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These deliciously sweet and savory carrot fries are baked or air-fried until crispy and caramelized. Just 3 ingredients and 30 minutes to make this dreamy nutritious, low-carb, and healthy side or snack!

completed Carrot Fries scattered on a white surface

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Why You’ll Love This Baked or Air Fryer Carrot Fries Recipe

Along with potatoes, carrots are one of my favorite low-budget, highly versatile ‘humble’ ingredients. Not only can you boil, steam, roast, fry, and mash them, but you can also make delicious creamy carrot ginger dressing, carrot cake muffins, carrot ginger soup, and these simple but delicious crispy carrot fries! And who wouldn’t want more carrots, considering they’re a great low-glycemic source of fiber and vitamins?!

This Carrot Fries recipe is SO easy to throw together, with minimal prep and ingredients. With the help of cornstarch, roasted carrot fries are lightly crispy outside, wonderfully caramelized and tender within. They’re beyond tasty with a naturally sweet-savory flavor! Plus, they can be seasoned endlessly, to your preference. Then bake the carrot fries in the oven or air-fryer for a simple, crowd-pleasing snack or side.

Looking for more fun ways to encourage children (and adults!) to eat more veggies, try crispy green bean fries, crispy baked kale chips, cheesy zucchini chips, and oven baked sweet potato fries.

The Ingredients for Carrot Fries

This carrot fries recipe requires just carrots, oil, and your preferred seasonings for a simple, healthy snack/side. Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients.

ingredients for Carrot Fries measured out on a white surface

Seasoning Variations for Carrot Fries

  • Simple savory blend: Use onion and garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt.
  • Other seasonings: Experiment with individual spices or seasoning blends, like:
    • Paprika (smoked or regular)
    • Chili/Cayenne powder
    • Onion powder
    • Cumin
    • Curry powder
    • Cajun seasoning
    • Taco seasoning
    • Ranch seasoning
  • Dried herbs: e.g., rosemary, thyme, oregano, dill, or Italian seasoning.
  • Parsley: To garnish the roasted carrot fries.
  • Lemon Juice: A squeeze over the freshly cooked carrot fries adds brightness.
  • Parmesan’ carrot fries: Toss liberally with nutritional yeast for nutty, ‘cheesy’, umami flavor and/or garnish with vegan parmesan. Check out this guide to nutritional yeast to learn more about it!

How to Make Baked Carrot Fries

process shot showing slicing carrots
process shot showing olive oil being poured onto carrots

Step 1: First, preheat the oven to 400F/200C and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Then, rinse the carrots, chop off both ends, then cut them in half widthwise (unless they’re short).

Step 2: Next, transfer the carrot fries to a large bowl and toss with the oil, then the cornstarch, garlic powder/granules, and salt until evenly distributed.

If the carrot pieces are very wet, pat them dry first for crispier carrot fries.

process shot showing carrot fries on a baking sheet

Step 3: Finally, transfer to the prepared baking tray and bake for 30-35 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy. For slightly crispier results, optionally broil them at the end for 2-3 minutes.

For Air Fryer Carrot Fries: Place in a single layer with space between and air fry at 400F/200C for 13-16 minutes, flipping after 7 minutes. Air fryer carrots are even crispier than the baked version!

FAQs

Should I peel the carrots?

If you wash the carrots well, then it isn’t vital. However, I prefer to peel non-organic carrots. It’s up to you.

Are carrot fries healthy?

Carrots are low calorie (with less than 50% of the carbs and calories in potatoes), high fiber, and a great source of beta carotene, potassium, vitamins A, C, and K, fiber, and antioxidants. When paired with minimal amounts of heart-healthy oil, you can’t go wrong!

Are carrot fries crispy?

While they don’t become as crispy as potato fries, the addition of cornstarch helps to create a lovely crispy shell with slight crunch. Carrot fries made in an air fryer will produce the crispiest shell.

Can I make carrot chips instead of fries?

