Crispy Oven Baked Fries (Printable)
Golden, crispy sweet potato fries baked to perfection—a sweet and savory healthier alternative to traditional fries.
# What You Need:
→ Sweet Potatoes
01 - 2 large sweet potatoes (about 1.5 lbs), peeled
→ Seasonings
02 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
03 - 2 tbsp olive oil
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1/2 tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
07 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Optional Garnish
08 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
# Directions:
01 - Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Cut the sweet potatoes into thin, even matchsticks, about 1/4 inch thick.
03 - In a large bowl, toss the fries with cornstarch until evenly coated. Shake off any excess.
04 - Add olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Toss well to coat.
05 - Spread the fries in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets, making sure they do not touch or overlap (use two sheets if needed for space).
06 - Bake for 12 minutes, then flip each fry with a spatula.
07 - Rotate the trays and bake for another 10–13 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown at the edges.
08 - Remove from oven and sprinkle with extra salt if desired. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These fries develop a genuinely crispy exterior while maintaining that pillowy sweet interior that store bought frozen versions never quite achieve.
- The cornstarch trick transforms ordinary sweet potatoes into restaurant quality sides with minimal oil, making this my guilt free comfort food on busy weeknights.
02 -
- Soaking the cut sweet potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes before drying and seasoning removes excess starch and dramatically improves crispiness, a step I regrettably skipped the first five times I made these.
- Rotating the trays between upper and lower oven racks halfway through baking prevents the bottom tray from steaming instead of crisping, a discovery that saved countless batches from mediocrity.
03 -
- Placing the cut sweet potatoes in a single layer on paper towels and pressing another layer on top before seasoning removes surface moisture, the invisible enemy of crispiness that I discovered after countless soggy attempts.
- Leaving the fries in the oven for 2 3 minutes after turning it off creates the perfect finishing touch as the residual heat drives off the last bits of moisture without additional browning.