Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, these Baked Sweet Potato Fries are a flavorful, fresh and healthier alternative to plain old French fries.
Baked not Fried, Alright, Alright
Y’all know I live for a great French fry. But the love is even stronger if there’s sweet potato fries on the menu. I literally cannot resist. And these Baked Sweet Potato Fries are a fresh, flavorful alternative to plain Jane French fries.
This sweet potatoes fries recipe is near perfect. Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside and so, so full of sweet potato flavor. They’re delicious! If you’re looking for a baked fry recipe, this one’s hard to beat.
We’re obsessed with sweet potatoes. I definitely prefer them over white potatoes in almost every way. Once you learn how to bake a sweet potato, you’ll be obsessed, too. There’s sweet potato hash browns, baked sweet potato soup, sweet potato brownies, really sweet potato anything.
How to Choose a Sweet Potato
If you’re not sure what to look for at the market, a good sweet potato will be firm, with smooth skin (no bruises or breaks). The best flavor comes from medium-sized sweet potatoes. Too big and they’ll be woody and a bit on the flavorless side.
The cayenne pepper in this recipe is totally optional, if you’re not a fan of spice. But if you are, you’ll be in sweet n’ spicy heaven. A little bit of hot brings out the best in these babies.
Quick Tip: Sweet Potatoes vs Yams
What’s the difference between a sweet potato and a yam? People often use the names interchangeably. I’ve seen them mislabeled at the grocery store, it’s had me questioning my own brain.
But yams and sweet potatoes are quite different and here’s a good way to tell the difference:
- Skin color: Sweet potato skin is reddish, while yams are brown.
- Skin texture: Sweet potato skin is smooth, while yam skin is rough like tree bark.
- Flesh color: Sweet potatoes are bright orange inside, while yams are white and starchy like regular potatoes.
No Floppy Fries Here!
Crispy fries are a must. There’s almost nothing more disappointing than a floppy French fry! And these fries are everything a fry should be. Crisp, flavorful, and ready to dip in your favorite fry sauce or homemade ranch dressing!
Grilled Turkey Burger Board
Bring ’em to the table for a healthy dinner they’ll love with a Turkey Burger Board! Flavorful turkey burgers and perfectly crisp sweet potato fries, plus all the fixings–it’s a dinner winner!
What Do I Need to Make Baked Sweet Potato Fries?
(see recipe card for measurement and details)
- Large sweet potatoes, peeled (or you can leave the skin!)
- Olive oil
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper, if desired
- Large rimmed baking sheet
- A small mixing bowl
How to Make Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and spray a large rimmed baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Then cut off the ends of the sweet potatoes.
- Cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise and then cut into sticks that are about 1/4 to 1/2-inch wide and about 3 inches long.
- Place them in a large mixing bowl and toss with the oil.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper and a pinch of cayenne pepper for spice, if desired.
- Toss the seasoning mixture with the sweet potatoes until evenly coated.
- Spread the sweet potatoes in an even single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Then remove the baking sheet from the oven and flip the fries with a spatula.
- Return to the oven and continue to bake until the sweet potatoes are browned and crisp on the outside and tender inside, about 10-15 minutes longer.
My Favorite Baked Sweet Potato Recipes
- Baked Sweet Potato Fries: Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, these Baked Sweet Potato Fries are a flavorful, fresh and healthier alternative to plain old French fries.
- Baked Sweet Potato Soup: Loaded with cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream and onions it’s the ultimate in comfort food!
- Greek Loaded Sweet Potatoes: Baked stuffed sweet potatoes loaded with Greek goodness for a healthy meal that’s fresh and full of flavor.
- Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes: With a sweet caramelized top and soft warm insides, this side dish will have them coming back for more!
- Baked Sweet and Salty Potato Chips: A mix of super crisp oven-baked sweet potato chips and regular potato chips. Irresistible!
If you make these Baked Sweet Potato Fries, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me or tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see. 
I love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes I share. Enjoy!
xoxo,
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6
Description
Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, these Baked Sweet Potato Fries are a flavorful, fresh and healthier alternative to plain old French fries.
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of cayenne pepper, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spray a large rimmed baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cut off the ends of the sweet potatoes. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and then cut into sticks that are about 1/4 to 1/2-inch wide and about 3 inches long. Place them in a large mixing bowl and toss with the olive oil.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper and a pinch of cayenne pepper for spice, if desired. Toss the seasoning mixture with the sweet potatoes until evenly coated.
- Spread the sweet potatoes in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes and then remove and turn the fries. Return to the oven and continue to bake until the sweet potatoes are browned and crisp on the outside and tender inside, about 10-15 minutes longer.
What did you use to make your dipping sauce for these fries?
Hi Katherine! I usually make it with 1/4 cup mayo, 2 tablespoons ketchup and 2 teaspoons dijon mustard. I then taste and adjust accordingly. Enjoy!