Making Sweet Potato Fries in the air fryer is a quick and easy way to whip up this classic snack or side dish. Lightly seasoned with garlic, paprika, and chili powder, the punchy flavors are sensational while the crispy texture keeps you coming back for more!
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Homemade sweet potato fries in the air fryer
The air fryer is one of my favorite kitchen tools. It creates crispy chicken tacos and potato wedges in half the time as the oven and without any excess oil! That’s why it’s my tool of choice when making homemade sweet potato fries.
These Sweet Potato Fries in Air Fryer are lightly seasoned with smoky and savory spices, then cooked quickly in the air fryer. They turn out crispy on the outside and tender in the middle every time.
The best part about cooking sweet potato fries in the air fryer is that they’re ready in less than 15 minutes and are so versatile. Enjoy them as a crispy, healthy snack with Creamy Chipotle Sauce for dipping, as a smoky side dish with Chili Lime Chicken Burgers, or serve them on a platter for parties. The options are endless!
Are sweet potato fries healthy?
Sweet potatoes are a very healthy vegetable. They’re a fantastic source of beta-carotene, which your body turns into vitamin A (to help with your eyesight), as well as fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. In addition, air fryer sweet potato fries aren’t deep-fried or cooked with excess oil, inherently making them lighter than your typical deep-fried french fry.
Ingredients needed
Sweet potatoes and a handful of spices are all you need to make well-balanced and savory sweet potato fries from scratch:
- Sweet potatoes – Look for medium, evenly sized sweet potatoes with minimal blemishes on the skin. They should be available in the produce section of most major grocery stores year-round.
- Olive oil – A little bit of oil is needed to tenderize the inside of the fries and crisp up the outside.
- Sea salt
- Garlic powder
- Paprika – The smokiness and slight sweetness of paprika complements the sweet potatoes really well.
- Chili powder – For a little bit of heat and smoke. Feel free to leave this out if you don’t want the fries to be spicy or use cayenne in its place to turn up the heat.
How to cook sweet potato fries in the air fryer
Start by peeling the potatoes and cutting them into ¼ to ½-inch thick sticks. Make sure they’re uniform so they cook evenly!
Note: Thicker fries will take longer to cook but too-thin fries are more likely to burn. ¼ to ½-inch thick fries are more likely to cook evenly in the time in the recipe card.
Next, stir the spices and salt together in a small bowl.
Add the cut sweet potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle olive oil over top, then the seasoning salt. Toss to combine.
Preheat the air fryer while you season the potatoes. Once it’s hot, add the seasoned potatoes to the air fryer basket and cook until crisp and golden brown (tossing halfway through).
Serve with the dipping sauce and the main dish of your choice, then enjoy!
Customize the flavor
Sweet potatoes become even sweeter when baked, which is why it’s important to complement this flavor with warm spices. My go-to is the garlic/paprika/chili blend in this recipe but you can easily switch it up by using any of these suggestions instead:
- Cajun seasoning
- Jerk seasoning
- Taco seasoning
- Za’atar
- Curry powder
Frequently asked questions
I highly recommend pairing your fries with a dipping sauce! My Creamy Chipotle Sauce and Lemon Basil Aioli are fantastic choices.
Otherwise, serve the fries as-is for a snack or on the side of dinner. Their smoky and slightly spicy flavors pair well with Cheeseburger Stuffed Mini Peppers, Crispy Chicken Wings, and B.L.A.T. Sandwiches.
¼ to ½ inch cut fries will take anywhere from 12 to 14 minutes when air fried at 400ºF. If you like your fries thicker, add 4 to 6 minutes to the cooking time.
They’re likely undercooked or cut too thick if they aren’t crisping. Also, piling the fries on top of each other rather than air frying them in an even row will cause them to steam rather than crisp. Cook in batches if you need to and/or try air frying them for a few minutes longer.
It isn’t necessary, but you can soak the cut fries in cold water before air frying. Soaking will actually help them crisp up!
It’s up to you! The peel can be left on or off before cooking as it doesn’t affect the flavor or crispiness. If you choose to leave the peel on, remember to scrub the outside of the potatoes very well before slicing them into fries.
Looking for more air fryer recipes?
- Air Fryer Chicken Banh Mi
- Asian Pork Meatballs
- Loaded Sweet Potatoes
- Air Fryer Artichoke Hearts
- Cheesy Ranch Potatoes
If you give this Sweet Potato Fries in Air Fryer recipe a try, let me know in the comments below. I love seeing your pictures too, so please tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog and use #lenaskitchenblog so I can share them to my page!
Sweet Potato Fries in Air Fryer
Equipment
- 1 peeler
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/4-1/2 fries
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Peel the sweet potatoes, then cut them 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thickness, make sure they are all uniform in size for even cooking.
- In a small bowl add the spices and salt together, mix well to combine.
- In a large mixing bowl, add cut sweet potatoes, then add the olive oil and seasoned salt. Toss to combine.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400F while prepping the potatoes.
- Transfer fries to an air fryer basket and cook at 400F for about 12-14 minutes, tossing halfway. Air fry until golden brown and crisp on the outside. Timing may vary depending on the air fryer style you have.
- Once done, remove to a serving platter and top with cilantro and serve with my Creamy Chipotle Sauce or Lemon Basil Aioli
Notes
- Portion size, use 1 medium potato per serving.
- If you like your fries thicker, add an additional 4-6 more minutes to the cooking time.
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