Air Fryer Beets are a tasty and healthy side dish that's super quick and easy. Delicious tender air-fried beetroot is cooked up in 15 minutes with just 2 ingredients and can be used in salads, side dishes, or even just eaten plain as a nutritious snack.
Beets are a unique root vegetable that have a stunning color and loads of nutrition coming from the natural antioxidants.
Once they are roasted, they have a sweet earthy taste that pairs well with many other vegetables and grains.
One of the best ways to roast beets perfectly every time is by using your air fryer.
You’ll simply peel and chop raw beets, toss them with oil and seasoning then air fry for 15 minutes for a sweet tender beet that’s impossible not to love.
A tasty, nourishing and healthy side dish!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
It’s a great way to make a vegetable that is packed with nutrition, vitamins and antioxidants.
A tasty side dish, using up seasonal fresh beetroot.
Air frying beets takes much less time than it would to roast them in the oven.
You’ll use a lot less electricity by using your air fryer and you won't have to heat up the kitchen by using an oven.
Cooking beets in an air fryer draws out their naturally sweet flavor, making them a great candidate for green salads, grain salads or to eat plain as a healthy weeknight side dish.
You can use a variety of red beets or golden beets to switch up the color and flavor.
Ingredients & Tools
- Raw Beets - These are peeled then diced up to a medium size to get ready for the air fryer.
- Olive Oil - Olive oil helps them create a crust on the outside so they stay tender and juicy on the inside.
- Salt - Salt helps draw out the natural sweetness and earthy flavor of the beets.
- Fresh Dill (optional) - The flavor of this herb pairs well with beets and gives them a pop of color and freshness.
Tools
Air Fryer - You’ll need an air fryer to make this recipe. Air fryers are small convection ovens that circulate dry heat evenly in order to cook food fast and without a ton of oil.
Step By Step Tutorial
Wondering how to make beets in the air fryer? Follow this step-by-step photo tutorial, then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.
Remove the stems from the beetroot and peel the beets until all of the outer layer is removed. Chop them into bite-sized wedge pieces.
Tip: avoid staining your hands by peeling in a bowl of water.
Toss the beets with the oil in a bowl.
Spread out the beetroot in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Air fry for 15 minutes, tossing them halfway. Once finished, pierce one with a fork to see if they are cooked through. Air fry for longer if necessary due to the size of your beetroot wedges.
Expert Tips
To keep your hands from getting stained from the beets, peel them in a large bowl of water.
Make sure all the beet wedges are roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
The beet wedges should be in a single layer in your air fryer basket to prevent them from steaming or becoming soggy. You may have to cook them in a few batches.
Save the greens for juices, salads, or to make a healthy beet green pesto.
Serving Suggestions
Serve as a side dish to this hearty Portobello Mushroom Steak.
Toss the cold beets into Turmeric Rice for a delicious grain salad.
Great to toss into a summer salad like this Strawberry Spinach Salad.
Makes a great side to this Grilled Halloumi Sandwich.
Variations
Toss with smoked sea salt for a delightful smoky flavor.
Use a mix of golden beets, red beets or even candy cane beets.
Toss in some chopped walnuts or pecans before serving.
Air fried beets can also be served cold and tossed into a green salad. Perfect with Air Fryer Asparagus.
Top with crumbled feta cheese or Cotija cheese for a salty bite and texture.
Use fresh parsley, cilantro or your favorite fresh green herb.
Season them with your favorite flavors such as curry, Cajun or even BBQ seasoning.
Sprinkle with a little Baharat spice blend for a Middle Eastern flavor.
Storage
Storing: Air fried beets will store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freezing: You can freeze cooked beets by spreading them in a single layer on a baking sheet then freezing overnight. Once each piece is individually frozen, add them to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
What is an Air Fryer?
An Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying food.
Instead of deep-frying or shallow frying, both of which use lots of oil, an air fryer uses circulated hot air to cook the food, allowing you to use little or no oil.
