Made with just 4 ingredients, these Sweet Potato Fries end up super crispy and perfectly seasoned every time. An easy, healthy alternative to French fries that you can make in the oven or air fryer!
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love These Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
- Are Baked Sweet Potato Fries Healthy?
- What You’ll Need
- Preparing The Sweet Potatoes for Homemade Fries
- How to Make Sweet Potato Fries In The Oven
- How to Make Sweet Potato Fries In An Air Fryer
- Tips for Success
- Can I Make These Ahead Of Time?
- How To Serve Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Proper Storage
- Can I Freeze Sweet Potato Fries?
- More Easy Sweet Potato Recipes
- Get the Recipe
Why You’ll Love These Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Here are a few reasons why these baked sweet potato fries will soon become one of your favorite side dishes.
- Healthier than regular fries. Fresh from the oven, these crispy fries are a delicious and nutritious alternative to regular french fries. Packed with nutrients, this recipe is perfect for when you’re craving fast food. Sweet potato fries are naturally gluten-free and vegan-friendly.
- Pair with almost anything. These go great with burgers, chicken, steak, and all of your favorite dipping sauces.
- Quick & easy. I love that they’re low maintenance, needing just 4 ingredients and 30 minutes in the oven. Plus, you can chop the potatoes ahead of time and store them in a ziploc bag in the fridge for when you need a snack in a pinch!
Looking for more easy sweet potato recipes? Try my Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
Are Baked Sweet Potato Fries Healthy?
I love this recipe because it’s a healthy treat that kids actually love. Sweet potatoes actually have slightly more carbs and calories than regular white potatoes, but contain more antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins A, C, and B6.
Additionally, baking the fries uses significantly less oil than deep frying, which lessens the fat and calorie content.
What You’ll Need
This is all you need to make this recipe:
- Sweet potatoes
- Cornstarch – Cornstarch is the secret to super crispy baked sweet potato fries. Tossing the cut fries in olive oil and cornstarch acts as a coating that will adhere to the outside of the potato, crisping it up as it bakes.
- Olive oil – Helps the seasonings adhere, and also helps the fries crisp up in the oven.
- Salt and fresh cracked pepper – These are the only seasonings I use but see below for more ideas.
Other Seasoning Options
It doesn’t take much to spruce up these fries. The light seasonings compliment the natural sweetness of the potatoes, but if you like a little extra flavor or heat, add a few pinches of your favorite seasoning to the finished fries. Here are a few ideas:
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Parmesan cheese
- Cayenne
- Parsley
- Ranch seasoning
- Old Bay seasoning
Preparing The Sweet Potatoes for Homemade Fries
These fries won’t be soggy and will cook evenly as long as we follow each step precisely. Here’s how I achieve super crispy sweet potato fries:
- Peel The Potatoes: The potatoes will be able to soak in the oil, cornstarch, and seasonings easily once their skin is removed.
- Cut The Fries Evenly: Slice the fries into even sizes and widths to allow for even cooking. If the fries are all different sizes, they’re more likely to cook inconsistently (meaning burnt or undercooked fries).
- Give Them A Bath: This step is optional, but once the fries are cut, you can toss them in a bowl with cold water. Letting them soak for up to 12 hours will remove any access starch and help them become more crispy in the oven. Once they’re finished soaking, thoroughly rinse the fries and dry them well.
- Lay Them Flat: Like I said, we have to be precise! Lay the fries flat and spaced apart on the baking sheet before roasting. If they’re piled on top of each other, the fries on the bottom won’t stand a chance of cooking properly.
How to Make Sweet Potato Fries In The Oven
Baking your sweet potato fries is quick, and easy, and results in crispy fries every time. Here’s how.
- Coat the fries in cornstarch. Place the cut fries in a ziploc bag or bowl. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and shake to coat. Sprinkle in the cornstarch and shake to coat. Add the remaining olive oil and mix until the white from the cornstarch disappears.
- Season the fries. Sprinkle in the salt and pepper and shake the fries again.
- Bake. Transfer the fries to a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Enjoy. Add any additional seasonings if desired and enjoy hot from the oven!
How to Make Sweet Potato Fries In An Air Fryer
Spend a little less energy by making these fries in an Air Fryer instead of the oven.
