Air fryer sweet potato fries are crispier than baked sweet potatoes fries and much healthier than deep-fried ones! Plus, they cook up in 10 minutes.
I have a thing for sweet potato fries… fries in general, really (I have a ton of fry recipes on the blog including jicama fries, butternut squash fries, zucchini fries and turnip fries). I crave them from time to time and had a major fry craving when I was pregnant.
Baked vs. Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Sometimes the real deal deep-fried sweet potato fries hit the spot but I’m honestly just as satisfied making healthy sweet potato fries at home. Before the air fryer became popular I was all about baked sweet potato fries. I still love them, but I have to admit that using the air fryer to make them is faster and they actually get crispier too. Spoiler alert: there’s no need to soak your potatoes in water ahead of time!
The one con is that my air fryer isn’t huge so I have to cook the fries in multiple batches. This might be a personal problem but I have to mention it!
Here’s What You Need
sweet potato – sweet potatoes are a powerhouse vegetable! They’re packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals and are also high in antioxidants. You can read more about the health benefits of sweet potatoes here. When looking for a sweet potato make sure to grab a firm sweet potato. The skin should be smooth, without cracks if possible. I usually buy a Jewel or Garnet sweet potato because that’s most available at my local grocery store. Make sure you grab a sweet potato and not a yam – they look super similar but yams are starchier than sweet potatoes.
avocado or olive oil – either oil works! This helps the potatoes crisp up and helps the spices stick to the potato.
sea saltand black pepper – brings out all of the flavors.
Flavor Variations
garlic powder – my seasoning of choice! Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder when you mix the potatoes with oil, salt and pepper.
paprika and cayenne pepper – spice it up by adding 1/2 teaspoon paprika and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
cinnamon – play up the savory + sweet flavor by adding 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
taco seasoning – add a sprinkle of taco seasoning to the fries before baking and then squeeze fresh lime juice on after baking for a Mexican-inspired side!
How to Cook Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Prep your potato– wash and peel your sweet potato and cut it lengthwise into fry shapes, about ⅛ inch thick. The thinner you cut them, the crispier your fries will be.
Toss with oil and seasoning– add your sweet potato fries, oil salt, pepper and any additional seasoning to a bowl and toss to combine.
Air fry– add your sweet potato fries to your air fryer in a single layer and cook at 400°F for 10 minutes, tossing once halfway through. You may need to cook these in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Serve – serve fries immediately alongside your favorite protein or with a dipping sauce of choice.
tip! Try to make all your fries about the same size so that they cook evenly. For crispier fries, I recommend cutting them about ⅛ inch thick. If you cut the fries too big they won't crisp up as nicely.
How to Serve Sweet Potato Fries
In my mind, sweet potato fries go with just about anything! Here are some of my favorite ways to serve sweet potato fries:
With a dip – I’m all about the dip when it comes to fries! I will say, these sweet potato fries are delicious on their own but they are definitely extra fancy with dip. See below for my favorite dip options!
With a salad – I know it sounds weird, but I love pairing a meal-sized salad with a side of fries.
Dip Options
Aioli – my favorite dip for sweet potato fries! Make a garlic aioli by mixing garlic powder and mayonnaise or a sriracha aioli by mixing sriracha and mayonnaise.
Chick-Fil-A Sauce– mmm the tangy sauce paired with the sweet fries? Absolute perfection.
Ketchup – can’t go wrong with good ol’ ketchup. Try to buy a version without any added sugar if possible. The Primal Kitchen unsweetened ketchup is my go-to store-bought brand.
How to Store Leftovers
I could eat an entire tray of sweet potato fries by myself and usually never have leftovers, but if you decide to make a bigger batch and have leftovers store them in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days. To reheat, just place them in the air fryer in a single layer and cook at 375°F for 1-2 minutes. You can also reheat them in a toaster oven, regular oven or microwave. Just note that the potatoes will get soft if you reheat them in the microwave.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato FAQ
What Kind of Oil is Best for Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries?
I prefer to use olive or avocado oil, but you can use any oil you’d like.
How Long Should I Cook Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer?
This depends on the temperature and the specific air fryer you have. I have the Instant Pot Duo Crisp and would recommend starting with 10 minutes at 400°F and adding more cooking time in one-minute increments as necessary.
Do You Need to Soak Your Sweet Potato Fries in Water Before Air Frying?
Some recipes call for soaking the sweet potatoes in water before cooking them to help remove some of the starch and make them more crispy but have found that this step isn’t necessary for sweet potatoes as they don’t have as much starch as regular potatoes.
How do I Prevent my Sweet Potato Fries From Getting Soggy?
If your air fryer fries are turning out soggy it is likely because you are over-crowding your air fryer basket or using too much oil. For the best results, use just ½ Tablespoon of oil per sweet potato and cook your fries in a single layer so that the air has room to circulate.
Why Won’t my Sweet Potato Fries Get Crispy?
If your fries aren’t crisping up the way you’d like it’s likely because your air fryer is over-crowded or you cut your fries too big. I suggest cutting them about ⅛ inch thick for maximum crispiness. If you cut the fries too wide they won’t crisp up as nicely.
Wash and peel sweet potato and cut it lengthwise into french fry shapes, about ⅛ inch thick. Try to make all the fries about the same size so that they cook evenly.
Add sweet potato fries to a bowl and toss with oil, salt and pepper.
Add sweet potato fries to the air fryer in a single layer and cook on 400°F for 10 minutes, tossing once halfway through. You may need to cook these in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Serve fries immediately with dipping sauce of choice, if using.
Garlic powder: My seasoning of choice! Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder when you mix the potatoes with oil, salt and pepper.
Paprika and cayenne pepper: Spice it up by adding 1/2 teaspoon paprika and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Cinnamon: Play up the savory + sweet flavor by adding 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
Taco seasoning: Add a sprinkle of taco seasoning to the fries before baking and then squeeze fresh lime juice on after baking for a Mexican-inspired side!
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excellent post thank you for sharing
I would give this 4 stars good flavor. I did a little over crowding and a little to big on the fries. I read this info after I made the recipe 😩
Sorry to hear that, Rhonda! Yeah, sometimes you need to make these in batches so the fries don’t get overcrowded and mushy.
just going to make this in the kitchen but i dont have sweet potatoes in the kitchen will make this tomorrow instead sorry