Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

These baked sweet potato fries are the BEST! With a secret ingredient and a few simple tips, you’ll be making perfectly seasoned, crispy (healthy!) sweet potato fries at home.

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (1)

It’s hard to beat a good sweet potato fry. The best sweet potato fries are crispy and perfectly seasoned. They combine sweet and savory flavors in the most irresistible way! Like our favorite Roasted Sweet Potatoes, roasting at high temperature brings out the flavor of the sweet potatoes in this easy sweet potato fries recipe. Looking for an air fryer recipe? Try these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries.

I’ve tested batch after batch of baked sweet potato fries to find the best way to make homemade sweet potato fries that are crispy and flavorful. These fries are one of my very favorite sweet potato recipes. I love regular Baked French Fries, but I find this sweet potato version to be even more flavorful. Sweet potatoes pack a lot of extra nutrition, too!

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If you search for baked sweet potato fries recipes, you will find all sorts of methods that promise you the crispy, healthier fries that you crave. When I’m testing recipes to share with you, my goal is always to find the best balance between taste and convenience. I’m not willing to take extra steps in the kitchen unless those steps make a big difference in the final product.

In the case of this sweet potato fries recipe, the biggest question was whether or not soaking the fries in water before baking produced a noticeable difference in crispiness. The theory is that soaking the fries removes excess starch, giving you crispier baked fries. In my kitchen, a side by side taste test of soaked and unsoaked fries showed that soaking makes baked sweet potato fries slightly crispier. But the difference was so small, it wasn’t enough to justify the extra step and time involved. Originally, I included the soaking step in this recipe, but I’ve since updated the method to skip the soak.

You’re never going to get oven baked fries to be as crispy as if you were to fry them in oil, but with this recipe your fries will have noticeably crispy outsides and soft centers. I’ve made at least fifty batches of sweet potato fries in my lifetime, and these are truly the best!

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Tips for the BEST Baked Sweet Potato Fries

  • Cut thin, evenly sized fries: Thin fries will crisp up better than thick fries. Cut your fries into 1/4-inch thick matchsticks. Try to cut all of your fries approximately the same size to help them bake evenly. You don’t need to peel your sweet potatoes before cutting them. The peel adds extra fiber and other nutrients, and I find that leaving the skins on makes the fries crispier.
  • Coat the fries with cornstarch: Cornstarch is the secret ingredient for crispy sweet potato fries! The cornstarch will absorb extra moisture from the sweet potatoes to help them get crispy as they bake. I’ve tested this recipe with and without the cornstarch and the cornstarch really does make a difference!
  • Season your fries well: Not only do we want our fries to be crispy, we also want them to be seasoned well! You are going to love the seasoning on these sweet potato fries. It’s so simple and so good! The ingredients for my sweet potato seasoning blend are chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper and salt. Or, use this Cajun seasoning for extra spice.
  • Use olive oil: Oil is needed to get a crisp exterior on your baked fries. I choose olive oil since it’s a healthier option. The oil also helps the seasonings to stick to the fries.
  • Bake on parchment paper: Parchment paper will keep your fries from sticking to the baking pan. This saves you from the sad situation of stuck fries and also makes clean up easier.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan: This is crucial. You want to leave some room between each of your fries on the pan so that air can circulate around them. If the sweet potato pieces are too close or laying on top of each other, your fries will steam instead of roast and they’ll turn out soft. I find that one medium-large sweet potato’s worth of fries will fit on one baking sheet. If you’re using two sweet potatoes, use two baking sheets and rotate them halfway through the bake time.
  • Bake at a high temperature: Cook your sweet potato fries at 425° F. A high temperature is essential for those crispy edges.
  • Take the time to flip each fry: I know. You don’t really want to. But guess what? I timed myself and it took just two minutes to flip each fry over. Well worth it for evenly baked, crispy fries.
  • Serve immediately: As the fries rest they will soften up, so these are best served hot out of the oven.

How to Make Sweet Potato Fries

First, preheat your oven with racks in the upper and lower third of the oven. This recipe makes two pans of sweet potato fries, enough to generously serve four people. You can halve the recipe to make just one pan of fries.

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Next, cut the sweet potatoes into fries. To do this, first slice the sweet potatoes into 1/4-inch thick flat slices and then cut each potato slice into fries. Place the sweet potato fries in a large bowl, drizzle them with olive oil, and toss to coat.

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Sprinkle the cornstarch and seasonings over the sweet potatoes. Use your hands to rub the cornstarch and seasonings into the sweet potatoes, until the seasonings are evenly distributed and you no longer see the cornstarch on the fries.

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Arrange the fries in a single layer on two parchment paper lined baking sheets. Spread the sweet potato fries out so that there is a little space between each one.

Bake the fries in the oven for 15 minutes, then flip the fries and rotate the pans top to bottom on the oven racks. Bake for 10-20 more minutes, until the fries are crispy and brown on the edges. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

Honestly, these fries are so flavorful you don’t even need to dip them in anything, but if you want some dipping sauce ideas, try spicy mayo, BBQ sauce, aioli, ranch dressing or ketchup.

