These Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries are crispy on the outside and tender and flavorful on the inside. These homemade fries are incredibly easy to make and turn out perfectly cooked, not greasy, and finger-licking good. These seasoned fries are cooked to perfection in the air fryer and make a great side dish or snack. But the best part? They're actually good for you! Made with just a few simple ingredients, this recipe is sure to become a family favorite. I will warn you, though, they are addicting!
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I want to start by saying that sweet potatoes are so delicious. I find the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes simply irresistible.
And most of all, I LOVE sweet potato fries.
I order these instead of regular fries whenever I go to a restaurant.
I have been making sweet potato fries at home in the oven, but they always turned out more mushy than crispy. Then...I bought an air fryer... and my whole world changed.
Wow! I can't say enough great things about this kitchen appliance. It is amazing! If you have an air fryer, you know what I mean!
The first thing I made in my new air fryer were these ultra-crispy sweet potato fries.
They turned out so crispy! No mush! I'm embarrassed to say I ate the first batch myself while waiting for the next batch to cook. 😉 But, seriously, they are that good.
They are so easy to make, and I'm so excited to share with you this simple step-by-step recipe that will show you how to make this healthy side dish.
This recipe has been made thousands of times by my readers and has been one of my favorite recipes since I first made them. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Serve these fries with Perfect Smash Burgers or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower for a complete meal.
Also, try my crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges! No soaking is required! 🙂
⭐ More easy air fryer recipes
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- This air fryer sweet potato fries recipe is so easy to make! All you need are a few simple ingredients and an air fryer, and you can have delicious sweet potato fries in no time.
- The air fryer cooks the sweet potato fries quickly and evenly, resulting in a crispy exterior and a soft interior.
- It takes much less time than baking them in the oven, like a fraction of the time. The cook time is only about 15 minutes.
- These delicious sweet potato fries are the perfect side dish or snack. They are crispy, salty, and slightly sweet all at the same time. They go great with dipping sauces like ketchup, ranch dressing, or dill dip.
- These fries are a healthier alternative to deep frying as they use much less oil.
- This air fryer recipe is very versatile. For example, you can add different seasonings to the fries to change the flavor. Or, you can cut them into different shapes (such as sweet potato wedges).
- These crispy air fryer fries are perfect for entertaining! Whether you're having friends over for a game day or having a family gathering, these air fryer sweet potato fries will be a hit with everyone.
- These healthy fries are loved by both kids and adults alike.
- Easy cleanup: Rinse and wipe the bottom of the air fryer basket. One of my favorite things about the air fryer!
🍠 Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make these homemade sweet potato fries. You can easily find everything you need at your local grocery store.
- Sweet potatoes: I used organic sweet potatoes. Wash and peel the sweet potatoes before slicing them into fries.
- Olive oil: I used organic olive oil, but avocado oil would be another great choice.
- Cornstarch: This is my secret ingredient to ensure the fries get extra crispy on the outside.
- Seasonings: I used garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and sea salt. I sprinkled on extra sea salt to taste after fully cooked.
🔪 Instructions
The first thing to do is wash and peel your sweet potatoes. I used seven small-sized sweet potatoes, about 1.5 pounds, to feed my family of 4.
To cut the potatoes, slice them in half lengthwise with a sharp knife on a cutting board. Then cut each half in half again lengthwise.
You will have four sections of sweet potato. Cut each section into fries. We want them to be relatively small, about ¼ inch wide.
Place sweet potato fries into a large bowl, and cover with cold water.
The water helps to draw the starch out of the potatoes. This allows the fries to cook better and be extra crispy and tender on the inside.
Let them soak for a minimum of 1 hour or as long as overnight.
Hint: I don't recommend skipping this step. I skipped this step to see what would happen, and they are definitely not as crispy.
Next, drain the water out and place the sweet potatoes on a paper towel on the counter. Pat dry with another paper towel. You want them to be as dry as possible.
Place sweet potatoes in a large bowl. Add cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and sea salt.
Use a large spoon and mix the cornstarch and seasonings into the sweet potatoes. The white cornstarch will disappear.
Next, drizzle olive oil over the seasoned sweet potatoes and mix them up again.
Next, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add the sweet potatoes to the basket of the air fryer in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the basket.
You may need to do multiple batches if you have a small air fryer. I usually do a second batch in my large air fryer, and sometimes even a third, depending on how many sweet potatoes I use.
Air fry the sweet potatoes for 15 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes. You want to give that basket a bit better than a little shake. Try to give the fries a good toss, so they cook evenly.
Again, because this is really important, cook the fries in small batches so that they cook evenly and get crispy.
It is essential to shake the basket every 5 minutes and not overload the air fryer basket.
The hot air must circulate between the fries, so they cook evenly and crisp up.
When the fries have reached the desired crispness, remove them from the air fryer. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
That's all there is to it!
I hope you enjoy these fries as much as I do!
Enjoy!
Note: All air fryers do not cook the same, so the cooking time may have to be adjusted for your air fryer.
🧂 Substitutions
- Cornstarch. If you don't have cornstarch, you could substitute arrowroot flour.
