Crispy Carrot Fries
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Have you ever tried carrot fries? If not, you need to! They're an easy-to-make, delicious, and healthy side dish. Seasoned to perfection, the sweetness of the carrot amplifies as the natural sugars caramelize, and the outside becomes crispy and delicious while the inside stays soft. Carrot fries are a healthy recipe that feels like a treat!
For another veggie fry recipeā¦ If you've never tried eggplant fries, you'll want to!
Crispy carrot fries are seasoned with garlic and herbs and then baked in the oven. They're an easy-to-make, healthy, and crazy delicious side dish recipe that satisfies your craving for fries yet are nutritious! We love it when vegetables taste this good ā they're even kid-approved!
Are these carrot fries actually crispy?
They sure are! The natural water in the carrots dissipates in the oven, so the carrots start to get soft. Keep baking them, and the outside starts to brown, crisping up so they have that delicious finish! The cornstarch and seasonings when combined with the oil create a sort of batter for the fries, which is what gives them a nice, crispy texture when baked and gets crisp enough that you can pick up a carrot fry without it sadly flopping over. No sad carrots here!
Ingredients needed
This simple carrot fries recipe uses a few spice rack staples in addition to parsley and oil. Oh, and don't forget the carrots! These simple ingredients are all you need to make some delicious carrot fries:
- Avocado oil: Another neutral-flavored oil will work well, too.
- Other ingredients: Carrots, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and finely minced fresh parsley.
How to make carrot fries
These carrot fries make a super simple, healthier side dish and are straightforward to prepare. Just pop them into the oven, make any other dishes for your night, then take them out when you're ready to eat. This is how it's done:
- Prep: Preheat the oven while you prep a baking tray with parchment paper. Cut the carrots into thin sticks.
- Season: Place your carrot sticks in a large bowl, tossing with the cornstarch and then the spices. Add the oil and toss everything around so it makes a sort of light batter on the fries.
- Bake: Put the carrots on your baking sheet in a single layer and then put them into the oven until brown and crispy, turning them once while they bake. Serve with the parsley and enjoy!
What dips to serve with carrot fries
There are so many dipping sauces to choose from! These carrot fries are a versatile vessel for sauces and dips, and taste so great with any of your favorites. Make a flavored mayo, like harissa mayo, dijonnaise, or chipotle mayo. Add some bright vibrancy with a herbaceous note, with a mint tzatziki, chimichurri, or carrot top pesto. Get smoky with bourbon BBQ sauce, or add a little zing with firecracker sauce, bang bang sauce, or spicy tomato jam. There are SO many options!
Variations
Carrot fries are versatile! It is fun and easy to customize the flavors by changing up the seasoning. Here are some of our favorites:
- Cheesy fries:Ā Sprinkle them with parmesan cheese for a crusty, cheesy finish.
- Spicy cajun carrot fries: Use cajun seasoning over top for a delicious savory flavor.
- Mexican-inspired: Sprinkle some elote seasoning over your carrot fries and serve them up beside some tacos or a burrito.
- Italian:Ā A blend of Italian seasoning brings a herbaceous flavor to your carrot fries. Serve next to hearty proteins or other Italian dishes.
- Greek:Ā Bring a hint of Greece to your side dish with this Greek seasoning, and serve beside moussaka, fish dishes, or next to a greek salad.
- Lemon pepper:Ā The zest and subtle pepper balance and complement each other perfectly!
How to make carrot fries crispy
Fries are best when they're all crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. So what's the secret for making crispy baked carrot fries? We did some trial and error to find out! There are three things you need to do:
- Starch: Coating the carrot sticks in a starch, like cornstarch, gets nice and crispy once baked! Tapioca starch and potato starch work just as well.
- Season: Serving the same purpose as the starch, a generous coating of spices helps to create a crispy layer on the outside of the fries.
- Bake time: Leave them in the oven a little bit longer than you think you should! You want them to be well browned. If you look at the pictures you'll see they almost look burned in places. Almost but not quite is the sweet spot here.
