Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Here’s my tried-and-true recipe for air fryer sweet potato fries, with just the right amount of seasoning, a touch of olive oil, and a cooking method that gives you crispy edges and soft centers every time.

These fries have become my go-to side dish when I’m craving something a little healthier than regular french fries. I make them at least twice a week now, and they disappear from the table in minutes. Perfect with a burger or just as a snack, don’t you think?

What Kind of Sweet Potatoes Should I Use?

For crispy air fryer fries, you’ll want to look for sweet potatoes with orange flesh, often labeled as “Jewel” or “Beauregard” varieties at the grocery store. These types have a nice balance of sweetness and a texture that crisps up well in the air fryer. When shopping, pick sweet potatoes that feel firm and heavy for their size, with smooth skin free from soft spots or blemishes. For the most consistent cooking, try to choose potatoes that are similar in size – medium ones about 5-6 inches long work great since they’ll give you fries that aren’t too long or too short. If you can only find larger sweet potatoes, just cut them into shorter sections before slicing into fries.

Options for Substitutions

This simple air fryer recipe can be tweaked in several ways to match what you have in your kitchen:

• Sweet potatoes: While regular potatoes can be used instead of sweet potatoes, keep in mind they’ll need different cooking times (usually 2-3 minutes longer) and will give you a completely different taste. The sweet potato’s natural sweetness is what makes this recipe special!
• Olive oil: Any neutral oil with a high smoke point works well here – try avocado oil, coconut oil, or even a light spritz of cooking spray. Just make sure to coat the fries evenly.
• Seasonings: The seasoning combo is totally flexible! Try chili powder instead of paprika, onion powder instead of garlic powder, or add some cumin or cayenne for heat. You can even use pre-made seasoning blends like cajun or ranch powder.
• Salt: Regular table salt works fine, but you might want to try sea salt or kosher salt for a slightly different flavor. Just remember that kosher salt is less salty by volume, so you might need a bit more.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Air Frying

The biggest challenge when making sweet potato fries in an air fryer is overcrowding the basket, which leads to soggy, unevenly cooked fries – instead, arrange them in a single layer with some space between each fry, cooking in batches if needed. Another common mistake is cutting the fries in different sizes, resulting in some burning while others remain undercooked – aim for uniform strips about 1/4 inch thick for the best results. To achieve that perfect crispy exterior, make sure to pat the cut sweet potatoes completely dry with paper towels before tossing them in oil and seasonings, as excess moisture is the enemy of crispiness. For extra-crispy results, try soaking your cut sweet potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes before drying and cooking – this removes excess starch and helps them crisp up beautifully in the air fryer.

What to Serve With Sweet Potato Fries?

Sweet potato fries make such a great side dish, but they can totally be the star of snack time too! I love serving them with a variety of dipping sauces – my go-to’s are honey mustard, chipotle mayo, or a simple garlic aioli. These fries pair really well with sandwiches and burgers, especially something like a grilled chicken sandwich or a classic cheeseburger. If you’re keeping things on the lighter side, they’re great alongside a turkey wrap or even as part of a big salad bowl with grilled vegetables and your favorite protein.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These air fryer sweet potato fries are best enjoyed right away while they’re hot and crispy. If you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days – though keep in mind they won’t stay as crispy as when they’re fresh.

Make Ahead: Want to prep ahead? Cut your sweet potatoes into fries and store them in cold water in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Just remember to pat them completely dry before cooking – this helps them get nice and crispy in the air fryer!

Crisp Up: To bring back some crispiness to leftover fries, pop them in the air fryer at 380°F for 2-3 minutes. They won’t be exactly like fresh ones, but they’ll still be pretty good! Avoid using the microwave as this will make them soggy.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	24-36 minutes
Total Time	34-51 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 300-350
• Protein: 4-6 g
• Fat: 10-15 g
• Carbohydrates: 50-60 g

Ingredients

• 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, peeled
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Step 1: Prepare the Sweet Potatoes

Begin by preheating your air fryer to 380°F.

While the air fryer is heating, peel the sweet potatoes.

Once peeled, slice each potato into even 1/4 inch thick sticks.

This will ensure that they cook evenly.

Step 2: Season the Sweet Potato Fries

Place the sliced sweet potatoes into a large mixing bowl.

Drizzle them with olive oil, then season with salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.

Toss the sweet potatoes in the bowl, ensuring each piece is evenly coated with the oil and seasoning.

Step 3: Cook the Sweet Potato Fries

Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you’ll need to cook the sweet potatoes in 2 or 3 batches.

Avoid overcrowding the basket for the best crispiness.

Place the seasoned sweet potato sticks into the air fryer basket in a single layer.

Cook for about 12 minutes, turning them halfway through the cooking time.

Note that cooking times may vary based on your specific air fryer model, so check for desired crispiness.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Once the sweet potato fries are crispy and golden, remove them from the air fryer.

Serve immediately while hot, paired with your favorite dipping sauce.

Enjoy your delicious homemade sweet potato fries!