The Ultimate Guide to Perfect Air-Fried Sweet Potato Fries

The ULTIMATE Guide to Perfect Air-Fried Sweet Potato Fries, every single time. An easy method for the most delicious sweet potato fries made in your air fryer!

If you love crispy fries but want a lighter alternative to traditional deep-fried potatoes, these air-fried sweet potato fries are a must-try. They’re crispy on the outside, tender in the center, easy to make, and require just a few simple ingredients.

The key to getting the best crispy sweet potato fries in the air fryer is all in the preparation. Cutting the fries evenly, soaking them before cooking, drying them thoroughly, and avoiding overcrowding the air fryer basket all make a big difference.

Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, or try my go-to: Yo Mama’s Unsweetened Ketchup. Use code HEALTHYHELPER for 30% off.

Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

These homemade sweet potato fries are:

• crispy and golden on the outside
• tender and naturally sweet inside
• easy to make
• lighter than traditional deep-fried fries
• made with simple ingredients
• perfect as a side dish or snack
• delicious with ketchup, ranch, or your favorite dipping sauce

Plus, using an air fryer means you can get beautifully browned fries without having to deep-fry them in a large amount of oil.

How To Make Crispy Sweet Potato Fries In The Air Fryer

The biggest challenge with homemade sweet potato fries is getting them crispy. Sweet potatoes naturally contain more moisture than regular potatoes, so a few extra preparation steps can help prevent soggy fries.

1. Cut The Sweet Potatoes Evenly

Start by peeling the sweet potatoes. Cut them into fries that are approximately 1/4-inch thick.

Try to keep the fries as uniform in size as possible. Fries that are similar in thickness will cook more evenly, while very thin pieces may burn before thicker pieces are fully cooked.

2. Soak The Sweet Potato Fries

Place the cut sweet potatoes in a large bowl of cold water and let them soak for at least 30 minutes.

Soaking helps remove some of the excess starch from the surface of the potatoes, which can help improve their texture when air-fried.

If you have extra time, you can let them soak a little longer.

3. Dry The Fries Really Well

This step is extremely important.

Drain the sweet potatoes and thoroughly dry them with a clean kitchen towel. You want to remove as much surface moisture as possible before adding the oil and seasoning.

Wet sweet potatoes will steam in the air fryer instead of developing that delicious crispy exterior.

4. Season The Fries

Add the dried sweet potato fries to a large bowl. Toss them with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or avocado oil, along with salt and pepper.

Make sure the fries are evenly coated.

You can also customize your fries with additional seasonings. Some great options include garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, cinnamon, or a little cayenne pepper.

5. Preheat The Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for approximately 5 minutes.

While preheating isn’t absolutely necessary with every air fryer, starting with a hot basket can help the fries begin cooking immediately and encourages better browning.

6. Air-Fry The Sweet Potato Fries

Arrange the fries in a single layer in your air fryer basket.

Avoid overcrowding the basket. If the fries are piled on top of each other, they won’t have enough room for the hot air to circulate, which can result in softer fries.

Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the sweet potatoes in batches.

Air-fry at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket about halfway through cooking.

Keep an eye on them toward the end since cooking times can vary between air fryer models and depending on how thick your fries are.

The finished fries should be browned around the edges and crispy on the outside.

7. Serve Immediately

Transfer the fries to a serving dish and enjoy them while they’re hot.

I love serving mine with Yo Mama’s Unsweetened Ketchup. You can use code HEALTHYHELPER for 30% off.

Tips For The Crispiest Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

If your sweet potato fries aren’t getting as crispy as you’d like, these tips can help.

Don’t skip the soaking step. Soaking helps remove excess starch from the surface of the sweet potatoes.

Dry them thoroughly. This is one of the most important steps. Even a little excess water can make it harder for the fries to crisp.

Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Give the fries plenty of space so the hot air can circulate around them.

Cut them evenly. Uniform fries cook at approximately the same rate.

Use just enough oil. You don’t need a lot of oil to air-fry sweet potatoes. A light coating helps with browning and crisping.

Serve them right away. Like most homemade fries, they’re at their best immediately after cooking.

Sweet Potato Fry Seasoning Ideas

The basic salt-and-pepper version is delicious, but there are plenty of ways to change up these air fryer sweet potato fries.

Try:

Garlic Parmesan: Add garlic powder and finish with grated Parmesan.

Smoky: Add smoked paprika, garlic powder, and a pinch of cayenne.

Spicy: Add chili powder, cayenne, and black pepper.

Cinnamon: For a sweeter take, add cinnamon and a small pinch of salt.

Everything Bagel: Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning after air-frying.

What To Serve With Sweet Potato Fries

These crispy sweet potato fries make an easy side dish for burgers, sandwiches, wraps, grilled chicken, or veggie-based meals.

They’re also delicious as a snack with a dipping sauce.

My favorite pairing is Yo Mama’s Unsweetened Ketchup, but you could also serve them with ranch dressing, honey mustard, garlic aioli, or a spicy yogurt-based dip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Are My Sweet Potato Fries Soggy?

The most common reasons are excess moisture, overcrowding the air fryer basket, or not cooking the fries long enough. Make sure the sweet potatoes are thoroughly dried after soaking and arrange them in a single layer.

Do You Have To Soak Sweet Potatoes Before Air-Frying?

You don’t absolutely have to, but soaking can help remove excess starch and improve the texture of homemade sweet potato fries. For the crispiest results, I recommend soaking them for at least 30 minutes.

What Temperature Is Best For Air Frying Sweet Potato Fries?

I like to air-fry sweet potato fries at 375°F. This gives them enough time to cook through while allowing the exterior to brown and crisp.

Can You Make Sweet Potato Fries Without Oil?

Yes, you can air-fry sweet potato fries without oil, although a small amount of oil helps encourage browning and gives the fries a better texture.

Can You Make These Ahead Of Time?

Sweet potato fries are best served immediately after cooking. If you need to prepare them ahead, you can cut and soak the sweet potatoes in advance, then drain and thoroughly dry them before cooking.

Talk soon,