Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/27/21
air fryer sweet potato fries

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Dry Time: 8 hrs
Total: 8 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 cups
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
91 Calories
3g Fat
14g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 91
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 100mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 11mg 56%
Calcium 24mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 282mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Air fryers make it possible to create so many different, delicious dishes without an excess of oil. These sweet potato fries are no exception. Air fryer sweet potato fries are 100 percent crispy, flavorful, and low in fat. This method works so much better than baking to achieve crispy, crunchy results with a nice creamy center. Cornstarch is added to the seasonings the potatoes are tossed with, which helps the fries crisp perfectly without deep-frying. Storing them in the fridge overnight after cutting them helps to dry them, out, too, but this recipe will still work without that step. Just be sure to pat them dry of as much moisture as possible moisture.

This is a great small-batch recipe and makes enough for two to four people. If you are looking for a larger quantity, you can easily double the recipe. If you happen to have any left over, these fries also reheat extremely well. If you like to batch cook, you can freeze them and then air fry again when you are ready to eat. 

Serve these fries with your favorite sandwich, burger, or even a steak.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for air fryer sweet potatoes

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  2. Scrub and peel sweet potatoes.

    Scrubbed and peeled sweet potato

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  3. Cut sweet potatoes into evenly sized matchsticks. Make sure they are square on all six sides so they cook evenly, and cut them to a similar in length. Place sticks in refrigerator overnight to dry them out. Or if you’re looking to make them faster, just dry off as much of the moisture as possible.

    Sweet potatoes cut into matchsticks on a cutting board

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  4. Toss sweet potatoes with olive oil, cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a large bowl until sweet potatoes are completely coated.

    Sweet potato fries coated in oil and seasonings

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  5. Heat air fryer to 400 F for 8 minutes. Add sweet potato fries to preheated air fryer basket in one even layer. Do not overlap fries or they will not crisp properly.

    Sweet potato fries in an air fryer basket

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  6. Cook at 400 F for 8 to 10 minutes. Check after 8 minutes to see if they need to be cooked for longer. (Every air fryer is slightly different). Remove from air fryer and sprinkle with more salt, if needed. Keep warm in a 200 F oven while you prepare the next batch, or eat them right away. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces, such as an aioli with garlic or pesto.

    Cooked sweet potato fries in the air fryer

    The Spruce

How do you freeze sweet potato fries?

Place the air fried and cooled fries on a sheet pan and place in the freezer. Freeze for 1 to 2 hours or until frozen solid. Then place them in a freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 4 months. 


You can pop them right back in the air fryer for 6 to 8 minutes at 400 F to re-crisp them.

Variations

Smoked paprika tastes delicious on these fries, but you can substitute it with regular sweet paprika or hot paprika. You can add any other spices that suit your taste such as Old Bay seasoning. Or just use salt and pepper.