Sometimes I struggle with side dishes. I feel like I’ve already put enough effort into planning the main dish, so sometimes the vegetable sides become a minimal-effort afterthought. Fortunately, Real Plans has helped with the planning part a lot.
These quick and easy sweet potato fries are on Real Plans. I love that they are so fast and easy to make but also packed with flavor and nutrients. This recipe is definitely a keeper. I’ve updated it to include an air fryer cooking option.
Cooking Options for Homemade Sweet Potato Fries
My kids like these as much as regular french fries. My sweet potato lovers like them even more. And they always love to help with the cooking. When the littler ones are lending a hand, I let them use the crinkle cutter to cut the potatoes into either chips or fries. I usually just use a knife to cut them into planks and then sticks to make the traditional french fry shape.
After the potatoes are cut, toss them with oil and whatever seasonings you like. The spices I choose depend on my mood, but most frequently I use salt, a little pepper, and garlic powder.
To cook the sweet potato fries, you have a couple of options. I started out just roasting them in the oven, which is very tasty and works great. To do that, just toss them on a baking sheet and stick them in the oven until they’re tender in the middle and crispy on the edges. Sometimes I broil them for a few minutes at the end of the cooking time to get the tops crispy without having to flip them.
More recently, air fryers became a thing, and I started making my sweet potato fries in the air fryer. I’ve got a nice big multi-function air fryer, which can accommodate larger amounts of food. I love that the air fryer makes these fries crispier and a little drier than the oven-cooked version.
Note: If you choose to use an air fryer, reduce the amount of oil you use to 2 tablespoons.
Serving Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries are just asking to be dipped. They’re delicious on their own but even better dunked in something yummy. And I’ve noticed that my kids always enjoy their veggies more when they can dip them. Here are some tasty ideas for dipping these fries:
- Any type of mayo – Sriracha Mayo, Chipotle Mayo, Gochujang Mayo
- French Onion Dip
- Green Goddess Salad Dressing
- Homemade Ketchup
- Honey Mustard
- Lemon Garlic Aioli or Paprika Aioli
- Ranch Dressing
Really, the list is endless. So many things make a tasty sweet potato fry dip.
Need More Sweet Potato Inspiration?
If you’re not in the mood for fries or just have more potatoes than you know what to do with, you might enjoy one of these sweet potato favorites:
- Bacon Lime Sweet Potato Salad
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
- Shepherd’s Pie
- Shrimp Carbonara with Sweet Potato Pasta
- Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Sweet Potato Soup
- Zuppa Toscana
Healthy Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil (or melted coconut oil, if using an air fryer use only 2 TBSP of oil)
- 5 medium sweet potatoes
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Peel the sweet potatoes.
- Slice the sweet potatoes into planks and then into sticks of the desired size.
- In a large bowl, mix the oil and spices together.
- Toss the sweet potatoes with the spices in the bowl.
Oven Cooking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Place the seasoned sweet potatoes on a large baking sheet.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or more until slightly browned and tender.
Air Fryer Cooking Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Place the seasoned sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket, leaving room between the fries for air to circulate.
- Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the fries are crispy on the outside and tender in the middle.
Notes
Nutrition
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I make these a lot during the winter. They are super easy and delicious! They crisp up well and we throw on fresh parmasen cheese at the end! I also make my own siratcha mayo sauce and when paired with the sweet potato fries, its the perfect combo! My family always comes back for more 🙂
How do you make your sriracha mayo sauce
Sweet Potato Fries Cajun Dip:
Mayonnaise
Ketchup
Garlic
Salt
Chilli powder
Paprika
Dry basil
Dry oregano
Chilli flakes and/or hot sauce for more spice
Yum 🙂
I love these sweet potatoe fries! I don’t add the oil though- instead I just spritz them with Olive Oil Pam, sea salt and cracked pepper and they’re great!
Sounds wonderful! I have one questions, though: isn’t the smoke point for olive oil 320 degrees Fahrenheit? I always wonder about roasted veggie recipes that call for using olive oil at 400 degree temperatures. Is the cook time not long enough to damage the oil and create harmful free radicals?
I love these, but I also wanted to share another kind of fries with you and other readers. Instead of sweet potatoes, use parsnip. Baked at 350 for 10 min, with olive or coconut oil, and rosemary and garlic, or other spices to taste. I love the rosemary and garlic with a touch of turmeric. Delish!
it’s my understanding that olive oil should not reach temperatures this high. I did it with expeller pressed coconut oil(lard or tallow would be great, too)and it was wonderful. Can always drizzle olive oil on most foods AFTER cooking. 🙂
Cinnamon, salt and a little bit of chili power is DELICIOUS on sweet potatoe fries!!
I’ve tried making these several times, but can’t seem to get them crispy without burning them. Any ideas?
same here!
Trying putting the rack on the top 2/3rds of your oven. Also, more oil = more crispy. My batches continue to improve, they’re still not anywhere near as crispy as i want em!
I use avocado oil seems to work better for me than olive oil for crispier fries. Also add garlic , chili pepper, cumin for chili rubbed fries
Hi! I want to make these for my 15 month old and I want to freeze them, would I freeze before or after I bake them ?
If you soak them in ice water before baking, then will get nice and crispy.
Soak the raw sweet potatoes? Before you season them? For how long? Do you let them retain the water or pat dry? I’ll try anything, husband loves the flavor but I can’t eat them limp like this 🙁
Steam them first and then bake them ..
These look awesome. I love good sweet potato fries, but struggle with getting the method right. I’m trying these this week and have included them on my Menu Plan Monday post!
mmm… These sound delicious – and just in time as I was planning on making some for my husband’s birthday this week and didn’t yet have a recipe! Thanks so much!