I don’t think I’ll eat carrots any other way again after eating these Crispy Carrot Fries. Once you try them, I think you’ll feel the same.
Real talk: carrots are pretty much the only vegetable that my 2.5 year old will eat right now.
(Which is fine, btw! As long as toddlers are getting those nutrients otherwise – like from fruit – it’s perfectly normal to not eat many veggies. Just continue to offer and expose to them!).
I usually make them the same way: with some olive oil, salt, and pepper in the air fryer for about 10 minutes.
But something in me felt like mixing them up today. Wild, I know.
And WOW – these crispy carrot fries have truly everything you could want in a side dish. They’re full of flavor, with parmesan, onion powder, and garlic powder.
They’re incredibly crispy, thanks to a little bit of cornstarch and uniform cooking at just the right temperature.
And they’re fun! Do they taste like French fries? Absolutely not. Nor are they supposed to. But they have a fun fry shape that makes the perfect vehicle for dipping.
Dip them in ketchup, ranch, spicy mayo, or even pesto. These are so delicious.
I recommend pairing them with an easy protein, like this miso salmon or honey walnut salmon. Add a grain on the side, and you’re good to go.
These are also perfect to bring to a party or get together. Your friends will love them!
Will your toddler love them? TBD. Mine took a few bites, which is a win in my books. Toddlers are not to be underestimated, man. The toughest food critics out there.
Preheat the oven & cut the carrots
Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Peel the carrots. Cut them in half (or into thirds) lengthwise, and then cut into a fry shape. These should be thicker than a julienne cut – if they’re too small, they’ll burn more easily. Try to keep the carrots to a similar size so that they cut uniformly.
Mix the ingredients
In a large bowl, add the olive oil, parmesan, cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine.
Coat the carrots
Add in the carrots and toss to coat, until all carrots are well coated.
Spread the carrots evenly on the lined baking sheet, making sure to arrange them in a single layer to allow them to get crispy.
Bake
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, flipping the carrots halfway. All ovens are slightly different – you may want to keep an eye on them towards the end of cooking time to ensure they don’t burn.
Garnish & serve
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with dipping sauce of choice (ketchup, ranch, pesto, or spicy mayo are recommended!)
Notes
- Make sure to cut the carrots as uniformly as possible. Before baking, spread them out in one even layer on a baking sheet, using an extra baking sheet if needed. They will cook best if they’re not overlapping.
- Dipping sauce: To make the spicy mayo I dipped these in, mix mayo with a few teaspoons of sriracha and a drop of honey. Add more sriracha per desired spice level.
- Storage: Store these carrots in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. To reheat, microwave them until warm, or you can broil them in the oven for a minute to get them crispy again (just keep a close eye to make sure they don’t burn).
Ingredients
- 1 lb carrots peeled and cut into uniform fry shape (see notes)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: parsley for garnish sauce of choice for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Peel the carrots. Cut them in half (or into thirds) lengthwise, and then cut into a fry shape. These should be thicker than a julienne cut – if they’re too small, they’ll burn more easily. Try to keep the carrots to a similar size so that they cut uniformly.
- In a large bowl, add the olive oil, parmesan, cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine.
- Add in the carrots and toss to coat, until all carrots are well coated.
- Spread the carrots evenly on the lined baking sheet, making sure to arrange them in a single layer to allow them to get crispy.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, flipping the carrots halfway. All ovens are slightly different – you may want to keep an eye on them towards the end of cooking time to ensure they don’t burn.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with dipping sauce of choice (ketchup, ranch, pesto, or spicy mayo are recommended!)
Did you make this recipe?
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Extremely easy to make and super tasty!! Will definitely be using this recipe again
I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for sharing Lucy!
Can I make these in the air fryer? If so, what times/temperatures would you recommend versus in the oven?
Yes! Reduce the oven temperature by about 25% and reduce the cooking time by about 20%.
Can you prep these and freeze for easy future meals?
I haven’t tried it – I’m not sure if the texture will hold up well!
I made these side carrot fries for dinner tonight! My family and I loved them so much!
Thank you for the recipe! ☺️
So glad you loved them, Giovanna! Thank you for letting me know!