An air fryer is essentially a small electric convection oven that sits on your countertop.
When it circulates hot air inside the machine, food gets crispy, similarly to fried food, but without submerging the food in all the greasy oil! That makes it perfect for roasting vegetables with minimal oil, like these Air Fryer Beets.
Why Should I Use an Air Fryer?
I am a huge fan of the Air Fryer for so many reasons!
- It's healthier since it uses a LOT less oil than pan-frying or deep frying.
- Air Frying cooks food FAST.
- You don't need to heat the oven, so the house stays cool on warm days.
- It's EASY to use and quick to clean up.
If you're thinking about getting an Air Fryer, I highly recommend it. Check out my recommendations below!
What type of Air Fryer should I get?
There are many Air Fryers to choose from, so here are some options to check out!
Instant Pot Vortex Plus 10 Quart, 7-in-1 Multi-Use Air Fryer.
Ninja Air Fryer - 4 Quart.
COSORI Smart WiFi Air Fryer - 5.8 Quart, 13 Functions & 'Shake Remind'.
GoWISE USA Air Fryer & Dehydrator 7 Quart.
Important Note: Air fryer cooking temperatures vary depending on the model, make and type, so use the cooking time and temperature in this recipe as a guide only and check and adjust as needed. Start checking before the recommended cooking time is up.
FAQs
Yes! The exterior of beets is often rough and contains impurities that make the peel bitter so it’s best to peel beforehand.
Golden beets are another breed of beet that still taste earthy and sweet but have less of a bold flavor than red beets.
The healthiest way to cook beets is going to be a method that allows the beets to retain their moisture without adding too much oil. This is why air frying is of the healthiest ways to cook beets. They can also be boiled, but some nutrients will be lost in the cooking water.
Side Dish Recipes
If you're looking for more vegan and vegetarian side dishes to make the most of tasty vegetables, then try these!
Grilled Leeks
Roasted Swede
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar
Green Beans Almondine
Vichy Carrots
Maple Glazed Carrots
Roasted Celeriac
Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryers are so versatile! Check out these other recipes that you can make in yours.
More Beet Recipes
I hope you love how quick and easy it is to make air fryer beets. If you have more beetroot. touse up, try them in these recipes!
Chocolate Covered Beets
Beet Chocolate Muffins
Beetroot Chocolate Cake
Beet Pizza with Beet Leaf Pesto
Finnish Beetroot Salad
Beet Soup
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Beets
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lb (900g) raw beets
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
To serve (optional)
- Fresh dill
- Salt
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F / 200°C.
- Peel the beets (I usually do this in a bowl of water so my hands don’t get stained!). Chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- Toss the beets with the oil in a bowl, then spread out in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 12 minutes, tossing them halfway. Check and cook longer if necessary due to the size of your beetroot wedges.
- Serve warm with sprigs of dill and a sprinkling of salt.
Notes
- To keep your hands from getting stained from the beets, peel them in a large bowl of water.
- Make sure all the beet wedges are roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- Air fried beets can also be served cold and tossed into a green salad. Perfect with Air Fryer Asparagus.
- Top with crumbled feta cheese or Cotija cheese for a salty bite and texture.
- Use fresh parsley, cilantro or your favorite fresh green herb.
- Sprinkle with a little Baharat spice blend for a Middle Eastern flavor.
- Toss with smoked sea salt for a delightful smoky flavor.
- Use a mix of golden beets, red beets, or candy cane beets.
- Air fried beets can also be served cold and tossed into a green salad. Perfect with Air Fryer Asparagus.
- Top with crumbled feta cheese or Cotija cheese for a salty bite and texture.
- Use fresh parsley, cilantro or your favorite fresh green herb.
- Sprinkle with a little Baharat spice blend for a Middle Eastern flavor.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Polly
This is so easy! We had them with grilled dish and mashed potato