\Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

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If you're looking for a healthier alternative to traditional French fries, look no further than these crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries. Slice up some sweet potatoes, toss them in olive oil and spices, and bake them in the oven. You'll love how crispy they turn out! Try them with this Vegan Horseradish Aioli!

Crispy baked sweet potato fries on white tray with vegan ranch dip

These homemade baked Sweet Potato Fries are salty, crispy, and delicious. They are a healthy alternative to deep-frying that you can feel good about eating. You might also enjoy these Air Fryer Shishito Peppers. I've tried many methods to make these baked sweet potato fries, and I'll share my best tips with you!

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Why I Love This Recipe
Are Sweet Potatoes Healthy?
Ingredients
Substitutions and Variations
How to Make Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Expert Tips
How to Serve
Storage
Recipe FAQs
Related Recipes
Recipe
Comments

Why I Love This Recipe

It's no secret I love sweet potatoes; I love them in this Vegan Sweet Potato and Bean Stew and these Chocolate Sweet Potato Muffins.
If you bake sweet potato fries long enough, they'll get crispy at the ends; they might almost look burnt with caramelization on the outside, but they'll be soft and sweet on the inside, almost like candy! Doesn't that sound delicious?

Are Sweet Potatoes Healthy?

Yes, sweet potatoes have many health benefits! They are a fantastic source of fiber, vitamin A, and beta-carotene, and they offer more antioxidants and vitamins than white potatoes.

Ingredients

These are the simple ingredients you need from the grocery store to make this delicious baked sweet potato fries recipe:

Organic sweet potato - These are also known as garnet yams at the grocery store. Keep the sweet potato skins on for maximum nutrition and fiber.
Olive oil - I used extra virgin olive oil in this case, although avocado oil or grapeseed oil is fine too.
Organic corn starch - You can use arrowroot powder or arrowroot starch instead to help achieve a crispy exterior.
Fresh parsley - to add color, freshness, and extra texture for garnish.
Cold water for soaking the potato slices - not pictured.

A complete ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Substitutions and Variations

This recipe is flexible. Here are substitutions you can make:

Cornstarch - You can use arrowroot powder instead.
Seasoning- Any seasoning that appeals to you will work - you can try garam masala, sazón, etc.
Oil - You can spray with oil instead of tossing with oil. You can use a flavored oil, such as garlic-infused oil, or infuse the oil yourself with garlic. Use enough oil to coat the potatoes.
Sea salt - You can use kosher salt. I don't recommend table salt because it's highly processed and typically contains additives.
Spicy - Add cayenne pepper.
Flavoring - You can sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, garlic, cumin, Old Bay seasoning, or a mix!
Deluxe - Make loaded sweet potato fries by topping with guacamole, chopped red onion, chopped tomato, cilantro, and vegan queso.
Oil-free - Omit the oil entirely if you wish.
Different shapes - Try cutting the sweet potato into sweet potato wedges or rounds. You may need to adjust the baking time.

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries with vegan ranch dip on white tray with grey napkin

How to Make Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Learn how to make crispy baked sweet potato fries! After soaking the sliced sweet potatoes, toss them with cornstarch, olive oil, sea salt, and seasoning, and bake for around 40 to 45 minutes. This recipe makes four side servings. See the recipe card for the full recipe.

If you're in a rush, you can skip the extra steps associated with soaking.

Step 1: Wash and scrub the sweet potato, then dry it thoroughly. Cut the sweet potato into ¼-inch slices. If you have a large sweet potato like the one pictured in the ingredients photo, It's easiest to cut the sweet potato in half crosswise, then cut each half lengthwise into ¼-inch wide pieces, then cut each piece into ¼-inch wide sticks by hand or a mandolin-place in a bowl.

Freshly cut sweet potato soaking in water in glass bowl

Step 2: Place the sliced sweet potatoes in a bowl of cold water. Let them soak for 30 to 60 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425°F while the sweet potatoes are soaking.
Step 3: Drain the sweet potatoes and rinse them with fresh water. Dry them thoroughly in a single layer by placing them on a lint-free kitchen towel and another towel on top.

Freshly sliced sweet potato tossed with olive oil and spices in glass bowl

Step 4: Place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl and mix thoroughly with olive oil.
Step 5: Combine the cornstarch, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and sea salt. Toss thoroughly with the sweet potatoes.
Step 6: Cut parchment paper to fit your baking tray and set it aside for now. Place the empty baking tray in the oven to get crisper sweet potatoes.

tray of freshly cut sweet potato fries ready to be baked on parchment paper

Step 7: Once your oven is hot enough, carefully remove the hot baking tray and place the parchment paper on it. Line up the sliced sweet potatoes carefully. Do not crowd the sweet potatoes or let them touch each other. Bake for 25 minutes on the top rack.
Step 8: Take the tray out of the oven and flip the fries over with a spatula. Bake for another 15 minutes or until crispy. Observe the fries to prevent them from burning to a crisp! Repeat the baking process for the rest of the fries. You'll get the best results baking one tray at a time.

Tip: Check your fries often to ensure they don't overbake and burn. If you use two baking trays, rotate the trays and switch the placement in the oven. The top tray will crisp up much faster than the lower tray.

Female hand dipping a crispy baked sweet potato fries into vegan horseradish aioli.

Step 9: Take the fries out of the oven and rest for five minutes. Transfer them to a serving platter and sprinkle them with black pepper and parsley.

Note: These aren't super crispy like traditional regular french fries, but they are still tasty! It's not fair to compare these fries to those that are deep-fried.

Expert Tips

Make sure your oven is hot.
Always preheat the sheet pan.
I only bake one sheet at a time, and only as many as can loosely fit on the sheet in one layer.
Get your sweet potato fries as evenly sized as possible.
Check the fries often so they don't overbake and burn.
Once the baked sweet potato fries come out of the oven, let them rest for five minutes on the baking tray and serve immediately. The longer they sit, the more likely they will lose any crispiness.

Fresh baked vegan sweet potato fries with ranch dip on white tray

How to Serve

You can serve these tasty baked sweet potato fries with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce! Here are a few other ideas:

Sriracha mayonnaise
Vegan horseradish garlic aioli
Chipotle aioli
Plant-based yogurt mixed with lime juice and cilantro.
Vegan marinara sauce

Storage

These baked sweet potato fries do not store well; they will lose their crispy texture. Store any leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I don't recommend freezing.

Fresh baked sweet potato fries with fresh parsley garnish

Recipe FAQs

Why are my baked sweet potato fries soggy?

You'll get soggy fries if you cut your fries unevenly and don't bake them long enough and if the fries are touching while they are baking. It's essential to keep the size consistent for the best results and to keep some space between the fries as they are baking.

Why are my baked sweet potato fries burnt?

You might get dry, burnt crisps from the too-small-cut sweet potatoes because they bake quicker than the larger ones. It's necessary to keep the size consistent for the best results. Also, keep a close eye on the sweet potatoes as they are baking to prevent burning. There is a fine line between crispy and burnt.

Do I have to soak the sweet potatoes?

No, you don't have to soak them. But it's essential to follow the other instructions and tips, such as cutting the fries evenly and ensuring your oven and baking sheet are hot enough.

How can I make the baked sweet potato fries crispier?

You can coat the fries with coarsely ground cornmeal (also called polenta here in the USA) to make them crispier. You can also try using the convection oven at 450°F during the last few minutes. However, keep a close watch on the fries and the parchment paper!

If you try this recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you!

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Comments

5 from 161 votes (149 ratings without comment)