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    Home » Recipes

    Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries - Ultra Crispy

    Published: Apr 11, 2021, Last Modified: June 16, 2022 by Jeri - This site uses cookies - See the privacy policy linked in the footer - This post may contain affiliate links - This blog generates income via ads

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pin for crispy sweet potato fries
    Pin for crispy sweet potato fries

    These ultra-crispy sweet potato fries are extra crispy on the outside and tender and flavorful on the inside. These fries are incredibly easy to make and turn out perfectly cooked, not greasy, and finger-licking good. Plus, they are much healthier than the deep-fried version and only use a tiny amount of olive oil. This delicious crispness only takes 10 minutes in the air fryer. I will warn you though, they are addicting!

    PIN the recipe to try it later.

    Extra crispy sweet potato fries in a metal container with another container full of crispy air fryer sweet potato fries behind it on a wooden table. this …

    I LOVE sweet potato fries. Anytime we go out to a restaurant, I would order these instead of regular french fries. I have been making them at home in the oven, but they always turned out more mushy than crispy. Then...I bought an air fryer.

    Wow! This new appliance is so awesome! I bought a large 6 qt air fryer to make a larger amount of food with fewer batches. The first thing I made in my new air fryer was 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.

    raw sweet potatos cut into french fry size
    Jump to:
    • 🍠 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 📋 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🍔 What goes well with these fries?
    • ⭐ More Side Dishes
    • ⭐ More Air Fryer Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • ⭐ More Recipes
    • 💬 Comments

    🍠 Ingredients

    You only need a few ingredients to make these awesome fries.

    • Sweet potatoes: I buy organic sweet potatoes
    • Olive oil: I use organic olive oil, but avocado oil would be another great choice.
    • Cornstarch: This really helps the fries to be crispy on the outside
    • Seasonings: I use garlic powder, paprika, and pepper. I sprinkle some sea salt on them after they are fully cooked.
    fresh sweet potato and sweet potato cut into fries

    🔪 Instructions

    The first thing to do is wash and peel your sweet potatoes. I used 4 medium-sized 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 4 sections of sweet potato. Cut each section into fries. We want them to be quite small, about ¼ inch wide.

    Cut sweet potato into ¼-inch french fries

    Place sweet potato fries into a large bowl, and cover with water. The water helps to draw the starch out of the potatoes. This helps the fries cook better to be ultra-crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Let them soak for a minimum of 1 hour or as long as overnight. I don't recommend skipping this step. I skipped this step to see what would happen, and they are definitely not as crispy.

    soak sweet potato fries in water

    Next, drain the water out and place the sweet potatoes on a towel on the counter. Pat dry with a towel. You want them to be as dry as possible.

    sweet potatoes drying on a towel

    Place sweet potatoes in a large bowl. Add about 3 teaspoon of cornstarch, ¾ teaspoon of garlic powder, ¾ teaspoon paprika, and ⅛ teaspoon of black pepper.

    Sweet potato fries sprinkled with cornstarch and seasonings

    Use a large spoon and mix up the cornstarch and seasonings into the sweet potatoes. The white cornstarch will disappear. Next, add 3 tablespoon of olive oil, and mix it up again.

    Mix up sweet potatoes and add olive oil

    Next, preheat your air fryer. I set the temperature at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Add sweet potatoes to the basket of the air fryer. Do not overcrowd the basket. Cook in small batches so that they cook evenly and get really crispy.

    Sweet potato fries in the basket of an air fryer

    Finally, set the cooking time for 10 minutes, and be sure to shake the basket halfway through, at about 5 minutes. I tried cooking these for 8 minutes, and I didn't cook them enough. I tried for 12 minutes, and they had started to burn. So, 10 minutes was the perfect cook time for me.

    Please note that all air fryers do not cook the same, so the cooking time may have to be adjusted for your own air fryer.

    That's it! I hope you enjoy these fries as much as we do!

    Crispy sweet potato fries topped with sea salt and parsley

    💭 Top tips

    • Cut the sweet potato fries into evenly sized fries, so they cook evenly.
    • Next, it is important to soak the potatoes in water if you want really crispy fries.
    • Make sure you dry the sweet potatoes really well after they soak in the water.
    • Most importantly, do not overcrowd the basket of the air fryer. There needs to be space around the potatoes so that the fries become crispy.
    • Another equally important tip is always to add the oil. The oil causes the fries to be ultra-crispy.
    • Finally, make sure to shake the basket halfway through the cooking time.
    • Consequently, all air fryers are not equal. If your fries are not crispy enough, put them back in for another minute or two.

    📋 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Are sweet potato fries healthy?

    Absolutely! Sweet potato fries are cooked with just a tiny bit of olive oil. Naturally, therefore, they are much lower in calories and fat than deep-fried sweet potato fries.

    They are also rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They’re also high in antioxidants and beta-carotene.

    Sweet potatoes also promote good gut bacteria, 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.

    Why do you soak sweet potatoes in water before air frying?

    Soaking the potatoes does something magical with the starches; the water helps to draw the starch out. This helps the fries cook better to be ultra-crispy on the outside and tender inside and prevents the fries from sticking together.

    Should I peel sweet potatoes for fries?

    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, make sure you scrub the outside of the potato really well before cutting it into fries.

    Why is a sweet potato better for you than a potato?

    Though both potatoes are part of a healthy diet, sweet potatoes are generally healthier 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.

