Crispy Air Fryer carrot fries (with garlic and parmesan)

I must admit that I'm not a huge fan of carrots, but the first time I tried those fries, I was really REALLY surprised by how good they are. I mean, I'm a fan of sweet potato fries or traditional potato fries (who wouldn't be?!), but those crispy carrot fries have nothing to envy them, really!

The natural sweetness of the carrots contrasts perfectly with the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese. I think now, it's one of my favorite way to enjoy carrots, as this recipe truly takes them to the next level.

And it's a good option for a lazy weeknight meal or when you're in a hurry, because the best part is they're ready in the blink of an eye.

💙 Why you'll love them

• Super easy - all you have to do is cut fresh carrots in sticks, mix them with other ingredients and put them in the air fryer! I told you it was easy, right?
• Fun way to eat carrot sticks - I know not everyone likes carrots, but everyone I've given those fries to has loved them!
• A few ingredients - only 5 ingredients are required to make these air fryer carrots!
• Healthy alternative to deep frying - as you don't use frying oil in this recipe, it's much healthier than traditional fries. And with an Air Fryer you also use less oil than you would with an oven, as only 1 tablespoon is needed.
• Real quick - it takes less time to prepare this delicious side dish in an air fryer than it would in a convection oven. 

🧀 Ingredients

You'll need those super simple ingredients to make these crispy carrot fries. You can find the quantities in the recipe card below.

• Carrots - it's in season from September to March included, so enjoy!
• Parmesan cheese - I really recommend buying of block of Parmesan cheese and grating it last minute. It's so much better!
• Garlic powder - if you want to choose your garlic carefully so you do not encourage the slavery of Chinese prisoners, read my Eco Tips on the subject.
• Zaatar - you can buy this spice mix in many supermarkets.
• Olive oil - use a regular one, no needed to use extra virgin olive oil here.

🍗 What to serve them with?

Those healthy carrot fries are a healthy snack or great appetizer on their own, but if you want to serve them as a main dish, feel free to pick something among these suggestions: 

• Burgers: you can make veggie burgers or regular burgers to go with these air fryer carrots.
• Sauce: a spicy mayo or a ranch dressing would go very well!
• Chicken: easy chicken tenders, crusted Romano chicken, grilled chicken skewers, Musahkan...
• Other meats: steak, pulled pork, Greek pork Souvlaki...
• Sandwiches: Prosciutto sandwich, 3-cheese Grilled Cheese, chicken Banh-Mi sandwich or any sandwich that you like!

✨How to make these delicious carrot fries?

Recipe details and quantities are in the recipe card below.

• Cut the carrots in half crosswise, then lengthwise into 8 sticks.

• Put them in a mixing bowl and mix with the olive oil, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Zaatar and salt.

• Place carrots in the air fryer basket and add the remaining mixture on top, trying not to overlap one another too much, so as to have a single layer.
• Bake for 10 minutes.
• Stir them, then put them back in the air fryer for another 5 minutes, then stir them again. If needed, add a few minutes but careful, it can burn very quickly.

👩🏻‍🍳 Chef's tips

1. Don't make them all at once if your air fryer is too small or if you want to make more: I advise you to make batches, so that you only have one single layer each time. That way, they'll be perfectly crispy.
2. After 15-20 minutes of cooking, check your fries often, as they can burn quickly and every air fryer is different!
3. Each air fryer is different: maybe you'll need a few more minutes to have crispy fries.
4. If you're making batches, mix them well together at the end so they're all hot and crispy.
5. Try them: sometimes, they look ready and crispy but they're not. So I always recommend to try them before you start another batch.

🤔Can I make them in the oven?

You can, but I've tried it and they are not as crispy as they are with the air fryer. 

So if you want something super crispy, I'd recommend that you turn to those garlic Parmesan smashed potatoes or those homemade potatoes (the best, according to me) instead.

❄️ Storage

Make ahead - I don't really recommend making those fries ahead of time, as they tend to get loose their crispiness with time.

Store - once they are completely cold, you can store them in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Be aware that they may lose their crispness over time.

Reheat - put them in the oven at 320°F/160°C for 5-10 minutes.