Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Best Alternative to French Fries (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Kushi · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Best sweet potato fries. These fries are oven-baked with crispy edges and are highly addictive. They are sweet and salty; you can make them spicy, too. Perfect for evening snacks or as a side for dinner parties with a co*cktail or mocktail.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Best Alternative to French Fries (1)
Jump to:
  • Recipe card
  • Oven-baked sweet potato fries
  • Ingredients
  • How to make sweet potato fries in the oven?
  • Tips
  • Store and Freeze
  • Air fryer sweet potato fries
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More sweet potato recipes to try
  • User Reviews

Recipe card

Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Best Alternative to French Fries (2)

Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Best Alternative to French Fries

Kushi

Best Sweet Potato Fries. These fries are oven-baked with crispy edges and are highly addictive. They are sweet and salty; you can make them spicy, too. Perfect for evening snacks or as a side for dinner parties with a co*cktail or mocktail.

5 from 14 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 Large Sweet Potato
  • 2 tablespoon Olive oil or Vegetable oil
  • Cayenne powder or Red chile powder More seasoning options in tips
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

How to make sweet potato fries in the oven?

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line the baking sheets with parchment paper if needed and keep it aside.

  • I washed the sweet potato and did not peel it. (It's your choice to peel or not). It tastes great both ways.

    1 Large Sweet Potato

  • Cut sweet potatoes into three inches-long and ¼-inch-wide slices.

  • Transfer it to a bowl and add oil; mix well to combine.

    2 tablespoon Olive oil or Vegetable oil

  • Sprinkle salt and cayenne powder / red chile powder as per your taste and mix with your hands so pieces are coated in oil and spices. (Use any seasoning of your choice at this point).

    Cayenne powder or Red chile powder, Salt

  • Spread the sweet potatoes in one single layer on a baking pan. Do not overcrowd the pan.

  • Bake for about 20 minutes until they are crisp at the edges or till you obtain the desired color and crispiness. Turn all the pieces at the 10-minute mark while baking. (Don't worry about the edges getting browner as they taste caramelized and not burnt.)

  • Serve hot with tomato ketchup, and enjoy. Garnish it with parmesan cheese if desired.

Air fryer sweet potato fries

  • Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F. Once you toss the sweet potato slices in oil, salt, and spices, arrange them in a single layer in batches based on the size of your basket. Do not overcrowd. Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway.

Notes

  • How to season sweet potato fries? Use only salt or any spice combination from the list: Cajun seasoning, pepper powder, garlic salt, red pepper flakes, chipotle powder, Indian garam masala, Chinese five-spice, etc.
  • Cooking time varies based on the size of the oven and the thickness of your sweet potato fries. The longer you bake, the crispier it will be, but be careful as it takes a little time to turn from brown to burnt.
  • Cut the sweet potatoes evenly, if possible, to cook at the same rate.
  • For a richer flavor, you can toss the fries with melted butter.
  • If you overcrowd the pan, you are simply steaming. Fries won't get crispier.
  • If you love the fresh flavor of the spices and do not want to overdo it, add only salt and oil before baking. Add spices after they are out of the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 221kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 2gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 62mgPotassium: 381mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 16031IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Oven-baked sweet potato fries

Sweet potato fries are easy to make and the best way to include vegetables in your diet. To oven-bake these, simply cut the potatoes, toss them with oil and spices of your choice, and bake until crispy.

Baked fries taste much better as you can enjoy the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes. Sweet potato fries are the best alternative to traditional french fries. Check out our keto french fries(jicama fries) recipe.

Ingredients

Sweet potatoes: You can make about two servings with one large potato. So use it as needed.

Oil: Adds moisture and also helps the seasoning to stick to the potatoes.

Seasonings: From plain salt to garlic salt, pepper powder, cayenne, paprika, five spices, and garam masala; use any spices you choose.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Best Alternative to French Fries (3)

How to make sweet potato fries in the oven?

