These air fryer sweet potato fries are restaurant-quality, perfectly seasoned, and air-fried in just 12 minutes until perfectly crisp outside and tender in the middle!
When it comes to fries, sometimes I crave regular baked fries and air fryer frozen fries on the days I have no energy. But it’s these air-fried sweet potato fries that I keep returning to. Not only do I love their natural sweetness, but even better, sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients.
These air-fried sweet potato fries are a simple, versatile, and super tasty dish. They are perfect for fast food cravings and ready to enjoy as an appetizer, snack, or side dish!
What you’ll need
This sweet potato air fryer recipe requires just a handful of pantry staples.
- Sweet potatoes: Choose medium-sized, evenly shaped ones for even fries.
- Olive oil: Use light olive oil or any neutral cooking oil like coconut, avocado, or canola oil.
- Seasoning: feel free to stick to just salt. Or use a mix of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika for flavorful air-fried sweet potatoes.
Instructions
Peel and slice: Start by rinsing and peeling (optional) the sweet potatoes.
Then, slice a small piece off the end of each potato, so they can stand upright on your counter. Using a sharp knife, cut slices ¼-½-inch wide (based on how thick you want the fries to be). Then, stack 2-3 slices on top of one another and slice them into ¼-½-ich fries across, too. Repeat with the remaining potato until you have all your sweet potato fries.
To simplify this process, use a mandoline with the fries blade or a “chipper”/ fry cutter tool.
Then rinse and dry them thoroughly using clean paper towels.
Season: Mix the oil and spices, drizzle them over the fries, and toss them until well-coated. Alternatively, use an oil spray to lightly coat the fries with just enough oil to help the spices adhere. Then toss them with the spices in a large mixing bowl.
For the crispiest results, it may be best to leave the salt out of the seasoning until after air frying the sweet potato fries.
Air fry: First, preheat the air fryer to 380ºF/195ºC. Then, place the sweet potato fries in your air fryer basket in a single layer without much overlapping. If you have lots to make, do so in batches.
Air fry sweet potato fries for about 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. How long to cook sweet potato fries in air fryer? Depending on the thickness of the fries and your individual air fryer, the cooking time may vary by a couple of minutes. Monitor them towards the end and cook in 1-minute increments until they reach your preferred results.
Dipping sauces for sweet potato fries
Here are some dipping ideas for your air fryer sweet potatoes:
How to reheat sweet potato fries
Air-fried sweet potato fries are definitely best directly from the air fryer. But you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for an additional 3-4 days. Then to reheat them, transfer the fries back to the air fryer.
No need for them to be in a single layer, but best not to add too many at once. Cook for 3-5 minutes at 375ºF/190ºC to bring back some of the crispiness as you reheat them.
More air fryer recipes
If you try this easy recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
- 16 oz sweet potatoes 2 medium sized and even in shape
- 2 tablespoon olive oil or another neutral cooking oil like coconut oil, avocado oil, or canola oil.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
How To Cut and Season Sweet Potato Fries
- Rinse and peel the sweet potatoes.If you prefer skin-on fries, then feel free to skip the peeling step. These sweet potato fries in an air fryer will taste delicious with or without the peel.
- Slice a small amount off the end of each potato, so they can stand upright on your counter.
- Using a sharp knife, cut slices ¼-½-inch wide (based on how thick you want the fries to be).
- Stack 2-3 slices on top of one another and slices them into ¼-½-ich fries across, too. Repeat with the remaining potato until you have all your sweet potato fries.To simplify this process, use a mandoline with the fries blade or a "chipper"/ fry cutter tool.
- Rinse and dry them thoroughly using clean paper towels.
- Mix the oil and spices, drizzle them over the fries, and toss them until well-coated. Alternatively, use an oil spray to lightly coat the fries with just enough oil to help the spices adhere, then toss them with the spices.For the crispiest results, it may be best to leave the salt out of the seasoning until after air frying the sweet potato fries.
How to Cook Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Preheat the air fryer (if necessary) to 380ºF/195ºC.
- Place the sweet potato fries in your air fryer basket in a single layer without much overlapping.Be careful not to overcrowd the basket. Otherwise, the air fryer sweet potato fries will steam and stay limp rather than become crispy. If you have lots to make, do so in batches.
- Air fry sweet potato fries for about 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.Depending on the thickness of the fries and your individual air fryer, the cooking time may vary by a couple of minutes. Monitor them towards the end and cook in 1-minute increments until they reach your preferred results.
Storage Instructions
- Make ahead: You can slice and store the chopped sweet potato fries in a large container of water for up to 2 days.Alternatively, you could also freeze the un-baked fries. To do so, blanch the fries for 5 minutes in boiling water, then immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking process. Once cool, dry them thoroughly, spread them in a single layer (not touching), and freeze until solid. Next, transfer them to a Ziplock bag and store them for 3-4 months.Store: While air-fried sweet potato fries are definitely best directly from the air fryer, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for an additional 3-4 days.Reheat: Transfer the fries back to the air fryer (no need to be in a single layer, but best not to add too many at once) and cook for 3-5 minutes at 375ºF/190ºC to bring back some of the crispiness as you reheat them.
Notes
- Cut the fries evenly: That way, they’ll cook evenly.
- Avoid cooking spray: PAM and similar cooking spray can ruin the non-stick in your air fryer basket. Instead, use an oil spray.
- Preheat if necessary: While not all brands require it, preheating the air fryer will ensure food cooks evenly, and is a good idea.
- Air frying time will vary: Based on how thick the fries are, your air fryer model, and how crispy you want the sweet potato fries to be.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: It’s best to place them in a single layer, not overlapping, so the air can flow entirely around the fries and help them become crispy. Otherwise, they’ll end up steaming and remain limp.
- Make sure to shake the basket: This ensures the air fryer sweet potato fries cook evenly on all sides.
- For the crispiest fries: The thinner they are, the crispier they’ll become when air fried.
- Optional add-ins: Feel free to add some cayenne pepper or chili powder for heat or a sprinkling of freshly grated parmesan (added at the end).
Air fry the frozen sweet potato fries for 15 minutes, tossing the basket every 5 minutes. Then continue to cook them for 3-6 minutes, monitoring them until they reach your desired level of crispiness.
Check the blog post for more tips, serving recommendations, and answers to top FAQs!
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