    Ultra crispy sweet potato fries in a wicker basket

    📖 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.
    • Try ½ teaspoon oregano
    • Chili powder
    • Thyme
    • Smoked paprika
    • Italiano seasoning
    • Dill weed

    🍔 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 - Quick and Healthy
    • Tender BBQ Pork Ribs in Instant Pot - From Frozen
    • Insanely Good Maple-Soy Glazed Salmon
    • Seriously Easy Spinach And Mushroom Omelet
    • The Best Smoked Burgers
    • BBQ pulled pork

    ⭐ More Side Dishes

    • Coleslaw Recipe - Insanely Good and Creamy
    • Easy Baked Beans - So Delicious
    • Oven-Roasted Potatoes - Extra Crispy
    • Carrot Salad

    If you’ve tried these Ultimate Crispy Air fryer Sweet Potato Fries or any other recipe, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you!

    You can also Follow Me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Would you please tag me in your photos @windingcreek_ranch? I would love to see your pictures!

    ⭐ More Air Fryer Recipes

    • Extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
    • How To Make Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas
    • Air Fryer Keto Tuna Patties (Low-carb)
    • Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes

    📋 Recipe

    Extra crispy sweet potato fries in a metal container with another container full of crispy air fryer sweet potato fries behind it on a wooden table.

    Ultimate Crispy Air fryer Sweet Potato Fries

    These ultra-crispy sweet potato fries are extra crispy on the outside and tender and flavorful on the inside. These fries are so easy to make and turn out light, delicate, and so satisfying. They are much healthier than the deep-fried version and only use a tiny amount of olive oil. Plus, they are fully cooked to delicious crispness in only 10 minutes in the air fryer.
    4.72 from 49 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Course: All Recipes
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: sweet potato, vegetarian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Soaking Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 203kcal
    Author: windingcreekranch

    Equipment

    • COSORI Air Fryer XL

    Ingredients

    • 4 medium sweet potatoes
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 teaspoon cornstarch
    • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¾ teaspoon paprika
    • ⅛ teaspoon pepper
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt

    Instructions

    • Wash and peel your sweet potatoes. 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 4 sections of sweet potato. Cut each section into fries. We want them to be quite small, about ¼-inch wide.
    • Place sweet potato fries into a large bowl, and cover with 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 a towel. 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, 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. I set the temperature at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Add sweet potatoes to the basket of the air fryer. Do not overcrowd the basket. Cook in small batches so that they cook evenly and get really crispy.
    • Set the cooking time for 10 minutes, and be sure to shake the basket halfway through, at about 5 minutes.
    • That's it! Serve hot and enjoy!

    Notes

    • Cut the sweet potato fries into evenly sized fries, so they cook evenly.
    • Make sure to soak the potatoes in water if you want really crispy fries.
    • Make sure you dry the sweet potatoes really well after they soak in the water.
    • Do not overcrowd the basket of the air fryer. There needs to be space around the potatoes so that the fries become crispy.
    • Always add the oil. The oil causes the fries to be ultra-crispy.
    • Make sure to shake the basket halfway through the cooking time.
    • All air fryers are not equal. If your fries are not crispy enough, put them back in for another minute or two.
     
    Nutritional information is approximate and is meant as a guideline only.
     
    Storage:  Store leftovers in an airtight container.  They will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 333mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g

    ⭐ More Recipes

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    • Easy Air Fryer Toast Recipe
    • Thin Pork Chops in the Air Fryer
    « Easy Homemade Pizza Dough (Step-by-Step)
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mike v

      June 12, 2022 at 4:09 pm

      Looks like a great recipe, I was going to make them tonight based on time until I read soak a minimum of 1 hour. That should be included in cook time.

      Reply
      • Jeri

        June 16, 2022 at 1:35 pm

        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!

        Reply
    2. Adele

      March 13, 2022 at 2:51 pm

      4 stars
      Made these tonight. Followed recipe exactly. Like the spice but they were not crisp even when I left on for a few more minutes.

      Reply
      • Jeri

        March 13, 2022 at 2:58 pm

        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?

        Reply
    3. Wayne

      March 02, 2022 at 6:19 am

      3 stars
      Tasty, but not all crispy. Followed the recipe to the letter. After 12 minutes, cooked but not crispy. Increased temp to 425 for 5 more minutes, still no crisp.

      Reply
      • Jeri

        March 05, 2022 at 1:34 pm

        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!

        Reply
    4. Addie

      June 04, 2021 at 8:53 pm

      5 stars
      These are my favorite! So crispy and delicious!

      Reply
    5. Oscar

      June 03, 2021 at 6:11 pm

      5 stars
      I love using the air fryer to make these sweet potatoes. Great idea, they turned out amazing.

      Reply
    6. Kay

      June 03, 2021 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      I love sweet potato fries! The mix of herbs you have used for seasoning them is fabulous!

      Reply
    7. Agnieszka | Wholly Tasteful

      June 03, 2021 at 1:57 pm

      5 stars
      I loved the trick with soaking the potatoes and adding corn starch. The fries turned out absolutely perfect! Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    8. Jere Cassidy

      June 03, 2021 at 12:39 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    9. Anaiah

      June 02, 2021 at 9:01 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Jeri

        June 02, 2021 at 10:01 pm

        Good luck, Anaiah, I have no doubt it will turn out for you! 😊

        Reply
    10. Toni Okamoto

      June 02, 2021 at 8:48 pm

      5 stars
      This is the next thing I'll be making in my airfryer!

      Reply
      • Jeri

        June 02, 2021 at 9:59 pm

        It's so easy to make, enjoy!

        Reply

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