- Season the fries. To do this, prepare the potatoes as you would when baking the fries. However, use only 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil when tossing the fries with cornstarch and seasonings.
- Air fryer. Heat the Air Fryer to 375ºF, and lay the fries in an even layer on the tray (fry in batches if you need to). Cook each batch for 15-17 minutes, flipping the fries halfway.
Tips for Success
Here are a few helpful tips for this sweet potato fries recipe.
- Cut the fries evenly. As noted above, you should attempt to cut the fries into equal sizes so that they all finish cooking at the same time.
- Bake at a high temperature. You can’t get crispy fries without high heat! 425ºF is the optimum temperature to bake sweet potato fries. Any lower and they’ll turn out soggy.
- Cook in a single layer. Spread the fries across your baking sheet so that they’re in a single layer. You don’t want them all touching each other or they won’t crisp up properly.
- Air fry in batches. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will likely need to make your sweet potato fries in batches. Be sure to air fry them in a single layer so that the air can circulate and allow them to crisp up properly.
Can I Make These Ahead Of Time?
Sweet potato fries are a perfect snack to prepare well ahead of time. I like to cut up my potatoes and store them in a ziploc bag in the fridge until I need them.
This way, all I have to do is season, bake, and serve the fries an out-of-the-box after-school snack or a fun late-night treat in no time!
How To Serve Baked Sweet Potato Fries
These fries are excellent as a healthy alternative to regular junk food or as a side dish for both lunch and dinner. Whip up a few of my Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches with these fries on the side, or create a hearty and satisfying weeknight meal by enjoying them with my favorite juicy baked chicken.
Don’t forget the dipping sauce! I love these super simple fries dipped in regular ketchup and mayonnaise, but they’re also tasty with chipotle mayo, barbeque sauce, ranch dressing, or even marshmallow fluff if you’re feeling crazy!
Proper Storage
- Fridge. Leftover sweet potato fries can be kept in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat. To maintain the crispness, it’s best to reheat the fries in the oven or the air fryer. However, the microwave will do in a pinch.
Can I Freeze Sweet Potato Fries?
Absolutely. Bake as directed then allow them to cool. I like to flash-freeze them on a baking sheet first to ensure they don’t stick together.
Transfer to a ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months. You can cook them from frozen in the air fryer or oven until heated and crispy.
More Easy Sweet Potato Recipes
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Easy Sweet Potato Bites
- Crockpot Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Cookies
- Sweet Potato Hummus
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
- 3 large sweet potatoes
- 1.5 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2.5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or non-stick aluminum foil.
- Peel sweet potatoes and slice into fries. You want fries to be as even in width as possible for even cooking.
- Place sweet potatoes in one of those giant size ziplocks and drizzle in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Shake like crazy to evenly coat. Then sprinkle in the cornstarch and shake, shake, shake.
- Drizzle in the last tablespoon of olive oil and shake until cornstarch disappears. Sprinkle in the salt and pepper and shake one last time!
- Lay out the sweet potatoes in a single layer and bake 25-30 minutes, flipping half way through. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
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Made these just as directed on a stoneware pan I’ve had for ages and it always results in perfect oven fries. The cornstarch was a new idea to me so thought I’d try it. These never got anywhere close to crispy. I’ll try reheating them in the air fryer tomorrow. Highly disappointed.
I tried these and they just never crisped up. Followed the recipe to a “T” with the exact amounts of EVOO and corn starch. In fact, I threw in an extra smaller sweet potato in addition to the 3 larger ones, so it would not have been too much EVOO as you suggested to another commenter. No crispiness before the turn at 15 min, and still none after the 30 min. Left them in the oven even longer and that didn’t work either. Ended up broiling at the end just to get a little browning. I didn’t crowd them on the cookie sheet, either, since I spread them over two cookie sheets. They tasted fine, but I was disappointed at the sogginess.
My granddaughter and I were looking at this recipe. We were not surprised cornstarch was used. She said Granny it has to be cornstarch or baking powder,. I told yes one or the other. When we saw recipe, we both laughed. Very well done with this recipe.
Why do all the comments say corn meal when the recipe lists Corn Starch??? Which is it?
