Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

Preheat and prepare

Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them. Position a rack in the middle of the oven. This high heat helps fries crisp.

Wash and cut sweet potatoes

Scrub 3 medium sweet potatoes and pat dry. Cut into evenly sized fries about 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick (aim for roughly 3/8 inch). Try to keep pieces uniform so they cook evenly. You should have roughly 3 cups of cut fries.

Soak to remove starch

Place the cut fries in a large bowl of cold water and soak for 20–30 minutes (if short on time, 10 minutes helps). This removes surface starch and improves crispness. After soaking, drain and pat very dry with clean kitchen towels or paper towels — moisture prevents crisping.

Coat with cornstarch

Place the dried fries in a large dry bowl. Sprinkle 2 tsp cornstarch over the fries and toss gently to coat evenly. The cornstarch creates a light crust during baking.

Season and oil

Drizzle 2 tbsp olive oil over the coated fries. Add 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and optional 1/4 tsp cayenne. Toss thoroughly so each fry has a light, even coating of oil and seasonings.

Arrange on baking sheets

Spread the fries in a single layer across the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between pieces. Crowding will cause steaming and softer fries. Use two sheets if needed.

Bake and flip

Bake for 20 minutes, then remove the top rack and use a spatula to flip each fry or rotate the pans. Return to oven and bake another 10–12 minutes, or until edges are browned and fries are crisp. Ovens vary; total time typically 30–35 minutes.

Finish and serve

Remove fries from oven and immediately sprinkle with the chopped parsley (1 tbsp) and additional pinch of salt if desired. Let sit 2–3 minutes to firm slightly, then serve hot.

While fries bake, whisk together 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or mayonnaise, 2 tsp ketchup, 1/2 tsp hot sauce, 1/2 tsp lemon juice, and 1/8 tsp salt in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste. Chill until ready to serve.