Prepare to be amazed by how incredibly delicious and easy air fryer beets are! Achieve perfectly tender interiors with wonderfully crisp edges, making them an irresistible side dish for any meal. Whether you use a Ninja Foodi, Cosori, or another brand, this recipe will transform how you enjoy this often-overlooked root vegetable.

Many of us might recall beets primarily from pickled jars or as a less-frequent guest on our dinner plates. However, preparing fresh beets in an air fryer unlocks a whole new level of flavor and texture that is truly remarkable. This method ensures a quick, simple, and incredibly healthy addition to your culinary repertoire, standing out as one of our favorite easy air fryer recipes.

Beets are often considered a “mystery” vegetable, especially if you didn’t grow up eating them regularly. If your only experience has been with their pickled counterparts, then getting acquainted with fresh, roasted beets is a delightful discovery. Air frying elevates their natural sweetness and earthy notes, transforming them into a fantastic, healthy side dish that’s both vibrant and nutritious.

Dicing them up and air frying is the secret to unlocking their full potential. The concentrated heat creates a beautiful caramelization on the outside while keeping the inside wonderfully tender. Served alongside your dinner, as a wholesome snack, or even chilled and tossed into a fresh salad, these beets are packed with flavor and beneficial nutrients.

Do You Need to Peel Beets Before Air Frying?

Yes, for the best results when air frying, it’s highly recommended to peel your beets. While boiling can often loosen beet skins making them easy to rub off, the dry, intense heat of an air fryer requires the tougher outer layer to be removed beforehand. Peeling ensures a more consistent texture and prevents any chewiness from the skin. A crucial tip: wear gloves or use a paper towel to hold the beets while peeling to protect your hands from their vibrant, staining pigment. The image above shows them unwashed and unpeeled, just as they come from the garden or market, before they undergo their transformation.

Optimal Cooking Time for Beets in an Air Fryer

The cooking time for air fryer beets can vary slightly, primarily depending on the size and thickness of your beet pieces. For uniform cooking, it’s best to slice or cut your beets into bite-sized chunks, roughly 1-inch pieces as shown in our photos. Typically, 12 minutes is sufficient for this size to achieve a tender texture with slight crispness. If you prefer thicker slices or a crispier result, you might extend the cooking time up to 15 minutes. Remember to always protect your hands during preparation; a few paper towels or disposable gloves are invaluable for preventing purple stains!

Cooking Beets in a Ninja Foodi or Cosori

The beauty of air frying beets is that the method is adaptable to nearly any air fryer brand you own, including popular models like the Ninja Foodi or Cosori. When using a Ninja Foodi, you’ll utilize the crisping lid or function to achieve that desirable tender-crisp texture. If you’re aiming for super tender beets, you could also prepare whole Instant Pot beets in the same pot using the pressure cooking lid with some liquid to steam them. However, for that characteristic roasted flavor and texture, air frying is the way to go. The key is to ensure even heat distribution, which both Ninja Foodi and Cosori models excel at.

Essential Tips for Perfectly Air Fried Beets

Achieving consistently perfect air fryer beets is simple with a few key considerations. Firstly, the size of your beet pieces directly impacts cooking time; smaller cuts will cook faster and yield more surface area for crisping. If you’re aiming for maximum crispiness, aim for smaller, more uniform pieces. The most crucial tip for even cooking is to arrange the beets in a single layer within your air fryer basket. Whether you’re using a Cosori or another model, overcrowding the basket will result in steamed, rather than roasted, beets.

While a simple seasoning of olive oil, salt, and pepper beautifully highlights the natural, earthy flavor of the beets, feel free to experiment with other spices. Consider garlic powder, smoked paprika, or a touch of balsamic glaze for an added layer of complexity. For those who enjoy pairing flavors, these air-fried beets complement many dishes. For example, when I’m making cured salmon with beets, I often purchase extra beets to create this fantastic side dish simultaneously, ensuring a harmonious and delicious meal.