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line the baking sheets with parchment paper if needed and keep it aside.
  • I washed the sweet potato and did not peel it. (It's your choice to peel or not). It tastes great both ways.
  • Cut sweet potatoes into three inches-long and ¼-inch-wide slices.
  • Transfer it to a bowl and add oil; mix well to combine.
  • Sprinkle salt and cayenne powder / red chile powder as per your taste and mix with your hands so pieces are coated in oil and spices. (Use any seasoning of your choice at this point).
  • Spread the sweet potatoes in one single layer on a baking pan. Do not overcrowd the pan.
  • Bake sweet potatoes for about 20 minutes until they are crisp at the edges or till you obtain the desired color and crispiness. Turn all the pieces at the 10-minute mark while baking. (Don't worry about the edges getting browner as they taste caramelized and not burnt.)
  • Serve hot with tomato ketchup, and enjoy. Garnish it with cheese if desired.
Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Best Alternative to French Fries (4)

Tips

  • How to season sweet potato fries? Use only salt or any spice combination from the list: Cajun seasoning, pepper powder, garlic salt, red pepper flakes, chipotle powder, Indian garam masala, Chinese five-spice, etc.
  • Cooking time varies based on the size of the oven and the thickness of your sweet potato fries. The longer you bake, the crispier it will be, but be careful as it takes a little time to turn from brown to burnt.
  • Cut the sweet potatoes evenly, if possible, to cook at the same rate.
  • For a richer flavor, you can toss the fries with melted butter.
  • If you overcrowd the pan, you are simply steaming. Fries won't get crispier.
  • If you love the fresh flavor of the spices and do not want to overdo it, add only salt and oil before baking. Add spices after they are out of the oven.

Store and Freeze

Leftover baked fries can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three days. Reheat them in the oven or air fryer, and do not microwave them for them to be crispy.

You can freeze them in ziplock or freezer bags for three months. You don't need to thaw. Simply spread them on a baking pan and heat them at 400 degrees until heated through and they become crisp.

Air fryer sweet potato fries

Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F. Once you toss the sweet potato slices in oil, salt, and spices, arrange them in a single layer in batches based on the size of your basket. Do not overcrowd. Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway until crisp and brown.

Recipe FAQs

How do you tell when the sweet potato fries are done?

Bake them at high heat. Sweet potatoes will turn brown and crispy at the edges when done. But it takes seconds to turn from brown to burnt, so keep an eye on it once it becomes dark.

How to season sweet potato fries?

Use only salt and oil or butter or any spice combination from the list: Cajun seasoning, pepper powder, garlic salt, red pepper flakes, chipotle powder, Indian garam masala, Chinese five-spice, etc.

Why don't sweet potato fries get crispy?

If you overcrowd the pan, you are steaming it, and it will only turn soggy. To make them crispy, spread them on a single layer with space between the fries.

More sweet potato recipes to try

  • Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
  • Roasted Sweet Potatoes
  • Sweet Potato Dumplings | Sweet Potato Pierogi
  • Easy Sweet Potato Fritters | Sweet Potato Pakora (Bajji)

Did you like this recipe?Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating belowand/or a review in the comments section. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Note: We originally posted this oven-baked sweet potato fries in March 2016. It has now been modified in Jan 2024 with Expert Chef Tips, FAQs, Storage Instructions, etc.

More Best Appetizer Recipes: Tasty Bites for Every Occasion

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Revathi

    Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Best Alternative to French Fries (13)
    Such a delicious and healthy snack. Looks perfect. Love that it is baked and not fried 🙂

    Reply

    • Kushi

      Thank you Revathi 🙂

      Reply

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Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe - Best Alternative to French Fries (2024)

FAQs

What is the best substitute for French fries? ›

Here are five of them!
  • 1.Baked Potato. If you have an intense potato craving but don't want to indulge in french fries, the baked potato is a great substitution. ...
  • 2.Green Beans. ...
  • 3.Side Salad. ...
  • 4.Rice. ...
  • 5.Grilled Vegetables. ...
  • Healthier Sides at Tampa Steak Restaurants.
Jan 11, 2022

Are baked sweet potato fries healthier than regular fries? ›

Sweet potato fries are slightly higher in calories and carbs but also more nutrient dense than French fries. The greatest nutrient difference is that French fries have no vitamin A, while sweet potato fries are high in this nutrient. Vitamin A is important for your vision and immune system ( 2 ).

