Air Fryer Roasted Beets With Peppered Honey

It’s that time of year when beets in all their Earthy glory are found with their robust fall flavor in the veggie department and Farmer’s markets. This easy air fryer roast beet recipe with peppered honey is a different way to enjoy the root veg. It’s so simple to make beets in the air fryer and then toss them with the other ingredients. The hardest part is not snacking on the tasty roasted beets while prepping this side dish. Both red sugar beets and yellow golden beets combine to make a flavorful vegetable side dish that the whole family will love. 

I grew up digging beets in our garden so mom could can them for the winter. Often, she would make pickled beets, which, of course, are super yummy, too. And invariably, during the fall season we would find beets on our banquet table as Harvard beets. The tops didn’t go to waste, either. And maybe it was the sugar in the root veg that had me hooked as a child, but I instead think not. I like that rich, Earthy flavor of the root. Whether you like beets, this delicious side dish is hard to beat. Pun intended. 

If you love simple sides for your family, try our gingered carrots. 

Why You Will Love This Simple Side Dish.

​Simplicity. The air fryer roasts the beets to perfection, making them easily peelable. Add a few other ingredients, and voila, a tasty side. It’s that simple.

Cost-effective. Beets aren’t an overly expensive root vegetable, and often, this time of year, you can purchase the root in bulk bags. Those roots can be stored in a cool, dark place for quite some time, making that big old bag of beets worth every penny.

​Beets are nutritious. While they contain a lot of natural sugar, they are also a good source of fiber, protein, and vitamins. 

Let’s Start With The Whole Beets. 

If you’ve purchased all the beets, you’ll want to cut off the top. Save those for another mealtime—yum. Take the roots and cut off damaged flesh before air frying. You’ll want to make a single layer of beets in the air fryer basket. I have a Ninja Foodi, so I used just one side of the fryer to make this dish. It will significantly depend on whether you work with larger or smaller beets. I successfully roasted small and medium beets in the same basket. 

Close the drawer of the air fryer and turn the heat to 400F to roast for 30-40, depending on how soft you wish the best to be. These beets are an easy recipe, as you can see. Take this time to gather the other few ingredients. You will also need a colander because they are piping hot when the beats come out. Handling piping hot things isn’t fun if you’ve been cooking for a while. While gathering tools, get the serving dish, cutting board, and a knife because you will be dicing the beets. 

If this is your first time working with beets, be prepared for your hands to be dyed pink. Once the air-fried beets are done cooking, simply dump them into the colander and run cold water over them until you can safely handle them. From there, it’s a simple process to rub the skins off. If you find they are still not cooperating, you can use a paring knife to lift sections of skin off to peel beets. Be careful not to dig into the roasted beet while doing so.

When the beets are all peeled, it’s time to dice them. Simply place them on the cutting board and slice each one into quarter-inch slices. Then slice those again so that you have lovely diced pieces of beet. Pop them directly into the serving dish. 

Now, it’s a straightforward process of measuring that bit of oil, which creates a nice sheen on the beets, the black pepper, which gives them a little kick, and a dash of honey to offset the pepper and boost the natural sugar content of the dish. Stir the contents of the dish and then wipe down any mess from the edges before serving with a clean paper towel. That’s it. It’s such a great healthy side dish, and as you can see, it practically made itself. 

Wait, I don’t have an air fryer. That’s okay. Simply place the beets in their skins on a regular baking sheet and bake at 400F until fork tender. 

Ingredients:

Red Beets: These are the traditional beets found in any grocery store. They offer a pleasant, sweet Earthiness that makes the basis for this simple recipe. 

Golden Beets: These are often smaller and have a milder flavor than their red counterparts. Their delicate flavor lends itself well to roasting. 

Olive Oil: This oil adds a little sheen to the recipe while enhancing the root vegetables’ flavor and offering a little fruity flavor to the side dish.

Honey: The addition of natural honey balances the earthiness of the beets and provides a sweet contrast to the black pepper.

Black Pepper: This spice adds a kick to the dish and gives an aromatic sensory boost. 

Substitutions And Add-Ins Suggestions For Making These Easy Roasted Air Fryer Beets

Red Beets: You can use just golden beets or add in pink beets if you have them. 

Golden Beets: Where I live, these beets can cost a bit more. So feel free to use red beets, as they are a better price. 

Olive Oil: This oil can be switched out; just remember that its flavor is important. Olive oil is slightly fruity, while vegetable oil or another neutral oil can be rather flavorless. 

Honey: I only use honey from local honey producers. Fun fact: If you’re not a honey connoisseur, you may not know that honey can reflect the flavors of the pollen it was gathered from. The flavor can make a difference to the dish. A floral honey would significantly impact a clover honey. Store-bought honey tends to be generic unless otherwise noted on the jar. It has a sweetness without the notes of the plants. Locally sourced honey is also purported to be better for your immune system, which is another reason I go for local over store-bought. Try using real maple syrup with caramel notes if you have to sub out. It will change the result slightly but offer the same sweet benefits to offset the pepper. 

Black Pepper: This can be subbed for white pepper. 

Do you want to elevate the dish a little more for a healthy side dish at a family gathering? Try crumbling goat cheese or feta cheese over the beets. Add a few walnut pieces, and you’ve got a fanciful air fry beets side dish.

Expert Tips, Serving And Storing Suggestions For This Easy Side Dish.

Tip #1: Prep Beets: Before roasting, wash the outside of the beets and cut off any visible damage. Doing so afterward will introduce bacteria to the roasted beets. 

Tip #2: Roast Until Fork Tender: Fork tenderness is the desired result of the beet when making this dish. Raw beets have their place, but this dish isn’t it. So, stop the air fryer for 30 minutes to test the beets. Remove smaller beets that may be done ahead of larger beets. 

Tip #3: Peeling: When the beets are cool enough to handle, remove the skin by rubbing it off. If you are struggling, you can use a small paring knife to lift the skins off. Be sure not to gouge the flesh when doing so. 

The air-fried beets recipe is a simple, wholesome side dish that goes great with most roast meats. Try pairing it with your next pork tenderloin or roast chicken for a flavorful fall side dish with lots of natural sweetness. It’s a great way to enjoy the fall crop and expand kids’ palettes. 

To store the roasted beets, simply let them cool completely before covering them and keeping them in the fridge for up to five days. Generally, it’s best to only cook what is needed, but sometimes leftovers happen even with our best guesses when making weeknight dinners. If you find yourself with way too much leftover, you can freeze it for up to three months. 

If you’ve tried this tasty side dish for your family, let us know how it turned out. Rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Your comments help me create more delicious content for you.