Air fryer beets are sweeter, crunchier, and more flavorful than if you roast them in the oven. Best of all, they’re ready in just 20 minutes and make the perfect veggie side for a family meal or holiday table.
A Speedy, Hassle-Free Way To Roast Beets
Earthy beets turn savory-sweet and tender when they’re roasted in the oven. Though this requires very little prep, I truly dislike running the oven for an hour just to roast a handful of beets.
I am new to the air fryer but it has become my go-to for cooking beets. Tossed simply with olive oil, salt and pepper, the beets get slightly crunchy on the outside and beautifully tender on the inside, in a fraction of the time.
I like to dress the roasted beets with a mix of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and garlic that’s been simmered until thickened, but they are just as delicious served as is.
These air fryer beets are equally tasty served hot or at room temperature which makes them an ideal side dish for the holiday table. They’re also wonderful thrown into salads, or as a snack with drinks.
I know there are some misguided souls that will not touch a beet (they exist in my household, too) but to me, the nutrition-packed beauties are irresistible. If you own an air fryer and enjoy beets, I have no doubt you’ll be making these on repeat.
For more healthy side dish recipes, try my Sheet Pan Root Vegetable Gratin or Roasted Root Vegetables with Maple Sherry Glaze!
Recipe Ingredients And Notes
Beets: For this recipe, we are peeling and slicing the beets so any size of beetroot will work here. I used a mix of red beets, golden beets and chioggia beets (aka candy cane beets) because they were all available at the farmer’s market, but feel free to use just one variety or any mix you wish. Note that the stripes on the candy cane beets will fade when cooked, and the golden beets turn quite dull when cooked in the air fryer. I still think they look great, and taste wonderful, too.
Seasoning: As I mentioned above, beets become super sweet and flavorful when roasted so they need very little seasoning. A drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper is all you need.
Optional balsamic syrup dressing: I can easily polish off a batch of these tasty beets straight out of the air fryer—they’re that good! However, to make them even more delicious you can dress them with a balsamic syrup dressing. All you need is balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and garlic.
How To Cook Beets In The Air Fryer
Peel and slice the beets. Peeling raw beets is as easy as peeling a potato. Give them a quick scrub under running water then chop off the top and root end. Use a peeler to remove the skin, then slice the beets into small wedges or small chunks that are about 1/2-thick. You might want to use gloves to prevent your hands from staining.
Toss the beets. Place the sliced beets in a large mixing bowl then toss with olive oil, salt and pepper until well coated.
Air fry the beets. Place the seasoned beets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. It’s okay if the beets are touching, but don’t overcrowd them too much. Cook for 20 minutes at 380ºF, shaking the basket halfway through for even cooking. TIP: If your air fryer is small, you might need to cook the beets in batches.
Test for doneness. Depending on the size of your beets or the potency of your air fryer, cooking times may vary. To test if the beets are done, poke a few of the larger pieces with a small sharp knife. If they seem tender all the way through, they are done. If the knife is not going through easily, cook the beets for 2-5 minutes longer.
Serve. Once the beets are ready, transfer them from the air fryer to a plate or platter. The beets will be delicious to serve as is but if you’d like to add more flavor, I include a balsamic dressing recipe in the recipe card. Or scroll down to read more serving suggestions listed below.
Helpful Tips
- Cut beets into relatively uniform pieces: The beets will cook more evenly if you cut them into uniform pieces. That said, don’t sweat it too much to get them perfectly even. You just don’t want tiny pieces that will burn, and very large pieces that won’t get tender enough on the inside.
- Shake the basket halfway through: Just like an oven, an air fryer can have cooler spots. About halfway through cooking time, remove the basket and give it a gentle shake.
- Cooking time: The total cooking time may vary depending on the size of your beets and the model of your air fryer you use. Test the beets at 18-20 minutes and give them a little longer, if needed.
- Add spices towards the end of cooking time: This recipe doesn’t call for spices but if you wish to add some, add them during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking time so they don’t burn.
Other Ways To Flavor Air Fryer Beets
Top with goat cheese or feta. Roasted beets and goat cheese are a classic. Simply crumble some goat cheese on top of the warm beets – delicious! Ditto for feta cheese.
Sprinkle with spices. During the last few minutes of cooking, you can sprinkle the beets with Herbs de Provence, Italian seasoning, or any spice mix you like.
Toss the warm beets with grated garlic. If you love garlic, grate 1 garlic clove and add it to a large bowl along with 2 teaspoons olive oil. Add the beets to the bowl straight from the air fryer and toss to combine with garlic and olive oil. Serve immediately.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, but you likely have to double the cooking time. I would also cook whole beets at 375ºF instead of 400º so they don’t get too blistered on the outside.
No, the peel is perfectly fine to eat. However, I find the peel dries out too much and gets a little leathery so I prefer to peel the beets.
Frozen beets will work in the air fryer, but allow them to thaw completely, then pat dry before cooking to avoid excess moisture. You may also need to add a few minutes of cooking time.
Yes, beets are incredibly nutritious and good for you! They’re packed with essential nutrients like fiber, folate, manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C.
Serving Suggestions
- Side dish: Air fryer beets make an excellent side dish to just about any main. Serve with roast chicken, roast turkey, beef tenderloin, brisket, braised short ribs, or fish.
- Toss with grains. Beets are wonderful with grains such as farro, brown rice, quinoa, or barley.
- Add to salads. Perk up any salad by adding roasted beets.
- Serve as an appetizer: Air fryer beets are excellent as an appetizer. Stick toothpicks into the beet pieces and serve with your favorite dip.
Storage Tips
Cooked beets last up to 5 days in the fridge and are great cold, warm or at room temperature. I like to cook up a few batches to have on hand for meals or snacks throughout the week.
- To store: Leftover beets can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
- To freeze: Surprisingly, roasted beets freeze quite well. Place the beets in a baggie or other freezer-safe container, removing as much air as possible. Use within 4-6 months for best quality. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or in a bowl of warm water.
More Beet Recipes To Try
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Thank you!~Sandra
Air Fryer Beets
Ingredients
- 3 medium beets can use red, golden, candy cane, or a mix
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Optional Balsamic Dressing
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 small garlic clove, grated
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Give the beets a quick scrub under running water then chop off the top and root end. Use a peeler to remove the skin, then slice the beets into small wedges or small chunks that are about 1-inch thick. You might want to use gloves to prevent your hands from staining.
- Place the sliced beets in a large mixing bowl then toss with olive oil, salt and pepper until well coated.
- Transfer the seasoned beets into the air fryer basket and arrange in a single layer. (It's okay if the beets are touching, but don't overcrowd them too much.) Set the air fryer temperature to 400ºF and cook for 18 to 20 minutes or until beets are tender when tested with a fork or sharp knife. TIP: Halfway through the cooking time, remove the basket and give it a shake so the beets cook more evenly.
- Meanwhile, make balsamic dressing, if using. In a small saucepan, heat the balsamic vinegar over medium heat until it starts to simmer. Let it simmer until it thickens and takes on a syrup-like consistency, adjusting the heat as needed to avoid burning, for about 2 to 3 minutes. (Watch it carefully, as it can go from reduced to burned quickly.) Remove from the heat and whisk in the garlic and oil.
- Once the beets are ready, transfer them from the air fryer to a plate or platter. Serve as is with a pinch more salt and pepper to taste, or drizzle with optional balsamic dressing.
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