Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
These Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries are crispy on the outside, tender inside, and made with just a small amount of oil. They’re an easy side dish that cooks faster than oven baked fries and pairs well with burgers, sandwiches, bowls, and more.
Sweet potatoes are a favorite in my house. I prepare oven roasted sweet potatoes and mashed sweet potatoes on a regular basis because they pair so well with whatever I’m serving.
Sweet potato fries are one of my favorite ways to enjoy them, but getting them crispy can sometimes be tricky since sweet potatoes contain more moisture and natural sugar than regular potatoes.
That’s where these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries come in. The air fryer cooks sweet potato fries especially well because the circulating heat helps evaporate moisture quickly, creating caramelized edges and crisp-tender texture without deep frying.
A few simple techniques — like cutting the fries evenly, drying them well, and cooking them in a single layer — make all the difference.
If you love using your air fryer, be sure to check out my collection of air fryer recipes that are perfect for beginners!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Crispy edges with creamy centers and caramelized sweet potato flavor.
- Uses much less oil than deep frying while still creating crisp texture.
- Faster than oven baked fries. They cook up in 15 minutes!
- Great for weeknight dinners.
- Easy to customize with seasonings.
Recipe ingredients
- Sweet potatoes. Use orange varieties like Jewel and Garnet for best results. Japanese and Hannah sweet potatoes are higher in starch, so they will be more dense in texture.
- Oil. Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil, for best browning and crisp texture.
- Spices. I’ve used garlic powder and smoked paprika in this recipe, but you can change things up by using your favorite seasonings or herbs such as thyme, rosemary or Italian seasoning.
- Cornstarch (optional). For crispier fries, toss the sweet potatoes with 1-2 teaspoons cornstarch before air frying. It helps absorb surface moisture and promotes browning.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to make sweet potato fries in air fryer
Sweet potatoes release more moisture than russet potatoes, so spacing the fries apart allows hot air to circulate and helps them crisp instead of steam.
Pro tip: Cut the sweet potatoes into uniform 1/4″ thickness and make sure to cook them in a single layer with a bit of space in between to ensure even cooking and maximum crispness.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into uniform 1/4″ thickness and dry well.
- Combine the oil and spices.
- Toss the sweet potatoes with the oil mixture until well coated.
- Place the fries in a single layer with a bit of space in between. Air fry at 390 degrees, shaking the basket halfway through, until the fries are browned around the edges and tender in the center.
Tips for crispy sweet potato fries
- Dry thoroughly before cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket for maximum crispness.
- Cook in single layer to ensure even cooking.
- Shake basket halfway through.
- Toss in 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch for extra crispness.
- Serve immediately for best texture.
Recipe FAQs
Air fryer sweet potato fries use much less oil than deep frying while still creating crisp texture and caramelized flavor.
Soaking is optional. Sweet potatoes contain less starch than russet potatoes, so soaking doesn’t make as dramatic of a difference, but it can help remove some surface starch. Be sure to dry them very well before air frying.
It’s very important to place the sweet potato fries in a single layer with a bit of space in between them in the air fryer so that they get nice and crispy. If the air fryer is overcrowded, the fries will become soggy.
Serving suggestions
These air fryer sweet potato fries pair well with burgers, sandwiches, bowls, grilled proteins, and dipping sauces.
- Serve as an appetizer with Greek yogurt ranch, green goddess dressing, ketchup or fry sauce.
- They’re the perfect side dish for grilled burgers or grilled turkey burgers.
- Pair with your favorite sandwich such as bbq pulled chicken or instant pot pulled pork.
- Serve with an entrée such as blackened salmon or oven baked pork chops.
Recipe notes
- Sweet potato fries soften as they cool, so they’re best served immediately.
- Store leftovers in an air tight container for up to 5 days. To reheat and crisp them up, toss them in the air fryer for a few minutes.
- Sweet potatoes naturally contain more moisture than russet potatoes, so they won’t become quite as dry and crisp as traditional French fries.
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes see note 2
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or other neutral high heat oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Peel the sweet potatoes, then place on a cutting board. Cut into uniform 1/4" pieces. Dry them well to remove excess moisture.2 medium sweet potatoes
- Combine the oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper, then toss with the sweet potato fries in large bowl until well coated.1 tablespoon avocado oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Place the fries in the air fryer in a single layer with a bit of space between them. Overcrowding the air fryer basket will produce steam and cause the fries to become soggy. Air fry at 390 degrees for 13-15 minutes until crisp and tender, flipping about halfway through. Serve immediately as the fries soften as they cool. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Pro tip: Cut the sweet potatoes into uniform thickness and make sure to cook them in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
- Orange varieties (Jewel and Garnet) are best for this recipe. Japanese and Hannah sweet potatoes are starchier, so they will be more dense.
- Change things up by tossing the sweet potato fries in your favorite seasonings or herbs.
- Sweet potatoes naturally contain more moisture than russet potatoes, so they won’t become quite as dry and crisp as traditional French fries.
- Store leftovers in an air tight container for up to 5 days. To reheat and crisp them up, toss them in the air fryer for a few minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
8 Comments on “Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries”
Very good!
Thanks so much for your review!
I love how healthy the recipe is. My fries came out super floppy though. I cut them thinly and uniform, used avocado oil and followed air fryer instructions from recipe. I left them in for longer than 15m and still was very floppy. Is this how it was intended?
You mean they weren’t crisp at all? They should crisp up in the air fryer — maybe they should have been cooked a bit longer?
Soooo good! We make them at least once a week! Thank you!!
I’m so glad that you love them! 🙂
Excellent!!!
Glad you like them!