Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Step aside, potato recipes—sweet potatoes are a hearty, healthier alternative! Whether they're baked and topped with butter or roasted and mashed for a holiday casserole, they're delicious because they can lean either sweet or savory. Just look to one of our favorite iterations: sweet potato fries. Just like other air fryer recipes, making these air fried sweet potato fries uses less oil, which translates to less fat if you're on a journey to better health. The ultimate side to a classic cheeseburger, but easy enough to whip up for an after-school snack, these air-fried spuds are quick, crispy, and undeniably delicious. (Even Alex Drummond and her husband Mauricio agree!)

How do you make sweet potato fries taste better?

A few simple seasonings will do the trick! Savory cumin and spicy cayenne perfectly complement the sweetness of sweet potatoes. Just like other French fries, these sweet potato fries pair well with a tangy creamy honey mustard for dipping.

Why are my sweet potato fries soggy in the air fryer?

There are two things that can combat soggy sweet potato fries in the air fryer. First, remove as much moisture from the surface of the potatoes as possible. A quick pat all over the cut potatoes with a paper towel can help with that. Secondly, leave adequate space between each of the fries while air frying. We worked with The Pioneer Woman 6.3-quart air fryer to develop this recipe. We found that cooking 1 1/2-pounds of sweet potato fries in two batches yielded crispy results. If your air fryer is smaller than 6.3-quarts, we recommend dividing this amount of potatoes into three batches.

How long do you cook sweet potato fries in the air fryer?

These sweet potato fries take about 15 minutes to get crisp and cooked through. Since you'll need to cook the fries in batches to achieve crispiness, be sure to toss all the cooked fries back in the air fryer for a few minutes just before serving. This means hot, crisp fries for everyone!

Do I need to soak sweet potato fries before cooking?

The answer is no! Sweet potatoes are not as starchy as russet potatoes, which yield best results when soaked in water before cooking to remove the starch from the surface area and cook to a crisp. Soaking sweet potato fries could produce steam in the air fryer, which could make the fries soggy.

Do I need to peel sweet potatoes before cooking? 

This is entirely up to you. The skin of the sweet potato holds a lot of nutrients and can certainly provide more texture in each bite. If you don't like the way it tastes or the texture, then by all means, peel the skin off. Otherwise, peel the skin in alternating strips.