The day I discovered there was such a thing as sweet potatoes fries was one of those 'best days ever'. From that moment on, if sweet potato fries were one of the side choices on a menu, it was always my choice. Of course, with a side of mayonnaise aka my favorite condiment.
Baked Sweet Potatoes are the healthier alternative to their deep fried counterpart. Not only are they equally flavorful, they are less messy to make.
The recipe for these Baked Sweet Potato Fries is simple. Which will make them one of your favorite go-tos, especially if you are a big fan of both sweet potatoes and sweet potato fries.
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You can peel the sweet potatoes if you want, but I prefer making them with their skins on. When looking for sweet potatoes, look for ones longer versus shorter in shape. Cut the sweet potato in half lengthwise before making 1/4" sized slices. Then cut those 1/4" slices into 1/4" strips. It's okay if you aren't exact in your measurements, but try keeping your cut sweet potatoes as uniform as possible. This will ensure they bake evenly.
The cut sweet potatoes are first tossed in some extra-virgin olive oil, before the Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika spice mixture is sprinkled over them. After sprinkling the spices over the fries in the bowl and on the baking sheet, I prefer the baking sheet option. Because then the fries are tossed, all of the spices not sticking to the olive oil coated fries remain on the pan, not in the bowl.
There are two important things to be kept in mind when making Baked Sweet Potato Fries. First, you need a heavy bottomed, rimmed baking sheet (at least one, maybe two). If your baking sheets are thin, stack two of them together. Second, spread them out in an even layer with enough room so they are not stacked on top of each other or touching. This will help ensure your sweet potato fries turn crispy, rather than remain soggy.
Total baking time ranges somewhere between 43 and 45 minutes. For the first 40 minutes the sweet potato fries are baked in a preheated 400 degree (F) oven. For the last 3-5 minutes, the oven temperature is increased to 450 degrees (F). Check your sweet potato fries for doneness at the 3 minute mark as you want to make sure you don't burn them!
These slightly garlicy, hard to resist Sweet Potato Fries are meant to be enjoyed and devoured as soon as they come out of the oven. After transferring them to a serving platter and giving them a light sprinkling of either Kosher or Sea Salt, put out some bowls of mayonnaise and ketchup. Eat them dipped in your favorite condiment or eat them them plain! I wouldn't be surprised there wasn't a Sweet Potato Fry left on the platter.
And lastly, if you are looking for a gluten-free side to serve to family and friends, these Baked Sweet Potato Fries are a great option!
Recipe
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Serves 2-3
Updated May 2022
Ingredients
1 pound (457g) of unpeeled or peeled sweet potatoes (approximately 2-3 depending on size), cut lengthwise into generous 1/4" slices
2 Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more for finishing
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons of cornstarch (optional, see notes)
Optional for serving: Mayonnaise and/or ketchup
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F).
2. In a small bowl, mix together the Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder and smoked paprika, and cornstarch. Stir to blend. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, toss the sweet potato slices with the olive olive. Transfer the mixture to a large, heavy bottomed, rimmed sheet pan. Note: Make sure the slices are not stacked on top of each other or they will not crisp up.
4. Evenly sprinkle the spice mixture over the sweet potato slices. Toss to coat.
5. Place the sheet pan in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Carefully turn the sweet potato fries over with a spatula and return to the oven for another 20 minutes. Note: The sweet potatoes will be soft after baking for 20 minutes, do not worry.
6. Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees (F). Bake the sweet potatoes for another 3-5 minutes to crisp up. Note: At the 3 minute mark, check your sweet potato fries for doneness.
7. Sprinkle the baked sweet potato fries with some additional Kosher or sea salt. Serve immediately plain or with small bowls of mayonnaise and/or ketchup.
Notes: (1) I have made these using both unpeeled and peeled sweet potatoes. I have slight preference for the peeled baked sweet potato fries. (2) I have also made these baked sweet potato fries with and without cornstarch. I like how the cornstarch adds a bit more crispness to the fries.
