Crispy baked sweet potato fries are probably my kids’ favorite food ever. They love this delicious side dish, while I feel good about the nutrients. This paleo oven baked sweet potato fries recipe will soon become your go to – super quick to put together, super crispy and they taste amazing.
I can’t be the only one who only loves oven baked sweet potato fries if they are seriously crispy. There are few things more disappointing than a plate of soft fries! That’s why I’m sharing my method for how to make sweet potato fries that are super crispy!
Are Sweet Potato Fries Healthy?
Everybody assumes that sweet potato fries are a guilty treat. But this is a pretty healthy sweet potato fries recipe!
If you oven bake them with just a little olive oil, these paleo sweet potato fries are a pretty healthy option.
Why are sweet potato fries healthy? The ingredients are natural, they are lower in carbs than white potatoes (23.6g total carbs per potato instead of 36.6g!), and they have way more vitamin C and vitamin A.
How Many Carbs In Sweet Potato Fries?
Even healthy sweet potato fries are not low carb or keto friendly. Each sweet potato has 23.6g total carbs and 3.8g fiber, so approximately 20g net carbs.
How Many Calories In Sweet Potato Fries?
Homemade sweet potato fries calories will vary, depending on the amount of oil and cooking method in your sweet potato fries recipe. For the one I made, a 1/2-cup serving has:
- 155 calories
- 3g fat
- 2g protein
- 29g total carbs
- 4g fiber
- 25g net carbs
How To Make Sweet Potato Fries Crispy
But how do you make sweet potato fries crispy? After many, many, recipe tests (it’s a tough job tasting all those baked sweet potato fries, but someone has to do it, right? ;))… I have discovered a few tips and tricks to making the perfect paleo crispy sweet potato fries at home.
The main keys to super crispy sweet potato fries are cutting them correctly, soaking them (yes, really!), tossing them in a starch, and the right baking method. Read on for how to make crispy sweet potato fries perfectly every time!
How To Cut Sweet Potato Fries
The first trick to guaranteeing crispy baked sweet potato fries is to cut them the right way. Cut them too thick and they might crisp up slightly, but they will still be soft.
To ensure you get crispy sweet potato fries, cut them into narrow strips approximately 1/4 inch thick. They don’t have to be 1/4 inch wide though – I prefer to make them wider (about 1/2 inch) than their thickness for a nicer appearance, but it’s really up to you. As for the length, you can choose to make them as long or as short as you like.
TIP: Try to cut all your sweet potato fries to a similar width and length, so that they all bake at the same rate. Otherwise, some will be starting to burn while others aren’t done yet.
What about the technique for cutting sweet potatoes? The steps are super simple:
- Peel the sweet potato.
- Slice the sweet potato into slices, 1/4 inch thick.
- Stack the slices and slice again, this time 1/2 inch thick.
Voila, now you know how to cut sweet potato fries!
How To Prepare Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
Next, you need to soak your sweet potato fries in a bowl of water. This helps to release some of the starch and prevents them from getting soft when you bake them.
TIP: Leave the fries to soak in the water for at least an hour and you can leave them as long as overnight. Don’t leave them soaking longer than overnight, because they’ll start to lose structure and the consistency will be unpleasant inside.
After drying, transfer the sweet potato fries to a bowl and toss with olive oil. You can’t have crispy sweet potato fries without a little oil!
The Trick To The Crispiest, Best Sweet Potato Fries
Now comes the trick – toss the sweet potato fries in arrowroot powder! The starch will help absorb moisture and make your homemade sweet potato fries super crispy. Sprinkle it lightly, so that it doesn’t clump.
TIP #1: You don’t want any lumps of arrowroot powder, as this can form a crust on the fries. Just break up lumps if you see any.
TIP #2: If you are not strictly paleo, cornstarch will work as well. However, I prefer arrowroot as it’s a resistant starch and healthier than corn. Using arrowroot also makes this a whole30 sweet potato fries recipe. Both arrowroot and cornstarch would be gluten-free, however.
How To Bake Sweet Potato Fries In The Oven
To bake your oven baked sweet potato fries, spread them evenly on a baking sheet. You can either use a baking sheet covered in parchment paper or foil to bake your sweet potato fries, but I have had the best results by using a silicone baking mat.
TIP: Make sure the fries are spread in a single layer and not touching. You need air flow for super crispy sweet potato fries!
