Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Without Cornstarch (Baked Recipe)
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This recipe for Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Without Cornstarch is so flavorful and easy to make. It features thin strips of sweet potato that get tossed with a delicious blend of spices. A secret ingredient is also added to make the fries super crispy, before they are baked to perfection in the oven. This simple dish makes a healthy side, appetizer, or snack. Learn how to make homemade sweet potato fries with this crowd-pleasing recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Just a few ingredients and roughly 30 minutes are all you need to make this foolproof dish. Because sweet potatoes are naturally sweet, they beckon to be tossed in anything savory and spicy. A blend of paprika, garlic powder, cumin, and cayenne is the perfect combination of spices to balance out the flavor of sweet potatoes.
My favorite way to have sweet potato fries is alongside a hearty burger, but they really are perfect on their own as a snack or appetizer. I love making (and eating) these fries because they are spicy, sweet, and salty, all in one bite!
These homemade baked sweet potato fries are much healthier than the fries served in restaurants. The French fries you get in restaurants are usually deep-fried in unhealthy and inflammatory oils, and often more than once. This recipe instead calls for the fries to be roasted in the oven with a small amount of heart-healthy olive oil, until they are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Why Do People Put Cornstarch on Fries?
Coating uncooked fries with cornstarch before popping them in the oven is a popular method for making baked fries crispy. I have tried this trick to make homemade sweet potato fries more crispy, but I’m not a fan of it.
This is mainly due to the fact that cornstarch is messy. In addition, the fries never seem to get coated evenly with it. The method does work (sort of), but in my opinion, not well enough to be worth the effort. So, I created a no-fuss recipe for oven-baked sweet potato fries that contains no cornstarch!
How to Make Sweet Potato Fries Crispy Without Cornstarch
Instead of cornstarch, this recipe uses a secret ingredient that makes the fries super crispy. And that secret ingredient is…baking powder! I know that sounds a little strange, but a little sprinkle of baking powder works wonders to make homemade sweet potato fries nice and crispy!
The main ingredients of baking powder are baking soda and cream of tartar. However, please note that some baking powders do contain cornstarch, so if that is something you really want to avoid, be sure to check the ingredients in your baking powder before using it.
Homemade Sweet Potato Fries Ingredients
To make sweet potato fries at home, you will need the following ingredients:
- Sweet potatoes: I recommend buying organic sweet potatoes, if possible. I prefer to leave the skins on, so just be sure to give them a good scrub beforehand.
- Olive oil: This is the healthy oil that will be used to coat the fries prior to baking.
- Seasonings:Â I like to use a savory and spicy mixture of paprika, garlic powder, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper, for the best flavor.
- Baking powder:Â As mentioned above, this is the special ingredient that will help the sweet potatoes to crisp up in the oven.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries
To make the best homemade baked sweet potato fries, simply:
- Clean and chop: Scrub your sweet potatoes and and then cut them into thin strips.
- Preheat and toss: Preheat your oven, then toss your fries with olive oil, seasonings, and baking powder.
- Place on pans: Arrange the sweet potato fries in a single layer on parchment-lined pans.
- Bake and flip: Bake the fries until they are golden brown, turning over once.
That’s it! I recommend serving your fries with any of your favorite dipping sauces. I personally love having sweet potato fries with either Greek yogurt ranch dip, blue cheese dressing, or chipotle lime dip.
Tips for Making The Best Sweet Potato Fries
Here are some suggestions to ensure your sweet potato fries turn out perfect every single time:
- Slice uniformly: Cut the sweet potatoes into uniform strips. This ensures even baking, because thicker fries take more time to cook through than thinner ones do. I always leave the skin on because it is a good source of fiber and of course, it’s less work. 🙂
- Spread out: Space out the sweet potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet so that they are not touching. If the pan is overcrowded, the sweet potatoes will steam rather than roast and will get soggy rather than crispy. If you don’t have a large enough baking sheet, just use two baking sheets.
- Turn over: Flip the fries over halfway through the baking time. This is an important step to ensure the fries get evenly cooked on all sides.
- Broil if desired: If you find that your fries aren’t crispy enough when they are done baking, you can broil them in the oven for a few minutes to crisp right them up! However, make sure you keep an eye on them, so that they don’t burn in the oven.
Keep in mind, you’ll never get the same crisp baking sweet potato fries as you would deep-frying them (like they do in restaurants). But these are just as tasty as deep-fried sweet potato fries and are so much better for you (and lower in calories!).
More Simple Side Dish Recipes
Looking for more quick and easy side dish recipes? Here are some of my favorites ones on the blog:
- Homemade Creamy Dill Potato Salad
- Easy Sage Roasted Butternut Squash
- Spinach Salad with Cherry Tomatoes
- Cornbread Recipe Without Buttermilk
- Mashed Potatoes with Goat Cheese
If you make this Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Without Cornstarch recipe, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating ★ below, because I love hearing from you! ♡
Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Without Cornstarch (Baked Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch thick strips
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the sweet potatoes and olive oil to a large mixing bowl. Toss until the sweet potatoes are evenly coated.
- Add the paprika, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, and baking powder.
- Season generously with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Spread the sweet potatoes out in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, turning over halfway through baking time, or until tender and slightly browned. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Notes
- If your fries aren't crispy enough when they are done baking, you can broil them in the oven for a few minutes to make them crispier. Just make sure you watch them closely, so that they don't burn.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.
This post was originally published on November 2, 2016. It has been updated to reflect new information and helpful content.
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Very delicious.
Hi Safiya – Thanks so much! 🙂
Looks delicious! I’ve had sweet potato fries before and they tasted really good do I’m excited about this because it’ll probably taste ten times better!
Hi Bernadine – Thanks! Yes, these are an absolute favorite in my house. Take care! 🙂
Sweet potato fries are always my side dish of choice, but they are soooo unhealthy! Love that these are baked instead of fried, yet still crispy!
Thanks Bethany! I always try to make baked versions of deep fried foods whenever I can. They still taste just as good, but without all the extra fat and calories!