Description
These Crispy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries offer a healthy, delicious alternative to traditional deep-fried fries. Coated with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, and optionally dusted with cornstarch for extra crispiness, these fries bake to a perfect golden brown in just over an hour. Perfect as a snack or side dish, they are packed with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, delivering crunch and nutrition all in one.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (peeled optional and cut into fries)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika optional for extra flavor)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Optional Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for extra crispiness)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and place a baking sheet inside to get hot while the oven heats. This preheating step is essential to start cooking the fries immediately and help achieve crispiness.
- Prepare the Sweet Potatoes: Peel (optional) and cut the sweet potatoes into 1/4 inch thick fries. Aim for uniform pieces so they cook evenly and crisp uniformly.
- Soak the Fries: Place the cut fries in a bowl of cold water and soak for 30 minutes. This step removes excess starch, which is key for a crispy texture.
- Season the Fries: Drain the fries and pat them completely dry with a paper towel to remove moisture. Toss them in a large bowl with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. If using cornstarch, sprinkle it on now and toss to coat well, forming a light crispy coating.
- Bake the Fries: Carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the oven. Spread the fries out in a single layer without overcrowding to ensure air circulation. Bake for 25-30 minutes, turning the fries halfway through the cooking to brown all sides evenly.
- Check for Crispiness: When the fries are golden brown and crisp, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes before serving to enhance their crunch.
Notes
- Use Cornstarch for Extra Crispiness: Adding cornstarch before baking helps create a crunchy exterior by absorbing moisture while keeping the inside tender.
- Do Not Overcrowd the Pan: Ensure fries have enough space on the baking sheet to avoid steaming and sogginess.
- Pat Fries Thoroughly Dry: Drying fries after soaking is critical to crisping up during baking.
- Flip Fries Halfway: Turning fries halfway through baking ensures even cooking and browning.
- Use a Hot Baking Sheet: This jump-starts the cooking process for extra crispiness.
- Storage: Cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes to regain crispiness. Avoid microwaving as it makes fries soggy.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish, Snack
- Method: Oven Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Crispy Sweet Potato Fries, Healthy Sweet Potato Fries, Baked Fries, Easy Snack, Side Dish