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These Air Fryer Beets are an easy and delicious side dish that is ready in a flash! Perfectly caramelized in the air fryer, these simple roasted beets will become a go-to recipe.

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The air fryer makes quick work of roasted veggies, and does an incredible job with beets! Even better, you won’t heat up your kitchen, making these a perfect year-round side dish.

As a beet fanatic, I’m no stranger to sharing beet recipes. You might have tried (and loved!) Hasselback Roasted Beets With Goat Cheese, Instant Pot Beets, How to Freeze Beets, and Refrigerator Pickled Beets.

Want to take your roasted beets in the air fryer to the next level? Try adding some air fryer roasted garlic to your finished dish. And if you’re a sauce fan, you’ll never regret topping them with some cilantro chimichurri.

fresh beets, a bowl of olive oil, and a bowl of sea salt on a white wooden board

DO YOU HAVE TO PEEL BEETS BEFORE ROASTING?

You don’t have to, but I highly recommend it! Many recipes have you roast them with the peels on, but I 100% prefer the pre-peel method.

For one, it’s loads easier (you don’t have to try to avoid burning yourself on hot beets!), less messy, and I think it helps remove that “earthy” taste people are opposed to.

Bottom line: you do you. Like the peels on? Leave them on. Like them off? Peel them before cooking.

sliced beets in a glass mixing bowl

How to Roast Beets in the Air Fryer

I’ll walk you through the process with some tips and tricks, and you’ll also find a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. You can click “jump to recipe” to skip down.

Start by preheating your air fryer to 400˚F for 5 minutes.

While the air fryer is preheating, you’ll want to peel and cut the beets. Cut the tops and root end off of the beets. Set the greens aside for salads (or for freezing). Use a sharp knife and peel the skin off.

Depending on the size of the beets, you’ll want to cut each one in halves, quarters, or eighths. Aim for pieces that are close in size so that they’ll roast evenly.

Add beets to a medium-sized bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Stir to coat.

Brush olive oil on the air fryer basket, or place an air fryer basket liner in the basket. Add the beets and spread them around to distribute.

2 photos showing a before and after of beets being roasted in an air fryer

Cook at 380˚F for 15 minutes, shaking at 8 minutes. Larger beets may need more cook time. Cook until beets are easily pierced with the tip of a knife. Sprinkle with salt prior to serving.

How to Store and Reheat Roasted Beets

Storing Leftovers: Allow any leftover beets to fully cool before storing them in an air-tight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Reheating Leftovers: You can reheat them for 1 minute in the microwave, or at 320˚F for 3 minutes in the air fryer.

Freezing Leftovers: Allow the beets to cool fully before putting them into the freezer-safe containers.

How to Use Roasted Beets

You can eat them as a side dish, but they also work in sheet pan dinners. Or add them to homemade hummus, chop them up, and mix them with air fryer potatoes, or add them to this Spicy Mung Bean Salad. You can also add them hot or cool to this Cabbage Salad.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

  • The smaller the beets, the more tender they will be. If your store only sells large ones, cut them in quarters or eighths before roasting.
  • You can roast whole beets, but they will need 20-25 minutes in the air fryer. They will cook a bit faster if you wrap the beets in a pouch made of foil prior to adding them to the air fryer.
  • Save the beet tops for salads, smoothies, or sauteing.

How to Roast Beets in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 400˚F degrees. Place a cast-iron skillet on the bottom rack of the oven.

Place the beets in the skillet and drizzle olive oil over each beet. Lightly tent the skillet with foil. Roast for 25 minutes, or until you can easily pierce the beet with the tip of a knife.

a plate of beets topped with parsley

WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS

One serving of roasted beets has 1 WW Freestyle SmartPoints.

5 from 3 ratings

Air Fryer Beets

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Air fryer roasted beets on a tan plate with a fork
These air fryer beets are an easy and delicious side dish that is ready in a flash! Perfectly caramelized in the air fryer, these simple roasted beets will become a go-to recipe.

Ingredients 

  • 2 lbs beets
  • 1 1/2 tsp olive oil
  • 1/8 tsp flaky salt {optional}

Instructions 

  • Preheat air fryer at 400˚F for 5 minutes.
  • Cut the tops and root end off of the beets. Set the greens aside for salads. Use a sharp knife and peel the skin off.
    2 lbs beets
  • Cut each beet in halves, quarters or eighths.
  • Add beets to a medium-sized bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Stir to coat.
    1 1/2 tsp olive oil
  • Brush olive oil on the air fryer basket. Add beets and spread around to distribute.
  • Cook at 380˚F for 15 minutes, shaking at 8 minutes.
  • Larger beets may need more cooking time. Cook until beets are easily pierced with the tip of a knife.
  • Sprinkle with salt prior to serving.
    1/8 tsp flaky salt

Notes

  1. Save the beet tops for salads, smoothies, or sauteing.
  2. Store leftovers in an air-tight container for up to three days.
Oven instructions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place a cast-iron skillet on the bottom rack of the oven. Place the beets in the skillet and drizzle olive oil over each beet. Lightly tent with foil. Roast for 25 minutes, or until you can easily pierce the beet with the tip of a knife.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5poundsCalories: 112kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 250mgPotassium: 737mgFiber: 6gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 75IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 2mg

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

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @sustainablecooks or tag #sustainablecooks!

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About Sarah

Helping you serve up budget-friendly sustainable recipes with a side of balanced living.
Come for the food. Stay for the snark.

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5 Comments

  1. These were….good?! As a self-professed beet hater I was surprised to enjoy these as much as I did. Beets may actually become a more regular part of my diet now! I used my smallest Dutch oven to roast these in the oven and they turned out rather delicious!5 stars

    1. Haha, this might be my favorite review ever, Bernie. I’m thrilled to convert a beet hater into someone who can tolerate them!

      Thanks for the smile this morning. 🙂