Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and with addictive charred tips, these easy air fryer sweet potato fries are a must-try when you need a no-fuss snack or side dish. Simply seasoned with pantry staples, they come together in a flash with nothing more than your trusty air fryer.
One of the keys to the best air fryer sweet potatoes is to not overcrowd the basket. If they have no space between them, the fries will steam rather than fry, and your fries will be soft instead of crispy. Sweet potato fries will never be as crispy as regular french fries since sweet potatoes contain more moisture, but giving them plenty of space in the air fryer basket will ensure a deliciously crisp bite. For more air fryer recipes, try my air fryer turkey burgers, air fryer baked potato, and air fryer potato wedges.
What you need to make this recipe
Sweet potatoes — choose sweet potatoes that are about the same size as each other so the fries are similar in size. Choose potatoes without bruises or soft spots.
Oil — I love my fries coated thinly in extra virgin olive oil, but since you only need 1 teaspoon, feel free to use your favorite cooking oil.
Seasonings — simple spices yield a big flavor in these air fryer sweet potato fries. I used salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, and the savory seasonings complemented the sweet potatoes so well!
How to make sweet potato fries
1. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them in half lengthwise. Turn the halves onto their flat sides. Cut them into ¼-inch-thick planks.
2. Then, cut each plank into ¼-inch-thick sticks.
3. In a large bowl, toss the potato sticks with olive oil or oil of your choice.
4. Add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika and toss to coat the sweet potatoes evenly.
5. Meanwhile, preheat air fryer to 375°F. Once it’s hot, place the seasoned sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket and air fry for 6 minutes. Gently shake the basket to toss the fries.
6. Increase the temperature to 400°F. Air fry for 8 minutes more until tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Can You Use Frozen Sweet Potato Fries?
Yes, you can start with frozen sweet potato fries. Follow the recipe as written until it comes time to air fry them. The frozen fries will need 3 more minutes in the air fryer at 375°F. Depending on your air fryer and the frozen fries you are cooking, you may need a few additional minutes at the end, as well.
Do You Need To Soak Them In Water First?
Unlike my air fryer french fries, I don’t soak sweet potato fries because I find they crisp up better without this added step. Sweet Potatoes don’t contain as much starch as white potatoes like Russets, and soaking isn’t needed to remove excess starch. They also naturally contain more moisture and sugar, so soaking them can hinder the fries from crisping well during cooking.
Why Won’t My Sweet Potato Fries Get Crispy?
Overcrowding the air fryer is the main culprit for air fryer sweet potato fries that are limp and soggy instead of crispy. If the potatoes are packed into the basket, they will steam rather than fry and you’ll end up with soggy sweet potato fries. For crispy sweet potato fries, cook the fries in batches. Not turning up the heat halfway is another reason your sweet potato fries did not become crispy.
What to Serve with Sweet Potato Fries
Air fryer sweet potato fries are a delicious savory snack served as-is with a dipping sauce! I love serving them with ketchup, mustard, chipotle mayo, tzatziki, or aioli. They also make a tasty side with grilled burgers, black bean burgers, air fryer chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, or an air fryer chicken breast.
How to Store Leftovers
Air fryer sweet potato fries are best eaten immediately while still hot and crispy. Since this recipe yields 2 servings, I never have leftovers! But if you do, they will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can re-crisp them in your oven or air fryer until warmed through (see FAQ section below for more info).
What if I Don’t Have an Air Fryer?
No problem! Try my baked sweet potato fries instead. They take a little more time to cook, but they’re delicious!
Pro tips for making this recipe
- To peel or not to peel the sweet potatoes? You can peel these if you like or leave the skin on. It’s really about personal preference! I prefer the look and texture when eating air fryer sweet potato fries without the skin.
- Take note of the temperature. Starting at a lower temperature helps to tenderize the sweet potatoes without drying them out. Finishing at a high temperature helps to crisp them up.
