You have an air fryer and a bag of frozen fries that you have no idea what to do with. So, you googled “frozen sweet potato fries in air fryer”... Am I right? Well, you landed in the right place. You’re 5-ingredients and 13-minutes away from the tastiest, crispiest homemade sweet potato fries.
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Why should you try this recipe?
Here's why you'll love these air fryer frozen sweet potato fries:
- They're quick and easy. You only need 5 ingredients and 13 minutes. Frozen sweet potato fries are pre-cut, which eliminates the prep time. Plus, the air fryer cooks the fries in half the time that an oven does. So, you're saving time on all fronts.
- They're a healthier alternative to deep-fried restaurant fries. This homemade recipe is made with significantly less oil. And, the oil that is used in the recipe is much healthier. That’s because many restaurants use cheap, highly processed varieties that can lead to inflammation in the body.
- They're frickin delicious. Frozen fries can be tough to master. When baked in the oven, they often turn out soft and soggy (yuck!). The air fryer is the right appliance for the job. It circulates hot air and churns out perfectly crisp, insanely delicious sweet potato fries.
Scroll down to see the printable recipe with nutritional information.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need for the frozen sweet potato fries in air fryer.
- Frozen sweet potato fries: The star ingredient. If you’re using the air fryer because you want a healthier plate of sweet potato fries, then you also want to be picky with the bag of frozen fries you’re buying. Avoid long lists of ingredients, as these likely include a number of unnecessary additives and chemicals. My favourite healthy brands are Alexia and Trader Joe’s.
- Olive oil: You don’t need to use oil in this recipe, but a light coating of olive oil will result in crispier fries and prevent the fries from sticking to the air fryer basket. You can also use avocado oil, as it’s another healthy option with a neutral flavour and a high smoke point.
- Seasonings: Flavour these babies up with garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika. Note: some frozen fries come pre-seasoned, in which case you want to skip these seasonings altogether.
- Sea Salt: For sprinkling on at the very end. Adding it before cooking can result in soggier fries.
Scroll down to find the printable recipe with ingredient measurements.
Recipe Variations
- Add spice: There are two ways to turn up the heat in this recipe.
- You can add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
- You can create a spicy dipping sauce. An easy option is to mix 2 tablespoons of healthy mayonnaise with 1 teaspoon of sriracha sauce.
- Swap the seasoning mix: My favourite seasoning mix is garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika. But, there are many winning combos. Some other good blends are:
- Cajun Seasoning: paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin and thyme
- Herbs De Provence: rosemary, marjoram, thyme, oregano, sage and tarragon
- Curry Powder: turmeric, coriander, cumin, fenugreek and red pepper
- Make it cheesy: Restaurants love to add a dusting of fresh parmesan to fries just before serving. So, why not do this at home? If you want, you can also add the cheese in the final two minutes of air frying to get melted, gooey goodness.
Instructions
Let’s break it down step by step to take any guesswork out of these frozen sweet potato fries in the air fryer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 3 minutes.
- Add frozen fries to a mixing bowl or ziplock bag.
- Add olive oil and seasoning mix to bowl or bag. Then toss until fries are coated evenly.
- Transfer mixture to the air fryer basket. Ensure the fries are not overcrowded. You want them spread out evenly in a single layer.
- Cook at 400 degrees for 12 minutes, stopping at the 6 minute mark to remove the basket and flip the fries.
- Once flipped, replace the basket and cook for the remaining 6 minutes.
- Remove the fries from the air fryer basket and place in a serving dish. Season to taste with salt.
- Serve and enjoy immediately with your favourite dipping sauce or as-is.
Recipe Notes
- Cooking times may vary. That’s because every brand cuts their sweet potato fries to a different thickness. A good rule of thumb is to look at the recommended baking time on the bag and reduce this by half. Your cooking time can also be affected by how full your air fryer basket is. The more full, the longer the cooking time. Be sure to check in.
- Do not overfill your air fryer basket. Every air fryer has a different capacity, so I can't give you an exact measurement. Instead, judge by how it looks. The fries should be in a single layer with space surrounding them. If they are overlapping, the air can’t properly circulate, which means the fries in the middle won’t have a chance to cook evenly and get crispy. Instead of overcrowding, cook in two batches if need be.
- It’s important to flip the fries at the halfway mark. You can toss the basket to flip the fries, or use a spatula or tongs. This step ensures every fry is evenly cooked and your batch turns out extra crispy.
- Enjoy immediately. If they sit for too long, the fries could end up being soggy rather than crispy. So, dig in.