Why won't my sweet potato fries get crispy? ›

The secret to crispy (instead of soggy) sweet potato fries is to spread them out in an even layer with enough room so that they don't touch. This is especially important if you're making a big batch of fries. Instead of just piling more onto one baking pan, spread them out over two baking pans or cook them in batches.

What type of sweet potato is best for fries? ›

Hannahs are dense, firm, and creamy, and much less prone to becoming waterlogged than orange sweet potatoes. Their firmness and dense texture makes Hannah sweet potatoes ideal for roasting in chunks, turning into fries, or mashing as a side dish.

Are baked french fries better for you than fried? ›

There are many advantages of baked fries over fried fries. Baked fries are lower in calories and fat, and they're also much easier to make at home. When you fry potatoes, a lot of the potato's natural nutrients are lost in the process. But when you bake potatoes, they retain more of their vitamins and minerals.

What is a good substitute for french fries for diabetics? ›

Rutabaga Fries - using rutaba to make fries is an excellent way to enjoy them without all the extra carbs. Feel good Foodie has a Rutabaga Fries recipe that I enjoy. Jicama Fries - similar to rutabaga fries but closer to a potato jicama can also make a great french fry alternative while keeping it low carb.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

Why do sweet potato fries taste so bad? ›

If you've made sweet potato fries a few times yet, they never turn out as good as when you have them at a restaurant, you're skipping one secret ingredient: starch. Often cornstarch is the missing element to the best fries ever. It's what makes them deliciously crispy on the outside and tender on the inside every time.

How do you make sweet potato fries less soggy? ›

Cornstarch really helps to get the outsides crisp!

I've played around with various amounts of cornstarch and olive oil and found the perfect ratio. I've experimented with arrowroot starch as well, and it produced fries that were somewhat less crisp, but it's worth using if that's what you have.

Which sweet potato is best for baking? ›

Jewel. With copper skin and deep-orange flesh that's moist and tender when cooked, the jewel is a go-to potato for traditional baking and casseroles.

What is the difference between yam fries and sweet potato fries? ›

No, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.

What is a healthy alternative to potato chips? ›

Fruits and vegetables can be turned into chips – with less fat and more nutrients:
  • Kale chips.
  • Apple slices with nut butter.
  • Baked zucchini chips.
  • Roasted chickpeas.
  • Baked banana chips.
  • Baked green bean chips.
  • Baked apple chips.
  • Roasted brussels sprouts.

What to do if I'm craving fries? ›

Craving: fries

Instead opt for fats that are good for you from oily fish, nuts, seeds or add some olive oil to your food. If you really have to have fries, oven-baked sweet potato fries drizzled with olive oil are a good substitute for fries as they absorb less oil and you get additional nutrients from the yams.

Why are potatoes healthy but not french fries? ›

“The issue lies in what you add to it,” she says. Sundfør is a trained clinical nutritionist and has a doctorate in nutrition. “Yes, they're potatoes, but french fries also include fat and salt, and some even include a little sugar in the frying oil. The fat is left to soak in, which makes the fries very energy-dense.

What to eat on keto when craving fries? ›

Best Keto, Low-Carb "French Fries"
  • Polenta Fries. Andrew Purcell. ...
  • Baked Zucchini Fries. Beth Moncel. ...
  • Green Bean Fries. Sugar Free Mom. ...
  • Turnip Fries. Low Carb So Simple. ...
  • Roasted Carrot and Parsnip Fries. Sugar Free Mom. ...
  • Chickpea Fries with Avocado Garlic Aioli. ...
  • Low-Carb Chili Cheese Fries. ...
  • Crispy Oven Fried Low-Carb Zucchini Fries.
Jan 30, 2024

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