Food I Made

Mild-mannered engineer by day, ambitious home cook by night

HomeAboutBrowseSearchMy Kit

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

February 03, 2026

Cuisine: American

The cornstarch and rice flour coating creates an extra-crispy exterior on these fries. The slurry method ensures even coating, while the two-stage cooking process cooks the interior through before crisping the outside at higher heat.

The smoked paprika and onion powder add savory depth, and the touch of sugar helps with browning and caramelization.

  • 2 servings
  • 10 mins
  • 21 mins
  • 31 mins

    • Ingredients

    • 1 large (about 450g / 16 oz) sweet potato
    • 2 tbsp oil, avocado or olive oil
    • 2 tsp (5g) cornstarch
    • 2 tsp (5g) white rice flour
    • 1/2 tsp (2g) granulated sugar
    • 1 tsp (2g) smoked paprika, for slurry
    • 1/2 tsp (1g) onion powder, for slurry
    • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika, for finishing
    • 1/4 tsp onion powder, for finishing
    • as needed nonstick cooking spray
    This recipe can be suitable for the following restricted diets:

    Nutrition Facts

    Makes 2 servings
    Serving sizeabout 225g
    Per serving
    Calories340
    % Daily Value*
    Total Fat 14g18%
    Saturated Fat 2g10%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Cholesterol 0mg
    Sodium 60mg3%
    Total Carbohydrate 52g19%
    Dietary Fiber 6g21%
    Total Sugars 12g
    Includes 2g Added Sugars4%
    Protein 2g
    Vitamin D 0mcg
    Calcium 40mg3%
    Iron 1mg6%
    Potassium 460mg10%
    * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

    Tools I Used

    Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1
    Buy on Amazon

    Instructions

    1. Preheat your air fryer to 385°F.
    2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, cornstarch, rice flour, sugar, 1 tsp smoked paprika, and 1/2 tsp onion powder until it forms a smooth paste.
    3. Peel the sweet potato and cut into 1/4-inch thick sticks. Add to the bowl and toss until evenly coated.
    4. Transfer fries to the air fryer basket. Cook at 385°F, shaking the basket and spraying the fries generously with cooking spray every 5 to 6 minutes, until starting to brown, about 13 minutes.
    5. Reduce the air fryer temperature to 375°F. Continue to cook, shaking the basket and spraying the fries generously with cooking spray every 5 minutes, until crispy and browned, about 7 to 8 more minutes. Watch closely to prevent burning.
    6. Transfer the fries to a serving bowl and toss with the remaining 1/4 tsp smoked paprika and 1/4 tsp onion powder.

    This recipe was adapted from:

    Daniel Gritzer

    Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
    Serious Eats

    Written by Will Chiong who lives and works in New York building useful things.