After I learned how to make roasted sweet potatoes in the air fryer, perfecting air fryer sweet potato fries was my next goal! The version I came up with is lightly seasoned so it highlights the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes, and it’s so crispy. My girls love them with fry sauce or ketchup (or plain!).
What’s great about these fries is that they are healthier than the deep fried version, and take about 15 minutes to make. It’s so easy for me to make these for an after-school snack for my daughters, or for burger nights, and not feel guilty about eating junk food! Sweet potatoes are also sometimes called yams in America. Many times yams in American grocery stores are just orange sweet potatoes, not real yams! Real yams have a darker brown skin that looks flaky like tree bark. Sweet Potato Fact: When sweet potatoes were first grown in America, they were called yams by enslaved people because they resembled yams from Africa.
Are Sweet Potato Fries Healthy
Whenever I make air fried fries for friends, I always get this question- are these really healthier than fried? Two medium-sized sweet potatoes make about 4 servings of fries, with about 129 calories and 4g of fat. While they do have quite a few carbs (20g net carbs per serving), they are not unhealthy to eat as a snack on occasion. Moderation is the key! For comparison, a cup of deep-fried sweet potato fries contains about 344 calories, 17g of fat, and 38g net carbs! The air fried version is a much better choice if you’re looking to eat healthy.
Why Make These Sweet Potato French Fries
There are many reasons you should try these fries, like:
They’re the perfect healthy snack! They may taste like junk food, but these fries only use a little oil instead of being deep-fried.You need just 15 minutes to make these. Slice your sweet potatoes, season, and cook. That’s as easy as it is delicious.They are lightly seasoned with a little kick. Simple seasonings with a dash of cayenne make these fries flavorful and just a little spicy.
Ingredients- Notes & Substitutions
Sweet Potatoes: While there are multiple types of sweet potatoes, the orange variety is the most commonly found in grocery stores. In America, they are sometimes labeled as “yams,” but are actually the same thing! I use Garnet or Jewel.Seasoning: The simple seasoning of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne makes these fries incredibly flavorful with a kick. You can leave the cayenne out if you prefer mild fries, or substitute it with a little paprika. You can also use ½ teaspoon garlic salt instead of salt and garlic powder.Oil: I recommend using either olive oil or avocado oil, but you can use any neutral oil. Olive oil does give a bit of nutty flavor to the fries, while a neutral oil will not. Both taste great, so it’s up to you!
How to Cut Sweet Potato Fries
How to Cook Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Now comes the fun part! Let’s see how to make sweet potato fries from scratch in the air fryer:
Following the steps for cutting sweet potato fries, cut them into ¼-inch sticks.
Transfer sweet potatoes pieces to a large mixing bowl. Add oil and seasoning, and toss well until potatoes get evenly coated.
Preheat the air fryer at 400°F for 2 minutes. Spread the seasoned sweet potatoes in the fryer tray, in a single layer. You may have to cook these in 2 batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Air fryer for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket half way through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove and check the sweet potatoes. For crispier fries, lightly spray them with a cooking spray and cook another 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Tips & Notes
Cut potatoes evenly: Make sure you cut each fry to be about ¼-inch. This will help ensure that the fries all cook the same.Preheat the air fryer: Preheat while you cut your sweet potato for a crisper finish.Spread them in a single layer: Don’t overcrowd the basket. This, too, will help make sure the fries cook evenly throughout.Don’t neglect to shake the basket: Shake the basket halfway through the cook time to help with even cooking and crispy outside.Extra crispy fries: Shake the basket after cooking and air fry for another 2 minutes. You can also lightly spray them with a cooking spray before this.Don’t overcook: Keep an eye on your fries after 10 minutes. Due to high sugar content, fries can burn if roasted for too long.
Serving Suggestion
These fries are great as a snack, served with fry sauce, sriracha mayo, ketchup, or any dip of choice. My family also enjoys them alongside Taco Burgers, Tandoori Chicken Sliders or these spicy Masala Chicken Burgers.
Storage & Reheating
Storage: You can keep your sweet potato fries in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Sweet potato fries can be frozen, as well, by placing each serving in an individual resealable plastic bag. They can be kept in the freezer up to 6 months.Reheating: To reheat your fries, cook them in the air fryer at 400°F for just 1-2 minutes. Add on additional minutes if needed.
How to Cook Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer
If you have a bag of frozen sweet potato fries, you can easily cook them in the air fryer, too! Here’s how:
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.Place the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12-15 minutes, shaking halfway through the cook time.
Common Questions
More Air Fryer Vegetables from my Kitchen
Air Fryer Roasted Sweet PotatoesFrench Fries in Air fryerSpicy Bombay PotatoesAir Fryer BroccoliStuffed MushroomsSamosa Stuffed Jalapeno PoppersHarissa Roasted TurnipsMore Air Fryer recipes including appetizers, entrees and desserts.
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