Craving crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries? You’ve come to the right place! I’m sharing a few of my tips and tricks so you too can have perfectly crispy, oven-baked sweet potato fries. Serves 4.
Unfortunately yet fortunately I’m the only one who likes sweet potato fries in my family. I know right? What’s not to love? They’re slightly sweet, full of vitamins and nutritious goodness and so versatile! Well, so sad for them, but yay because more for me!
Making crispy baked sweet potato fries can be a challenge.
I’ve attempted to make crispy sweet potato fries so.many.times only to have them turn out to be soggy and limp as the result. That was until about 10 years ago, when I started internet sleuthing and took notes on how to get crispy sweet potato fries. So I’ve combined them with a few of my own tricks and compiled a list for you.
HOW TO GET CRISPY FRENCH FRIES:
- Use medium-sized potatoes that similar in shape. Nothing huge, long or overly big in circumference. You want shorter and thinner fries.
- Soak your uncooked potatoes/fries in cold water. (more on that below)
- Toss in seasoned cornstarch (or arrowroot) before baking. (again, more on that below)
- Place your pan in the oven while your oven is preheating. This gets the pan hot and (with the help of oil) helps keep the fries from sticking.
- Serve immediately. Baked fries will lose some of their crispiness as they sit – they’re still delicious tho!
T0 Make These Baked Sweet Potato Fries You Will Need:
- sweet potatoes – Medium-ish and similar in size and shape.
- cornstarch – Aids in crisping the fries when baking.
- garlic powder – Adds flavor that’s sweeter yet milder than fresh garlic.
- paprika – Adds color and subtle flavor.
- onion powder – Lends additional bold oniony flavor.
- kosher salt – Enhances the flavors of the fries.
- freshly ground black pepper – Adds some subtle bite and flavor.
- avocado oil spray (or extra light olive oil spray)- For spraying your preheated pan. Keeps the fries from sticking.
- avocado oil (or extra light olive oil) – Helps to keep the seasoned cornstarch to stick, while also keeping the fries from sticking to the pan. You will need both the oil and nonstick spray.
Feel free to play with the spices! Try adding some chipotle powder or cayenne for a spicy kick!
Start by scrubbing 2 to three medium sweet potatoes that are similar in size and shape. Avoid huge, fat sweet potatoes.
Peel and trim the ends off of the sweet potatoes. Cut into flat planks and then slice those into 1/4-inch(ish) sticks or fries.
Soak the fries in a bowl filled with cold water for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. If soaking for longer than 2 hours, I personally would refrigerate.
Why Is It Important To Soak Potatoes In Water?
Believe it or not, soaking in water will remove the starch from the potato/fries. This in turn will then help the fries crisp up in the oven. I’ve read that it’s the starch in the potatoes that hangs onto moisture/water and is why sweet potatoes (or any potato really) are soggy when baked! I also notice my fries don’t burn as easily when I soak them, due to having less starch I presume. When you go to drain the potatoes/fries you will see that the water is cloudy and starchy looking.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, measure and add 2 tablespoons cornstarch (or arrowroot), 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
Why Toss Potatoes In Cornstarch?
Using cornstarch (or arrowroot) is optional. However it does add a light coating to the fries and helps them brown and crisp up in the oven.
Stir this together until thoroughly combined. Set off to the side.
Place an empty, rimmed (half sheet pan) metal baking sheet in the oven and then preheat your oven (with the pan) to 425°
Meanwhile, drain the sweet potato fries into a colander and rinse well under water.
Transfer to a clean kitchen towel and towel-dry thoroughly.
While they were in the colander, I quickly wash and towel dry the bowl they were soaking in. Then I threw them back into the clean bowl and added 2 tablespoons avocado oil.
Toss to coat evenly.
Add the seasoned cornstarch.
Again, toss until evenly coated.
Once the oven has preheated, use oven mitts to remove the hot pan and place on a heat safe surface. Generously spray the preheated/hot pan with avocado oil. Then add the sweet potato fries and spread in an even layer. Bake for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, remove the pan and use tongs to carefully turn each fry. If they happen to stick just give it a minute and come back to that one. Once given a chance to cool a little, they should unstick themselves.
Once golden, taste and add more salt if desired, otherwise serve immediately. Baked fries will always lose some of their crispiness as they sit.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce. I like ketchup, fry sauce and sometimes maple syrup 🤭.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FRENCH FRY AND POTATO WEDGE RECIPES!
Enjoy! And if you give this Baked Sweet Potato Recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch, or arrowroot
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, plus more if desired
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil, or extra light olive oil
- avocado oil nonstick spray, or extra light olive oil spray
Instructions
- Start by scrubbing 2 medium sweet potatoes that are similar in size and shape. Peel and trim the ends off of the sweet potatoes. Cut into flat 1/4-inch planks and then slice those into 1/4-inch(ish) sticks or fries.
