Is there anything better than some crispy sweet potato fries and a wicked dipping sauce? I don’t think so!
My version of oven-baked sweet potato fries is simple, healthy, and delicious. I like them a little bit thicker so that there’s plenty of room to scoop up some dipping sauce.
Why this Recipe Works
While deep frying your fries does yield a really crispy texture, you can easily recreate that satisfying crunch with oven-baked fries. You'll use way less oil, and it'll be way less hassle!
This recipe is a no-brainer; it’s super easy to make! All you need on hand are some sweet potatoes, oil, and some salt and pepper seasoning. I love that you can cut the pieces to your preference and experiment with the seasonings.
There are two steps to getting the perfectly cooked, crispy sweet potatoes: Boil them until just barely fork-tender, then bake them at a high temperature. To get the best crispy oven-baked fries, make sure to spread them evenly out on the pan and toss them occasionally so that they brown on all sides.
I use this same method to make crispy roasted potatoes because it is the only way to get that crispy outside and fluffy inside when baking potatoes.
Are Sweet Potato Fries More Nutritious?
Your local restaurant might charge you extra for sweet potato fries over regular fries, so you may be wondering, are sweet potato fries better for you?
Well, it's a complicated question. Sweet potato fries drenched in a ton of oil are not going to be as healthy for you as some oven-baked white potato fries.
Having said that, sweet potato and white potato do have nutritional differences. Healthline does a great side-by-side comparison here. Sweet potatoes contain more fiber, significantly more vitamin A, and more vitamin C. Ultimately both can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.
Ingredients & Seasonings
Yams - Technically, those orange "sweet potatoes" you call sweet potato fries are actually yams. This recipe uses them, but you can use any potatoes to make this recipe.
Oil - Use any flavorless oil like canola, sunflower seed, avocado seed, or similar.
Seasoning - I usually make these with just salt and pepper. They are delicious with simple seasoning, but here are some other seasoning ideas you might want to play with:
- Seasoned salt
- Herbes de Provence
- Garlic salt, onion salt, and paprika
- Zaatar
- Italian seasoning
- Chili lime (Trader Joe's, I'm looking at you!)
- Old bay seasoning
How to Make this Recipe
Start by cutting the potatoes into ½-inch thick discs lengthwise, then slice them into fries ½-inch thick.
Preheat the oven to 425F. This high temperature is essential for getting crispy fries.
In the meantime, parboil the potatoes until just barely fork-tender. Then drain the water.
Cover the potatoes all over in oil and seasoning. You can do this in the pot, in a bowl, or directly on a baking sheet. It's easiest in a bowl, and least messy on the baking sheet.
Spread them out evenly on a baking sheet. Bake 35-40 minutes until they get brown and crispy, tossing them around after 20 minutes.
If you're wondering what that delicious green sauce is, that's my all-time favorite Aji Verde! Find the recipe in this Peruvian Chicken post.
Baked Fries FAQs
Par-boil them first, then bake them at a high temperature after coating them in oil and seasonings to ensure crispiness on the outside and fluffiness on the inside.
Parboiling is when you partially cook food by boiling it in water briefly, before finishing it off with another method like roasting, grilling or baking. The boiling helps to partially cook the food, reducing overall cooking times and making the food more tender. It helps you get that fluffy texture inside your potatoes.
Baked fries hold less oil and are generally considered healthier than regular fries. They are more similar to roasted vegetables than fried french fries.
The key is spreading them out so that they have plenty of room. You won't be able to get crispy fries if you crowd your baking sheet. Having room around the fries makes sure that the heat can circulate around all the edges and that they don't create areas to steam each other.
Serve Your Fries With Some Tasty Tacos!
Tacos and crispy fries are a flavor match in heaven. These tacos are guaranteed to knock your socks off! And be sure to check out my ultimate taco guide!
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Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. sweet potatoes peeled and cut into french-fry shaped slices
- flavorless oil like avocado, sunflower seed, or canola
- salt and pepper or other seasoning*
Instructions
- Cut the potatoes into ½-inch thick discs lengthwise, then slice them into fries ½-inch thick.
- Preheat the oven to 425F.
- Cover the potatoes all over in oil and seasoning. Spread them out evenly on a baking sheet.
- Bake 35-40 minutes until they get brown and crispy, tossing them around after 20 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in June 2017 but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, FAQs, and tips in January 2021. It was updated in March 2023 with additional FAQs, a new section on sweet potato nutrition, and edits made for clarity throughout.
Diane
So easy and delicious. I sat down with these sweet potato fries, chicken and a vegetable on my plate. I ate my entire serving of fries first before touching the chicken and veggie. 😄 Yum!
Candice
What a joy to hear, Diane! I usually eat all the fries as I'm cooking the rest of dinner, too. Enjoy!
Samantha Hage
What is the green "sauce"?
Candice
It's an aji verde sauce. You can find the recipe here.