Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

We'll show you how to use the oven to get well browned, crispy at the edges sweet potato fries.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated January 16, 2024
Elise Bauer

These. Are. So. Addictive.

And once you know how to make them, you will never have an excuse to not cook sweet potatoes again.

Those kids who won't eat their veggies? Ha!

They'll eat so many of these fries, their skin will turn yellow from beta carotene.

Munch. Yum. Munch. Yum. I'm still eating them in my mind. I brought these over for my father to try. I think he only got to eat one or two because he was also eating the rest of his dinner, the dinner I abandoned in favor of these.

A platter of sweet potato fries with a person dipping one in a sauce.

Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez

How to Make Sweet Potato Fries

They're really easy to make, too. Just peel a few sweet potatoes, cut them into wedges or rounds, toss with some olive oil, sprinkle with spices, and bake at a high temperature until lightly browned. So good!

How to Season Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries taste great with spices and seasonings such as:

Feel free to use what you like.

Sweet potato fries on a baking sheet with a dipping sauce

Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez

How to Tell When the Fries Are Done

Sweet potatoes can take high heat, and you might see them and worry they're burned. The browner they are, the crispier they will be, but there is a fine line between browned and burnt beyond edibility.

Even if they get really dark, they should still be good because of the natural sugars of the sweet potatoes caramelizing. But watch carefully to ensure that they don't go from browned to burned.

Tips for the Best Sweet Potato Fries Ever

  • Try to cut them evenly so they all cook at about the same rate.
  • Preheat the oven with the baking sheet inside.
  • For best browning results bake only one sheet at a time.
  • For extra caramelization, sprinkle fries with a little sugar before putting in the oven.
  • Swap out half of the oil with melted butter for some extra flavor
Side view of a platter of homemade sweet potato fries with salt sprinkled on top

Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez

Love Sweet Potatoes? Check Out These Recipes

Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

The baking times are approximate; it depends on how thick you cut the wedges or rounds of sweet potatoes. Try to cut them evenly so they all cook at about the same rate. For best browning results, bake only one sheet at a time.

For extra caramelization, sprinkle fries with a little sugar before putting in the oven.

For extra flavor, try swapping out half of the oil with melted butter.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds orange fleshed sweet potatoes (about 3 large)

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons spice or spice combination of your choice: chipotle powder, smoked paprika, Chinese five-spice, pumpkin pie spice, garam masala, Cajun seasoning, etc.

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F:

    For more crispiness, preheat your oven to 500°F.

    Place a roasting pan or heavy duty baking sheet (one that can take high heat) in the oven to preheat.

  2. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into wedges:

    Peel the sweet potatoes and cut off the ends. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and then, if they are very long, in half crosswise. Cut each piece into 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick wedges. Alternately, you can slice the peeled sweet potato into disks either with a mandoline or a sharp knife.

    Sweet potatoes peeled and halved on a cutting board

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
    Sweet potatoes sliced into wedges to make fries

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
  3. Toss with theoil, salt, spices:

    Put the sweet potatoes into a large bowl and add the oil. Mix well to combine. Sprinkle with salt and spices of your choice. Use your hands to mix well, so all pieces are coated with oil and spices.

    Tossing sweet potato wedges in seasoning in a glass bowl.

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
  4. Spread onto preheated pan:

    Remove the preheated baking sheet from the oven. Carefully spread the sweet potatoes out in a single layer on the baking sheet. (Watch out, the pan is hot!)

    Sweet potato wedges seasoned on a baking sheet.

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
  5. Bake:

    Bake for 15 to 25 minutes. After the first 10 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven and use tongs to turn over all of the sweet potato pieces.

    Return to the oven and bake for another 5 to 15 minutes, or until they are well browned.

    Cooking time depends on the temperature of the oven (500°F will need less cooking time than 450°F) and the size and thinness of the sweet potato wedges.

    The browner they are, the crispier they will be, but there is a fine line between browned and burnt beyond edibility. Even if they get really dark, they should still be good because of the natural sugars of the sweet potatoes caramelizing. So watch carefully.

    Sweet potato fries on a baking sheet being flipped with tongs

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
    Cooked sweet potato fries resting on a baking sheet.

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
  6. Serve:

    When ready let the fries cool for 5 minutes before serving.

    Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

    A side view of a platter of homemade sweet potato fries.

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
203 Calories
7g Fat
33g Carbs
3g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 203
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 446mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 30mg 148%
Calcium 67mg 5%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 770mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.