Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

5 from 12263 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 12263 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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Recipe Rating




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.

  2. The recipe card does not include soaking, so I missed it. The fries did not crisp up, but they were still devoured. The brown crispy ends tasted like coffee, which my kids were both amused and excited by. My 12 year old wants me to burn a batch so he can have coffee crisps.
    Can you edit the recipe card so I don’t miss the soaking part next time?

    1. Hi there, that was a suggested tip from another kind reader, but it’s not an essential step to the recipe. Sorry they didn’t come out as expected! My best advice to to make sure the sweet potatoes are cut into even sticks so they cook at the same rate.

  3. Hi!! My fries didn’t turn out well. Followed directions exactly including the cold water soak. Any suggestions?

    1. So sorry these didn’t come out as expected. The key to these getting crisp is to make sure you don’t overcrowd the air fryer. You want to start them in a single layer, and about halfway through cooking, flip the potatoes over, or shake the basket to ensure even cooking.

  4. Delicious. I air fried 6 minutes, tossed, air fried 4 more minutes and then hit the air crisp for 2 minutes.

    1. So sorry these didn’t come out as expected. The key to these getting crisp is to make sure you don’t overcrowd the air fryer. You want to start them in a single layer, and about halfway through cooking, flip the potatoes over, or shake the basket to ensure even cooking.

  5. This is to everyone – Soak your sweet potato fries in water for 30 min to an hour, drain and pat dry before you air fry them. This takes out all the starch and allows the fries to crisp up.

      1. I missed this note in the recipe but mine came out great! I didn’t overcrowd them though and I only used 1 sweet potato and cooked in two batches.

  6. Delicious 😋! I followed your recipe and it came out perfect, Shake them once. I added some butter and parsley after cooking, just because I love butter flavor with my sweet potatoes. Thank you Yumna

  7. Preheated my airfryer to 400, and then cooked for the above time. I also added onion powder to the seasoning. Came out perfectly crisp, but soft inside. My kids even liked them, and they don’t like sweet potatoes.

  8. At one point you say to shake the basket
    Multiple times but you also suggest spacing them out. Are you suggestion to lay them out after each shake?

    1. Sorry for any confusion, the key to these getting crisp is to make sure you don’t overcrowd the air fryer. You want to start them in a single layer, and about halfway through cooking, flip the potatoes over, or shake the basket to ensure even cooking.

  9. These took less time in my Ninja air fryer (about 8 min total) but turned out so perfect! Thanks for the great recipe!

    1. Hi Joan, great question! Featured in the pictures is just ketchup – but you can use any type of dipping sauce you’d like!

    1. The weight of the sweet potatoes? They don’t need to be weighed – you can use a s big or as little size sweet potatoes as you want. What makes a difference here is how thick you cut your fries.

  10. same as donna, comes out soggy in middle with burnt ends. gotta put them in the oven and not skimp on the time it takes to dry them out.

        1. I find that when you freeze potatoes or sweet potatoes at home they don’t turn out as well as the ones that are commercially flash frozen. If you make these with fresh sweet potatoes they will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, but I would not recommend freezing them. That said, you can make the same recipe using frozen sweet potato fries from the grocery store to cut down on prep work.

    1. Soggy, not crispy at all I used 2 potatoes and almost 2 tablespoons of olive oil. 1 teaspoon wasn’t even close to an amount. I cut them nice and uniformly thin.

  11. My husband bought me an air fryer for Christmas (a gift for himself basically!) and I thought I would try sweet potato fries- and well here you are my blogger friend. 🙂 Excellent recipe! Highly recommend!

    1. Haha – it’s so nice when you get a present that they want. LOL Thank you so much, Sylvia, glad you guys enjoyed them.

    1. Hi Andrew, thank you for the feedback! Right now we don’t have the conversation capabilities and we test everything in Fahrenheit, and would hate to make a false statement in regards to the temp in Celsius.

