Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Craving crispy, golden sweet potato fries without the mess of deep frying? These air fryer sweet potato fries are quick, flavorful, and way too easy not to make tonight.
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Air fryer sweet potato fries served on parchment paper with a a side of mustard dip.
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Move over french fries; there’s a new favorite fry in town! Sweet potato fries have quickly become a comfort food phenomenon, and there’s a good reason why. They are incredibly delicious and super easy to make. And of course, they’re waaay healthier than traditional french fries—especially when you air fry them instead of deep frying!

Sweet and salty, crunchy and soft, this is the most perfect sweet potato recipe I’ve tried so far. Are you intrigued? You need to try them yourself! All you’ll need is an air fryer, a sharp chef’s knife, a large sweet potato or yam, salt, and red pepper flakes. 

Why Make Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer

Air frying gives you that perfect fry texture—crispy on the outside, soft on the inside—without deep frying or heating up your kitchen. It’s quicker than baking, and you don’t need to babysit a skillet full of hot oil. Plus, cleanup is a breeze and they get that irresistible golden color with just a tiny bit of oil. Win-win-win.

Do I Really Need To Air Fry These? 

Air fryers are all the rage these days, and for a good reason. They enable us to fry up our favorite foods without massive amounts of oil. You can air fry most things with just a tiny drizzle of vegetable oil—or you can even skip the oil altogether if you’re going for ultimate health. This can save you money (oil can be pricey!), reduce food waste (a lot of deep frying oil is thrown away), eliminate messy cleanup (deep frying can get real nasty), and it’s infinitely better for your health. 

We can all agree on trying to be our healthiest, most of the time, right? But when it comes to fries, you want the full experience. We tried a dozen versions of oven-baked sweet potato fries but none of them came close to these air fryer fries, which crisp up on the outside, while the inside gets perfectly soft and sweet. Just be warned: they’re totally addictive.

If you’ve been on the fence about getting an air fryer, I encourage you to dive in! Mine sat unused on my shelf for months (just like my Instant Pot did) before I started keeping it on my counter and now I use it all the time. Like—almost every day. You can use it to make vegan chicken nuggets, crispy tofu, air-fried veggies, and more.

The Perfect Sweet Potato Fries Recipe | World of Vegan | #sweet #potato #fries #side #worldofvegan

Ingredients Needed

You don’t need much to make the ultimate crispy sweet potato fry in the air fryer. Just your potato, a little oil and some seasonings, and you’re good to go! Here are the key ingredients:

  • Sweet Potato or Yam: Look for large orange-fleshed ones. They crisp up beautifully in the air fryer and give you that rich, slightly sweet flavor.
  • Oil: I use canola oil, but any neutral oil like avocado or grapeseed works well here. A light coating helps with browning and that signature crispy edge.
  • Red Pepper Flakes: Just a little kick! Totally optional, but I love the hint of heat.
  • Salt: Always. Don’t skip it—it brings out the natural sweetness and balances the flavors perfectly.

For the full quantities and instructions, scroll to the recipe card below.

Play Around with Shapes

French fries have a very specific “classic” shape, and so do sweet potato fries. Long evenly thick sticks, right? But I’m sure you’re aware there are so many different ways to cut potatoes, and each one is very special. Here are some of our favorites:

  • Classic Potato Fries (or Belgian fries)
  • Potato Wedges (thicker and less crunchy)
  • Waffle Fries (a bit like a net-shaped oval)
  • Crinkle-Cut Fries (or curly fries)
  • Steak fries (a thicker version of the classic)
  • Smiley Fries (a childhood classic)
  • Round slices (chips)

The round slices are the absolute easiest to make, if you can’t be bothered cutting the hard potato into more creative shapes. Just slice your potato into rounds that are about 1/3 inch thick. 

Which is your favorite? No matter which one you choose, they’re sure to taste amazing! 

Tips

  • Don’t overcrowd the basket. They need space to get crispy. If you’re making a big batch, cook them in two rounds.
  • Cut evenly. Uniform fries = even cooking = no burnt stragglers.
  • Like them extra crispy? Cook a couple of minutes longer, but keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
  • Love flavor? Add smoked paprika, garlic powder, or cinnamon depending on your mood.

