Oven-baked Carrot Fries are crispy, golden, and bursting with flavor – a game-changer for healthy snacking and satisfying sides. They’re the perfect choice, whether you’re looking for a nutritious alternative to classic French fries or a fun new way to serve your veggies to any picky eaters. Enjoy them with sriracha mayo or another favorite dipping sauce!
Table of Contents
Just like my Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, these carrot fries are incredibly easy to make with pantry staples and pair with an endless selection of dipping sauces, including sauces for sweet potato fries and sauces for French fries.
While it’s true that carrot fries will never be quite as crispy as traditional potato French fries, the light coating of cornstarch creates a crackly crust while the high-heat roasting draws out their natural sweetness and removes excess moisture. With just a few simple tricks, you can achieve golden, tender, and delicately crispy carrot fries every time with little effort.
Serve these carrot fries as an appetizer at your next party, a veggie-forward snack for the kids, or a light side dish to mains with a chilled glass of Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.
Ingredients needed
- Carrots – Cut the carrots into uniform sized sticks. Any type of carrot will work for this recipe.
- Olive oil – Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil, otherwise another neutral oil can be used, such as canola, vegetable, or sunflower oil. The oil helps the carrots to soften and tenderize, and also allows the cornstarch and seasoning to adhere to the carrot sticks. Feel free to toss your carrots in this Browned Butter for a richer flavor!
- Cornstarch – Helps the carrot fries achieve a crispier exterior. Arrowroot flour or tapioca flour can be used instead.
- Paprika – Great for a slight kick of heat. Use cayenne pepper or chili powder for spicier fries.
- Kosher salt
- Garlic and onion powder – Both of these ingredients add rich umami flavor to the carrot fries. If you prefer a simpler seasoning, stick to kosher salt and pepper instead.
- Sriracha Mayo – Serve these delicious carrot fries with this homemade Sriracha Mayo. You could also enjoy these crispy carrot fries with any of these 20+ BEST Dipping Sauces for Sweet Potato Fries or these 25+ Best Sauces for French Fries.
How to make them
Step 1
Cut the carrots
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or tin foil.
- Peel the carrots and cut them crosswise into pieces about 3-inches long. Cut each piece lengthwise into planks about 1/3-inch thick, then cut those into 1/3-inch thick sticks.
- Place the carrot sticks in a large bowl.
Step 2
Coat the carrot sticks
- Sprinkle the carrot sticks with cornstarch, paprika, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder, and toss to coat.
- Drizzle with the olive oil and toss to coat again.
Step 3
Roast and serve
- Spread the seasoned carrot sticks on the prepared baking sheets, making sure no fries are overlapping or touching.
- Roast the carrots for 25-30 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
- Once done, remove from the oven and serve your carrot fries with sriracha mayo or any other favorite dipping sauce, if desired.
How to achieve ultra crispy carrot fries
Want irresistibly crispy carrot fries every time? These two simple tricks make all the difference:
- Use the Air Fryer: An air fryer works wonders when it comes to creating a crispy texture without the need for deep frying. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and lightly coat the basket with cooking spray. Arrange the carrot sticks in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd them (this helps them crisp up evenly). Air fry for 8–10 minutes, or until golden and crisp, shaking the basket halfway through for an even cook.
- Learn to Cut Vegetable Sticks: Cutting your carrots into uniform sized sticks is essential for crispiness. Thinner, equal pieces cook more evenly and get crispier edges when baked or air fried. Once you’ve mastered this skill, you’ll find it incredibly useful for everything from veggie platters to stir-fries.
Tips and tricks
- Cut the carrots to the right size. Slice your carrots into sticks about ⅓ inch thick. This ensures they cook through evenly while still crisping up on the outside.
- Don’t skip the cornstarch. A light dusting of cornstarch is key. It helps draw out surface moisture and forms a delicate, crackly crust when baked or air fried – exactly what you want in crispy fries.
- Avoid overcrowding. Spread the carrot sticks out in a single layer on your baking sheet, leaving enough space between each stick. Overcrowding traps steam, which leads to soft, soggy fries.
- Flip halfway through. Flipthe fries halfway through the roasting time to encourage even browning and crisping on all sides.
- Watch closely toward the end. Most ovens vary, so keep an eye on your fries during the final minutes of cooking. After all, we’re aiming for golden and crisp carrot fries, not burnt fries!
- Cook with high heat. Cook these carrot fries at 400 degrees F or higher. The high temperature helps quickly evaporate moisture and promotes browning on the edges, both of which contribute to that irresistible crispy finish.
Variations
Mix things up with these easy ideas that let you customize your carrot fries with different flavors, textures, and cooking methods:
- Change the seasonings – Use dill, chili powder, cumin, coriander, or homemade Italian seasoning. If you have a seasoning that you love on potatoes, it will most likely work well on these carrot fries, too.
- Add a cheesy twist – Grate some Parmesan cheese over these carrot fries or sprinkle some nutritional yeast over them just before serving.
- Adjust the heat – Easily adjust the spice in this recipe. Increase the paprika or use cayenne pepper and chili powder if you enjoy heat. Similarly, you could omit this and simply enjoy your fries with salt and pepper.
