Quick and Easy Airfryer Sweet Potato Fries
These fries are perfectly crisp, a bit salty, and a much healthier alternative to the more classically fried french fry. They are made with wedges of sweet potato, salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and everything bagel seasoning. The added cornstarch and olive oil give the fries a light char in the air fryer that reduces the sweetness and creates the perfect (healthier) french fry replacement. I promise you’ll forget all about those greasy (albeit delicious) takeout fries.
Sweet potatoes aren’t my family’s favorite food so it was never around me growing up and frankly, I had no desire to try one. I was picky as a child and the sweetness of a sweet potato grossed me out. I loved the classically starchy Russet potato french fries I always ate and had no issue staying on that beaten path. However, during my first 2 years in college, I was an in-home, overnight caregiver which introduced me to a lot of new foods. While there were many MANY downsides of the profession, in my opinion, I did LOVE taking care of people and I truly loved my patients.
One patient in particular was a kind German woman who’s ability to communicate was often affected so she loved to bond and communicate with me through food and movies. On the nights when she was feeling low, we had soup and watched romance films. On the nights she was feeling happy or spontaneous, she requested oven-baked sweet potatoes and older western films. The first night she requested a sweet potato, I was totally lost. Since I had never liked sweet potatoes before, and therefore hardly ate them, I wasn’t sure how she wanted them prepared. She slowly walked me through perhaps the most perfectly simple sweet potato of all time. Split in half, baked, add a slab of butter after it’s soft, add some brown sugar, and BOOM: you have a delicious sweet potato bake that’s as easy as can be. Normally sweet potatoes were too sweet or potent for me but this…this brown sugar potato worked – despite the sweetness.
She always said brown sugared sweet potatoes were a luxury in her eyes and consequently became a luxury in mine too. Happy nights mean a lot and if the joy can be further accented by a brown sugar-dusted potato, then call me the brown sugar fairy cause I will make it happen.
The weighted impact of little luxuries became even more apparent as I got older. Now occasionally I crave those same sweet potatoes on a good day. I still miss sitting on the couch with her, the smell of warm brown sugar filling the air while we ate and laughed. It was a simple and delicious food for a simply wonderful time. However, like most things I love, I consumed it repeatedly until it made me sick. A bad habit, I know.
After dozens of nights of obsessively stuffing my face with sticky brown sugar-glazed sweet potatoes, the only “sweet” sweet potato recipe I like to this day, I knew it was time for a salty alternative, a change – I wanted to try sweet potato fries. I of course love classic russet potato french fries but they’re typically served greasy and heavy; not to mention I had 2 massive leftover sweet potatoes from my last potato haul that weren’t going to eat themselves.
That’s when I dove in and made a quick and easy sweet potato fry recipe that even those in my family who passionately detest sweet potatoes, would love. It’s a not-so-sweet sweet potato fry that is so simple and much easier on the stomach than your greasy drive-through fries. I hope you also love them. xx
A LITTLE ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS…
- Sweet Potatoes. Rich in beta-carotene, vitamins A and C, and fiber, sweet potatoes add a natural sweetness and vibrant color. They support immune function, vision, and gut health.
- Olive Oil. A heart-healthy fat, olive oil adds a smooth flavor and helps crisp up the sweet potatoes. It’s rich in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, promoting heart health.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning. A blend of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and salt. This seasoning adds a complex, nutty flavor and crunch to the fries.
How to Make this Airfryer Sweet Potato Fry Recipe Gluten-Free
To make the Sweet Potato Fries gluten-free, substitute cornstarch with arrowroot powder or tapioca starch, and ensure the everything bagel seasoning is gluten-free. Follow the original recipe’s instructions for a delicious, gluten-free version of these crispy fries.
Storing & Freezing the Sweet Potato Fries
Storage: Allow the sweet potato fries to cool completely before storing. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing: To freeze, lay the fries out in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen fries to an airtight container or freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat in the air fryer at 375 degrees until warmed through and crispy.
More Vegetarian Recipes:
Finally, if you find that you love these Quick and Easy Airfryer Sweet Potato Fries, try these other vegetarian recipes next:
The Breakdown
Prepping the Potatoes:
First, wash the sweet potatoes. Clean them up real nice and you can peel them if you prefer. I don’t peel them personally because I like the skin and don’t care to remove it.
Once washed, slice the sweet potato in 1/2-1/4 inch strips.
Now, you’re welcome to preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees for a better crisp but it’s not a necessity. To do this, put the air-fryer on 375 for 10 minutes with no food in the chamber right before you throw the fries in.
Shake those Potato Babies:
Add the sweet potatoes and olive oil to a large ziplock bag, zip closed, and shake vigorously until the potatoes are thoroughly coated in the olive oil.
Then add cornstarch, paprika, a tiny pinch of salt, and everything bagel seasoning to the bag of sweet potatoes. Shake it up in the ziplock bag until thoroughly coated. The mixture of the oil, cornstarch, and herbs should form a sort of light saucy coating on the sweet potatoes.
Into the Airfryer:
Lastly, spritz the inside of the air fryer with cooking spray and pop the sweet potatoes in so that they aren’t overlapping too much. cook at 375 degrees, shaking or flipping every 5 minutes or so. Cook for about 15 minutes or until sweet potatoes are crispy and very slightly charred on the ends.
Add more salt as needed and top with fresh parsley. Then pair it with a sauce of choice (I’m boring, I LOVE ketchup with these), and enjoy!
Quick and Easy Airfryer Sweet Potato Fries
Equipment
- 1 Airfryer
- 1 Bowl or Bags (ziplock are easiest for shaking)
Ingredients
- 1-2 sweet potatoes
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1-2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 3 tbsp everything bagel seasoning
- sea salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Wash your sweet potatoes and pat dry.
- Cut them into ½ inch strips, about the size of a finger.
- Add sweet potatoes to a large bag with the olive oil. Zip it closed and shake vigorously until the potatoes are thoroughly coated.
- Add cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, everything bagel seasoning, and a pinch of sea salt to the bag. Zip the bag and shake vigorously to thoroughly coat the potatoes. Shake for about 1–3 minutes. The seasonings, cornstarch, and olive oil should have formed a light sauce over the potatoes.
- Spray airfryer with cooking spray. Then place potatoes in the airfryer so they cover the bottom and aren't overlapping too much.
- Cook at 375 degrees, shaking the fries every 5 or so minutes to flip them around so they don't burn. Cook for about 15 minutes total or until the fries are crisp and golden.
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