      1. Yeah, we haven’t discovered the technology to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius yet. Maybe someday…

      2. Go to Google and type “convert 380 degrees Fahrenheit to Celsius.” Comes to 193.3, so just get close to that and it’ll be fine.

  12. Made these last night, they turned out AMAZING! Don’t forget to preheat the air fryer like the instructions say to. I made some baked chicken and steamed broccoli to go with them.

    1. Thank you so much, Hannah! I agree preheating is an important step in getting the right texture on the fries.

  13. I have a microwave with an air fryer, so that could be the difference. I cut between 1/4″ and 1/2″ and they still weren’t cooked through after about 20 minutes. Next time I’ll make sure to only cut 1/4″ and plan for a longer cook time. The flavor was good though.

    1. Ah, that could be the cause. I find that multi-function products, like a toaster oven with built-in air fryer, microwave, etc. just don’t cook the same. Definitely try the 1/4″ and maybe up the temperature to see if that makes a difference.

  14. I’m not sure what I did wrong, I followed the instructions and watched the fries carefully, but both batches I made (with the second one I tried adjusting the temperature to see if that was maybe the problem) the fries ended up soggy and limp 🙁
    I have a Ninja air fryer, air fried at 375 (there’s no 380 setting), second batch I tried at 360 but the same result 🙁

    1. Hi, I’m so sorry to hear about this. I think something may have gone wrong, possibly one of these: the potatoes were not cut super thin (1/4-inch thickness), the air fryer was not preheated (it needs to be hot when the fries go in), the sweet potatoes were overcrowded in the basket, they were not turned halfway through cooking, or they had too much moisture in them. Could it be one of these issues?

    2. I have the ninja air fryer as well and mine came out soggy also. I think maybe I overcrowded the basket or cut them too thick.

      1. Just made the first batch in my ninja air fryer and they did come out crispy. I had to cut them really thin, and with two potatoes I’m going to have to do five batches in order to not crowd them. I have it set on 390 for 12 minutes. Flip halfway through.

  15. Which setting should I use, the French fries, air fryer, roast. I tried the French fries setting they didn’t come out very good. Any suggestions welcome.

    1. What type of appliance are you using? A standard air fryer or one that has air frying as an option, along with other functions?

  16. I used this method a couple of times, but found they were always either a bit too hard in the middle, or too burnt on the thinner sections. Then I saw on a different recipe where they recommend boiling the slices for a couple of minutes first, and that makes all the difference! They cook quicker, don’t burn and are sooooo delicious.

  17. Aloha Yumna,
    Happy New Year!
    I had just made these and it’s so onolicious! Mahalo for sharing all these recipes of yours.

  18. I tried it with just salt and black pepper as seasoning but it still taste bomb. Had to lower the time ofcourse cuz first batch has black ends on it.

    1. Glad you enjoyed the taste of these sweet potato fries! It’s likely the fries were thinner on the ends, so it cooked quicker.

  19. So good! My toddlers loved these (no leftovers). Super easy to make and felt no guilt eating a bunch them 🙂 I used white sweet potatoes and cooked them for the recommended 12 minutes (I have a Cosori air fryer and cooked two sweet potatoes in two batches). Really happy to have found an awesome recipe so I can make better use of my air fryer!

    1. Thank you! I’m so glad to hear that. Hope you continue to enjoy this recipe and check out the other recipes on my website!

  20. I tried these for the first time tonight, and they were a big hit with me and my family. The only difference was that I had to set the temp to 375 degrees, not 380, as my air fryer doesn’t have that setting. The amount of seasoning was perfect and they were very crispy. Thanks for sharing this recipe. We are definitely going to use it often!

    1. Thank you! Make sure not to overcrowd the basket – 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.

    1. How thin did you cut the fries? 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. Also, make sure not to 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.

  21. So good! I did have to cook about 5 minutes longer than instructed. I added a dash of pumpkin pie seasoning and then drizzled with hot honey. Perfect side to Hot Honey Cornflake Chicken.