How to cut carrots into fries
Overall, your aim is to make sticks that resemble french fries, and to make them uniform so that they cook evenly. Here are a few helpful tips for cutting your carrots into fries:
- Carrot selection:Ā The first step is to choose great carrots! Look for firm ones with a vibrant color. Avoid any that are limp or have soft spots.
- Clean:Ā Prep the carrots by washing them under water.
- Trim & slice:Ā Trim the edges off the carrot first, then get to slicing ā the amount of slices you make will depend on the length of the carrot, but usually two or three cuts to make smaller tubes that are around 2 to 3 inches long, depending on preference.
- Make sticks: Then, slice lengthwise, creating a plank, around Ā¼ to Ā½ inch thick. Stack the planks and slice them lengthwise again, making strips that resemble french fries. Easy!
What to serve with carrot fries
Burgers and fries are the ultimate combo! This healthier version of fries will go down a treat with any of these burgers:
You're looking at a super versatile side dish. Making tacos? Make carrot fries! Roasting a chicken? Don't forget the carrot fries! Firing up the BBQ? Yep, you'll want to make these, too. Here are some other mains to serve your carrot fries next to:
- Carnitas Tacos Lettuce Wraps
- Steak Salad with creamy balsamic dressing
- Baked Chicken Breasts
- Baked Pork Chops
- Honey Garlic Chicken
Recipe FAQs
Can you air-fry carrots?
Sure! We have only made them in the oven, but an air fryer works in a similar way. Air fry them at a similar temperature for a similar time!
Are carrot fries healthy?
The nutritional benefits of carrots are a long list! They're full of vitamin A, K1, C, and B vitamins, fiber, and potassium. Baking them rather than deep frying them also makes them a healthy snack in comparison to traditional deep-fried potato french fries.
Can I store leftover carrot fries?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days, reheating in the oven or air fryer. Or, enjoy them straight from the fridge! You can also cut them up and add them to salads.
Should I peel the carrots?
This is a personal preference. The skin of the carrot does have lots of nutrition, and it's totally edible, so we just wash them with water before cutting, and peel on!
Carrot Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lb carrots
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon EACH: garlic powder and onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Ā½ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil (or another neutral-flavored oil)
- Finely minced parsley (to serve)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line 2 ā 13Ć18" baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut the carrots into thin sticks.2 lb carrots
- Place the carrot fries in a large bowl and toss with the cornstarch. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and toss again. Drizzle the oil over the top and toss it one more time until the spices create a sort of light batter on the fries. This is easiest with your hands.2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon EACH: garlic powder and onion powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 2 tablespoons avocado oil, Ā½ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
- Divide the carrot fries between the two baking sheets, making sure none of the fries are touching each other.
- Bake for 15 minutes and then remove the trays from the oven and turn each of the fries over. Put them back into the oven for another 10-15 minutes, or until they are brown and crispy. Serve with some finely minced parsley over the top.Finely minced parsley
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our side dish recipes!
This recipe is part of our Best Spring Side Dishes series.
My husband LOVED these Crispy Carrot Fries!!
Since his heart attack w\triple bypass surgery 2 years ago…I have been trying to find healthy recipes he will like and be good for him. Great recipe!! Thanks so much. š
I’m, trying this with dinner tonight. It looks amazing. Will let you know how it goes! š
Loved this! We used the baby carrots and although I have to admit they may not have been as “crispy” as intended, the flavor was wonderful and I’ve made them several times since. I even love the leftover ones as a snack!
What a great idea to use baby carrots!
Can you make these with sweet potatoes as well?
I would think that you can!
I made these last night as a test before making them for friends this long weekend. They were so good! I’ve found my new favourite fry recipe. Thank you!
That’s so great to hear! Hooray!
I live in Melbourne, Australia & made this carrot fies recipe the other night. I need to put less salt, otherwise they r gr8 !!! Thank u for this recipe.
I’m so happy to hear you liked them!!