- Make them herbaceous – Toss the carrot fries with finely chopped fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, rosemary, or chives just before serving.
- Cook them in an air fryer – For an even crispier finish and faster cook time, make your carrot fries in the air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the carrot sticks in batches.
Serving suggestions
Whether you’re enjoying these carrot fries as snacks or creating a full meal, they’re as versatile as they are delicious! Pair them with your favorite dips or serve them alongside main dishes like burgers, pork chops, and more:
Apart from enjoying these carrot fries as a delicious snack or appetizer alongside your favorite dipping sauce, consider pairing them with other dishes for a wholesome and complete meal, such as:
Storing
Store these carrot fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Keep in mind that they will soften the longer they are stored.
You can reheat them in the microwave until warm, broil them in the oven for a minute, or add them to the air fryer to regain some of the crispy exterior lost while stored in the fridge.
Erin’s wine pairings
These crispy carrot fries with naturally subtle sweetness and earthy flavor pair beautifully alongside the following wines – whether you’ve decided to enjoy them as a snack, party appetizer, or as part of a main meal:
- The light and earthy qualities of Pinot Noir with its soft red fruit notes brings out the roasted, savory flavors of the carrot fries without overpowering them. Perfect when serving alongside a main dish like roast chicken.
- Similarly to roasted carrots, a lightly oaked Chardonnay enhances the crispy golden brown edges of the carrot fries and complements their rich flavor, especially when served with buttery mains or herb-forward dishes.
- Enjoy a glass of off-dry Riesling which will provide the perfect dose ofacidity and sweetness to complement the natural sugars in the carrots, especially when dipping them in spicy Sriracha mayo or tangy yogurt-based sauce.
- When serving these carrot fries as part of a heartier meal, like pork chops or pot pie, consider soft Merlot as your choice of wine.The dark fruit and gentle tannins makes it a cozy, balanced pairing.
More recipes featuring carrots
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Full Recipe
Carrot Fries (Oven or Air Fryer)
Equipment
- Baking Sheet (optional)
- Air Fryer (optional )
Ingredients
- 2 pounds carrots
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Sriracha Mayo (for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425-degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or tin foil.
- Peel the carrots and cut them crosswise into pieces about 3-inches long. Cut each piece lengthwise into planks about 1/3-inch thick then cut into 1/3-inch thick sticks. Place in a large bowl.
- Sprinkle the carrots with cornstarch, paprika, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder, and toss to coat. Drizzle with the olive oil and toss to coat again.
Oven Method
- Spread the carrot fries on the baking sheets, making sure no fries are overlapping or touching. Crowding will result in steamed carrots versus crispy, roasted carrots.
- Roast for 25-30 minutes, flipping the carrots halfway through.
- Enjoy with sriracha mayo, if desired.
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and lightly coat the basket with cooking spray.
- Arrange the carrot sticks in a single layer, making sure not to overlap too much (you will need to work in batches).
- Air fry for 8–10 minutes, or until golden and crisp, shaking the basket halfway through for an even cook.
- Enjoy with sriracha mayo, if desired.
Notes
- Store these carrot fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Keep in mind that they will soften the longer they are stored.
- You can reheat them in the microwave until warm, broil them in the oven for a minute, or add them to the air fryer to regain some of the crispy exterior lost while stored in the fridge.
- Cut the carrots to the right size. Slice your carrots into sticks about ⅓ inch thick. This ensures they cook through evenly while still crisping up on the outside.
- Don’t skip the cornstarch. A light dusting of cornstarch is key. It helps draw out surface moisture and forms a delicate, crackly crust when baked or air fried – exactly what you want in crispy fries.
- Avoid overcrowding. Spread the carrot sticks out in a single layer on your baking sheet, leaving enough space between each stick. Overcrowding traps steam, which leads to soft, soggy fries.
- Flip halfway through. Flip the fries halfway through the roasting time to encourage even browning and crisping on all sides.
- Watch closely toward the end. Most ovens vary, so keep an eye on your fries during the final minutes of cooking. After all, we’re aiming for golden and crisp carrot fries, not burnt fries!
- Cook with high heat. Cook these carrot fries at 400 degrees F or higher. The high temperature helps quickly evaporate moisture and promotes browning on the edges, both of which contribute to that irresistible crispy finish.
- Change the seasonings – Use dill, chili powder, cumin, coriander, or homemade Italian seasoning. If you have a seasoning that you love on potatoes, it will most likely work well on these carrot fries, too.
- Add a cheesy twist – Grate some Parmesan cheese over these carrot fries or sprinkle some nutritional yeast over them just before serving.
- Adjust the heat – Easily adjust the spice in this recipe. Increase the paprika or use cayenne pepper and chili powder if you enjoy heat. Similarly, you could omit this and simply enjoy your fries with salt and pepper.
- Make them herbaceous – Toss the carrot fries with finely chopped fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, rosemary, or chives just before serving.
- Cook them in an air fryer – For an even crispier finish and faster cook time, make your carrot fries in the air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the carrot sticks in batches.
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