  22. I made it for my 10 month old and OMG she absolutely loved it. I made it as is. Thank you so much for this wonderful quick and healthy recipe 💜

  23. Hi Yumna,

    My 18-month old son devoured these fries and I had to tell him to slow down in case he chokes….in other words, thank you for a simple and easy recipe for littles! We appreciate it 💛

  24. Thank you! They turned out great! My fav hack is to add the oil and seasonings to a large bowl first, mix with a rubber spatula, then add food & mix to coat evenly.

  25. These are SOOOO GOOOD!!! I sprinkle grated parmesan over them about 2-3 minutes before they’re done, and then dip in ranch dressing. Oh my…. so good!

    1. You might need to cut the pieces a little bigger! 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.

  26. I’m new to the air fryer and tried sweet potato fries for the first time and they didn’t turn out at all. In fact they weren’t even cooked fully through, and the ones that were cooked were limp and not crispy at all…any suggestions? Am I doing something wrong? I was super disappointed since I spent $200 on this fryer and honestly would have just preferred to use the oven…

    1. I think a key point is to not 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, which might be why it was limp.

  27. Hi there- my air fryer comes with a rotisserie basket for fries. Just wondering if these would cook well in there? or if they should be placed on the racks instead? Thanks!

    1. I have yet to try these in a rotisserie basket, so I’m not sure if they’ll turn out as good. I’d probably try these placed on a rack first!

    2. These absolutely work in the basket, dare I say, a lot better than the tray. They were much more evenly cooked and so crispy, yet soft on the inside. We have the instant pot vortex plus and always use the rotisserie basket for fries.

  28. New to the air fryer- These were easy and so tasty! Crisp on the outside, soft inside and the perfect flavor!! Even my pickiest eaters tried them!

  29. I was so anxious to try these sweet potato fries….mine were soft and seemed dry inside. Any ideas why? Want to try again tonight😅

    1. It should be soft on the inside with a slight crunch on the outside! Is it possible that the basket was overcrowded? 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.

  30. New to air frying trying to eat better for my type 2 problem and I enjoy your video and helpful ways thanks ivan

  31. I loved this recipe! I’m using an older model very small air fryer so the tips about not layering really helped. I didn’t peel my sweet potatoes. I love the flavor and the rustic look good it gives to the finished fries. I use a brush and water to thoroughly clean the skin before slicing. Preheating the air fryer really helped them cook evenly, though it is something I don’t normally do. Thanks! These fries were a hit!

  32. Loved them! Was afraid to try, but your recipe was easy to follow & we really enjoyed! Thanks for sharing!

  33. Delish! I used a large sweet potato, spices and 2 teaspoons of olive oil. The recipe worked like a charm. I preheated air fryer at 380 cooked for 6 minutes flipped the. Cooked them another 6 minutes. Perfecto! Combination of soft on the inside with a slight crunch on the outside. So healthy and nutritious. Thank you for this recipe.

  34. i just bought an air fryer i’m gonna try some of your recipes,,,if you have a book for sale please let me know…thank you..

    1. That’s so exciting! I don’t have a book for sale right now, but I will definitely share if things change!

  35. So good! I made them with Sumac and canola oil and a bit of salt! I have a brand new Ninja Airfryer and it came out amazing!

      1. One of the most disappointing recipes so far. Fries didn’t crisp up all all. Fries burned on the ends and remained limp in the centre as well as cold After two rounds in the frier we took them out , tried a couple and threw them In the trash. Definitely will be looking for a better recipe

        1. I’m so sorry to hear that. 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.

          1. Mine were also limp. Not crispy. My fries were in equal size. I’ll have to find a different recipe.

          2. I’m sorry they turned out that way! The cooking time may have affected the texture. As not all air fryers are the same, I would recommend starting with 10 minutes at 380°F and adding 1-minute incremental cooking time as necessary!

