Learn the secrets to make perfect crispy sweet fries every single time! These Baked Spicy Sweet Potato Fries are a healthy and delicious Whole30, paleo, or vegan side or snack.
I’m a firm believer that most vegetables are just much better roasted. I’ll bust out a baking sheet for yummy recipes like Crispy Oven-Roasted Butternut Squash and Whole30 potatoes.
In fact, I love roasting veggies so much that I even created This Guide on Roasting Frozen Vegetables. Roast all the things!
And sweet potatoes are no exception. Sweet potatoes are just dying to be sliced up and roasted into crispy happiness.
These spicy sweet potato fries are the perfect blend of zesty and good for you. They’re Whole30 compliant, paleo, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free. And oh so tasty!
And if you love homemade veggie fries, check out these Crispy Turnip Fries. Need something spicier (yeah you do!)? How about Buffalo Chicken Fries? Any leftover buffalo sauce should be used to make a batch of this Buffalo Hummus.
Are Sweet Potato Fries Healthier Than Regular Fries?
Maybe. If you deep fry them in junky vegetable oil then you’re not really doing yourself any favors over regular fries.
But these spicy sweet potato fries are baked (not fried!) and only use 1 tablespoon of healthy avocado oil (you can sub in olive oil too).
If you have leftover sweet potatoes, try making some whole Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes.
Top a batch of these spicy sweet potato fries with grilled chicken, feta, and tzatziki and make a batch of Greek Fries.
How Do You Make Sweet Potato Fries Crispy?
I’m so glad you asked because I’m excited to share three simple tips that will make your fries amazing every single time.
- You gotta soak those bad boys in ice water for 30-60 minutes. Yeah, it’s an extra step and it takes longer but it will be soooo worth it. The soak will remove the starch that will prevent your fries from crisping up well. Rinse and pat them dry after their ice bath.
- Toss the dried fries in dried potato starch. I know, I just had you rinse the starch off the fries and now we’re putting more on? Confusing! But this step is important and gives you an even crispy coating over all the fries.
- Preheat your oven to high heat and then drop it down a bit for cooking the fries. Too high of a heat and you’ll burn the sweet potato fries. Too low and they will steam instead of crisping up.
Here’s How to Make Them
*A detailed and printable recipe card is available at the bottom of this post.
Peel your sweet potatoes, and cut them down the middle. Take each half, and make thin slices the long way. From each slice, make matchsticks. Try for uniform slices for even baking. Pro tip: you can leave the skin on if you’d like. Try for organic sweet potatoes if you prefer them with skin.
Soak them in a bowl of ice water for 30-60 minutes. Strain through a colander and rinse. Pat dry.
Dry out the same bowl (this mixing bowl is one of the favorite things in my kitchen!) and add the sweet potatoes. Combine the potato starch and spices and toss to make sure all the potatoes are coated. Drizzle oil over and toss to coat.
Place the fries on two baking sheets and spread them out to make sure they’re not touching each other. Much like my kids in the back seat, space means everyone is happy. Pro tip: using two sheets ensures the fries are afforded even baking. If you crowd the pan the fries will steam instead of crisp up.
Bake, stir and bake some more.
Sprinkle your crispy sweet potato fries with salt and parsley. Do your best to wait for them to cool before devouring them like a human garbage disposal. If you’re doing a Whole30 round, I highly suggest dipping them in Sweet Potato Fries Dipping Sauce, Cilantro Chimichurri or a compliant brand of ketchup like Tessemae’s Organic Ketchup.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Want to make curly sweet potato fries? Heck yes, you do! Try using a spiralizer (I have this one and love it) for fun shapes. Follow the same process as above but check on them after 10 minutes of baking.
- To make these spicy sweet potato fries paleo you can use arrowroot powder. If you don’t follow Whole30 or a paleo lifestyle, you can also use cornstarch.
- You can soak the fries for up to 18 hours, which means you can meal prep the fries ahead of time.
More Recipes Like This
- Baked Cauliflower Patties {Whole30, Paleo, Keto, Gluten-Free}
- Blistered Shishito Peppers
- Air Fryer Roasted Beets
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Spicy Green Beans
- How to Roast Asparagus
- Air Fryer Fries
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS
One serving has 1 WW Freestyle SmartPoints.
Spicy Sweet Potato Fries {Whole30, Paleo, Vegan}
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs sweet potatoes about 2 large sweet potatoes
- 1 tbsp potato starch
- 1/4 tsp chipotle powder
- 1/8 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and place the rack on an upper third rung.
- Peel your sweet potatoes, and cut them down the middle. Take each half, and make thin slices the long way. From each slice, make matchsticks. Try for uniform slices for even baking. Pro tip: you can leave the skin on if you'd like. Try for organic sweet potatoes if you prefer them with skin.
- Soak them in a bowl of ice water for 30-60 minutes. Strain through a colander and rinse. Pat dry.
- Dry out the same bowl and add the sweet potatoes. Combine the potato starch and spices and toss to make sure all the potatoes are coated. Drizzle oil over and toss to coat.
- Place the fries on two baking sheets and spread them out to make sure they're not touching each other. Pro tip: two sheets makes sure the fries are afforded even baking. If you crowd the pan the fries will steam instead of crisp up.
- Lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
- Bake for 18 minutes, flip. Bake until they have reached your desired level of crispiness (about 8-12 minutes).
Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat air fryer at 390 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Add the sweet potato fries and cook for 10 minutes. Toss. Bake for another 5 minutes and see if they are at your desired level of "doneness".
- If you want them crispier, continue to cook, checking on them in 2-minute intervals.
Notes
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Hi! Great recipe but fries are NOT Whole 30 compliant. They sticky say fries and chips are a no-no.
Hi Nikki, with all due respect, homemade fries are completely compliant. Here is info from the Whole30 website (source: https://whole30.com/new-whole30/)
Plus, how do we handle the potato chip/french fry thing?
Eventually, we arrived at a consensus. Potatoes of all varieties are in, but fries and chips are not. (This should not be a surprise. Fries and chips are about as Whole30 as Paleo Pop-Tarts.) We’ve updated all of our Whole30 program rules on the site, and our official Can I Have…? guide with the new rules, and some guidelines about “fries” and “chips.”
Chips or Fries: Not if they’re commercially prepared or deep-fried
I love sweet potato fries, they are some of my favourite things!! And this recipe looks quite easy to do.
We’re big fans; hard to beat a crispy fry!!
Company headed our way and I’m making these without testing them first! That’s how CONFIDENT I am with your recipes 🙂
They are hanging out in their ice bath as I type.
Thanks again for all your hard work!!
Well, now you have me on the edge of my seat woman!
They were awesome! Hubby declared them better than any restaurant sweet potato fries he’s had. Winner! Prob making again today, lol.
Yahoooooooo!