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Baked Sweet Potato Fries are a delicious 2-ingredient side dish, and the perfect way to feed your children some nutritious (and delicious) vegetables!
Easy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Nearly every American loves french fries. Unfortunately, we are also well aware that the fast-food deep-fried potato fries we sometimes crave are far from beneficial to our bodies, due to the high calories and fat. Thankfully, we can make indulgent, perfectly sweet-salty and crunchy sweet potato fries at home in an oven—and gain far more nutrients with far less bad fat!
Are Sweet Potatoes Healthy?
Absolutely! Sweet potatoes are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Studies show that sweet potatoes may help lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, and eye disease, as well as lower inflammation (keeping fat cells from growing, which may help you lose weight).
Sweet potatoes are rich in:
- B vitamins
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Calcium
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Thiamin
- Zinc
How to Make Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
I like crunch. Let me give you a few tips to make your fries ultra-crispy and tasty!
- Slice sweet potatoes into thin fries. Most importantly, thinly-sliced fries will cook up crispier than thick fries. Additionally, if you slice fries into similar sizes, they will bake evenly in your oven and you won’t end up with some crispy and some soft (unless, of course, your family prefers them this way!).
- Avoid crowding the baking sheet. Place fries on your baking sheet in a single layer, with a bit of space in between each fry. When fries are touching, it will be much more difficult to get them crispy. Consider using two baking sheets to attain adequate space between fries. Typically, one large baking sheet can hold 1-2 sweet potatoes (cut into fries). If you double the recipe, be sure to plan to use multiple baking sheets, or bake in batches.
- Bake fries with high heat. According to the recipe, sweet potato fries need to bake at 400 degrees. You don’t want to bake them any lower than that or you will end up with too-soft fries. (You could also try 425 degrees, but watch them closely after 15 minutes to avoid burning, as ovens vary.) Also, be sure to wait until the oven is preheated before placing the baking sheet into the oven. This will ensure proper bake times at the appropriate heat level. Be patient! It is worth it!
How to Prep Ahead Baked Sweet Potato Fries
You can streamline your dinnertime hustle by starting to prepare these fries up to two days in advance! First, peel and slice the sweet potatoes. To prevent them from browning, place the fries in a large bowl or storage container, and cover them with water. Cover the dish with a lid and store in the refrigerator until you plan to use them. Approximately 1-2 hours before you want to serve the fries, remove the container from the fridge and allow to come to room temperature (not necessary but helpful). Next, (approximately 45 minutes before you plan to serve the fries), drain the water from the bowl and pat the fries dry with lint-free kitchen towels before starting the recipe.
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Serves: 4
Baked Sweet Potato Fries are a delicious 2-ingredient side dish, and the perfect way to feed your children some nutritious (and delicious) vegetables!
10 minPrep Time
20 minCook Time
30 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes
- 1 Tbsp olive oil (or melted coconut oil)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp paprika (optional)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If desired, line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent fries from sticking to the pan.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and slice them lengthwise (approximately 1/4 inch thick), then cut the slices into fry-shaped strips approximately 1/4 inch wide.
- Transfer fries to the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sea salt, and (optional) paprika and garlic powder; toss until evenly coated. Spread the fries into a single layer on the baking sheet, and avoid crowding the pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until crisp. Serve hot.
Notes
Store leftover fries in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in an oven or toaster oven until warmed through and crisp.
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