        2. I would try soaking the sweet potato wedges for about 20-30 minutes before frying! That’s how you’re supposed to make regular air fryer fries, soaking helps remove the starch, leads to a better crisp 🙂

    1. I just made the sweet potato fries in my air fryer for the first time tonight. I had read that soaking them in water first then making sure they were completely dry before seasoning and spraying them with oil would result in a crispy fry so I went ahead with those steps. They didn’t crisp up at all. Trying to get them crispy put them in for a couple additional minutes all it did was burn them. I used avocado oil which I always use and I have made frozen steak fries in my airfryer seasoned them first sprayed them with avocado oil and they came out absolutely excellent. Was so looking forward to making the homemade sweet potato fries and I don’t understand why they were soft and burnt and never crisped up? 🤔 Any advice??

      1. Is it possible that you overcrowded the basket? Because 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.

  36. Made this recipe of sweet potatoe fries in my air fryer. I also added seasoning salt as well as the other seasonings. This recipe is super easy and delicious! Thank you!

  37. These were so good! I added a little truffle salt when they came out. Mine were nice and crispy. I don’t really like sweet potatoes that much, but I honestly could barely tell these weren’t white potatoes. I will definitely make them again. Delish!

    1. I’m sorry to hear that’s how it turned out. Could you please let me know what steps you did, so I can help pinpoint what went wrong?

    2. Never have had good luck with sweet tater fries. Mine were limp and I cooked them until they were over done. Ate them as I was hungry. Just me I guess, not the recipe. Will put the left over ones in the dehydrator and make chips for my dog who loves sweet taters.
      Wayne
      Nakusp, B.C.

  38. This was an easy to follow recipe. I couldn’t find the paprika so substituted anatto spice. Very tasty.

  39. Just got the Airfryer XL and christened it with this recipe. Amazing! The seasoning and oil mixture is the perfect ratio. I only had smoked paprika on hand and it worked great. This is going in our favorites!

  40. I just tried this recipe and have a question.
    This was my first time using my new air fryer, so I am most certainly a beginner. I followed the recipe to a T, but my fries did not come out crispy at all. I left them in longer than the recipe said, but even after many of them were brown or burnt, they still didn’t crisp up. Where might I have gone wrong?

    1. 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. Also, 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. Hope this helps!

    1. Nope, it shouldn’t! That may be the case if you use too much oil, but this recipe only calls for 2 tsp of olive oil

    1. We are struggling. They are not crisping up. We spread them out and only put a small amount in. They smell & taste delicious! But they are flaccid ☹️

      1. Another things you could try is cutting the potatoes thinner, as 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. Also, while I recommend cooking it for 12 minutes, this may vary based on your air fryer, so it may take a little longer.

    1. Yay! The cooking time will definitely vary slightly depending on the temperature and the specific air fryer you have.

  41. I followed the directions, but mine came out mushy. They would not crisp up at all. Do you have any suggestions?

    1. I think it’s possible there was a lot of moisture left in the sweet potatoes or there were too many of them in the basket.

  42. I’d like to try this recipe. Couple questions before I start:
    Since we are doing multiple batches, how do we keep them warm while the others cook?
    What happens if I leave the peeling on, will they still cook OK?

    1. Excited for you to give it a try!
      I recommend keeping the cooked batches in a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep air frying and adding to the rack. If they do get cold, you can reheat it in the air fryer at a lower-than-usual temperature, so the air fryer heats up your food without over-cooking it.
      The sweet potatoes will still cook with the peeling on.

  43. Super simple and delicious. Good blend of spices for perfect flavor that doesn’t overpower the great taste of the sweet potato.

  44. Who would have thought that it would be this easy to make a three year old happy while eating healthy food! 🙂 thanks so much for this recipe, it’s as simple as it can get and the fries were perfect.

  45. These were GREAT!
    FYI, I layered the fries on parchment paper stacked on top of each other loosely.
    It took a little longer but I managed to make a whole large potato worth in one go. Went 20 mins @ 400 shaking thoroughly every 5 mins. At 15 Mins I check them in their parchment and removed some of the smaller fries since they’d already reached the desired fry.

  46. I like to drizzle Carmel sauce and pretzel salt on sweet potato fries, Hershey Carmel sauce is the best!!