Frozen Sweet Potato Fries with Ninja Air Fryer
One of my all time favorite foods is French fries. I tend to rate burger joints based on their fries rather than the burgers themselves because the fries are a very important part of the meal. I have been making French fries at home for as long as I have had my own oven. So it should come as no surprise that when sweet potato fries came into the picture I quickly stocked my freezer. This super simple recipe is a great side dish for burgers or sandwiches and anyone can make it! They are crispy fries with a sweet and savory taste. And the best part is crispy air fryer fries are an easy recipe that requires minimal effort and limited cooking time. Now let me show you how to make the best side dish perfect for snacking, your next backyard BBQ, or game days. Full recipe card below.
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What are Sweet Potato Fries?
Sweet potato fries are French fries that are made from sweet potatoes of course. Unlike ordinary fries that are commonly made with white potatoes like russets, sweet potatoes have less starch and as the name suggests, a sweeter taste. Because regular potatoes do not have as much flavor, regular fries using them are often made with too much oil and have an overpowering and greasy taste. In recent years homemade sweet potato fries have become very popular on restaurant menus across the United States and are now sold in a frozen version at most grocery stores.
What is an Air Fryer?
Unless you do not have the internet, you have likely heard of the culinary phenomenon of the air fryer. But every time I share a video of me air frying dinner on Instagram, I get a lot of questions about what it tastes like. So let’s start at the beginning, shall we?
In my opinion, the best way to describe an air fryer is they are really powerful convection ovens that are portable. The hot air makes food very crispy without drenching your food in vegetable oil making it a healthier option. Unlike deep frying, air frying can be done with a small amount of oil and sometimes none at all. I personally don’t enjoy super greasy and heavily oiled fried food so the air fryer is a great way to have crispy fries without the deep fried taste.
One of the most common questions I get is does it taste like deep fried food? No. They taste very different in my opinion. With the air fryer you get the crispiness of something that has been fried but without all the oil taste.
My Air Fryer
I will say, the first time I used an air fryer I wasn’t completely sold. When they first came out I didn’t feel like I had room in my kitchen for one so I chose to get the air fryer lid for my Instant pot instead. This way I would only need to store the extra lid and not another appliance. But it was very awkward to use and as a result, I didn’t use it much.
Then I reconsidered and asked for a Ninja Foodi air fryer for Christmas. And I LOVE IT! I use it several times each week and it makes the best crispy and crunchy fries. The Ninja is a different type of air fryer in that the air fryer basket is a pull out drawer and is much larger than my old one. This makes using it so much more convenient. It has two zones which can be used simultaneously or as one large mega zone as it’s called. The only draw back is the size. It does take up more space, but in my opinion it is totally worth it!
Ingredients
These air fryer sweet potato fries only require a few simple ingredients and steps to make. You most likely already have them in your pantry. Let me walk you through what I use and why and what ingredients will give you the best results.
Sweet Potato French Fries – I use frozen sweet potato fries 90% of the time I make these fries. Why? Because it is super convenient, I always have a bag in my freezer, and I can make as little or as much as I want. I have made from scratch homemade sweet potato fries and sweet potato wedges before, but I honestly don’t think they are worth the extra work. You can definitely use a large sweet potato and cut it into wedges, slices, or sweet potato cubes for this recipe, but it’s totally not necessary. Do yourself a favor and save the time for the main course. Any brand will work for this recipe. I used the Kroger brand of crinkled sweet potato fries that I found in the freezer section at my grocery store.
Olive Oil – I used a little bit of oil in my misto to spray the fries and the bottom of the air fryer basket before I cooked them. This will help them get a little extra crispy and not stick to the basket. I used extra virgin olive oil but you can also use avocado oil or cooking spray if you prefer.
Salt – I like to be in control of the salt content in my food but that doesn’t mean I don’t use it. Food needs salt, period. But it doesn’t need so much that it’s all you taste. I used sea salt for these sweet potato fries, but you can also use table salt or kosher salt. You can also use garlic salt if you would like.
Black Pepper – And a little bit of pepper to top it all off. It gives the recipe a little extra flavor.
Parsley – I used a little bit of parsley for garnish, but you can skip this if you want.
Red Pepper Flakes – I added a few shakes of red pepper flakes for some heat but you can also use chili powder if you want a milder taste or you can skip it altogether.
Seasoning the Fries
You will not season the fries until after the cooking process. After you remove them from the air fryer, sprinkle with the seasonings.
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Frozen Sweet Potato Fries with Ninja Air Fryer
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Enjoy delicious and crispy sweet potato fries without going to a restaurant! These easy frozen sweet potato fries crisp up perfectly in the Ninja Air Fryer in just 25 minutes! They are a super simple side dish that can be made without all the fuss of dicing and cooking fresh potatoes. Simply add your favorite brand of frozen sweet potato fries to the air fryer while you make the rest of your meal. This is a great recipe for weeknight dinners or backyard BBQs. No matter when you make them, this easy sweet potato fry recipe will quickly become a family favorite!
Ingredients
- 9.5 oz Frozen Sweet Potato Fries (1/2 a bag)
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
- 1/8 tsp Pepper
Instructions
- Set the temperature of your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Pre-heating is not required, but I think it helps for the fryer to heat up for a couple of minutes prior to adding my fries.
- Spray the inside of the air fryer with cooking oil spray or olive oil to prevent the fries from sticking to the bottom.
- Add a single layer of frozen fries to the air fryer and spray them with about a tablespoon of olive oil or cooking spray. I use my mega zone for this and can make about a half a bag at a time. Cook for 15-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- When the fries are done, do not allow the fries to cool in the fryer. I find that this makes my fries less crispy. As soon as the time ends, open the fryer and turn it off. Cool for a few minutes with the drawer or lid off.
- Transfer to a baking sheet or plate and season. Serve with your favorite sauce.
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Equipment
Notes
Air fryer ovens may differ in size and temperature so your cook time and quantity may vary.
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Sides
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Storage
Leftover fries can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container. I end up with soggy sweet potato fries the longer they sit in the fridge, so it’s best to use them as soon as possible.
When to Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
This easy sweet potato French fry recipe is the perfect side dish for weeknight meals, backyard BBQs, or even quick snacks. By using frozen fries, they are ready in less time and can be cooking while you focus on something else. Unlike a homemade sweet potato fries recipe these can be made on short notice with great success. Pair them with a burger, a sandwich, hot dogs, or BBQ. Ninja Foodi sweet potato fries are a simple side dish the whole family will love!
Looking for a tasty sauce to dip them in? Try my curry lime sweet potato fry dipping sauce, gourmet ketchup recipe with balsamic vinegar, copycat Kraft chipotle aioli, or my easy mayo ketchup recipe.
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