Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

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 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. This method creates soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside, golden brown fries every time. It's the perfect way to enjoy them all year round!

Ingredients in Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

This is a super short ingredient list 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 Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato 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 Long to Cook Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer

These sweet potato fries do require a little bit of prep, but they're still so much easier than the traditional 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 Best Homemade Taco Seasoning be?!), 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 and don't touch in the air fryer. Cook them for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. They're done once the majority are perfectly golden brown! Repeat with the second batch.
6. Salt & Wait: Place your finished 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. Waiting the full time allows them to crisp up even more! I promise your patience will be rewarded. Enjoy immediately!

All About 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)

• No-Fuss Seasoned Baked Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Quinoa Tots (Vegan & Gluten-Free) (watch the IG Reel!)
• Grilled Sweet Potato Fries
• 10 Tips for Actually Crispy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

I've LOVED experimenting with an air fryer lately. It creates such satisfyingly crisp foods! 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 make it into chips in the air fryer?! AND it's the best way to reheat leftovers, especially things like Portobello Mushrooms or Skillet White Pizza with Caramelized Onions that 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.

Vegan Dip for Sweet Potato Fries

Half the fun is dipping! Having a dip on the table is one of my surefire tricks for getting my kids to try a new food. Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries are perfect for dipping in many different sauces! My kids love them with ketchup, while some of my favorites are:

• Vegan Tzatziki Sauce 
• Homemade 3-Ingredient Vegan Honey Mustard Sauce
• Best Vegan Paleo Homemade Ranch Dressing

What to Serve with Sweet Potato Fries

I love this recipe for the summertime when I don't want to turn my oven on--the air fryer is so much easier and cooler! These delicious main dishes would be so good with a side of sweet potato fries!

• 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)

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