Detailed Air Frying Process for Beets

To cook your air fryer beets, preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) for 5 minutes. Toss the peeled and diced beets with olive oil and your preferred seasonings (salt, pepper, and any optional spices). Place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring not to overcrowd. Set the air fryer for a total of 12 minutes, making sure to shake the basket thoroughly after 7 minutes to promote even cooking and crisping. Once the cooking cycle is complete, do not immediately remove them. Allow the beets to remain in the closed, hot basket for an additional 5 minutes. This crucial resting period allows them to continue softening and become exceptionally tender. Therefore, allocate approximately 20 minutes from start to finish for this delightful recipe.

★★★★★ (Based on 2 votes)

Air Fryer Beets Recipe

By
Justine

Air fryer beets consistently achieve perfect results! Enjoy tender insides with delightfully crisp edges, making them an excellent side dish. Prepare them tonight in your Ninja Foodi or Cosori.

Prep:

10 mins

Cook:

12 mins

Servings:
4

Save Recipe
Pin Recipe
Comment
Print Recipe

Equipment

• 1 air fryer
• 1 knife

Ingredients

• 2 large beets, peeled, cut into 1″ pieces

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1/4 tsp pepper

• 1/2 tsp salt, I used truffle salt

Instructions

1. Peel beets and cut into 1×1″ cubes. Use gloves or handle with paper towels to avoid staining your hands.
2. Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees F (193°C) for 5 minutes.
3. Combine beets in a bowl with olive oil and seasonings, then stir thoroughly to coat.
4. Pour the seasoned beets into the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer without overlapping for optimal crisping.
5. Set the air fryer to cook for 12 minutes total. Remember to shake the basket well after the first 7 minutes.
6. Once cooking is complete, allow the beets to remain in the closed basket for an additional 5 minutes. This helps them continue to soften and reach perfect tenderness.

Video

Watch our video tutorial on how to make these delicious air fryer beets!

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz,
Calories: 80kcal,
Carbohydrates: 4g,
Protein: 1g,
Fat: 7g,
Saturated Fat: 1g,
Sodium: 323mg,
Potassium: 133mg,
Fiber: 1g,
Sugar: 3g,
Vitamin A: 14IU,
Vitamin C: 2mg,
Calcium: 7mg,
Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course:
Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine:
American

Tried this recipe?
Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

Storing Cooked Beets: Refrigeration

Once your delicious air-fried beets have cooled to room temperature, it’s best practice to store them properly to maintain freshness and extend their shelf life. While you might consider leaving them at room temperature for a day or two in a sealed container or freezer bag, refrigeration is definitely the superior option. Storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator will keep them fresh for up to 5-7 days, making them perfect for meal prep throughout the week. This method helps preserve their vibrant color, tender texture, and delightful flavor.

Can You Freeze Cooked Beets?

Absolutely! Cooked beets, especially when diced and air-fried, freeze remarkably well. To freeze them, ensure the pieces have completely cooled to room temperature. Then, transfer them into freezer-safe airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Properly stored, these frozen beets can last for up to 8 months, providing a convenient option for quick, healthy sides whenever you need them. To reheat, you can simply toss them back into your air fryer for a few minutes until warmed through, perhaps with a light spray of olive oil to refresh their texture. This makes them an ideal candidate for batch cooking and efficient meal planning.

Explore More Easy Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes

If you’ve enjoyed the simplicity and deliciousness of these air fryer beets, you’re in for a treat! Our collection of air fryer vegetable recipes offers a wide array of options to make healthy eating both fun and flavorful. The air fryer truly shines in bringing out the best in vegetables with minimal effort.

For a fantastic medley, try our simple mixed air fryer vegetables recipe, combining zucchini, onions, squash, and mushrooms for a vibrant and wholesome side dish.

• You can effortlessly prepare air fryer corn on the cob for a classic summer treat, or even an exotic air fryer artichoke for a unique appetizer.
• Our air fryer cauliflower consistently receives five-star reviews for its incredible texture and taste.
• And for potato lovers, we have a diverse range of recipes to choose from, including perfectly crispy roasted potatoes in air fryer and many more delightful variations.

Embrace the versatility of your air fryer and discover how easy it is to add nutritious, flavorful vegetables to your daily meals. These air-fried beets are just the beginning of a delicious journey!