Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries are the crunchiest easy side dish with fewer calories and less fat than traditional deep fried French fries! Make these homemade air fried sweet potato fries in minutes that are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and perfect with any meal.

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Fries are one of my go-to cravings, and once I learned to make sweet potato fries in the air fryer, I was hooked! They’re just like my fav restaurant fries but I can make them in less time than driving to pick up takeout. All you need is 15 minutes, a large sweet potato or two, and a few basic seasonings I bet you already have.

This recipe is great for a quick weeknight dinner or a summer cookout, too! It’s so easy to serve with burgers, grilled chicken, ribs, or just a crunchy afternoon snack.

If you love sweet potatoes, try my sweet potato bread and sweet potato curry recipe.

Why You’ll Love these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Ditch the bag of frozen sweet potato fries and make these at home! 

1. They’re so fast to make! Unlike traditional fries, you can let the air fryer do the work. Just flip them when they’re halfway done, and boom! Homemade sweet potato fries in just 15 minutes.
2. Perfect for meal prep. Cut up a bunch of fries on Sunday and enjoy them all week long! They’ll last a couple of weeks in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer!
3. Healthier fries. Remember these are not deep-fried!
4. Great for lunch or dinner. It’s so easy to throw these in the air fryer and have a healthy side dish in a few minutes. I’ve even made them as an after-school snack.

Ingredients Used

I love this air fryer sweet potato fries recipe because all the ingredients are pantry staples for me. Make sure you have these on hand: 

• Sweet Potatoes: I truly love the sweet and savory flavor of sweet potatoes. I serve them with everything! You’ll want about 1 large sweet potato for every 3-4 people, depending on how hungry everyone is.
• Oil: You need a little oil for that extra crunch! Plus, it keeps the sweet potato fries from sticking to the air fryer basket. I use olive oil, but your favorite neutral oil will work, too.
• Spices: I use a combination of garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt on these air fryer sweet potato fries. 

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

How to Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Follow these simple steps for the crunchiest fries without leaving your house. Don’t forget the dipping sauce! Try my fry sauce, Chick-Fil-A Sauce, Cane’s sauce, yum yum sauce, or bang bang sauce. Choose your favorite!

1. Prep the sweet potatoes: First, peel and cut the sweet potatoes with a sharp knife. Cut into ¼” inch sticks.
2. Preheat: Preheat the air fryer for a few minutes. Even if your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat setting, you can set a timer and run it briefly.
3. Season the fries: Then, toss your sweet potato sticks in olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt until they’re fully coated. You can also use cooking spray in place of olive oil.
4. Cook the fries: To cook, put the sweet potato fries in a single layer and air fry. Be sure to flip them halfway through cooking! You may need to make your fries in batches. Serve and enjoy!

If you like these easy sweet potato fries, try these low-carb rutabaga fries! I love them more than regular fries, honestly.

Tips and Tricks

Everyone knows the perfect fry texture as soon as they bite into one. To get it just right, here are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way:

• Keep your fries even. Whether you like shoestring fries or chunky potato wedges, keep all your cuts even. Otherwise, you’ll have some burnt fries and some raw in the middle.
• Always preheat. Just like a traditional oven, you usually want to preheat an air fryer, too. Otherwise, your cook time may be longer and your fries could be soggier.
• Add more or less seasoning. This is a basic sweet potato fries recipe, but you can always change up the seasonings! I recommend definitely using salt to help bring out the natural flavors. Or switch it up with my easy French fry seasoning!
• Air fry right before serving. Sweet potato fries are hard to keep warm without letting them get soggy. Throw them in the air fryer right before it’s time to eat for hot, crispy fries.
• Don’t forget to flip. While an air fryer circulates hot air to cook everything super fast, it’s always best to shake the basket halfway through cooking. That gets the perfect crunch on all sides and helps keep them from sticking.

How Long Does It Take To Cook Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in an Air Fryer?

I like to make my sweet potato fries at home because it’s cheaper and I know exactly what’s in them! However, you can totally cut and season your raw potatoes in advance and freeze them to make later!

To freeze sweet potato fries, put them on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, put them in any freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Now, you’ll always have sweet potato fries on hand without the tedious chopping.

Why Do You Soak Potatoes in Water Before Air Frying?

Traditionally, you soak potatoes in cold water before frying them. It helps remove the excess starches, making for perfectly crispy French fries without double frying them.

However, I don’t think it’s necessary for the air fryer! You can always soak your raw potato sticks before seasoning. If you do, make sure they’re fully dry or the spices will slide right off.

Why Are My Sweet Potato Fries Soggy?

There’s nothing worse than a limp fry. No one asked for spaghetti here!

If you overcrowd the air fryer — or any cooking vessel — food steams instead of browns, resulting in soggy fries or pale chicken. Make sure to give each sweet potato fry plenty of space in the air fryer. No sweet potato fries in the air fryer should be touching. 

Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes I Love

• Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
• Kale Chips in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Chicken Breast
• Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower
• Mushrooms in the Air Fryer
• Lemon Pepper Wings (fry, bake, or air fry!)