Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
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Healthy, hot, and crispy these air fryer sweet potato fries are the perfect snack or side dish for any occasion. Made with 5 ingredients, these gluten-free and vegan fries are better than any deep-fried version.
Sometimes I feel like there is truly nothing better than a fresh batch of crispy French fries.
But when you get them from restaurants or fast food locations you don’t always know what goes in them, if they are fresh or frozen and how long they have been sitting in a vat of oil.
This prompted me to look into ways to make homemade french fries that are crispy, and just as delicious as the deep-fried versions you can get at a restaurant.
After taking on air-fryer french fries and finding the perfect balance of crispy, salty, and delicious, it was time to try a new fry, the sweet potato fry. Once you make these easy and delicious sweet potato fries, you will have a delicious homemade snack you can easily make again and again!
Why we love these air fryer sweet potato fries
- Healthier – Sweet potato fries contain higher nutritional information than traditional French fries. Tossing them in the air fryer adds an extra healthy layer since they cook up with less oil.
- Allergy-friendly – These crispy sweet potato fries are dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan, making them perfect for just about every diet.
- Easy to make – With just a few minutes of hands-on time, these sweet potato fries are quick and easy to make!
- Uses a small amount of oil – Unlike tossing these fries into a vat of hot oil to fry, they use minimal oil and crisp up perfectly in the air fryer.
How to make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients at a glance
- Sweet Potatoes – For the main ingredient, you’ll want to select medium-sized sweet potatoes and wash them before beginning.
- Oil – Select an oil with a high smoking point, such as avocado or peanut oil. It’s used to coat the fries and allows the seasoning to evenly stick to the sweet potatoes.
- Salt– Used to season the sweet potatoes; you can use table salt or sea salt for these fries.
- Smoked paprika– Gives a rich, smoky flavor to the sweet potato fries.
- Chaat Masala– Optional but highly recommended.
Step by Step Instructions for Sweet Potato Fries
- Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly and peel them. You may leave the peels on if you prefer.
- Cut the sweet potatoes into sticks that are 3 inches long and 1/4 inch wide.
- Coat and toss the sweet potatoes in a mixture of oil, salt, paprika, and pepper until they are completely coated.
- Place the seasoned sweet potato fries in the air frying basket- don’t overcrowd them. Depending on the capacity of your air fryer, you might need to cook them in two or more batches.
- Air fry them for about 10 minutes at 375°F. Pause the air frying around 5 minutes and toss the fries to enable even cooking. If using a CrispLid, use tongs to flip the French Fries.
- (Optional) Sprinkle chaat masala evenly over the sweet potato fries.
- Serve hot with ketchup or any dip of your choice.
Recipe notes
Cutting Tips for Sweet Potato Fries
One of the main differences between a wedge and a fry is how the potatoes are cut.
Here is how I cut my sweet potatoes for the perfect fry every time.
- Wash and peel the sweet potatoes.
- Cut the sweet potato in half lengthwise.
- Next, halve each half. You should now have sweet potatoes cut into 4 equal pieces or quarters.
- Cut the quarters into vertical strips about 1/4-inch thick.
- Split any fries that are thicker than 1/4-inch thick in half vertically.
Cutting the sweet potatoes properly ensures a quicker air frying time and a crispier finish.
Ingredient swaps
- Sweet potatoes– Feel free to use any variety of sweet potatoes for this recipe.
- Oil– If you don’t have avocado oil, you can use peanut, extra virgin olive oil, or even sesame oil.
How to prep ahead
Unfortunately, fries are not the best when they are made ahead and reheated. The refrigerator often renders them soggy. To cut a little time on your prep, you can:
- Wash, peel, and cut the sweet potato fries up to two days in advance.
- Store the sliced fries in an air-tight container submerged in water to prevent browning.
- Drain and allow to dry a bit before following the air frying directions.
Storing and Reheating Instructions
Store leftover fries in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
To reheat the fries, throw them in the air fryer and cook them at 375°F for 4-5 minutes.
Variations
You can mix it up by adding a dash of the following seasonings –
Serving Suggestions
Some of my favorite dipping sauces to serve with these air fryer sweet potato fries include:
- Ketchup
- Ranch dressing
- Garlic aioli
- Sriracha mayo
Frequently asked questions
Your sweet potato fries might be soggy because they were overcrowded in the air frying basket.
Here’s what you need to do to keep your sweet potato fries from getting soggy.
– First, cut your fries into thin strips, about 1/4-inch thick. Thicker fries do not crisp up the same way as thin fries.
– The second way is to spread them out in the air fryer basket. When they overcrowd the basket, the potatoes steam more, making them soggy. Depending upon the size of your air fryer, you might need to make these sweet potato fries in multiple batches.
When cooking sweet potato fries, there are a few things to look for to tell if they are done. First, they will be crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside. The outside will brown a little and take on a matte finish instead of its shiny, oily appearance at the beginning of cooking.
When using your air fryer, you want to use an oil with a high smoke point, so it doesn’t break down in the high heat. For this reason, oils such as avocado and peanut work great with the air fryer.
More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love
- Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Wings– These easy-to-make air fryer chicken wings come together in 30 minutes for a finger-licking snack everyone will enjoy!
- Air Fryer Tandori Chicken– This quick and easy Tandoori chicken tikka recipe is a delicious dish that is slightly charred on the outside and succulent on the inside.
- Quick and Healthy Air Fryer Granola– Healthy and easy granola recipe made with whole ingredients that are good for you.
- Air Fryer Chicken 65– Perfectly crisp on the outside, tender and spicy on the inside, this easy to make air fryer Chicken 65 is the best appetizer or snack!
- Air Fryer Roasted Chickpeas– Crispy air-fryer roasted chickpeas take your healthy snacking to a new level.
Looking for a baked sweet potatoes recipe? Check out this easy air fryer baked potato recipe.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
- 4 medium-sized sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons oil avocado or peanut
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala optional
Instructions
- Wash the potatoes thoroughly and peel them. You can leave the peels on if you like.
- Cut the sweet potatoes into half lengthwise. Chop each half into four wedges. Cut each wedge into sticks that are about 3 inches long and 1/4 inch wide.
- Toss them in a mixture of oil, salt, paprika and pepper till they are completely coated.
- Place them in the air frying basket – don't overcrowd them. Depending on the capacity of your air-fryer, you may need two or more batches.
- Air fry them for about 10 minutes at 375°F. Pause the air frying at around 5 minutes and toss the fries to enable even cooking. If using a CrispLid use tongs to flip the French Fries.
- [Optional step] Sprinkle chaat masala evenly over the fries.
- Serve them hot with ketchup or any dip of your choice.
Notes
- Make sure they are almost the same size for even cooking.
Disclaimer: Approximate nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and can vary depending on the exact ingredients/brands used. If you have health issues, please work with a registered dietician or nutritionist.
