Sweet Potato Fries, Crispy Baked
- By Amy Dong
- Published Oct. 16, 2023
- Updated Dec. 7, 2023
These crispy sweet potato fries are baked to crispy perfection and seasoned with bold flavors you’ll adore. Serve them on their own as a party appetizer or healthy snack. Air fryer instructions included.
In This Article
Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe
Why This Recipe Stands out
- It’s the easiest way to get your family to devour sweet potatoes!
- These fries are oven-baked to crispy perfection, not fried. No need for grease.
- Use just 8 simple ingredients to create a bold flavor that makes this recipe even better than your favorite restaurant’s version.
- You’ll use cornstarch to coat the potatoes, meaning this dish is naturally gluten-free.
- With just 3 tablespoons of olive oil, this recipe is surprisingly healthy and full of fiber.
- They cook on a single baking sheet so your cleanup is a breeze.
Key Ingredients
- Sweet Potatoes: for vibrant color, opt for bright orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. You can do peeled or unpeeled.
- Oil: for healthy baked sweet potatoes, choose olive oil.
- Cornstarch: this is the secret crisping-agent that helps fries turn out crispy.
- Seasonings: onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika bring out amazing flavor in sweet potato fries.
Substitutions and Variations
- Try a variety of sweet potatoes, for some extra flair: use white and purple sweet potatoes, if you can find them.
- Try coconut oil instead of olive oil for baking these fries. You’ll enjoy a slightly more aromatic and toasty flavor profile.
- Mix up the seasonings. Include a mixture of herbs, such as dried thyme or rosemary. Add some kick with a dash of cayenne. Or, try a sprinkle of classic Old Bay for an instantly flavorful dish.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Once sliced, soak your fries in cold water. This helps remove excess starch.
Step 2: Use a clean towel to remove all excess moisture from fries. This ensures the crispiest outcome.
Step 3: Add fries to a bag along with oil and spices. Shake it up to coat all fries well.
Step 4: Arrange crispy sweet potato fries in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Do not over-crowd the fries. Air flow is what helps them crisp up.
Air Fryer Option
Sweet potato fries are a nice option for the air fryer as well. You’ll just have to cook them in batches, as air fryers generally are smaller and cannot accommodate sheet pans.
- If your air fryer has temperature selections, preheat it to 380F. Otherwise, no need to preheat.
- Be sure the fries are in a single layer and cook for 6 minutes.
- Gently but quickly flip the fries over and cook another 6 minutes or until nicely crisped. Actual cook time depends on brand of air fryer.
- We love making Air Fryer French Fries as well.
Pro-Tips for Crispy Fries
Learning how to make sweet potato fries is super easy, and we’ve rounded up our best tips to make sure this recipe is virtually fail-proof!
- Slice Evenly. You’ll want to slice your sweet potatoes into ¼ inch strips, making sure they’re as even as possible. This will allow for a uniform baking time and helps ensure every single fry gets crisp.
- Soak the Fries. Once sliced, immerse fries in a bowl of cold water for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight. This removes excess starch and allows for better crisping.
- Bake in an Even Layer. Be sure to spread your fries in an even layer on a single baking sheet, leaving a little room in between each piece. Otherwise, they may not fully bake or become crisp!
- Flip the Fries. Roughly halfway through baking, remove the baking sheet from the oven, and flip over every fry. Trust us, it makes a huge difference in the final taste and texture!
- Cool. Once fully baked, allow your fries to cool at room temperature for 2 minutes to help them crisp up even further.
Serving Suggestions
We love to whip up these baked sweet potato fries for a satisfying snack recipe or appetizer dish. They taste great paired with all your favorite sauces like ketchup, barbecue, and aioli. However, they also make for a scrumptious family-friendly meal when served as a side with main courses such as:
- Cabernet Burgers with Blue Cheese – these burgers are packed with flavor and are delicious with baked fries.
- Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders (Panko) – these chicken tenders go hand in hand with crispy sweet potato fries.
- BBQ Pulled Chicken – let your slow cooker work for you, creating the most tender chicken.
- Turkey Panini with Spinach and Roasted Garlic Butter – this humble yet scrumptious sandwich is the perfect main dish to serve with fries.
- Chinese Chicken Salad – for a healthy and satisfying lunch or dinner, make this all-in-one salad.
Common Questions
If fries won’t crisp, it’s likely because they were cut too thick or were crowded in the pan. For the best results, aim for shoestring-style fries that are ¼” thick. Also, be sure to soak them in water, dry them really well, and arrange them in a single layer on your baking sheet!
You’ll know your baked sweet potato fries are done cooking when they are caramelized and crisp. If they begin to turn dark brown, they are overcooked.
These crispy sweet potato fries are best served right away while they’re still warm. However, if you have leftovers, they can be transferred to a paper towel-lined storage container and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat, place them back in the oven at 350°F just until your desired temperature is reached.
Absolutely! You’ll most likely need to cook them in batches, as air fryers generally don’t accommodate sheet pans. Be sure the fries are in a single layer and cook about 6 minutes, gently but quickly flip the fries over, and cook another 6 minutes. Actual cook time depends on brand of air fryer.
Baked sweet potato fries are certainly a healthy way to enjoy potatoes. They’re seasoned with garlic, paprika, onion, and just a couple tablespoons of olive oil. No butter and no frying grease needed.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Sweet Potato Fries (Crispy Baked)
Ingredients
- 1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled or unpeeled
- 2 TB olive oil
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: freshly chopped parsley or chives, for garnish
Instructions
- Wash and dry potatoes. Use a sharp knife to slice potatoes into even ¼” strips. Immerse the potatoes into a large bowl of cold water for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 425F, and position an oven rack in the middle position. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Drain the potatoes, and use paper towels or clean absorbent cloths to pat dry all excess moisture.
- In a large sealable bag, add the potatoes. Drizzle evenly with olive oil, and toss to coat evenly. Add the cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss again until the potatoes are evenly coated with the seasonings.
- Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on the lined baking sheet, leaving a little space between them.
- Bake 15 minutes. Quickly remove the baking sheet from the oven, closing the door to preserve heat, and use tongs or a spatula to flip each fry over. Bake another 7-10 minutes or until fries are browned at the tips.
- Cool at room temperature for 2 minutes to help them crisp up. Serve warm.
Notes
- The thinner the fries, the crisper they’ll get. Aim for shoestring-style fries, about 1/4″ in thickness.
- Unbaked, freshly sliced sweet potato fries can be soaked overnight if you want to get a head start on the recipe.
- The more “shriveled” your fries become, the crisper they’ll be, as the water content has largely evaporated from the fries.
- For flavor variation, try Old Bay seasoning in place of the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Air Fryer Option: If your air fryer needs to be preheated, set it to 380F. Working in batches, air fry the sweet potato fries in single layers; do not over-crowd. Cook for 6 minutes, flip them gently, and cook another 6 minutes. Note that actual cook time varies depending on brand of Air Fryer.
- If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We ❤️ hearing from you!
Nutrition (per serving)
More to Bake and Eat
- Smashed Potatoes (Extra Crispy!) – This recipe uses just a handful of items for a healthy, delicious side dish.
- Ranch Roasted Potatoes (All Natural) – You won’t believe how simple, natural ingredients can create such tantalizing flavor with this recipe!
- Hasselback Potato Recipe – One bite of this casserole, and your guests will be raving about these potatoes for days.
- Garlic Herb Roasted Baby Potatoes – There’s so much to love about these easy roasted baby potatoes! Try them for yourself, and see if you agree.
- Garlic Roasted Potatoes with Lemon – Savory, refreshing, and healthy, this recipe is sure to become a staple in your weekly dinner lineup.