Serve sweet potato fries as a side dish with:

  • Turkey Burgers
  • Turkey Chili
  • Pulled Pork
  • Sloppy Joes
  • BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
  • Baked Chicken Taquitos
  • Baked Chicken Tenders
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More Sweet Potato Recipes

If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy this nutritious vegetable, here are a few of our favorite sweet potato recipes:

  • Baked Sweet Potato
  • Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes
  • Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili
  • Vegetarian Enchiladas
  • Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Sweet Potato Pie

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (9)

5 from 7 ratings

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Servings: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

This is the BEST baked sweet potato fries recipe! With a secret ingredient and a few simple tips, you'll be making perfectly seasoned, crispy (healthy!) sweet potato fries at home. Serve them as a side dish with burgers, BBQ chicken, and more.

Print Recipe Leave a Review Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds sweet potatoes, 2-3 medium, scrubbed clean
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch*
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder*
  • ½ teaspoon paprika, I used sweet paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt, to taste
  • teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425° F, with racks in the upper third and lower third of the oven.

  • Cut the sweet potatoes into ¼-inch thick french fry shapes. (You do not need to peel the sweet potatoes.)

  • Place cut sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil and toss to coat.

  • Evenly sprinkle the cornstarch, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt and black pepper over the sweet potatoes. Use your hands to rub the cornstarch and seasonings over the sweet potatoes, until you no longer see the cornstarch on the fries and the seasonings are evenly distributed.

  • Divide the fries between two parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheets. Arrange the sweet potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheets, with a little space in between each fry.

  • Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the pans from the oven, and flip each fry over. Rotate the pans in the oven from top to bottom and bake for 10-20 minutes more, until fries begin to brown on the edges and become crispy. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • If you do not have cornstarch you can omit it. It gives the fries a slightly crispier texture but they are still delicious without it.
  • The chili powder makes the fries slightly spicy, but not overpoweringly so. If you prefer no spice, you can omit it.
  • This recipe makes two pans worth of sweet potato fries, and serves 4. You can halve the recipe and bake on one pan to make less fries.

Serving: 1/4 recipe, Calories: 222kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 244mg, Potassium: 587mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 24329IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 53mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is an estimate.

Cuisine: American

Course: Side Dish

Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.

This site contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Kristine's Kitchen!

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Why won't my sweet potato fries get crispy? ›

The secret to crispy (instead of soggy) sweet potato fries is to spread them out in an even layer with enough room so that they don't touch. This is especially important if you're making a big batch of fries. Instead of just piling more onto one baking pan, spread them out over two baking pans or cook them in batches.

Why don't my fries get crispy in the oven? ›

For the best French fries, don't peel the potatoes. The potato skins add texture that helps the fries to become extra crispy in the oven. Cut them thin. Thin is the way to go when you're craving crispy homemade fries.

Why are my sweet potato fries not crispy in air fryer? ›

For the crispiest sweet potato fries, be sure the potatoes are in a single layer, with a little space between them. You can use as little as 1 tablespoon of oil or use a little more. I find the fries slightly crispier and flavorful when using more oil, but you can use even less for an air fryer.

Why do my sweet potato fries turn out soggy in air fryer? ›

If your air fryer fries are soggy, it is likely because you over-crowded them in the basket. The sweet potatoes steam when crowded together, instead of air frying. For the best, most crispy results, cook the fries in a single layer so that the air has room to circulate.

Why do you need to soak sweet potatoes before cooking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

What oven setting makes things crispy? ›

The broil setting on your oven cooks food quickly with direct heat—typically at 550°F (289°C)—and produces a seared finish that's similar to grilling. Smaller or countertop ovens usually preheat to the broiling temp faster, so you can quickly finish baked or slow-roasted dishes with crisp browned edges.

Why are my homemade fries never crispy? ›

If they are still not crispy you might have skipped a step or you might not have let them cool down sufficiently. Make sure to cool them in a single even layer and also make sure that the oil has the right temperature. Or maybe you've used the wrong potatoes to make them.

How do you're crisp fries in the oven? ›

First, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Then, spread your French fries out on a parchment-lined baking sheet, making sure none of them are touching (if they're too crowded, they won't get as crispy). Heat them in the oven for about eight to ten minutes, then give them a quick toss.

What makes sweet potato fries better? ›

Sweet potato fries are slightly higher in calories and carbs but also more nutrient dense than French fries. The greatest nutrient difference is that French fries have no vitamin A, while sweet potato fries are high in this nutrient. Vitamin A is important for your vision and immune system ( 2 ).

Why can sweet potatoes get crispy? ›

First, it's key to par-boil the potatoes in salted water mixed with a little baking soda. The baking soda breaks down the potato's surface, creating a rough texture that enhances crispiness upon roasting. Then, before roasting, the par-boiled potatoes are tossed with olive oil, seasoning, and potato starch.

How do you harden sweet potato fries? ›

Reheat to crisp in preheated air fryer for 5 minutes or in 450 degree oven for 10 minutes. FREEZE: Lay cooked sweet potato fries onto a parchment lined baking tray and place in the freezer until hardened.

How do you fix soggy sweet potato fries? ›

TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: The main secrets to achieving that incredible crispy texture, is to soak the cut sweet potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes. This helps remove the starch from the sweet potatoes so they´re not limp & soggy. The other secret is the corn starch.

Why are my roasted sweet potatoes not crispy? ›

I've found that sweet potatoes really need space for a truly roasted, crisped-edge result. Aim for about one inch of space between pieces. This leads to good, dry, hot airflow that will let the potato pieces' moisture evaporate while letting them dry and crisp up more.

Why are my fries soggy and not crispy? ›

Fries have a very high starch content. When they are cooked at high temperatures, they absorb moisture which gives them their signature crispy exterior. When they are left out to cool, the starches secrete moisture, which eventually makes the fries' crust soggy.

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