- Olive oil: Avocado oil is an excellent substitute because it has a high smoke point. You can also use avocado oil spray as well. Vegetable oil also makes a good substitute.
- Sea salt: Instead of sea salt, you could use kosher salt, seasoning salt, or table salt.
📖 Variations
Change up the flavor of these sweet potato fries simply by changing the seasonings you put on. Here are some tasty ideas to try:
- Use cayenne pepper for a spicier kick.
- Add ½ teaspoon of oregano, chili powder, onion powder, thyme, Italian seasoning, dill weed, or Cajun seasoning.
- Top with shredded cheese and crumbled bacon.
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and parsley on the cooked fries.
- For sweetness, sprinkle on some cinnamon sugar or drizzle with honey after cooking.
Want to cook frozen sweet potato fries in the air fryer instead of making your own from scratch? No problem! Try my Frozen Sweet Potato Fries Air Fryer Recipe!
🍽 Equipment
To make this recipe, you will need an air fryer. I used my Instant Pot Vortex air fryer, a basket style, which gives me excellent results every time.
I have also made these air fryer sweet potato fries with my Ninja Foodi air fryer.
🌡️ Storage
Fridge: To enjoy sweet potato fries after they've cooled down, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Freezer: To freeze cooked sweet potato fries, place fries on a baking sheet with parchment paper underneath them. Place the sheet pan in the freezer until the fries are frozen, about one or two hours. Place the fries into a freezer bag, removing as much air as possible. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat, place the fries in the air fryer for a few minutes until hot.
💭 Top tips
- For best results, cut the sweet potato fries into evenly sized fries so they cook evenly. Smaller, thinner fries will crisp up better than thicker, wider fries.
- It is important to soak the potatoes in water if you want crispy fries.
- Ensure you dry the sweet potatoes well after draining the water they were soaking in.
- Most importantly, do not overcrowd the basket of the air fryer. There needs to be space around the sweet potatoes so the hot air can move around and make the fries crispy.
- Always add the oil. The oil helps the fries to become crispy.
- Finally, shake the basket every 5 minutes through the cooking time.
- Keep in mind that the skinny ends of the fries will cook quickly, so keep an eye on them to ensure they don't burn.
- Consequently, all air fryers are not equal. If your fries are not crispy enough, put them back in for another minute or two.
🍠 Are sweet potato fries healthy?
When it comes to healthy eating, you want to make sure you are making good choices. And there is no doubt that sweet potato fries are much healthier than regular fries.
Sweet potato fries are cooked with only a little oil. Therefore, they are much lower in calories and fat than deep-fried sweet potato fries.
They are also high in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and minerals. They're also high in antioxidants and beta-carotene.
Sweet potatoes contribute to a healthy gut, protect against certain cancers, prevent vision loss, and improve eye health.
Additionally, they can improve brain health by reducing inflammation and preventing mental decline.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Soaking the potatoes does something magical with the starches; the water helps to draw the starch out. This allows the fries to cook better to be ultra-crispy on the outside and tender inside and prevents the fries from sticking together.
It is not necessary to peel sweet potatoes. I recommend buying organic sweet potatoes if you don't want to peel them. If you don't have organic sweet potatoes, scrub the outside of the potato well before cutting it into fries.
Though both potatoes are part of a healthy diet, sweet potatoes are generally more nutritious because of their incredibly high vitamin A content. Sweet potatoes are also lower on the glycemic index than regular potatoes, meaning they are less likely to make your blood sugar spike.
There are a few reasons why your sweet potato fries might not have gotten crispy in the air fryer. Some possibilities are that you didn't preheat the air fryer before adding the fries, you may have overcrowded the basket which prevented the hot air from circulating properly, you may have cut the french fries too thick, or you may not have added enough oil to help the fries crisp up.
🍔 What goes well with these fries?
I could eat these delicious fries for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Even as a snack! Anytime, actually. Try them with:
- Super yummy dill dip
- Air Fryer Keto Tuna Patties
- BBQ Pork Ribs in Instant Pot
- Maple-Soy Glazed Salmon
- Spinach And Mushroom Omelet
- Smoked Burgers
- BBQ pulled pork
- Smoked Chicken Thighs
⭐ More Side Dishes
If you have tried this Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries Recipe, please leave a comment or star rating below. I love hearing from you!
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📋 Recipe
The Best Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- 7 small sweet potatoes or 4 medium sweet potatoes
- 3 teaspoon cornstarch
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Wash and peel your sweet potatoes. Slice the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise with a sharp knife on a cutting board. Then cut each half in half again lengthwise. You will have 4 sections of sweet potato. Cut each section into fries. You want them to be quite small, about ¼-inch wide.
- Place the sweet potato fries into a large bowl, and cover with cold water. Let them soak for a minimum of 1 hour or as long as overnight.
- Drain the water out and place the sweet potatoes on a towel on the counter. Pat dry with paper towels. You want them to be as dry as possible.