- Soak the fries in a bowl filled with cold water for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. If soaking for longer than 2 hours, I personally would refrigerate.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, measure and add the cornstarch, kosher salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and freshly ground black pepper. Stir this together until thoroughly combined. Set off to the side.
- Place a empty, rimmed metal baking (half) sheet in the oven and then preheat your oven (with the pan) to 425°
- Meanwhile, drain the sweet potato fries into a colander and rinse well under water. Transfer to a clean kitchen towel and towel-dry thoroughly.
- Place the sweet potatoes into the bowl (I washed the one they were soaking in while they were in the colander) and toss in the avocado oil. Add the seasoned cornstarch and toss well to coat evenly.
- Once the oven has preheated, use oven mitts to remove the hot pan and place on a heatproof surface. Generously spray the preheated/hot pan with avocado oil. Then add the sweet potato fries in an even layer.Bake for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, remove the pan and use tongs to carefully turn each fry. If they happen to stick just give it a minute and come back to that one. Once given a chance to cool a little, they should unstick themselves.
- Rotate the pan and continue to bake for 5-10 minute increments until the fries are crispy – or about 10 to 15 minutes more.
- Once golden and crispy, taste and add more salt if desired. Baked fries will always lose some of their crispiness as they sit, so it's always best to serve immediately.
Notes
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Yum! I just made sweet potato fries for dinner last week! Glad to know I’m not the only one who likes to leave a little skin on them. 🙂
I could honestly eat these for breakfast they look so good!! I love sweet potato fries and have found the very same thing. The smaller the better! These look crazy good!
I could SOOOO eat them for breakfast too… with a fried egg on top! :)Thanks Tieghan!
These look delicious and SO CRISPY. Next time I will soak my fries in water.
fries are my JAM. like, i can eat them as a full on meal any day!! these look so crispy and good!!
Friend!!!! These are amazing! I could eat an entire pan of these bad boys. Also, I definitely need to quick slacking and soak them. I hear it’s life changing!
I LOVE that you used the soaking method! It also helps to crisp them by water logging them so they do not absorb excess moisture while being fried/baked. 🙂
soaking them in water definitely helps, but what i found to help the most in making super crispy sweet potato fries is to toss them in a bit of whipped up egg whites (sounds gross, but trust me here!), just make sure to seriously grease your pan or they will stick!
Sweet potato fries are favorite around here! I’m going to have to try your trick of soaking them in water next time!
I love that you baked your fries and they turned out that crispy!!! I hate frying so much, so I only bake my fries. Definitely need to try the soaking method….it totally makes sense! LOVE this recipe Laurie!
I love nothing more than sweet potato fries. Love these seasonings!
Love these crispy, spicy fries, Laurie! Mine have only ever gone soggy but I’m determined to try your recipe now!
Can you believe that I’m the only one in my household that likes sweet potatoes? Which is good because I get to eat them all, and bad because…. then I eat them all.
ANd I would ALL of those without feeling bad at all.
I don’t usually comment on your blog (though it’s one of my favorites!) but these look great! Baked sweet potato fries are one of my favorite foods. Have you tried baking them with a little honey? The honey crisps them up so they caramelize on the outside really well, and it complements the spice/heat of the cayenne and cumin nicely — it’s my go-to way of preparing them. I’ll have to try the soaking method too!
Sweet potato fries are the best comfort food! Love these!!
I am constantly trying to figure out some kind of super secret way to get crispy fries in the oven. I am going to try your way and let you know! So far I haven’t found any super secrets 🙁
xo Jackie
Being a Southener, I’ve grown up eating baked sweet potatoes with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar. Besides the good spices you have selected, try adding a little brown sugar. It is delicious! Your girls may even agree. Sweet potato fries never tasted right until I started adding the little bit of sugar.
wow these look so good, on my to make list
My husband loves sweet potatoes. We normally make chips but I think we need to switch to fries!
Wow the seasoning on these sounds delicious! I am totally trying these! Thanks for a delicious recipe 🙂
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I just tried these using “spiralized” sweet potatoes. They did not get crispy and the spices were a bit heavy for me, masking the sweet potato taste. Any help as far as why they didn’t crisp up? Thanks!
Hi Rita! It’s really hard to say… It could be a couple reasons. By chance did you soak them? It also could be as simple as needing more time in the oven. Hope this helps!
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Mm these look really good, got to give these a go. Thanks for sharing.
Simon
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Thanks for the tips!! Soggy fries were driving me nuts!
Tried all the suggestions for the baked fries I quit. I think the only way is going to be is deep fry.
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