For a meatless alternative to pork or turkey bacon for your next big breakfast, try carrot bacon in the air fryer!
Made with fresh carrots and a few ingredients like soy sauce and maple syrup, this carrot bacon has a nice crunch and a hint of sweetness!
Of course, our carrot bacon recipe will still taste like carrots – it is not meant to completely replicate pork bacon. It’s a dish that we think should stand proud on its own!
Ingredients
To make this air fryer carrot bacon, here are the ingredients that you will need. Other than the carrots, it’s really just a few common ingredients and some spices!
- Carrots – Use fresh, firm carrots that are straight for best results.
- Maple syrup – To add sweetness and help caramelize the carrot strips.
- Soy sauce – Adds some savory, salty notes.
- Olive oil – To help crisp up the carrot strips. Alternatively, use avocado oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, or similar.
- Paprika – Adds smokiness and depth of flavor; either regular paprika or smoked paprika will work.
- White pepper – Adds subtle heat and flavor.
- Granulated garlic – To add more depth of flavor; both granulated garlic and garlic powder will work.
Recipe Tips
Here are some recipe tips when it comes to making this carrot bacon recipe:
- Use fresh, firm carrots that are straight and uniform in thickness – they are ideal for slicing.
- You can slice the carrots with a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer. Make sure that the slices are evenly thick.
- You can vary the spices to suit your personal taste. Liquid smoke is popular if you want to get a meaty aroma/flavor.
- Don’t overcrowd your air fryer and don’t overlap the carrot strips so that the carrot bacon can cook and crisp evenly.
- The cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the carrot strips, so keep an eye on them and adjust the cooking time as needed.
- Unlike making pork bacon in the air fryer, the clean-up is much easier with carrot bacon. Still be sure to clean the basket after it cools.
Step by Step Instructions
In this section, you’ll see exactly how to make this vegan carrot bacon in the air fryer.
We’ve included all the recipe steps and process photos so you can see just what each step should look like for comparison.
The recipe card with all the ingredients and instructions (but no pictures) can be found at the bottom of the post!
In a bowl, combine the maple syrup, soy sauce, olive oil, paprika, white pepper, and granulated garlic.
Wash the carrots and cut off the ends. Then cut the carrots lengthwise into thin slices. You can use either a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer.
Dip the carrot slices in the bowl with the marinade in a single layer. Allow to marinate for 3 minutes, then flip the carrot strips over and let marinate for 2 more minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place the carrot strips in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer.
Don’t overlap the carrot strips in the air fryer as this can prevent them from cooking and crisping evenly.
You may have to cook the carrot bacon in batches if your air fryer is on the smaller end.
Air fry at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes.
Flip the carrot strips to the other side and cook for another 1-2 minutes or until crispy. The carrot strips should be lightly browned and crispy around the edges.
The exact cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the carrot strips and your air fryer.
When done, remove the carrot bacon from the air fryer and place on a serving plate. They can be served warm or cold. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
If you have any carrot bacon leftovers, you can store them in a sealed container in the fridge once cooled.
They will last for 3-4 days, but will get softer the longer they’re stored.
To reheat the carrot bacon, use the air fryer for best chance of drawing out the moisture and reviving the crispiness.
Keep an eye on them during reheating because the ends have a tendency to get dark quickly.
FAQ
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about carrot bacon!
Carrot bacon is thinly sliced raw carrot that has been marinated and cooked to resemble pork bacon. It can be eaten at breakfast as a meatless alternative. The final color and shape of the cooked carrot bacon does resemble pork bacon to a degree, hence the name. Depending on the ingredients used (such as liquid smoke), a taste similar to pork bacon is somewhat achievable.
To make carrot bacon in the air fryer, slice the carrots thinly and prepare the marinade. Toss the carrot strips in the marinade, then place the carrot bacon in the air fryer. Cook the carrot strips at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. When done, remove and enjoy!
Related Recipes
If you liked this recipe for carrot bacon, here are some other breakfast recipes that might interest you:
- Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
- Air Fried Egg Bites
- Canned Biscuits in the Air Fryer
Air Fryer Carrot Bacon
Ingredients
- 2 carrots
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the maple syrup, soy sauce, olive oil, paprika, white pepper, and granulated garlic. Stir thoroughly so that the marinade becomes homogeneous.1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon white pepper, 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
- Wash the carrots and cut off the ends. Cut the carrots lengthwise into thin, even slices.2 carrots
- Dip the carrot slices in the bowl with the marinade in a single layer. Allow to marinate for 3 minutes, then flip the carrot strips over and marinate for 2 more minutes.
- Meanwile, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the carrot strips in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer without overlapping. You may need to cook in batches if you have a small air fryer.
- Air fry at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes.
- Flip the carrot strips to the other side and cook for another 1-2 minutes or until crispy. The carrot strips should be lightly browned and crispy around the edges. The exact cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the carrot strips and your air fryer.
- When done, remove the carrot bacon from the air fryer and place on a serving plate. They can be served warm or cold.
Notes
- Use fresh, firm carrots that are straight and uniform in thickness – they are ideal for slicing.
- You can slice the carrots with a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer. Make sure that the slices are evenly thick.
- You can vary the spices to suit your personal taste. Liquid smoke is popular if you want to get a meaty aroma/flavor.
- Don’t overcrowd your air fryer and don’t overlap the carrot strips so that the carrot bacon can cook and crisp evenly.
- The cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the carrot strips, so keep an eye on them and adjust the cooking time as needed.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