Absolutely! Use a vegetable peeler/ mandoline (1-2mm) to cut strips of carrot. Then pat them dry and season. Finally, bake in a single layer with space between at 350F/180C for about 14-16 minutes, flipping halfway.

Alternatively, air fry the carrot chips at 400F/200C for 8-12 minutes, flipping after 6 minutes. Note the carrot chips will crisp up more as they cool.

Toni’s Recipe Tips for Carrot Fries

  • Don’t omit oil: Roasted carrot fries don’t become as crispy as regular potato fries, so a small amount of fat is used to encourage it.  
  • Avoid overcrowding: Whether you use the oven or air fryer, it’s important not to overcrowd the carrots, or else they’ll steam and be soft rather than crispy.
  • Cut even fries: So they cook evenly. Aim for ¼-inch carrot fries for crispy fries.
  • Cooking time can vary: The exact cooking time will vary based on the thickness of the fries and your oven/air fryer. Monitor them towards the end to avoid burn.
  • For Paleo and keto carrot fries: Skip the cornstarch. They won’t be as crispy, but they’re still pretty yummy.
completed Carrot Fries scattered on a white surface

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy crispy carrot fries as a simple snack or in place of regular fries with:

Storage Instructions

Make ahead: You can pre-chop the carrots into fries/batons a day in advance, ready to season and bake.

Store: Crispy carrot fries are best enjoyed immediately for optimal flavor/texture. However, leftovers will store, cooled, in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Reheat: Pop them back in the oven (10-15 minutes) or air-fryer (a few minutes) at 375F/190C. Avoid the microwave, as it will turn them limp and ‘soggy.’

completed Carrot Fries in a storage container

More Healthy Veggie Fries to Try!

If you tried this carrot fries recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks!

Cookbooks

If you’re loving my recipes and would like a more comprehensive resource, check out my cookbooks!

Carrot Fries [Air Fryer + Oven]

4.96 from 44 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 2 to 4
completed Carrot Fries scattered on a white surface
These deliciously sweet and savory carrot fries are baked or air-fried until crispy and caramelized. Just 3 ingredients and 30 minutes to make this dreamy nutritious, low-carb, and healthy side or snack!

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email & get this sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!

Video

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound of carrots washed and dried
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
  • A few shakes of garlic granules
  • Salt to taste

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
  • Cut the carrots to the length and thickness of your preference to resemble fries.
    process shot showing slicing carrots
  • Place the carrots in a large bowl and add the oil. Toss until all of the carrots are coated with the oil.
    process shot showing olive oil being poured onto carrots
  • Add the cornstarch, garlic granules, and salt. Mix until the cornstarch is evenly distributed on the carrots.
  • Add the carrots to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully remove the tray from the oven and flip the carrots. Return the tray to the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until golden and crispy.
    process shot showing carrot fries on a baking sheet

Notes

Serve with your favorite sauces.
  • Don’t omit oil: Roasted carrot fries don’t become as crispy as regular potato fries, so a small amount of fat is used to encourage it.  
  • Avoid overcrowding: Whether you use the oven or air fryer, it’s important not to overcrowd the carrots, or else they’ll steam and be soft rather than crispy.
  • Cut even fries: So they cook evenly. Aim for ¼-inch carrot fries for crispy fries.
  • Cooking time can vary: The exact cooking time will vary based on the thickness of the fries and your oven/air fryer. Monitor them towards the end to avoid burn.

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 157mgPotassium: 728mgFiber: 6gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 37889IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 1mg

Additional Info

Author: Jake
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American
Method: Oven
Diet: Vegan
Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! 🙂
About

Jake

Jake switched to a plant based diet in 1996 and quickly realized he had no idea how to cook. All these years later and he’s still trying to figure it out…

More about Jake
4.96 from 44 votes (43 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. LOVED these so much. My new favorite “veggie” fries and BONUS … the kids loved them too!