Then, simply pop them in the oven until they are nice and browned.
How Long To Bake Sweet Potato Fries
How long to bake sweet potato fries will depend on the oven temperature and their thickness.
For my sweet potato fries recipe that bakes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and fries cut 1/4 inch thick by 1/2 inch wide, it takes about 25 to 30 minutes.
It will take longer if your fries are thicker, or less time if they are thinner. After 20 minutes, watch them carefully so they don’t burn.
Healthy Sweet Potato Fries Seasoning
I kept this oven baked sweet potato fries recipe basic, seasoned simply with sea salt. I think simple fries are delicious!
PRO TIP: Don’t add salt until after your crispy sweet potato fries are done. Salt will also cause the fries to release water and soften them in the oven.
However, if you like more seasoned fries, you can totally do that! Some delicious seasonings for healthy sweet potato fries include paprika (regular or smoked!), garlic powder, oregano, and thyme.
Can You Freeze Paleo Sweet Potato Fries?
Yes, you can freeze this easy roasted sweet potato fries recipe!
If you want to prepare them ahead of time, simply cut them and boil for 3-5 minutes.
TIP: We are not boiling the fries to cook them, but just to stop the enzyme activity in the sweet potatoes. This will ensure a good texture, so you’ll get super crispy baked sweet potato fries even if they were previously frozen.
After boiling, soak the fries in cold water for at least an hour, then coat in oil and arrowroot powder before placing them in freezer bags.
When you’re ready to bake sweet potato fries from frozen, you can do so straight from the freezer – no need to thaw.
Paleo Sweet Potato Fries Dipping Sauce
Healthy baked sweet potato fries go with all kinds of dipping sauces! And, many of them are naturally paleo. Here are some ideas:
- Garlic aioli – Mix some avocado oil mayonnaise with a bit of olive oil, lemon juice, and either crushed garlic or garlic powder.
- Jalapeno ranch dressing – I love my fries with ranch! If you don’t like the heat of jalapenos, you can make regular paleo ranch dressing using my homemade ranch seasoning mix.
What To Serve With Sweet Potato Fries
Need some paleo dinner ideas to serve with your healthy sweet potato fries? Try these:
- Chuck Eye Steak
- Whole30 Chili – perfect for dipping your crispy baked sweet potato fries!
- Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken
- Crock Pot Sausage And Peppers
RECIPE CARD
Easy Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
The BEST oven baked sweet potato fries recipe - with a trick to make them SUPER CRISPY! Learn how to make crispy baked sweet potato fries, using just 3 ingredients.
Recipe Video
Click or tap on the image below to play the video and learn how to make this recipe!
Ingredients
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- 5 medium Sweet potatoes (peeled and sliced into fries, about 1/2 inch wide, 1/4 inch thick, and as long as you'd like)
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Arrowroot powder
- Sea salt (to taste)
Instructions
More TIPS about this paleo recipe in the post above!
Soak the sweet potato fries in a bowl of water. Leave the fries to soak in the water for at least 60 minutes (you can leave them as long as overnight).
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Remove the fries from the water and pat dry. Transfer them to a bowl, add the olive oil, and mix until completely coated.
Sprinkle the arrowroot powder over the fries and toss to coat, breaking up any clumps.
Spread the prepared sweet potato fries evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Try to ensure that the fries don’t touch each other on the tray to ensure an even bake.
Bake the fries for 25-30 minutes, until they are browned and crisp.
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Video Showing How To Make Baked Sweet Potato Fries:
Don't miss the VIDEO above - it's the easiest way to learn how to make Baked Sweet Potato Fries!
Nutrition Information Per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols (though the latter are rarely seen on this site), because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
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6 Comments
Kelly
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorites but I’ve never made a fry out of them, but this inspired me and it turned out great!
Paleoglutenfreeguy
Sweet potato fries are one of my favorite things. I thought getting them crispy would be super complicated and annoying but you’ve made it so easy!
Tessa Simpson
Gorgeous! My mouth is watering anticipating that amazing crunchy exterior! Sweet potatoes are the best!
Yang
I never knew there is a trick to freezing the sweet potato fries. It was so perfect, thanks for sharing!
Jean
Love sweet potato fries, even more than regular fries! These were so crispy and delicious.
Renee D Kohley
I’m going to try the water soak – I’ve been resisting that but it looks like it does help make them crispier! Fun recipe!