Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries (Printable Version)

Golden air fried sweet potato fries served with a creamy garlic aioli dip.

# 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 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch, optional for enhanced crispiness

→ Garlic Aioli

08 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
09 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced or grated
10 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 1/4-inch thick fries, ensuring uniform thickness for even cooking.
02 - Place the fries in a bowl of cold water and soak for 20 minutes to remove excess starch. Drain thoroughly and pat completely dry with a kitchen towel.
03 - Toss the fries with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cornstarch if using, until evenly coated.
04 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
05 - Arrange the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary. Air fry for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until fries are golden and crisp.
06 - While the fries cook, combine mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Serve the hot sweet potato fries immediately with garlic aioli on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get restaurant-quality crispy fries without deep frying or feeling guilty about the oil.
  • The whole thing comes together in under 40 minutes, perfect for when you need something fast but still feel homemade.
  • That garlic aioli is dangerously easy to make and makes ordinary fries feel special.
02 -
  • Skipping the soak step will result in fries that are crispy outside but weirdly dense inside—the 20 minutes is non-negotiable if you want that perfect texture.
  • Pat those soaked fries completely dry; even a little surface moisture will create steam in the air fryer, sabotaging crispiness before it has a chance.
03 -
  • If your air fryer tends to cook unevenly, shake the basket more frequently—maybe at the 7-minute and 13-minute marks instead of just once—for more consistent results.
  • Room temperature aioli tastes better than cold aioli; if you make it ahead, let it sit out for 10 minutes before serving so the flavors open up.
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