Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries (Printable)

Crispy air-fried sweet potato fries complemented by creamy zingy garlic aioli for dipping.

# Ingredient List:

→ Sweet Potato Fries

01 - 2 large sweet potatoes, approximately 1.75 pounds
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt
06 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch, optional for enhanced crispiness

→ Garlic Aioli

08 - 0.5 cup mayonnaise
09 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
10 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 0.5 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 0.25-inch thick fries using a sharp chef's knife on a cutting board.
02 - Place the fries in a bowl of cold water and soak for 20 minutes to remove excess starch, then drain thoroughly and pat completely dry with a clean kitchen towel.
03 - Toss the dried fries with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cornstarch in a mixing bowl until evenly coated.
04 - Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes.
05 - Arrange the seasoned fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Air fry for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking, until fries achieve a golden and crispy exterior.
06 - While the fries cook, combine mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small mixing bowl. Adjust seasonings to personal preference.
07 - Transfer the hot sweet potato fries to a serving dish and present the garlic aioli in a small bowl on the side for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The air fryer does all the work while you sip your coffee or prep the aioli—no babysitting required.
  • That garlic aioli is addictive enough to make even reluctant vegetable eaters reach for seconds.
  • Crispy, golden fries with no greasy hands or kitchen smell that lingers for days.
02 -
  • Skipping the soak is tempting when you're hungry, but it's the single biggest reason fries turn out limp instead of crispy—learned that the hard way.
  • Cornstarch sounds like cheating, but it genuinely transforms the texture; once I started using it, I never looked back.
  • Don't be afraid to shake the basket vigorously halfway through; the fries are sturdy and benefit from getting tossed around.
03 -
  • Buy sweet potatoes that are similar in size so they cook at the same rate and you're not watching one batch while another is overdone.
  • If your air fryer runs hot, start checking at the 12-minute mark to avoid charring the edges.
  • Make the aioli while the fries cook so there's zero wait time between hot fries and creamy dip.
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