Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

Preheat and prepare

Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly oil it to prevent sticking. If you have a wire rack that fits on the sheet, place it on top and lightly oil the rack—this helps air circulate and crisps the fries.

Wash and cut

Wash and dry the whole sweet potatoes. Peel if desired (peeling is optional). Cut each medium sweet potato into 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick sticks: first slice into 1/2-inch slabs lengthwise, then stack and cut into sticks. Aim for consistent size so they cook evenly. You should end up with about 2 cups of cut fries per two medium potatoes.

Soak (optional but recommended)

Place the cut fries in a large bowl of cold water and soak for 20-30 minutes to remove excess starch. This helps with crisping. If short on time, you can skip soaking. After soaking, drain and pat the fries very dry with clean kitchen towels or paper towels.

Coat the fries

Place the dried fries back into a clean bowl. Sprinkle the cornstarch evenly over them and toss to coat—this light coating helps the exterior crisp. Drizzle the olive oil over the fries and toss until evenly coated. In a small bowl, combine the salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne (if using). Sprinkle the spice mix over the fries and toss again to distribute evenly.

Arrange on the sheet

Spread the fries out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet or on the wire rack. Make sure the fries are not overlapping; overcrowding steams them and prevents crisping. If necessary, use two sheets and rotate during baking.

Bake

Bake in the preheated 425°F (220°C) oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove the sheet, flip the fries with a spatula to promote even browning, rotate the pan front-to-back, and return to the oven. Bake for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until edges are browned and fries are crisped to your liking. Total bake time typically 20–22 minutes depending on thickness and oven.

Optional broil for extra crisp

If you want extra crispness, switch the oven to broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning. Remove as soon as the fries have browned to your preference.

Remove the fries from the oven and immediately season with a light additional pinch of salt if needed. Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the fries and squeeze a little lime or lemon juice for brightness. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce on the side.