Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

5 from 12150 votes

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries are a lighter alternative to deep fried sweet potatoes side dish with less calories, less fat, & cooked in less than 15 minutes

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If you recently got an air fryer and excited to try some recipes, these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries are a great starting point! You can also consider making regular Air Fryer Potatoes or Air Fryer Chicken – all great starter recipes. These potatoes are so versatile, tasty and pair well with main dishes for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I know you will love these crispy chips!

Air fryer sweet potato fries served with ketchup on a plate
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Making sweet potato fries (or chips for my non-American friends!) in the air fryer compared to deep frying and even compared to baking uses less oil. So you’ll end up consuming less fat and less calories. And they still have a slight crisp on the outside with a tender bite on the inside.

RECIPE VIDEO TUTORIAL

How to cut sweet potato fries

Start with two medium size sweet potatoes and try to look for ones that are not too long. This way you can use the full length of the sweet potatoes as the length of the fry. Remember that these air fryer sweet potato fries will shrink after cooking, so look for a shape slightly longer than the ideal fry length.

Two medium size sweet potatoes potatoes before peeling and cutting

Next, peel the sweet potatoes, and cut off the skinny ends. You can save those for a different recipe. Then cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. This will make it easier to lay them flat on the a cutting board and start cutting into long slices.

The thinner you cut them, the more crispy they will be. I recommend that you cut them 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thickness. Learn other ways to cut sweet potatoes here.

Sliced raw sweet potatoes on a cutting board

How to cook air fryer sweet potato fries

Now that you have the sweet potatoes sliced, you’re ready to cook them in the air fryer. Most air fryers require preheating for best results. While the air fryer is preheating, you can select the seasoning for the air fryer sweet potato fries.

I like to keep it simple. I toss it with just a teaspoon of olive oil, along with garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Use your hands to make sure each fry is coated well with the seasoning.

Sweet potatoes sliced in a bowl with olive oil and seasoning

Then place the sweet potatoes into the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. At the halfway cooking point, shake the basket to make sure they are cooking evenly, and then continue cooking. Each air fryer is different, so you may want to watch the first batch to make sure that the cooking temperature and time yield the results you’re looking for.

Showing the sweet potato fries in air fryer before and after cooking

Tips for making air fryer potatoes

  1. Cut the potatoes evenly. To ensure even cooking time for all the potatoes, try using sweet potatoes that are similar in size. It helps to use a very sharp knife and lay the potato halves flat on a cutting surface to cut them evenly. This way nothing over-cooks or under-cooks.
  2. Don’t forget to preheat. While it’s actually not necessary to preheat all air fryers, most do recommend it. Even if your air fryer doesn’t recommend preheating, I think it’s a crucial step to ensure accurate cooking at the temperature you select.
  3. Don’t overcrowd the basket. It’s tempting to throw all the potatoes in there at once. But if you overcrowd the basket and these air fryer sweet potato fries overlap, you may end up creating a steaming effect instead of crisping effect.
  4. Turn the sweet potatoes half way through cooking. You can shake the basket or use tongs to turn the sweet potatoes. While the air does circulate all around the potatoes, the heat on the bottom is stronger than the top, which is why this tip is important.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of oil is best for air fryer sweet potato fries?

You can use any oil you’d like. Many would recommend using a high smoke point oil like avocado oil or canola oil. But I love the flavor of olive oil and found great results with it. You can also use cooking spray.

How long should I cook sweet potato fries in air fryer?

This will depend on the temperature and the specific air fryer you have. I like using the Instant Pot Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer, and I would recommend starting with 10 minutes at 380°F and adding 1-minute incremental cooking time as necessary.

How do I cook frozen sweet potato chips in the air fryer?

If you prefer to start with frozen sweet potatoes, you can still use this recipe and cook at the same temperature. But keep in mind that the frozen sweet potatoes will need about 5 additional minutes in the air fryer.

Grabbing one fry from plate of sweet potato fries

For more air fryer recipes:

For more potato recipes:

Making sweet potato fries in the air fryer is much healthier than deep frying. You’ll still get a nice crisp and great flavor while saving on calories and fat. These make a perfect side dish for many recipes and also make a great snack to dip with ketchup or your favorite sauce!

If you’ve tried this healthy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries are a lighter alternative to deep fried sweet potatoes side dish with less calories, less fat, & cooked in less than 15 minutes
5 from 12150 votes
Servings 2 servings
Course Side Dish
Calories 232
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes

Video

Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Peel the sweet potatoes, then slice each potato into even ¼ inch thick sticks.
  • Place the sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl, and toss with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, paprika and black pepper.
  • Cook in 2 or 3 batches, depending on the size of your basket without overcrowding the pan until they’re crispy. I recommend 12 minutes, turning half way. This may vary based on your air fryer.
  • Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last about 3-4 days in the fridge. To reheat, just place in the air fryer at 360°F for 1-2 minutes or in a toaster oven. You can also reheat in the microwave but the potatoes will be soft if heated in the microwave.
Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However you can switch out the spices and use a different oil
Equipment: I used the NuWave Air Fryer to make this recipe. It’s easy to use with guides on the appliance, easy to clean up and I’ve been very happy with the results!

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 706mg, Potassium: 774mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 32186IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 70mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
Course: Side Dish

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Comments

  1. Did these for over 12 minutes, came out still raw inside while the ends were burnt, cooked for another 5 and still underdone! Did in two batches with two medium sweet potatoes, each time in max two layers, shaking twice while baking.

      1. 200C (=390F), preheated as I’d already cooked something else in there before the first batch, and the second batch went in right after the first was out.

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