Plug in your air fryer and get some fries going! This Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries recipe uses just a splash of oil, the fries are perfectly seasoned and they come out super crispy. You'll want to make them again and again!
I've recently been coming to terms with this core personal belief: any meal is better with sweet potato fries. Any meal! This philosophy started with my grilled sweet potato fries, which I make and love serving as the perfect side dish all summer long.
When I recently started experimenting with an air fryer, I knew there had to be a way to adapt my actually crispy oven-baked sweet potato fries to make perfectly crispy air fryer sweet potato fries, and I was right! This method creates soft-on-the-inside, crunchy-on-the-outside golden brown fries every single time. It's the perfect way to enjoy them all year round!
Ingredients
This list of simple ingredients is made mostly of pantry staples. Sweet potatoes store so well that I pretty much always buy them in bulk and have them on hand.
- Sweet potato - I went with a large sweet potato (about 13 ounces) for this recipe. You could also use two smaller ones!
- Arrowroot powder - I use arrowroot powder since I'm allergic to corn, but you can easily swap corn starch if you're able.
- Extra virgin olive oil - To keep these homemade fries light on oil, I use just barely enough (under a tablespoon!) to keep the insides moist and turn the fries a gorgeous golden brown. Compared to traditional fries, which get submerged in oil, this is a huge improvement.
- Black pepper - A tiny pinch of black pepper goes a long way on these fries. Start conservatively with spice, remembering you can always add more once you've taste tested!
- Paprika - Using regular paprika (not smoked) gives a perfectly subtle bite to each sweet potato fry. It's just right!
- Salt - This is just to taste, and it gets added at the very end. I use a generous amount of salt to perfectly balance the natural sweetness of the sweet potato.
How Make these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
These tasty sweet potato fries do require a little bit of prep, but they're still so much easier than the traditional deep frying method for french fries.
1. Prepare the Sweet Potato: Cut off either end of a peeled sweet potato and slice it into long, ¼ inch thick spears that are as evenly sized as possible. I recommend "squaring off" the pointy tips so you don't get burnt tips.
2. Ice, Ice Baby! Fill a large mixing bowl with cold water and two handfuls of ice cubes. Add the raw sweet potato fries, stir, and allow them to soak for 30 minutes.
3. Get the Air Fryer Going: Preheat your air fryer to 380F. Drain, rinse, and pat your fries dry with a kitchen towel. I try to get them as close to completely dry as possible! If you have time to let them sit out and air dry that is best.
4. Season: In a large bowl, toss the dry spears with arrowroot starch, pepper and paprika. At this point you can add any other seasonings (how delicious would my homemade taco seasoning be?!), but just don't add salt quite yet. Toss well with two spoons (or clean hands) to evenly coat. Add a splash of oil and toss them again.
5. Cook the Fries: Divide the prepared sweet potato spears in half and place the first batch in your air fryer basket. I do small batches so they're evenly spaced in a single layer and don't overlap. Cook them for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. They're done once the majority are perfectly golden brown. Repeat with the second batch. Keep in mind that the cook time may take longer with thicker fries (and shorter with thinner ones).
6. Salt & Wait: Place the cooked fries on a wire cooling rack. Keep them spaced so they don't create pockets of air that can cause steaming. Wait 5 minutes, salt, and wait another 5 minutes. Waiting the full time allows them to crisp up even more. I promise your patience will be rewarded. Enjoy immediately!
Storage and Reheating Tips:
Fridge: Store leftover sweet potato fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To maintain their crispiness when reheating, set the air fryer to 380F again and let cook for 2 minutes.
Freezer: Separate each fry across a baking sheet and freeze first before combining into a freezer-safe container or bag to prevent them from sticking to each other. To reheat, either thaw the leftover fries in the refrigerator first or reheat in the air fryer directly from frozen.
These fries can also be reheated in the microwave, but this method will soften the fries considerably so it is not recommended.
Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes
I honestly think that sweet potatoes go with almost anything. They're a nutritious vegetable, a delicious comfort food, and I use them in both sweet and savory recipes! As a Master Certified Health Education Specialist through the NCHEC, I am passionate about knowing just what nutritious ingredients are doing to our bodies.
