Simple, roasted air fryer beets with lemon and garlic are tender and flavorful. Serve them as a side dish or as a salad topper.
Table of Contents
I love cooking air fryer beets! it's quick and easy, and the results are tender with lovely, crisp edges and an amazing lemon-garlic flavor. And they only take about 15 minutes to roast in the air fryer. In the oven, they'd take twice as long!
These roasted beets make a great veggie side dish, but I also love using them to top a salad, like my Russian-inspired vegan wedge salad. They bring a little earthiness and sweetness to anything you pair them with!
If you love beets like I do, don't miss my roasted beet and sweet potato salad, maple roasted root vegetables, and kid-friendly roasted beets and carrots. The roasted vegetables work great with diced beets in the mix!
Looking for more air fryer sides? Also try my air fryer zucchini and air fryer hush puppies!
Ingredients and substitutions
- beets - You can use purple or red beets in this recipe. Peel them, then slice them in half and slice the halves into ½" pieces.
- olive oil - Oil is what helps the beets get nice, crisp edges in the air fryer and prevents them from drying out. You can use spray oil instead, but your results will be a little bit different.
- salt - Brings out the flavors and helps the beets crisp up.
- garlic - Garlic and beets were meant to be together!
- lemon - A squeeze of lemon juice just before serving really brightens up the flavor and makes these totally addictive.
How to make air fryer beets
Combine the beets, oil, and salt in a large bowl, tossing the coat well. Transfer to your air fryer basket.
Cook at 400° F for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking every five minutes, until the beets are tender. Depending on your beets and your air fryer, you may need an extra few minutes of cooking, if they're not tender to preference at this point.
Add the minced garlic to the beets in the air fryer basket, tossing to coat well. Cook at 400° F for another minute or two, until it's a little bit golden. Transfer to your serving bowl, squeeze on some lemon juice, and serve.
Helpful tips
- Make sure that your beet pieces are all about the same size, so they'll cook evenly.
- Don't skip shaking the basket to move the beets around, so they'll cook evenly.
- Minced garlic cooks very quickly in the air fryer, which is why you add them to the beets for just that last minute of cooking time.
Storage directions
Leftovers will keep for four to five days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze these in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then warm them up in the air fryer at 350° F until heated through.
Frequently asked questions
You don't! I peeled them for the photos and video, because they do look prettier with the peels off, but the peels are completely edible and cook up just fine.
Just be sure to scrub them really well to get off any dirt and grime, since beets grow underground.
You can! Follow the same directions, but air fry at 400° F for 10 to 15, shaking every five minutes, minutes or until warmed through.
They really do. Unlike boiled beets, roasted beets get those crispy, caramelized edges as the sugar in the beets reacts to the dry heat of the air fryer or oven.
If you've only had boiled beets before and think that you don't like beets, definitely give roasting them a try!
More air fryer vegetables
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Beets
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups sliced beets peeled and cut into ½" pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Combine the beets, oil, and salt in a large bowl, tossing the coat well. Transfer to your air fryer basket.
- Cook at 400° F for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking every five minutes, until the beets are tender. Depending on your beets and your air fryer, you may need an extra few minutes of cooking, if they're not tender to preference at this point.
- Add the minced garlic to the beets in the air fryer basket, tossing to coat well. Cook at 400° F for another minute or two, until it's a little bit golden. Transfer to your serving bowl, squeeze on some lemon juice, and serve.
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