Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries (+ tips for cooking!)

Finally sharing one of the made recipes in our house – air fryer sweet potato fries! Easy to make, perfectly seasoned, and always so good.

In all seriousness, we make air fryer potatoes at least 3-4 times a week. My favorite is sweet potato fries and my husband loves your classic french fry – so it usually just depends on what we have on hand and who does the chopping!

I have become obsessed with my air fryer since getting it back in 2018. We sometimes use it multiple times a day. And sweet potato fries in the air fryer are by far one of my favorite things to make in it!

These air fryer sweet potato fries taste just like getting them at a restaurant but are made without all the oil and deep-frying. They are lightly coated in a little oil, tossed with some sweet and savory spices, and cooked for about 30-35 minutes in your air fryer.

They come out nice and crisp on the outside while being tender in the middle. We love making them as an easy side dish or any meal or to accompany burger night. Served with some burger/fry sauce, it’s a perfect match!

Are sweet potato fries healthy?

Making fries in the air fryer is a great healthy alternative to your typical deep-fried french fries. They are a lot lower in fat as they require a lot less oil to cook. One serving of these is only 227 calories with 7 grams of fat, while your typical serving of sweet potato fries from a restaurant can have 330 calories and 22 grams of fat.

How to cut sweet potato fries

One of the key tips for crispy sweet potato fries is cutting uniform french fries. There are plenty of shapes and sizes you can cut, but we are making your standard 1/2-inch thick french fries. This is the easiest way I have found to cut the sweet potato into fries:

1. Wash/scrub your sweet potato to remove any excess dirt. Using a sharp knife, place your sweet potato on a cutting board and cut off the ends.
2. Position the sweet potato so one of the ends is facing you (it should be up and down lengthwise). Holding the sweet potato, cut off about 1/2 inch of one side. This leaves you with a smaller flat surface on one side of the potato (depending on how big your potato is). Place the sweet potato flat side down so it is against the cutting board. Now you have a stable base to cut the remainder of your sweet potato.
3. Continue to cut into 1/2-inch thick slices. Then cut those slices into 1/2-inch thick french fries. Try to make them as uniform as possible, as that will help with even cooking time.

I find that cutting them into 1/2-inch thick pieces is the perfect size for fries because they will shrink as they cook down. That being said, you could cut them smaller or larger depending on what you like. You will have to adjust the cooking time if you choose to do that.

Ingredients

• sweet potatoes
• oil
• cumin
• paprika
• cinnamon
• salt and pepper

How to make air fryer sweet potato fries

1. Cut your sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch fries/matchsticks. See the section above for step-by-step directions/photos if needed.
2. Coat the potatoes. Add sweet potato fries to a large bowl and add oil, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, salt, and pepper, making sure to coat each fry evenly.
3. Carefully arrange your air fryer basket so you can allow for even airflow. I like to kind of stack them in different ways (see pictures above). You might have to cook your sweet potato fries in two batches depending on how big your air fryer is. The less you have in there, the less time and the crispier they will get. Two batches are enough for most air fryers.
4. Cook fries. Close the drawer and set it to 400 degrees for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, take the basket and shake it up some to move the fries around. I like to do this over the sink for easy cleanup. Briefly arrange the fries again to make sure air can evenly flow through them. Cook for another 10 minutes. Check to see how they look and cook for an additional 1-5 minutes if needed (I will add 1-2 minutes at a time and check to make sure they aren’t burning). Make sure to open the drawer of the air fryer once done or they can steam in there.
5. Enjoy! Once done, sprinkle with some sea salt before serving, and serve with burger sauce, ketchup, honey mustard, or whatever you like!

What to serve with sweet potato fries

• burger salad
• chicken burgers
• instant pot buffalo chicken with a salad or veggies

And of course, what is a good french fry with a good sauce?! Here are some of my favorite dips (I am not a ketchup person):

• special sauce – a match made in heaven and by far one of our favorite sauces
• avocado sauce
• buffalo sauce
• tzatziki sauce – for a little greek vibe
• jalapeno honey mustard

Tips for crispy air fryer sweet potato fries

Sweet potatoes can be hard to get crispy since they have different starch content than white potatoes. That is why they are usually fried. But by using an air fryer, you can still get the same results, you just need to make sure you cook them right. Here are some of my tips to get crispy sweet potato fries in the air fryer.

• cut in uniform shape – cutting your potatoes in uniform shape and size will help ensure an even cooking. We don’t want some fries undercooked and others burnt. It doesn’t have to be perfect but try to get them the same thickness.
• cooking at high temperatures – high temperatures are what help them get crispy and brown on the outside. I suggest cooking at 400 degrees. With my air fryer, you don’t need to preheat it, but check your manual if that is something yours recommends. I find it to be a waste of time/energy (even in the oven!).
• flip and check them – shake/flip them halfway through to ensure all sides are cooking evenly. You can even check on them/shake them up more often – every 5-10 minutes would work too. Towards the end of the cooking time, you want to check in on them frequently. I have found that they can go from perfectly cooked to overcooked in 1-2 minutes. Around the 25-30 minute mark, I will add 1-2 minutes at a time and check to make sure they aren’t burning.
• don’t overcrowd the basket – we like to make a lot at once, but you don’t want to fill your basket up too much. With the technology of the air fryer, the air needs room to circulate, which helps get things so crispy. I like to layer strategically so it allows for the air to flow, but I can also make a decent amount at one time. Some recipes have you put them in one layer! It will depend on the size of your air fryer, but you should be good with 1-2 batches for these french fries in the air fryer.
• tossing in a little flour if you like (optional) – if you want crispy restaurant-style sweet potato fries, toss them in a little flour along with the spices. I like tapioca flour or arrowroot starch for a gluten-free option, but any flour would work. You can use 1-2 tablespoons depending on your preference.

Storage and reheating

• refrigerator – if you have leftovers, allow them to cool completely (so no moisture forms) and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 days.
• freezer – allow them to cool completely. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single layer and place in the freezer for 1-2 hours until frozen. Then place in a storage bag for up to 3 months. Freezing them in a single layer allows them not to stick together when you put them in a bag/container.
• reheating – to heat them up you can put them back in the air fryer for 4-6 minutes.

More healthy air fryer recipes

• rosemary garlic air fryer potatoes
• air fryer chicken parmesan
• crispy air fryer buffalo wings
• air fryer buffalo cauliflower
• air fryer french fries

If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!