Sweet potatoes are high in immune-boosting vitamin A (you can see it in their vibrant orange color!), which aids in vision and bone health. Sweet potatoes have a similar calorie content to russet potatoes, but they contain more fiber for digestive health and nearly 700% of your recommended daily vitamin A (russets offer none!). They also offer almost double the amount of vitamin C compared to russets (source).
More Sweet Potato Recipes
Can you Use Frozen Sweet Potato Fries?
The short answer is yes, but it is not as ideal as cutting the fries from scratch. If you don't have sweet potatoes on hand, feel free to reach for a bag of frozen fries. Add 4-5 minutes to the cooking time and they should still do the trick.
The main difference between air frying frozen and fresh fries is the level of crispiness. Frozen store-bought sweet potato fries are typically salted already and contain other additives as well. This results in them having a tendency to be a little bit soggier than when prepared from scratch. It is still good though!
What's So Great about an Air Fryer?
I've LOVED experimenting with an air fryer lately. It creates such satisfyingly crisp foods such as these unbelievable potato wedges and these restaurant quality tortilla chips! I have an XL basket, which makes recipes like this one easier to make since I get the best results with no overlapping.
Would you believe that my kids are eating kale when I turn it into chips in the air fryer?! AND it's the best way to reheat leftovers, especially things like portobello mushrooms or pizza which can get soggy when refrigerated.
I also found that I can roast garlic in 20 minutes using the air fryer! Seriously...I love this appliance as making air fryer recipes takes much less time, perfect for busy weeknights.
Dipping Sauces for Sweet Potato Fries
Half the fun is serving with your favorite dipping sauce! Having a dip on the table is one of my surefire tricks for getting my kids to try a new food. These delicious sweet potato fries are perfect for dipping in many different sauces. My kids love them with ketchup, while some of my favorites are:
What to Serve with Sweet Potato Fries
Let's be honest... almost any main dish would be better with a side of sweet potato fries, but here are a few summertime dishes I love during grill season:
- Grilled Portobello Mushrooms and Onions (made into Portobello Mushroom Burgers)
- Extra Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings (Vegan + Paleo)
- Grillable Quinoa Black Bean Veggie Burger, Sweet Potato Veggie Burger or Avocado Veggie Burger
- Quinoa & Mango Stuffed Grilled Avocado
- Crispy Quinoa Falafel Bowls (Gluten-Free, Nut-Free & Vegan)
This easy recipe for crispy air fryer sweet potato fries is gluten-free, vegan and free of refined sugar. Check out my vegan eating resource guide for more allergy-friendly, plant based recipes! You can follow along on Instagram to see the latest and greatest, and don't forget to leave a review below letting me know what you think.
More Dishes Featuring Sweet Potatoes
- Blender Sweet Potato Muffins - Gluten-Free & Vegan
- Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers
- Easy Vegan Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole with Crumble Topping
- Enchiladas: Easy Vegan Sweet Potato & Black Bean Recipe
- Vegan Sweet Potato Curry
- Creamy Black Bean & Roasted Sweet Potato Tostadas
- Vegan Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie Bowl
- Vegan Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Plug in your air fryer and get some fries going! These Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries use just a splash of oil for the entire batch, they're perfectly seasoned, and they come out so crispy you'll want to make them again and again!
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled (~ 13 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika (not smoked paprika)
- salt to taste (at the end! I use a generous amount of salt)
- Garnish with freshly diced Italian flat leaf parsley if desired
- Serve with ketchup, Vegan Tzatziki Sauce or my Homemade 3-Ingredient Vegan Honey Mustard Sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the sweet potato: Cut off either end and cut the sweet potato into long ¼ inch thick spears. Ideally you want them evenly sized. If any are smaller I recommend setting them aside so you can cook for less time in a separate batch. I also recommend "squaring off" the pointy tips otherwise you will get burnt tips.
