Air Fryer Carrots with Honey Garlic Butter
These Air Fryer Carrots with Honey Garlic Butter are sweet and savory, glazed to perfection, creating an irresistible dish that elevates any meal. This recipe harnesses the air fryer's ability to caramelize natural sugars while maintaining the carrots' nutritional integrity.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Mixing Bowl
- Silicone Tongs
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh carrots preferably medium-sized, peeled and cut into 2-inch sticks
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 tablespoons honey local honey adds wonderful floral notes
- 3 cloves garlic minced (approximately 1 tablespoon)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or ½ teaspoon dried
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash and peel your carrots, then cut them into uniform 2-inch sticks about ½-inch thick. Pat them completely dry with paper towels.
- In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, honey, minced garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Whisk until fully integrated into a smooth, aromatic glaze.
- Add the prepared carrot sticks to the honey garlic butter mixture and toss thoroughly until each piece is generously coated. Allow them to marinate for 5 minutes if time permits.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) for 3 minutes. Place the coated carrots in the air fryer basket in a single layer with small spaces between each piece. Avoid overcrowding – work in batches if necessary.
- Cook the carrots for 12-15 minutes, pausing to shake the basket at the 6-minute mark and again at the 10-minute mark. The carrots are done when they're fork-tender with beautiful golden-brown edges.
- Transfer the hot carrots to a serving dish and drizzle with any remaining honey garlic butter from the bowl. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately while still warm.
Notes
For a lighter version with 30% fewer calories:
- Replace butter with 2 tablespoons of olive oil or avocado oil
- Reduce honey to 1 tablespoon and add 1 tablespoon of fresh orange juice
- Use a low-sodium herb blend instead of salt For a keto-friendly adaptation:
- Substitute honey with 1 tablespoon of monk fruit sweetener
- Increase butter to 4 tablespoons for higher fat content
- Add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon to enhance perceived sweetness Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. For best results when reheating, place in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes rather than microwaving.
- Replace butter with 2 tablespoons of olive oil or avocado oil
- Reduce honey to 1 tablespoon and add 1 tablespoon of fresh orange juice
- Use a low-sodium herb blend instead of salt For a keto-friendly adaptation:
- Substitute honey with 1 tablespoon of monk fruit sweetener
- Increase butter to 4 tablespoons for higher fat content
- Add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon to enhance perceived sweetness Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. For best results when reheating, place in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes rather than microwaving.
Nutrition
Calories: 165kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 1gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 360mgPotassium: 380mgFiber: 3gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 19200IUVitamin C: 6mg
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