooked, making them easy for toddlers to chew. They're a fun way to serve carrots and pair well with favourite dips like hummus, ketchup, or tzatziki.
Yes. Arrange the seasoned carrot fries in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking. The carrot fries won't become quite as crisp as they do in the air fryer, but they'll still be tender and delicious.
Carrots naturally contain more moisture than potatoes, so they won't become quite as crispy as traditional French fries. The cornstarch and olive oil help create a more fry-like texture, while arranging the carrots in a single layer allows the hot air to circulate evenly. For the best results, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket and cook the carrot fries in batches if needed.
Recipe
Air-Fryer Carrot Fries for Kids
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb carrots about 3 large or 4-5 medium carrots. Washed, peeled, cut into ¼ inch sticks
- 2 tablespoon corn starch
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- dash salt and pepper
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and cut the carrots into ¼ inch fry-sized sticks.
- Place the carrots in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the cornstarch and toss until evenly coated.
- Add the olive oil, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper. Toss again until the carrots are well coated.
- Arrange the carrots in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 375°F for 13-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking, until the carrots are tender and lightly golden.
- Serve warm on their own or with your favourite dip.
Notes
Nutrition
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