- Place sweet potatoes in a large bowl. Add about 3 teaspoon of cornstarch, ¾ teaspoon of garlic powder, ¾ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon of sea salt, and ⅛ teaspoon of black pepper. Use a large spoon and mix up the cornstarch and seasonings into the sweet potatoes. The white cornstarch will disappear. Add 3 tablespoon of olive oil, and mix it up again.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the sweet potatoes to the basket of the air fryer in a single layer, with space between them to allow the hot air to circulate. Do not overcrowd the basket. Cook in small batches so that they cook evenly and get really crispy.
- Set the cooking time for 15 minutes, and be sure to give the air fryer basket a good shake every 5 minutes.
- That's it! Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- For best results, cut the sweet potato fries into evenly sized fries so they cook evenly. Smaller, thinner fries will crisp up better than thicker, wider fries.
- It is important to soak the potatoes in water if you want crispy fries.
- Ensure you dry the sweet potatoes well after draining the water they were soaking in.
- Most importantly, do not overcrowd the basket of the air fryer. There needs to be space around the sweet potatoes so the hot air can move around and make the fries crispy.
- Always add the oil. The oil helps the fries to become crispy.
- Finally, shake the basket every 5 minutes through the cooking time.
- Keep in mind that the skinny ends of the fries will cook quickly, so keep an eye on them to ensure they don't burn.
- Consequently, all air fryers are not equal. If your fries are not crispy enough, put them back in for another minute or two.
Nutrition
📑 Food Safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Debbie
Can't wait to try this. I'd like to ask: how do you keep a batch crispy while you continue making more?
Jeri Walker
Hi Debbie! Great question! I recommend transferring the cooked fries to a cooling rack placed on a baking sheet; this will help keep them crispy and prevent them from getting soggy. Then, place them in an oven set on low heat (200°F) until you're ready to serve them. This will help keep them warm while maintaining their crispiness while you cook additional batches. I hope this helps! Let me know how you like them! 🙂
Jeri
Thank you for trying the Sweet Potato Fries, ZouZou! I'm sorry to hear they didn't turn out crispy for you. Different air fryers work differently, so I recommend reading your air fryer's manual to see if it has any specific tips on how to cook sweet potatoes. If not, I suggest spraying the fries with a light layer of cooking oil before cooking them. This might help them crisp up better in the air fryer. I hope you'll give them another try and let me know how it goes! 🙂
Jeri
Hi Mike! I'm sorry to hear that you didn't like the soaking time requirement not included in the cooking time. The good news is that if you're short on time, you can skip this step and they'll still be delicious. I appreciate your feedback, and I have adjusted the recipe card to now include the soak time. I hope you will give these fries a try, and please feel free to reach out if you have any further feedback!
Jeri
Thank you for your feedback, Adele. I'm sorry to hear they were not as crispy as you would have liked. What kind of air fryer did you use? Is it a counter-top oven type or a basket-type? I know my Ninja Foodi cooks much slower than my Cosori. Perhaps an extra 5-10 minutes would help crisp them up?
Jeri
Hi Wayne, thank you for your review. I'm sorry to hear the fries were not crispy enough for you! What kind of air fryer do you have? Is it an oven-style air fryer? This is certainly a rare occurrence, most of the time the fries end up too crispy!
Addie
These are my favorite! So crispy and delicious!
Oscar
I love using the air fryer to make these sweet potatoes. Great idea, they turned out amazing.
Kay
I love sweet potato fries! The mix of herbs you have used for seasoning them is fabulous!
Amanda
Any suggestion on how to prep the fries and possibly freeze them to be air fried at a later date? We are hosting friends over for a party. I was looking for any tips on possibly cutting, soaking and drying my fries, then possibly freezing them in advance so that all I would have to do the night we get ready to cook is pull the fries out and toss them in the air fryer. Your thoughts?
Jeri
Hi, Amanda! Excellent question! I have not tried freezing uncooked sweet potato fries. What might possibly work is to wash, peel, and cut your sweet potatoes into fries. Place them into cold water as you cut up the rest of them. Then, blanch them for 2-3 minutes in boiling water. Cool in ice water. Dry them really well and flash freeze them on a baking sheet. Once frozen, place in a freezer bag. Then, the night you want to cook them, take them out of the freezer, toss them with the rest of the ingredients, and air fry. You may want to try this ahead of time to make sure it works though. When is your party? Now I am curious, so I will pick up some sweet potatoes today and try this method out myself! I'll let you know the outcome!
Agnieszka | Wholly Tasteful
I loved the trick with soaking the potatoes and adding corn starch. The fries turned out absolutely perfect! Thanks for the recipe.
Jere Cassidy
We are sweet potato lovers in my family and always glad to have another way to make these, and now that I have an AF I need to use it.
Anaiah
These sweet potato fries look amazing! Mine always turn out terrible. I never preheat my air fryer and I probably overcrowd the basket too, haha. Thanks for the tips. I'll try your way and hope it comes out better!
Jeri
Good luck, Anaiah, I have no doubt it will turn out for you! 😊
Toni Okamoto
This is the next thing I'll be making in my airfryer!
Jeri
It's so easy to make, enjoy!