1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Crispy Sweet Potato Fries

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries

Featured in Sides That Steal the Show.

These baked sweet potato fries are crispy outside and soft inside, with no deep frying needed. Soaking removes starch for crunch, while cornstarch and a hot pan ensure golden perfection. Seasoned simply with garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper, they're ready in 35 minutes. An easy way to make fries that taste great and skip the oil.
Pin it Share it Send it Print it Jump To Recipe
A woman holding a vegetable in a kitchen.
Updated on Mon, 24 Mar 2025 23:19:29 GMT
Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Pin it
Crispy Sweet Potato Fries | cookwithtaste.com

Turn ordinary sweet potatoes into crunchy, golden fries that hit the spot without the guilt you'd get from deep frying. These oven-baked treats give you that perfect mix of a crunchy outside and soft inside, showing that healthier options can taste just as good as the classics.

My journey to nail crunchy sweet potato fries took tons of trial and error. After making batch after batch, these tricks have worked every time, even winning over my teenager who's crazy about french fries.

Key Ingredients

  • Sweet potatoes: Go for medium ones with unmarked, smooth skin for top results
  • Olive oil: The extra virgin kind adds taste while helping crispiness. Make sure it's fresh
  • Garlic powder: Brings richness without burning like fresh garlic would. Pick fresh powder with no lumps
  • Paprika: The smoked type adds extra flavor. Look for bright red color showing it's fresh
  • Cornstarch: Your hidden trick for crunchiness. Always use fresh starch with no clumps

Instructions

Get Your Oven Ready:
Put your rack in the oven's center and stick a heavy baking sheet inside. Warm the oven to 425°F, letting the pan heat up completely for at least 15 minutes.
Prep Your Potatoes:
Peel the sweet potatoes if you want, then cut them into even quarter-inch sticks. Making them all the same size means they'll cook evenly and get crispy all over.
Give Them A Bath:
Put the cut potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes. This key step pulls out extra starch, setting you up for maximum crunchiness. Drain them well and dry them completely.
Add Flavor Carefully:
Mix dried fries with olive oil until they're all coated. Sprinkle your seasoning mix over them, making sure each fry gets some. Add cornstarch if you're using it, tossing gently to cover everything.
Set Them Up Right:
Carefully take your hot pan from the oven. Lay fries in one layer, making sure none touch each other. The space between them helps them get crispy.
Keep An Eye On Them:
Bake for 25-30 minutes, turning each fry halfway through. Look for golden brown edges and listen for a slight sizzle that shows they're crisping up nicely.
Let Them Settle:
Let fries sit on the hot pan for 3-5 minutes after taking them out of the oven. This final step makes sure they're super crispy before you serve them with your favorite dip.
Easy Crispy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries Pin it
Easy Crispy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries | cookwithtaste.com

My grandma always told me patience makes perfect fries. After years of making these, I've found she was right - trying to rush any part of the process just leads to disappointing results.

Tips For Amazing Texture

Knowing how sweet potatoes work in the oven turns good fries into fantastic ones. The mix of soaking, thorough drying, and proper spacing creates the best setup for crunchiness.

Seasoning Know-How

When you add spices matters a lot. Putting them on after the oil helps spread them evenly and keeps them from burning. This way lets the natural sweetness of the potatoes shine while adding savory flavors too.

Fun Dipping Ideas

Whip up different dipping sauces to make your fries even better. Mix mayo with roasted garlic for a simple aioli, or blend Greek yogurt with herbs for a healthier choice. Each sauce gives you a whole new taste experience.

How To Store Them

Store any leftover fries in an airtight container in your fridge. Heat them up in a hot oven instead of the microwave to bring back their crunch. Don't cover warm fries, as the steam will make them soggy.

Yummy Crispy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries Pin it
Yummy Crispy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries | cookwithtaste.com

After making these sweet potato fries countless times, I've realized they're more than just a side dish—they're a conversation starter. Whether I'm serving them at casual family dinners or fancy get-togethers, their perfect mix of healthy and tasty always wows guests and creates memorable meals.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why soak the sweet potato fries in water?
It clears out extra starch, helping the fries bake up crispy instead of turning floppy. This trick is key for crunch.
→ Should I peel sweet potatoes?
It's your call! Leaving the skin on adds nutrients and a bit of texture. Just wash them well if you skip peeling.
→ Why are my fries soggy?
Too many on your tray or not drying them enough can trap steam. Make sure they’re patted dry and spaced apart.
→ How do I keep leftover fries fresh?
Seal them in a container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To re-crisp, bake at 400°F for 5-10 minutes.
→ What dips go best with these fries?
They’re great with honey mustard, ketchup, garlic aioli, or a spicy sriracha mayo for some heat.

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries

Crispy sweet potato fries with a golden finish, lightly seasoned with paprika and garlic. A deliciously healthier option for your fry fix.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
25 Minutes
Total Time
35 Minutes
By: Milly

Category: Side Dishes

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 4 Servings (4 hearty servings of fries)

Dietary: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

→ Main Ingredients

01 2 tablespoons of high-quality olive oil
02 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, optionally peeled, then sliced into even 1/4-inch sticks
03 1 teaspoon smoky paprika for a deeper flavor, or regular paprika works too
04 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
05 1/2 teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper
06 1 teaspoon of fine sea salt

→ Optional Crispy Coating

07 1 tablespoon of cornstarch for that perfect crunch

Instructions

Step 01

Heat up your oven to 425°F (or 220°C). A tip? Stick the baking sheet in while it warms up. It helps get a nice crispy texture!

Step 02

If you'd like, peel the sweet potatoes first. Then slice them into even 1/4-inch sticks. Keeping them the same size? That's how you get even cooking!

Step 03

Drop the sliced fries into a bowl of cold water for half an hour. This washes off some starch and makes them crispier.

Step 04

After drying the fries really well, toss them with your olive oil and the mix of salt, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper. If you want them crispier, this is when you throw in that cornstarch too!

Step 05

Carefully pull the heated baking sheet out of the oven. Lay the fries on it in a single layer—don’t crowd them! Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway, until they’re perfectly golden and crispy.

Step 06

Once they’re just right—crispy and golden—take them out. Letting them cool a few minutes is a good idea if you can hold off.

Notes

  1. They’re at their absolute best when served hot and crispy.
  2. Add cornstarch to make them extra crispy on the outside while keeping the inside soft!
  3. Give the fries plenty of space on the baking sheet. When they’re too close, they steam instead of crisp.

Tools You'll Need

  • A spacious baking sheet
  • A sharp knife for slicing
  • A large bowl for tossing ingredients
  • Paper towels for drying your fries

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 150
  • Total Fat: 7 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 23 g
  • Protein: 2 g