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Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

Baked Sweet Potato Fries {+Air Fryer Instructions}

Published: Oct 25, 2019 Last Updated: Jan 20, 2023 by Marye 1934 words. | About 10 minutes to read this article.

Homemade baked sweet potato fries recipe comes out perfectly every single time! Instructions for oven or air fryer.
Total time 45 minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Baked sweet potato fries sprinkled with parsley on a torn brown bag. Title image.

Next time try these amazing sweet &sweet spicy roasted sweet potatoes!

sweet potato fries title image with overlay.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 🥄 Equipment
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

Isn't it frustrating when you make an oven baked sweet potato fries recipe and they end up in a limp heap, languishing weakly like a teenager that's just been asked to do the dishes?

Hold up, y'all! This recipe comes out crispy, sweet, and a little spicy - the perfect accompaniment to that meatloaf that you've been craving.

Plus I've added air fryer instructions, too.

Ingredients

It's always amazing to me how a few simple ingredients can results in something delicious.

  • Sweet potatoes or yams are fine - just make sure they are the raw ones from the produce section and not the canned ones. Here is an article about the difference between sweet potatoes and yams.
  • Coconut oil is my preference for these but olive oil works great, too.
  • Cornstarch helps with the crispness.
  • Garlic powder tastes great and it keeps away vampires.
  • Smoked paprika gives the sweet potato fries a warm, smoky flavor with an earthy spice.
  • Cinnamon enhances the sweetness and spice flavor.
  • Chipotle powder adds to the smokiness plus creates a creeping warmth that tingles for a few seconds in the nicest possible way.
  • Brown sugar brings out more of the sweetness.
  • Salt and pepper to taste are always important to pull all of the flavors together.

🔪 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.

These fries are so easy that you'll be making them as a side dish all the time! Follow these steps and tips for perfect baked sweet potato fries every single time.

  1. Preheat the oven to 425F.
  2. Mix the salt and cornstarch in a large bowl and set aside.
  3. Mix the seasoning blend and set aside.
  4. Peel the sweet potatoes.
  5. Pat dry with paper towel.
  6. Cut in ¼-inch "fries". Make sure they are all uniform sizes.
  7. Pat dry with paper towel, again.
  8. Toss in the corn starch salt mixture.
  9. Drizzle with oil and toss lightly.
  10. Arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet that's been oiled. Don't crowd.
  11. Bake at 425F.
  12. Remove from oven and season with the seasoning mixture.

Air fryer Instructions

These fries made in an air fryer are just as crispy and the ones made in the oven... maybe even a little crispier. If you've got an air fryer try making the fries in it, too - then decide which you like best.

  1. Toss the peeled and cut sweet potatoes in a mixture of the salt, pepper, cornstarch, and about ¼ of the spice mixture.
  2. Drizzle with oil and toss lightly.
  3. Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket without crowding.
  4. Air fry at 375F for 8 minutes, flip the fries and air fry 8 minutes more.
  5. Remove from oven and season with the remaining seasoning mixture.

How to cut the fries

One of the secrets success is cutting the fries in even, ¼-inch slices. How do you make evenly sized, straight sided fries out of a roundish sweet potato? No problem!

  1. Peel your sweet potato.
  2. With the potato on its side on your cutting board cut off ¼-inch from the long side furthest from you to create a flat surface.
  3. Place the sweet potato on the flat side you've just created.
  4. Cut longwise into ¼-inch thick slices.
  5. Continue to cut into evenly sized slices turning the sweet potato to a larger flat side as needed to keep it stable.
  6. Cut the slices into ¼-inch thick fries.

👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

How do you make sweet potato fries crispy?

The secret to crispy, light, and deliciously perfect sweet potato fries is very simply... cornstarch. Toss the uncooked fries in the cornstarch and salt mixture before you add the oil and bake. Sprinkle with your other seasonings when they come out of the oven. That's it!

How do you make sweet potato fries in the oven?

Position your rack in upper third of oven and preheat it 425 degrees F. Add the prepared fries to an oiled cookie sheet in a single layer and bake.

Are sweet potato fries better for you than french fries?

Sweet potatoes have more nutritional value than regular potatoes and the fries are usually baked rather than fried so there is less fat.

Do you need to soak them?

Sweet potatoes don't have the same amount  of starch that regular potatoes do so there is no need to soak them.

Crispy sweet potato fries with a dip.

💭 Things to know

Here are some more things to know about getting the best results from this recipe.

  • It's been said but it bears repeating - be sure to cut the fries in thin, even pieces- about ¼-inch thick.
  • They can be cut a day or two ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake. If you keep them in a bowl of water with a little squeeze of lemon in it they won't discolor. Just be sure to pat them very dry before finishing the recipe.
  • Put them in a single layer on the sheet pan.
  • Always flip the fries about halfway through.
  • Don't crowd them or they will steam rather than oven-fry.
  • Let fries rest for around 5 minutes after they come out of the oven to crisp up even more.
  • Don't let them sit too long or they will get soggy.
  • They are best when they come right out of the oven but you can warm up leftovers in the oven until they crisp back up.

In the winter we like these served with ranch chicken sandwiches. It's a great combination!

🥄 Equipment

You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

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📚 Related recipes

Here are some more of my favorite side dishes! They're family favorites and I bet your family will love them too!

Pan Fried Potatoes - The classic recipe that your mom probably made.

Southern Corn Pudding - Thanksgiving wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it but it's great with grilled meats and BBQ, too!

Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole -Creamy, rich sweet potatoes are mashed and flavored with bourbon then covered with a crunchy-sweet praline topping, and baked. 