Best Way to Serve Up Sweet Potato Fries

These fries are the ultimate sidekick. Serve them alongside vegan burgers, wraps, grain bowls, or just enjoy them as a snack with your favorite dip. I love dipping them in ketchup, tahini sauce, vegan ranch, vegan mayo, or even maple mustard if I’m feeling fancy.

You can also load them up with toppings like black beans, avocado, and salsa (like this tomatillo salsa) for a fun twist on loaded fries.

A hand reaching for an air fried sweet potato fry from a pile of fries, with two different dips served on the side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these oil-free?

Yes! They won’t be quite as crispy, but they’ll still be tasty. Just be sure to shake them halfway through to prevent sticking and allow for even cooking.

Do I need to soak the sweet potatoes first?

Nope! These turn out beautifully without soaking. Just slice and go.

Can I use white sweet potatoes?

Sure! They tend to be drier and less sweet than orange ones but still work great.

What’s the best way to cut sweet potato fries?

Use a sharp chef’s knife and slice them lengthwise, laying the flat side down for stability. Aim for even, fry-shaped spears for the best results.

If you make this air fryer sweet potato fries recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know what you think in the comments below! I love reading your comments! 

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries (Perfectly Crispy)

5 from 5 votes
Is there anything better than some homemade sweet potato fries? Sweet and salty, crunchy and tender. These vegan air fryer sweet potato fries are a home run!
Air fryer sweet potato fries served on parchment paper with a a side of mustard dip.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients

  • 1 large orange-fleshed sweet potato or yam, sliced into ⅓-inch thick spears, as pictured.
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ¼ teaspoon salt, plus additional for sprinkling

Instructions

  • Wash sweet potato, slice off and discard the rough tips at each end, and place on a cutting board.
  • Slice into 1/3-inch wide french-fry-shaped spears. To do so, use a shark chef's knife and slice sweet potato in half lengthwise, placing the flat surfaces of each down on the cutting board to stabilize for easier (and safer) slicing. If you have a particularly long sweet potato, cut in half again (to shorten the length of the fries). For crispier fries slice thinner, and for softer fries slice slightly thicker. Fries should be uniform in size so they cook evenly.
  • In a medium bowl, add the sweet potato spears, oil, red pepper flakes, and salt, and toss well. 
  • Place sweet potato spears in your air fryer basket, arrange in a single layer, and cook at 380 degrees F (190 celsius) for 10 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes, checking midway to ensure you don’t burn your fries). If you want them crispier, cook them one or two minutes longer—just be careful not to burn them. It’s okay if they get a little browned though, those are my favorite crispy parts!
  • Sprinkle with additional salt to taste, and enjoy hot!

Notes

The sweet potatoes do not need to be peeled for this recipe, but should be rinsed and scrubbed under running water.
Leftovers? If you’ve got leftovers, let them cool completely before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes to bring back the crisp.

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 388mg | Potassium: 578mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 24192IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg
Course — Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine — American
Love this Recipe? Leave a Rating!And follow @Vegan on Instagram for more.

We want to thank our amazing recipe testers, J.J. Steele, Taylor Wolfram, and Laura Chenellia for helping us perfect this recipe!

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5 from 5 votes

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Recipe Rating




5 comments
  1. 5 stars
    I made these with a friend who has an air fryer and they were so good, now I’m tempted to get my own air fryer!!

  2. 5 stars
    These are so good! I’m so happy I bought an air fryer 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    I love sweet potatoes in any form, but these sweet potato fries might be the winner! I love how they’re crispy on the outside and soft in the inside. If you love spiciness (like I do!), don’t leave out the crushed red pepper flakes. I like to dip mine in Trader Joe’s hot sauce, sriracha and also sweet Thai chili sauce (sometimes in all three!). BBQ sauce is also a favorite. But, no matter which sauce you pick, this recipe really creates the best texture fries. You HAVE to try them – believe me, you’ll eat them all in one sitting!

  4. 5 stars
    My hubby makes these for me in the air fryer whenever we’re craving a healthy and delicious snack. It’s my favorite way to eat sweet potatoes! OM NOM NOM. We mix up the dips we serve them with.

  5. 5 stars
    Love these sweet potato fries…not greasy…a healthy version! No guilt!

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