Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Carrots Quick and Easy
Get ready to transform everyday carrots into a crispy, savory treat! These air-fried or baked parmesan garlic carrots are soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, and seasoned to perfection with garlic, parmesan, and Italian herbs. Perfect as a side dish, snack, or appetizer, they’ll become a kitchen favorite in no time!
Are you ready to fall head over heels for carrots? You’re going to love this simple, flavorful recipe that turns everyday carrots into something special. I’m excited to show you how to quickly air fry or bake these carrots with fresh garlic, grated parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning.
What makes this recipe stand out is how the carrots become perfectly crispy on the outside while staying soft on the inside—deliciously savory with every bite. Whether you enjoy them as a side dish, snack, or appetizer, they’re sure to become a favorite in your kitchen. Plus, I’ll share my favorite dipping sauces to take these crispy carrots to the next level. Trust me, you’ll keep coming back for more!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Carrots Recipe:
- Crispy texture, soft inside: These carrots are perfectly crispy on the outside while staying soft and tender on the inside.
- Simple ingredients, big flavor: Made with garlic, parmesan, and Italian seasoning, this recipe turns humble carrots into a savory treat.
- Versatile snack or side: Enjoy them as a snack, a savory appetizer, or a delicious side dish for any meal.
- Quick and easy: Whether you air fry or bake, this recipe comes together quickly with minimal prep time.
Carrots: If you don’t have large carrots, you can use baby carrots or even sweet potatoes for a slightly different twist on this recipe.
Grated Parmesan Cheese: Swap this out for grated Pecorino Romano or nutritional yeast for a dairy-free option that still gives you that cheesy flavor.
Coarse Sea Salt: Himalayan pink salt or kosher salt will work just as well. You can also use fine sea salt, but reduce the amount slightly since it’s more concentrated.
Parsley Flakes: Fresh parsley adds a brighter flavor, or you can substitute with dried oregano or Italian seasoning for a different herb profile.
Butter (for Garlic Butter): Feel free to substitute with vegan butter or ghee for a dairy-free option. Coconut oil also works if you want a slight sweetness.
Garlic: Garlic powder can be used in a pinch, just adjust to taste—about 1/4 teaspoon per clove. Roasted garlic is also a fun alternative for a milder flavor.
Extra Light Olive Oil (for Carrot Oil Rub): Avocado oil or melted coconut oil are great alternatives that are stable for high-heat cooking.
Paprika: Smoked paprika adds a richer, deeper flavor, or you can swap with chili powder for a bit of a kick.
Onion Powder: You can use garlic powder or leave it out if you want to keep things simple, though onion powder adds a nice depth.
How to Make My Healthy Garlic Parmesan Carrots Recipe
Step 1. Prep the Carrots
Rinse and dry three medium-large carrots. Then peel off the skins and slice them diagonally about .25″ thick. My favorite vegetable peeler works awesome!
Step 2. Make the Garlic Butter
Add the butter and fresh garlic cloves to a small bowl. I love using my favorite stainless steel garlic press to crush the garlic quickly. Mix the butter and garlic together with a spatula until combined.
Step 3: Prep the Cheese & Parsley
Grate the parmesan cheese using a zesting grater. The smaller size of the cheese shreds allows them to get between the potatoes in the air fryer.
Step 4. Toss the Carrots
Combine the oil, paprika, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and salt in a bowl and shake to combine. Drop the sliced carrots into the bowl and toss with the oil mixture.
Step 5: Prep the Tray
Tear off a sheet of parchment paper twice as wide as your air fryer basket or baking sheet. Fold the paper in half. Trim it about .5″ wider than the bottom of your air fryer basket or sheet. Then fold up about .5″ of paper on all four edges creating a paper tray that can contain the melting butter in the air fryer or oven.
Step 6: Fill the Basket
Place the paper tray inside your air fryer basket or baking sheet. Spread the garlic butter in the paper tray using a spatula. Then arrange the carrot slices side-by-side in the tray. Lightly sprinkle with course sea salt.
Step 7: Cook the Carrots
OVEN METHOD:
Bake the carrots for 10 minutes at 425°F. When the timer goes off, carefully remove the sheet from the oven and sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley on top of the carrots. Return the sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the cheese is slightly browned and crispy.
AIR FRYER METHOD:
Bake the carrots for 8 minutes at 400°F. When the timer goes off, carefully remove the sheet from the air fryer and sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley on top of the carrots. Return the sheet to the air fryer and bake for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the cheese is slightly browned and crispy
Expert Recipe Tips
- Carrot Size: Try to cut your carrots into uniform sizes to ensure they cook evenly. If you use baby carrots, just adjust the cooking time slightly.
- Cheese Substitution: If you’re using a dairy-free alternative like nutritional yeast, sprinkle it on at the end of cooking to avoid burning.
- Air Fryer Temperature: Every air fryer is a little different, so keep an eye on your carrots to prevent overcooking. You may need to adjust the temperature or cooking time.
- Make It Crispier: For extra crispy carrots, increase the air fryer temperature by 10°F for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.
- Serving Tip: These carrots taste even better when served fresh, but you can reheat them in the air fryer to bring back the crispiness.
Do you love carrots? Check out more of my easy and healthier carrot recipes:
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Carrots Quick and Easy
Ingredients
- 3 large carrots
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
Garlic Butter:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 cloves garlic
Carrot Oil Rub:
- 1 tablespoon extra light olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- dash pepper
Instructions
- Rinse and dry three medium-large carrots. Then peel off the skins and slice them diagonally about .25″ thick. My favorite vegetable peeler works awesome!
- Add the butter and fresh garlic cloves to a small bowl. I love using my favorite stainless steel garlic press to crush the garlic quickly. Mix the butter and garlic together with a spatula until combined.
- Grate the parmesan cheese using a zesting grater. The smaller size of the cheese shreds allows them to get between the carrots in the air fryer.
- Combine the oil, paprika, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and salt in a bowl and shake to combine. Drop the sliced carrots into the bowl and toss them with the oil mixture.
- Tear off a sheet of parchment paper twice as wide as your air fryer basket or baking sheet. Fold the paper in half. Trim it about .5″ wider than the bottom of your air fryer basket or sheet. Then fold up about .5″ of paper on all four edges creating a paper tray that can contain the melting butter in the air fryer or oven.
- Place the paper tray inside your air fryer basket or baking sheet. Spread the garlic butter in the paper tray using a spatula. Then arrange the carrot slices side-by-side in the tray. Lightly sprinkle with course sea salt.
OVEN METHOD:
- Bake the carrots for 10 minutes at 425°F. When the timer goes off, carefully remove the sheet from the oven and sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley on top of the carrots. Return the sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the cheese is slightly browned and crispy.
AIR FRYER METHOD:
- Bake the carrots for 8 minutes at 400°F. When the timer goes off, carefully remove the sheet from the air fryer and sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley on top of the carrots. Return the sheet to the air fryer and bake for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the cheese is slightly browned and crispy.
- Carefully remove the paper tray and enjoy! These carrots taste best when fresh. But you can store leftovers in the fridge for several days and reheat them in the microwave. They will have a softer texture than the first time they bakes.
Video
Beautiful take on carrots 🥕
Thank you so much for the review, Priscilla!
This worked exactly as written, thanks! My kitchen smelled amazing from the garlic butter.
Thank you for the review! I’m so glad you love them, too 🙂
This is a really fun and delicious way to enjoy carrots with an easy garlic butter. And they take less than 20 minutes in an air fryer.