How To Store
- How to refrigerate: Cool fries for 20 minutes or until they reach room temperature. Once cooled, store in an airtight container that is lined with paper towel. The paper towel will soak up excess moisture and prevent the fries from becoming soggy. Store for up to 5 days.
- How to reheat: Use your air fryer to reheat. The microwave will result in soggy fries, while the air fryer will bring back the crispiness you enjoyed when eating fresh. Set your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and preheat for 3 minutes. Add left over fries and cook for 2-3 minutes.
For the full ingredient list and step-by-step directions, scroll down to view the recipe card.
Equipment
Here's what you need to make these air fryer frozen sweet potato fries.
- Air Fryer: If you don’t own an Air Fryer yet, I highly recommend adding one to your kitchen collection. This appliance is so easy to use and let’s you eat your favourite fried foods without guilt. If you’re on the fence, I actually wrote a piece comparing the air fryer and the pressure cooker. Feel free to check it out.
FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about my frozen sweet potato fries in air fryer.
Yes, an air fryer is a quick and healthy way to cook store bought french fries. They’re done in half the amount of time that is required when baking. And, they're almost as crispy as the deep fried vareity you find in restaurants.
No, it’s better to cook fries from frozen. This ensures that the surface is sealed during cooking, resulting in a crispier batch of fries.
Yes, just like an oven, you need to preheat an air fryer. It only takes 3-5 minutes because of the small appliance size.
Use oils with a high smoke point that can handle the high heats used in air frying. Some suitable and healthy options include coconut oil, avocado oil and extra virgin olive oil.
How To Serve
To complete the meal, serve your air fryer frozen sweet potato fries with the perfect dipping sauce. Some of my favourites are:
- Healthy ketchup
- Garlic aioli (healthy mayo + garlic)
- Spicy mayonnaise (healthy mayo + sriracha sauce)
- My creamy vegan chipotle ranch dipping sauce
Similar Recipes
Still hungry? If you enjoyed this recipe for air fry frozen sweet potato fries, I invite you to check out my collection of other easy air fryer recipes or check out the ones below that I hand selected for you.
If you make these frozen sweet potato fries in the air fryer, please consider leaving a star rating and a comment. Don't forget to tag @caiteyjay on Instagram or @caiteyjay on Pinterest so I can see your creations.
Print
Frozen Sweet Potato Fries In The Air Fryer
- Prep Time: 3
- Cook Time: 12
- Total Time: 15
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
- Category: Side Dishes
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
Do you have an air fryer and a bag of frozen fries that you have no idea what to do with? Well, you landed in the right place. You’re 5-ingredients and 13-minutes away from the tastiest, crispiest homemade sweet potato fries.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of frozen sweet potato fries (please see recipe notes about air fryer capacity)
- ½ tablespoon of olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon of onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon of smoked paprika
- Sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 3 minutes.
- Add frozen fries to a mixing bowl or ziplock bag.
- Add olive oil and seasoning mix to bowl or bag. Then toss until fries are coated evenly.
- Transfer mixture to the air fryer basket. Ensure the fries are not overcrowded. You want them spread out evenly in a single layer.
- Cook at 400 degrees for 12 minutes, stopping at the 6 minute mark to remove the basket and flip the fries. (Please see recipe notes for cooking time considerations. Thinner cuts may require less cooking time.)
- Once flipped, replace the basket and cook for the remaining 6 minutes.
- Remove the fries from the air fryer basket and place in a serving dish. Season to taste with salt.
- Serve and enjoy immediately with your favourite dipping sauce or as-is.
Notes
- Cooking times may vary. That’s because every brand cuts their sweet potato fries to a different thickness. A good rule of thumb is to look at the recommended baking time on the bag and reduce this by half. Your cooking time can also be affected by how full your air fryer basket is. The more full, the longer the cooking time. Be sure to check in.
- Do not overfill your air fryer basket. Every air fryer has a different capacity, so I can't give you an exact measurement for how many fries you should cook in one batch. Instead, judge by how it looks. The fries should be in a single layer with space surrounding them. If they are overlapping, the air can’t properly circulate, which means the fries in the middle won’t have a chance to cook evenly and get crispy. Instead of overcrowding, cook in two batches if need be.
- It’s important to flip the fries at the halfway mark. You can toss the basket to flip the fries, or use a spatula or tongs. This step ensures every fry is evenly cooked and your batch turns out extra crispy.
- Enjoy immediately. If they sit for too long, the fries could end up being soggy rather than crispy. So, dig in.
Keywords: air fryer, healthy sides
June
So easy. So fast. So good.
★★★★★