Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
This sweet potato fries recipe is simple, quick to make and makes for a delicious snack or side dish!
I have this diabolical plan for my son’s nutrition. If I can introduce him to the healthy versions of every kind of junk food out there…. and really get him to like the healthy pizza, burgers, fries, chicken fingers and milk shakes, then… when he eats the actual junk food (and you know he’ll get his hands on it somehow, somewhere, some way, at some point), he won’t like it. Or at the very least, he’ll know how to prepare the healthier version when he gets older. That’s my plan and I’m sticking to it. But guess what… it works on adults too!
These sweet potato fries are a good case in point. I’ve had them in restaurants before and they always seem to be lacking something. So I made them at home instead and… voilà! A delicious, sweet potato fries recipe!
HOW TO MAKE SWEET POTATO FRIES
The trick with sweet potato fries is to make sure you are cutting your fries as evenly as possible. This is important simply because you want your fries to bake as evenly as possible. There is nothing worse than thinking your fries are done and then realizing half of them still need to cook because they are thicker than the rest. I use a fry cutter to make like easier.
QUICK NOTES:
- Cut them even
- Dust them with cornstarch or arrowroot powder
- Coat them in a thin but even bit of oil
- Add your spices
- Bake to perfection
DETAILED NOTES:
- The best fries are typically cut thin. At least if you like them crispy in any way. Thick fries certainly have their place, but they are always softer after baking. So thin fries are really where it’s at. They bake all the way through and with the help of some starch, end up with a nice crispy outside.
French Fry Cutter, Sopito Professional Potato Cutter Stainless Steel with 1/2-Inch Blade Great for Potatoes Carrots Cucumbers
(Amazon affiliate link) - The cornstarch (or arrowroot powder) are critical for a nice, crispy outside. You can certainly make it without, but the crispiness will be harder to achieve. The starch really helps.
- Coat them in a thin layer of oil AFTER dusting with the cornstarch. This is easiest to do with an oil sprayer. This is the one I use these days. I love it because it never clogs and each spray is an exact, measured amount.
- The spices you add, are of course, up to you. I love mine with garlic, but I’ve seen some people dust them with cinnamon and powdered sweetener too. You can use dried herbs or ground spices like cumin or curry powder to keep things interesting. I also have some popcorn seasoning mix recipes that would work really well here.
- Once they are properly seasoned, it’s super easy to just pop them in the oven! Bake them for about 30-40 minutes (oven times vary by oven) and then enjoy them with your favorite dipping sauce!
DIPPING SAUCE FOR SWEET POTATO FRIES
There are so many dipping sauces you can enjoy with sweet potato fries. Pick your favorite!
MORE ROOT VEGETABLE RECIPES:
SWEET POTATO FRIES RECIPE
Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 small sweet potatoes
- 1 tsp. cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
- 1 tsp. olive oil in an oil sprayer
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- salt to taste after baking
Instructions
- Clean and cut your potatoes into same-size cuts.
- Place the fries in a mixing bowl and dust with cornstarch.
- Spray with a very light coat of olive oil and toss again.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of garlic powder and a bit of salt over the potatoes and toss for the last time.
- Lay them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (no wax paper please!)
- Bake at 400 F. for approximately 30 – 40 minutes.
- Add more salt if needed.
- Let cool slightly and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe from the Gracious Pantry® archives, originally posted 1/26/2010.
Protecting our little ones from the world of junk food will definitely be a challenge, but one I’m willing to take as well! I have a few years until I have to worry about it with my little guy too, but I think you’re right to start them early. I LOVE baked sweet potato “fries”… a wonderful, healthier, and tastier alternative!
Cailin – Yeah! So glad I’m not the only “evil mom”. lol. Good for you. You’re right. It’s worth the challenge!
Just tried the fries, and my husband and I both loved them! These will definitely become a regular on the menu!
Lori – That’s fabulous! And pumpkin is so very healthy for you. Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
I have a recipe similiar but you add parika and cinnamon and no garlic…it has salt andolove oil then baked and ithasa sweet taste to it…I will have to try this one too!
Angela – That sounds yummy! I’ll have to try it your way next time!
Thats exactly how I make mine. Its so simple and so good. You don’t need to smoother your yam in butter&brown sugar. They taste awesome almost by themselves.
Lance – They do! It’s amazing how good plain and simple food can taste when it’s prepared correctly. Yummy stuff!
Jessica – I really think they are the perfect side dish! Enjoy!
Your plan isn’t diabolical, lol. I have a 12 year old I did that with. His favorite snack? Fresh fruit. I offered pizza or chicken breast with steamed cheesy broccoli one night, and he chose chicken and broccoli. He now knows how to steam the broccoli in the microwave himself, so I make sure to keep plenty on hand! He still eats junk, because that’s what his friends want to eat, but it’s a rare occasion, so I can live with that. It’s making the switch to clean eating so much easier!
Amanda – I bet it is! Good for both of you!!
These are my favorite snack to make for my girls. I put rosemary and a little grated mozzarella and serve. I am all about staying away from ‘the M word’ as me and my friends call it. I was raised up with out it and I’m telling ya, I don’t feel like I missed out. I went to a friends birthday party there when I was 11 and asked my mom why the burgers were flat instead of thick. It turned me off. My mom is a great influence ha! Anyway, I make these all the time and my kids love them more than white potato fries!
JessicaR – Awesome! I can’t stand the “M” word myself. Icky stuff.