- Ice, ice baby! Fill a large mixing bowl with cold water and two handfuls of ice cubes. Add the raw sweet potato fries, stir and allow them to soak for 30 minutes minimum or an hour if you have time. I like to soak overnight for best results. When finished soaking, preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit. Drain the water from the soaked sweet potato fries, rinse with fresh water and pat them dry with a kitchen towel. You want to remove all excess moisture so they are completely dry when they go into the air fryer.
- Season: In a large bowl, toss the dry sweet potato spears with arrowroot starch, pepper and paprika using two large spoons. Add any other seasonings you wish to use at this time such as garlic powder (just do not add the salt at this time). Toss well with two spoons to evenly coat. Next, add the oil and toss again using the spoons until you cannot see the arrowroot powder.
- Cook the fries: Divide the prepared sweet potato spears into two batches and place the first batch in your air fryer basket. Evenly space out the sweet potato spears so they are not touching or they will steam. Cook for 12 minutes at 380 degrees flipping halfway through. They are done when the majority of the fries are golden brown. Cooking time varies slightly based on the thickness of your spears so watch carefully at the end. Repeat with the second batch.
- Salt and wait. When the fries are done cooking, remove them from the air fryer basket with tongs and place on a wire cooling rack spaced apart from one another. Wait 5 minutes. Season with salt and wait another 5 minutes. Waiting the full ten minutes allows them to crisp up even more so try and resist eating right away. Enjoy immediately as they are best when fresh.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 12
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
Lori says
Are they not cold after 10 minutes of waiting??
Elaine Gordon says
Hi Lori - for me no... but feel free to dig in sooner if you like them extra hot. I find the inside stays very warm/steamy and can sometimes burn your mouth because the outside feels less hot. I hope this helps and good luck making them - I hope you enjoy 🙂
Eric says
Pro-tip? Do your batches as necessary then once everything is all done just pop em in the air fryer for like 5 or less minutes to get em all back up to temp.
peggy says
Why do you soak the sweet potatoes?
Elaine Gordon says
Hi Peggy: It allows them to release some of the starches and crisp up better in the air fryer. I hope that helps. Best, Elaine
Chantal says
What temp do you air fry at?
Elaine Gordon says
380 degrees
Pam says
Has anyone made these in an air fryer oven? My new induction range turns the oven into an air fryer with the touch of a button. I can't find recipes that address the difference in heat and time. Any thoughts? I made these last night and they were delicious but limp. Not crispy. They were quite hot with heat,,,not spice. Spice was perfect. I added 1/4 tsp Chili powder and used garlic infused olive oil.
Elaine Gordon says
Hi Pam: Did you follow the oil measurements? Sometimes if you use too much oil it can make them soggy. Were you able to space out in your AF oven? Did you presoak? LMK and I can try and help for next time. Thank you! Best, Elaine
Jill says
What can be used in lieu of arrow root starch.. can I use a bit of cornstarch?
Elaine Gordon says
yes! sorry for the delay here - was traveling!
Dina and Bruce says
What a great tip to use arrow root powder! And to let them rest! Loved dipping these in spicy chipolte sour cream!!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much! I'm glad these tips were helpful! That spicy chipotle sour cream sounds soo good!
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed these with dinner last night and they were a savory success! Turned out quick, easy and delicious; the best way to enjoy sweet potatoes, indeed!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Sara! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed these and found them easy to make too! Best, Elaine
Toni says
My kids really enjoyed how crispy these are! Can't wait to make it again!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Toni! I'm so happy to hear these were a hit with your kids and that you plan to make again! Best, Elaine
Brandi says
I used to struggle to get these crispy. This recipe was great. They turned out amazing.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Brandi! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this one so much and that they crisped up nicely for you too! Best, Elaine
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Anjali! So happy to hear these turned out perfect for you and super crispy!
Mike Mallory says
Recipe says cut to 1/4". I bought precut potatoes, they were 1/2" so I sliced them in half. 1/4" fries are very thin, not like the fries in your pictures. Are you sure they need to be 1/4", not 1/2"? Thanks
Elaine Gordon says
The thinner they are the better in terms of the crispiness but it is slightly flexible. Sometimes food in pictures can look larger than in real life. If you can do 1/4 inch that is recommended. Please LMK how it goes for you.