Not sure why some people would use corn meal, but it’s definitely corn starch! :-)
Woah! These look amazing! I will definitely try the corn meal next time. I find it also helps if you cut them very thin. I usually dip mine in a chipotle “mayo,” that’s mostly fat-free, unsweetened yogurt, a touch of mayo (for the tang), and a bunch of chipotle powder, some salt, and some garlic. YUM!
Soooo… most people on the interwebs are talking about having to blanch these in oil (yuck!) before freezing them… has anyone tried freezing them raw, or blanched in water?
Thanks!
I tried this recipe tonight and the fries were just not crispy. They were still delicious but I just couldn’t get them crispy- and I made two different batches. :( I’m not sure how but if you could somehow give any ideas/tips I would greatly appreciate it!
Hmm I wonder if it’s too much olive oil?
I don’t know why they wouldn’t have crisped up! Mine were by no means as crispy as when you fry them, but they were not soggy by any means.
Sorry they didn’t turn out perfect, but I am glad they still tasted good!
P.S. I have no idea why I said means so many times… lol apparently that’s my word of the day ;-)
Yum! My mouth is watering!
Jessica–
Do you know where you got the wire cup they’re in? I’ve been looking for something like that just for serving up fries in parchment like you do here. It makes them even more yummy, I think. Right? No? Just me?
No! It totally makes it taste better! :-P
I got it at Dillards! I was there 2 weeks ago and saw them in the clearance section for $2 so better go quick!
I haven’t tried baking sweet potatoes yet. I love this idea! We have only grilled sweet potato fries and I snuck them in with normal regular old fashioned potatoes in an attempt to get BF to try them. That failed, but I enjoyed them. :D
mmm i’m definitely trying these tonight!
Is this an air fryer recipe?
Cornmeal! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
It’s look yummy. ^ ^
I looooove sweet potato fries… wish I could find some around here so I could make them!
Thanks for the cornmeal tip!
Loving the crust on these!!!
Sweet potato fries are the greatest thing ever! I had just discovered the trick of coating them in cornstarch, but cornmeal sounds even better. Sometimes cornstarch can get a little gummy–especially when reheating. I bet the cornmeal gives the fries a beautiful crunch.
Wow these look absolutely gorgeous!! :)
Oh I love sweet potato fries (probably more than regular French Fries)! I recently made some spicy sweet potato fries but have never heard of this cornmeal trick. I can’t wait to try it next time I get a sweet fry craving.
Oh these are perfectional. I love the addition of cinnamon…it just makes everything better.
Ok I had to check out the fries too. These pics are super yummy and the fries look gorgeous! I am now planning a meal around fries.
These sweet potato fries look much better than mine the last time I tried them. I think I am going to use this recipe next.
I loooove sweet potato fries! I can’t wait to try these at home!
Oh man, these are making my mouth water and I have no hope of making them for weeks. Le sigh. I’ll just live vicariously through you, then.
Those are some beautiful fries – I love the sweet potato variety :)
Fries? Yes please :) But I can honestly say I’ve never had a taste of sweet potato anything – unless we’re talking baby food but I can’t be sure of that since I don’t remember.
I would so date someone who smelled like french fries! :)
I’ve been playing with sweet potato fry recipes so long, I’ve given up hope. But cornmeal just might be the trick to getting the elusive crispness! Thanks!
Seriously, and I’m serious. Those are my most favorite fries in the entire world and Earth. Seriously. LOVE THEM.
Hi Jessica, I was wondering if you have any tips for cutting those sweet potatoes evenly. I actually made sweet potato fries for the first time a week or two ago…I made “copycat” Bloomin’ Onion dipping sauce to dip the fries in and my husband and I are now addicted lol. My only problem is that they’re SO hard to cut and I’m terrified I’m going to slice my finger off, so any tips you have would be much appreciated!
I’ve never heard the cornmeal trick – great idea! Thanks.
How wonderful! We LOVE sweet potato fries – they’re almost as good as dessert!
I’ll have to try the cornmeal, haven’t heard of that. And the cinnamon – yum!
Thanks, Jessica!
Yes. Yes, I would like fries with that.
i make sweet potato fries all the time but never with the cornmeal crust. definitely gonna try that out!
I love sweet potato fries! In high school I dated a guy who worked for Arby’s. Jamocha shakes are really tasty.
The corn meal is a really great idea. These sound awesome.