- Get creative with spices. My simple seasoning combo is always a hit, but air-fried sweet potato fries taste great with just salt and pepper, too. You can also add ¼ teaspoons of spices such as cumin, turmeric, curry powder, cajun seasoning, etc. for a totally different flavor profile.
- Cut the sweet potatoes evenly. This will help them cook at an even pace.
- Don’t cut the sweet potatoes too thin. Don’t cut them any thinner than ¼ inch — they become very fragile and soft and may break apart when you toss them while they’re air frying. Plus, thinner fries will burn more easily.
- Shake or turn them halfway. This promotes even cooking. You can flip each individual fry with tongs, but gently shaking the basket works great!
- Keep the first batch warm by turning your oven on to 250°F and placing the fries on a wire rack in the oven. I like to serve them as they finish, but this is a great tips if making several batches!
Frequently asked questions
The cooking time depends on the air fryer you have. I start mine on a lower heat (375°F) and cook them for 6 minutes. Then, I shake the basket and increase the heat to 400°F. I let the fries continue cooking for another 8 minutes, and my fries are done. Check for doneness every additional minute or so if your air fryer takes a bit longer. Overall, the cook time is about 14 to 16 minutes.
Some air fryers don’t need to be preheated, but I always find it better to start off with a hot air fryer. Depending on the machine you own, either preheat it to 375°F or set the temperature to 375°F and let the empty basket heat up for 4 minutes.
Olive oil is my favorite for this air fryer sweet potato fries recipe. But since you only need a small amount of oil, you can use your favorite oil. Canola oil, vegetable oil, avocado oil, and even coconut oil work great. Just remember you might get a little coconut flavor from coconut oil.
Sweet potato fries are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftover fries and want to re-crisp them, there are two easy ways to do so: using your oven or air fryer.
Preheat your oven to 425ºF and spread the fries in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. Reheat for 5 to 10 minutes, tossing them every 3 minutes. To reheat them in an air fryer, set the temperature to 375ºF and place the fries in a single layer in the basket. Air fry for 3 to 5 minutes.
Cooking the fries at too high a heat too soon will cause them to burn before they are tender. Start off at 375ºF and then increase the heat to 400°F after 6 minutes. Another reason for burnt sweet potato fries is cutting the sweet potatoes too small or thin.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this air fryer sweet potato fries recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- ¾ pound sweet potatoes (338g)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes and cut them in half lengthwise. Turn the halves onto their flat sides, then cut them into ¼-inch-thick planks. Cut each plank into ¼-inch-thick sticks.
- In a large bowl, toss the potato sticks with the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Add the sweet potatoes to the basket and air fry for 6 minutes. Gently shake the basket to stir the fries.
- Increase the temperature to 400°F. Continue air frying for an additional 8 minutes until tender and crispy. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- To peel or not to peel the sweet potatoes? You can peel these if you like or leave the skin on. It’s really about personal preference! I prefer the look and texture when eating air fryer sweet potato fries without the skin.
- Take note of the temperature. Starting at a lower temperature helps to tenderize the sweet potatoes without drying them out. Finishing at a high temperature helps to crisp them up.
- Get creative with spices. My simple seasoning combo is always a hit, but air-fried sweet potato fries taste great with just salt and pepper, too. You can also add ¼ teaspoons of spices such as cumin, turmeric, curry powder, cajun seasoning, etc. for a totally different flavor profile.
- Cut the sweet potatoes evenly. This will help them cook at an even pace.
- Don’t cut the sweet potatoes too thin. Don’t cut them any thinner than ¼ inch — they become very fragile and soft and may break apart when you toss them while they’re air frying. Plus, thinner fries will burn more easily.
- Shake or turn them halfway. This promotes even cooking. You can flip each individual fry with tongs, but gently shaking the basket works great!
- Keep the first batch warm by turning your oven on to 250°F and placing the fries on a wire rack in the oven. I like to serve them as they finish, but this is a great tips if making several batches!
