Air fryer sweet potatoes
- Preparation 10 min
- Cooking 20 min
- Servings 4
- Freezing I do not suggest
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🍠 Crispy sweet potatoes in 20 minutes
Sweet potatoes have this amazing ability to fit into any meal: mashed, as fries, roasted cubes… and today, in a crispy, light air fryer version. With their naturally sweet flavor and tender texture, they’re perfect for a quick cook that brings out their best qualities.
🔥 The secret: let the air flow
The air fryer delivers golden, crunchy results without excess oil, in under 20 minutes. The key here is letting the air circulate: by avoiding overcrowding, you get even cooking and beautiful color on every side. A mix of smoked paprika, garlic powder and Herbes de Provence adds an aromatic touch that pairs perfectly with the natural sweetness.
🥗 A versatile side dish
Perfect as a side with any cut of meat, tossed into a salad, or even as a snack with homemade mayo, these air fryer sweet potatoes are a simple and delicious option for any meal. My kids love them and I make them almost every week with different spices.
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🥔 Wash and dry thoroughly before cutting
Sweet potatoes need to be completely dry before seasoning and air frying. Surface moisture prevents crispiness from forming. A good wipe with paper towel after washing makes all the difference between golden cubes and soggy ones.
🔥 NEVER overcrowd the basket
This is the number one mistake everyone makes. Myself included the first time! The whole point of an air fryer is that hot air circulates around each piece. If your basket is packed, the air can’t do its job and you’ll end up with soft potatoes. Cook in smaller batches and reheat everything together at the end. That’s why I love my dual-basket air fryer. Problem solved.
🔄 Flip halfway through
A quick toss halfway through cooking time is all you need for even browning on all sides. If you forget, one side will be perfectly golden and the other still pale. Set an alarm if you tend to forget!
🌶️ My favorite seasonings (tested and approved)
The beauty of this recipe is you can switch up the seasoning every week and it’s like a brand new dish each time. Here are my three go-tos: my homemade BBQ spices for a smoky, slightly sweet flavor, my homemade jerk spices for a punchier version with a kick (jerk and sweet potato is an incredible pairing), or Club House lemon and fine herbs for a fresh summer option.
🍯 Spice variations to change the mood
If you want to mix things up: cinnamon + nutmeg + a drizzle of maple syrup for a sweet-spicy version, cayenne + cumin + smoked paprika for heat, oregano + thyme + grated parmesan after cooking for Mediterranean vibes, or ginger + garlic + soy sauce at the end for an Asian twist.
🥣 Dipping sauces
Sweet potato cubes are also amazing with a good dipping sauce. My homemade mayonnaise is the classic that never disappoints, but my jerk pineapple mayonnaise is the perfect match with sweet potato. The sweet-spicy with the naturally sweet potato is just wow. Roasted garlic aïoli or sriracha-mayo also do the trick.
🍗 My air fryer: the Ninja Foodi 10-qt. 6 in 1 DualZone XL
Honestly, I was skeptical about air fryers at first. Today, it’s become a completely indispensable tool in my kitchen. I don’t even have a microwave anymore. My air fryer replaced it! I use it almost every day: vegetables, steaks (it makes a beautiful crust!), whole chicken, and even my toast in the morning. My oven is collecting dust.
What I love about the Ninja Foodi 10-qt. 6 in 1 DualZone XL is the two large baskets. It solves the overcrowding problem perfectly. You can spread your sweet potatoes across both and everything crisps up evenly. There’s even a mode that syncs both baskets so everything finishes at the same time. It heats up super fast, cleans easily, and the newer model seems even better organized in terms of buttons.
❄️ Storage and freezing
Air fryer sweet potatoes keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. To get the crispiness back, reheat them for a few minutes in the air fryer. Never in the microwave or they’ll go soggy. Freezing is not recommended: the flavor will be there but the crispy texture will be gone.
✅ What to serve with air fryer sweet potatoes?
Air fryer sweet potato cubes are an incredible side dish with any cut of meat. I love serving them with my air fryer pork tenderloin, my air fryer chicken breasts or my maple teriyaki salmon. You can also let them cool slightly and add them to a salad. It’s delicious. For a snack version, simply serve them with my homemade mayonnaise or my jerk pineapple mayonnaise. My kids fell in love with air fryer sweet potatoes from the very first time. It’s simple, fast, and everyone goes crazy for them.
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Air fryer sweet potatoes
- 5 cups (1.25 L) (about 2 large) sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) garlic powder
- 1 tsp (5 ml) smoked paprika
- 1 tsp (5 ml) herbes de Provence
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt
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Preparation
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F (180°C) for 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, toss sweet potatoes with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, herbes de Provence and salt and pepper generously.
- Place the potatoes in a single layer in the basket (or two baskets) of the air fryer (bake in two batches if necessary to avoid overlapping).
- Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Increase temperature to maximum and bake an additional 4-5 minutes for a crispy texture!
No, it’s not mandatory! The skin becomes slightly crispy and adds a rustic touch. Just make sure to wash and scrub them thoroughly before cooking.
Yes! You can cut the potatoes and store them in a bowl of cold water in the fridge up to 24 hours ahead. You can also pre-cook them 10 minutes in the air fryer, then finish them 5-10 minutes before serving for maximum crispiness.
For cubes or fries: 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway through. For thick wedges: 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Cubes are the ideal cut for the air fryer. They cook quickly, are easy to cut and give a beautiful golden surface on each side. Fries work too, but cubes win in efficiency and even crispiness.
The number one mistake is overcrowding the basket. Air needs to circulate freely around each piece. That’s the whole point of an air fryer. If your basket is packed, the air can’t do its job. Cook in smaller batches and reheat everything together at the end. You’ll see the difference!
Personally, I don’t. The whole point of the air fryer is speed and simplicity. That said, some people blanch sweet potatoes for 5 minutes in vinegared water before cooking. The vinegar stabilizes the natural sugars on the surface, which can give a longer-lasting crispiness. If you want to try, boil water with 3 tablespoons of white vinegar, dunk your pieces for 5 minutes, drain and dry well before cooking. But honestly, with good air circulation and a basket that’s not too full, the result is already excellent without this step.
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