Air Fryer Beets

This quick and easy recipe for Air Fryer Beets makes perfectly roasted, sweet and tender beets that can be enjoyed as a healthy side dish, made into salads, tossed into pasta, blended into hummus, and more!

Cooking veggies in the air fryer is my go-to for making healthy side dishes. You can find me in the kitchen air frying Air Fryer Acorn Squash, Air Fryer Cabbage, Air Fryer Asparagus, and Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts to serve with lunches and dinners!

Before I became a real adult, my only experience with beets is if I was brave enough to put them on a salad at Ruby Tuesday’s. Times have changed and now I love using beets in many different ways, and the air fryer is the best way to cook them!

Made with just 4-ingredients, these beets roast up sweet, tender and absolutely delicious in the air fryer. They are the perfect quick and easy side dish for meal prep and busy weeknights!

📝 Ingredients & Equipment

• Beets (about 2-3 medium sized) – Any variety of beet is fine. Red beets, golden beets, candy cane beets or a colorful combination of all three.
• Avocado Oil – adds moisture to the beets, creating a crisp-firm surface with a sweet and succulent center. You can also use other neutral flavored oils.
• Italian Seasoning – enhances recipes with a blend of savory herbs and spices.
• Salt & Pepper – enhances flavor. I like using a flaky sea salt to contrast the soft and sweet beets.
• Optional Toppings– fresh chopped herbs (parsley, dill, cilantro, etc.), chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, pistachios, etc.), etc.

Recommended Equipment:

Air Fryer – If you have yet to invest in one, I highly recommend the Ninja Foodi!

📖 How to Air Fry Beets

1️⃣ Preheat air fryer and prep beets: First, preheat air fryer to 400 degrees While the air fryer is preheating, with a sharp knife, carefully peel beets and then cut into 1″ cubes.

2️⃣ Season beets: In a large bowl, toss beets gently with avocado oil and Italian seasoning until well-coated.

3️⃣ Air fry beets: Carefully transfer sliced beats in air fryer basket without crowding the basket (you may need to work in batches ) and cook for 15 minutes, tossing the basket halfway through.

4️⃣ Check for doneness and serve: Check for doneness by poking a piece with a fork or toothpick. If it goes in without having to apply much pressure and comes out easily, they are done. Sprinkle with optional toppings. Serve hot or cold.

No air fryer? No worries. Roast beets in the oven! Arrange seasoned beets in a spaced out layer on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, flipping pieces halfway through.

🟣Air Fryer Beet Chips

If you love the flavor and texture of air fryer roasted beets, you’re going to love adapting this recipe to make crisp and crunchy beet chips. To make beet chips in the air fryer:

1️⃣ Peel and slice beets: Carefully peel beets. Using a mandolin or very sharp knife, cut beets into thinly sliced rounds.

2️⃣ Season beet chips: In a large bowl, toss sliced beets with avocado oil, Italian seasoning and salt and pepper.

3️⃣ Roast beet chips in air fryer: Transfer beet slices to the air fryer basket without overcrowding the basket and cook at 330 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until the beets are fork-tender and the edges are crispy.

4️⃣ Let chips cool and serve: Move the beet chips to a paper-towel lined plate to cool. Season to taste with more salt. Beets chips will continue to crisp as they come to room temperature. Enjoy!

The cook time and temperature will vary depending on your air fryer’s functionality. You may need to adjust accordingly, so keep in aye on them. Beets will burn quickly, so make sure to remove them from the air fryer as soon as they begin to get crispy.

Using Canned Beets

Canned beets are already cooked! You can use the air fryer to enhance their flavor and heat them up, but keep in mind that the texture will be much different (aka soggier) than using fresh beets. To roast canned beets in the air fryer, blot the slices as dry as possible with a paper towel before tossing with oil and seasonings. Adjust cooking time as needed.

🍴How to Use Beets For Meal Prep

Air fryer roasted beets are great served as a warm side dish, tossed in cold with salads and served with savory dips. Check out these tasty ways to serve beets and ways to use up leftovers so they don’t go to waste!

• With Pork: Fresh from the air fryer, serve fork-tender beets as a warm side dish with pork tenderloin and mashed potatoes.
• Beet Salad: Dice the roasted beets and mix them with arugula, goat cheese, walnuts, and a balsamic vinaigrette.
• Beet Hummus: Blend roasted beets into your traditional hummus recipe. Serve with vegetable sticks or pita bread.
• Grain Bowls: Add sliced roasted beets to grain bowls with quinoa, brown rice, or farro, along with other vegetables, a protein source, and a dressing.
• Beet and Goat Cheese Pizza: Use sliced roasted beets as a topping on homemade pizza, along with goat cheese, caramelized onions, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs.
• Pasta with Beet Pesto: Puree roasted beets with garlic, nuts, parmesan cheese, and olive oil to make a beet pesto. Toss it with your favorite pasta.
• Beet and Citrus Salad: Combine segments of orange or grapefruit with roasted beet slices, mixed greens, and a citrus vinaigrette.
• Beet Smoothies: Blend roasted beets with fruits like berries, bananas, and a splash of almond milk for a nutrient-packed smoothie. If you’re going to do this, air fry them plain with just oil!
• Beet Risotto: Stir diced roasted beets into risotto as it cooks, giving the dish a beautiful color and earthy flavor, and finish with grated Parmesan cheese.

♻️ Storing & Freezing

Storing: Let beets cool completely and then store in a shallow airtight container or resealable bag in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Reheating: Warm cooked beets in preheated 375 degree air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes or until warmed through and re-crisped.

Freezing: The best way to freeze cooked beets is by flash-freezing. Spread cooled beets out on a baking sheet and freeze solid. Once frozen, transfer the pieces to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for 3 to 4 months.

❔ FAQ

Can I make golden beets in the air fryer?

Absolutely. Golden beets cook up just like red beets. The difference is in the flavor. Golden beets are just a bit less sweet.

Do you have to peel beets before cooking them?

It depends on the cooking method. Peeling before air frying is recommended, but if you’re using a slower method to cook the beets, the skin should slide right off if they’re cooked correctly.