Sweet potato fries on a brown newspaper - feature image
Homemade sweet potato fries baked in the oven are a healthy, family friendly side dish!

📞 The last word

So y'all, sweet potato fries haven't ever been one of those recipes I was dying to try.

You see, years and years ago (before they were even a thing) I was taking some out of town friends to the airport late at night. We had planned to stop and get a little something to eat but everywhere had either a long wait or it was closed.

We ended up at this little diner that looked like it could have popped out of an episode of Happy Days. The words quaint and charming come to mind. Since we were all adventurous cooks we decided to give it a try...

One of the items on the menu was sweet potato fries with brown sugar dip -- I thought it sounded absolutely amazing. I love sweet potatoes and the idea of some sort of juxtaposition between sweet potatoes and French fries? Yes please!

When the fries were put on the table we all looked at them expectantly. Our first indication to beware the unknown should have been the way the fries cowered together limply on the red checkered paper in the basket.

The paper was discolored from a pool of oil that seeped from them like the tears of chefs all over the world who could feel that something had shifted in the universe.

"I'll try them", I said with what I hoped was my most cheerful voice.

I picked up one of the fries and it immediately fainted in my fingers like an overly dramatic 1920's heroine.

I looked dubiously from the limp fry in my hand to the thick, grainy, dip to my right. My friends watched with horror and intrigue as I forced the fry into the dip and took a bite.

The dip was pure Crisco and brown sugar. We paid our check, left hurriedly, and grabbed some fast food at the drive-thru.

So now y'all have an idea why I was hesitant to jump on this particular train. I am happy to say that my baked fries are crispy and light - and you can add whatever kind of sauce you like best.

No judgement from me.

Serve these with your favorite burgers fresh off the grill, fried chicken, or as a snack!

And, be sure to go back and read through the tips section before you make them to get the very best results.

sweet potato fries recipe image for recipe card
5 from 2 votes

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

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Homemade baked sweet potato fries recipe comes out perfectly every single time! Instructions for oven or air fryer.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American - Southern
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Resting time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings:6
Calories:180
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Air Fryer
  • Baking Sheet

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar, optional
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted, or olive oil

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Place rack in the upper ⅓ of the oven. If using 2 racks place one in the upper ⅓ and one in the lower ⅓.
  • Mix the cornstarch and salt. Set aside.
  • Mix the brown sugar and remaining spices. Set aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 425F.
  • Oil baking sheets lightly with oil.
  • Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into fries about ¼-inch wide by ¼-inch thick. Make them as evenly sized as possible.
  • Toss into the cornstarch and salt mixture to coat evenly - shaking off excess.

Oven Instructions

  • Place half on each baking sheet, in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd.
  • Drizzle oil over the fries and toss to coat with oil.
  • Bake for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the pans from the oven and carefully flip the fries so the other side can get crisp.
  • Bake for 15 more minutes, or until they are crispy.
  • Watch carefully - they'll burn pretty quickly.
  • Remove from oven and season with the seasoning mixture.
  • Let stand for 5 minutes.
  • Serve hot.

Air Fryer Instructions

  • Arrange about half of the uncooked sweet potato fries in a single layer in an air fryer basket - make sure there is plenty of room between them.
  • Air fry at 375F for 8 minutes.
  • Flip and air fry for 8 more minutes.
  • Remove from air fryer and sprinkle with seasoning.
  • Repeat with remaining sweet potato fries.

Notes

  • It's been said but it bears repeating - be sure to cut the fries in thin, even pieces- about ¼-inch thick.
  • Sweet potato fries can be cut a day or two ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake. If you keep them in a bowl of water with a little squeeze of lemon in it they won't discolor. Just be sure to pat them very dry before finishing the recipe.
  • Always flip the fries about halfway through.
  • Don't crowd them or they will steam rather than oven-fry.
  • Let sweet potato fries rest for around 5 minutes after they come out of the oven to crisp up even more.
  • Don't let them sit too long or they will get soggy.
  • They are best when they come right out of the oven but you can warm up leftovers in the oven until they crisp back up.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 278mg | Potassium: 509mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 21555IU | Vitamin C: 3.6mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg

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    First published December 26, 2018 - last updated September 3, 2021 for better reader experience.

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Eva

      October 25, 2019 at 10:19 pm

      Hello Marye:

      Thank you for your recipes and advice. Appreciated!

      In the Air Fryer Recipe — Do I toss the fries in the coconut oil? Drizzle it? After the cornstarch?

      Reply
      • Marye

        October 31, 2019 at 9:26 am

        You follow it exactly like the original recipe... 🙂

    2. Barb

      January 07, 2019 at 10:58 am

      The step for adding the seasoning mixture after the fries are baked is missing in the recipe.

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        January 07, 2019 at 2:30 pm

        I've fixed it.

    3. Jennie

      January 04, 2019 at 4:04 pm

      In step 3 we mix together the brown sugar and spices and set aside. In what step do I use the brown sugar and spices? I’m sorry I’m just not seeing when we use it. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        January 07, 2019 at 2:33 pm

        I've fixed it.

    4. Leslie

      January 04, 2019 at 12:42 pm

      I love sweet potato fries but they can be difficult to make well. I'm going to try this with the cornstarch! Curious - has anyone tried this recipe yet in an air fryer, and if so, suggestions on time/temp?

      Reply
    5. Salt Valley

      January 01, 2019 at 11:15 pm

      5 stars
      These fries look so good. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    6. Sandra

      December 27, 2018 at 9:16 pm

      5 stars
      oh
      I see this next to black eye peas to help start off the New Year right...

      Reply

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