Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Delicious Baked Sweet Potato Fries! These are a healthier alternative to the deep fried original. They have a tempting, lightly browned, sweet and salty flavor, and they are easy to make. Plus people of all ages love them!

Easy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I vote sweet potatoes fries are better than regular russet potato fries, who’s with me?

They have more flavor, and I love that little bit of natural sweetness. Maybe it’s that after so many years of regular french fries, it’s fun to have something new.

These roasted sweet potato fries are a great way to get everyone to eat more veggies!

While we can’t say these are the crispiest baked sweet potato fries you’ll ever eat (only deep frying will do that), they are a great healthier option! They do get slightly crisp edges as long as you let them brown up a bit.

They are a great autumn side dish when sweet potatoes are in season and they pair well with countless main dishes.

It’s a simple process to prepare them. Peel and cut, toss with oil and seasonings, then spread onto baking sheets and bake.

Just don’t forget the sauces for serving. As with traditional fries, these are that much better with a sauce.

Ketchup is just fine, but for a tasty upgrade, try the fry sauce recipe I have listed below.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries Ingredients

Crispy baked sweet potato fries require surprisingly few ingredients. In fact, the sweet potato fries seasoning used in this recipe is made up of just four simple spices!

Here’s what you’ll need to make homemade sweet potato fries:

• 2 lbs sweet potatoes (use orange variety) peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch thick sticks
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 1/2 Tbsp olive oil

How to Make Sweet Potato Fries

1. Heat oven and prepare baking sheets: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease two 18 by 13-inch baking sheets with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
2. Mix seasonings: In a small mixing bowl whisk together cornstarch, salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder.
3. Add sweet potatoes to bowl: Place sliced sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl.
4. Toss them with oil then seasonings: Toss sweet potatoes with olive oil then pour cornstarch mixture over sweet potatoes and toss to evenly coat.
5. Spread onto baking sheets: Divide sweet potatoes among the two baking sheets, then spread out evenly.
6. Bake in preheated oven 15 minutes, then remove from oven and turn fries to opposite side.
7. Turn fries, continue to bake through: Return to oven (preferably on opposite rack the were on prior) and bake until until fries are golden brown in spots, about 10 minutes longer.
8. Serve right away with desired dipping sauce.

Note about Time to Bake Sweet Potato Fries

• Usually sweet potato fries need to bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes in total (turning around halfway). But keep in mind each oven varies. 
• You may find it works better to do only 10 minutes per the two sides if your oven browns very well or bakes hot.

Fry Sauce Recipe for Sweet Potato Fries

You can use ketchup or try this delicious and simple blend below:

• Mix 1/3 cup mayonnaise (can use regular or light)
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 3/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
• A few pinches of cayenne pepper or paprika

Do you have to peel sweet potatoes?

• For every application, you don’t have to peel sweet potatoes but here I highly recommend peeling sweet potatoes for fries.
• The skins can be somewhat tough and unpleasant to chew.

Can they be baked on one sheet?

If you don’t have two baking sheets, I have also done this on one baking sheet and it works fine. They just don’t crisp up quite as well.

What’s the difference between sweet potato fries and yams?

This is a common question with so much confusion around the subject. For years countless grocery stores and food companies have mislabeled them.

Here are a few key differences:

• Yams have a brownish or blackish bark-like skin with an uneven bumpy texture.
• Sweet potatoes have a smoother skin that can range in color from light yellow to dark orangish red.
• A sweet potato usually has rounded ends while a yam has tapered ends.
• Yams are starchier and drier and sweet potatoes have more moisture.

Possible Variations

One great thing about this recipe is that you can really change up the seasonings.

• You can use spice blends such as cajun, curry, garam masala, taco, pumpkin pie etc. Or you can just add other seasonings and herbs you like with sweet potatoes.
• Add grated parmesan near the end.
• Replace dried garlic with fresh.
• Add a little honey and lime zest near the end. Or brown sugar and cinnamon.

Tips for the Best Baked Sweet Potato Fries

• Cut the sweet potatoes as evenly in size as possible so they bake even and finish up at the same time.
• Don’t use dark baking sheets here or they may burn. Quite often I prefer to roast on dark baking sheets but sweet potatoes don’t need the extra assistance of a dark pan due to the natural sugars they contain.
• If possible use two baking sheets so they have more space to allow air to circulate, otherwise if you only have one, work to leave some space between each fry and don’t overlap them.
• You can pierce through a fry to test for doneness. They should be soft through the center and also the edges should be slightly crisp and lightly browned.
• Serve hot soon after removing from the oven. They tend to get soft and slightly soggy if they rest very long.

What to Eat With Sweet Potato Fries

• Crispy Baked Chicken Strips
• Pulled Pork Sandwiches
• Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken
• Veggie and Hummus Sandwich
• Spinach Artichoke Grilled Cheese
• Sloppy Joes
• Turkey Burgers

Note that recipe has been updated. Oven temperature has been reduced 25 degrees (I prefer this temp so they don’t brown too much), and recipe originally listed preheating baking sheet and I’ve found it’s not necessary.