I don’t do side dishes often (I’m more of a “bowl meal” type person), but when I do, I make sure to keep them simple. If I’m already going through a lot of trouble to make a main dish, I’m not going to pull out ten more ingredients just for the supporting actor. No, side dishes are to remain as simple as they come! These Spicy Sweet Potato Fries are the perfect example. They transform any sandwich or wrap into a full meal and add a lot of color and flavor to your plate without a lot of extra work. Plus they’re just super tasty. ;)
After living in south Louisiana for 16 years, I ate my fair share of sweet potato fries. They were always deep fried, and always seasoned with tons of Creole or Cajun seasoning. Now that I’ve moved away, I still want that sweet-spicy-salty flavor whenever I have some sort of sandwich or burger, so I make this baked version at home!
Are These Sweet Potato Fries Crispy?
No. Sorry if I got your hopes up, but they’re not crispy like deep fried sweet potato fries. I’m a firm believer that sweet potatoes can not be made crispy in the oven. I’ve tried every technique from soaking to cornstarch coating, and more, and none have produced a crispy sweet potato fry in the oven. Honestly, even deep fried sweet potatoes are quite a bit softer than deep fried white potatoes. So as long as you go into this not expecting a crispy fry, I think you’ll be able to enjoy them for what they are.
What do Sweet Potato Fries Go With?
This awesome combo of sweet, salty, and spicy goes really well with anything BBQ. So, BBQ Bean Sliders, BBQ Beef and Beans (you can serve the beef and beans over the fries instead of over rice), or BBQ Chicken Quesadillas are all great mains for this side. But they also go great with all sorts of other sandwiches, like Green Chile Turkey Burgers, Sloppy Joes Plus, or Baked Chicken Sandwiches.
Pictured above with a BBQ Bean Slider.
Just How Spicy are these Spicy Fries?
I would call them “medium” spicy. I used Tony Chacheres Creole Seasoning to season the fries, and they do make a “more spicy” version of their seasoning, if you want something hotter. If you want something mild, you can switch it out for your favorite seasoning salt, like Lawrys.
What if I Can’t Find Creole Seasoning?
You can add just about any seasoning salt to sweet potato fries. Other brands of Creole or Cajun seasonings (Slap Ya Mama is really good) will work fine, or as I mentioned above, a basic seasoning salt like Lawrys will also work. If you’re using a different seasoning, make sure to check the salt content. If it does not contain salt, you’ll want to add salt to the fries in addition to your seasoning.
Spicy Sweet Potato Fries
Servings 4Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes (about 2 lbs. total) ($1.38)
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil of choice ($0.26)
- 1 tsp Creole seasoning or spicy seasoning salt* ($0.10)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into 1/4-1/2 inch wide fries. Place the cut fries on the prepared baking sheet and drizzle with cooking oil. Toss the fries until they are well coated in oil. Spread the sweet potatoes back out over the baking sheet so they're in a single layer.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the fully preheated oven and bake for about 45 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes or so, or until the the sweet potatoes are browned and blistered.
- After the sweet potato fries have baked, season to your liking with Creole seasoning or spicy seasoning salt. Serve immediately.
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Notes
Nutrition
Scroll down for the step by step photos!
How to Make Spicy Sweet Potato Fries – Step by Step Photos
Begin by preheating the oven to 400ºF and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Peel and slice two sweet potatoes (about 2 lbs. total) into “fries” about ¼-½ inch wide.
Place the cut “fries” onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 Tbsp of your preferred cooking oil and toss until the sweet potatoes are well coated in oil. Spread them out so they are in a single layer on the baking sheet.
Bake the sweet potatoes for about 45 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes or so, until they are browned and blistered.
Season the fries to your liking with a spicy Creole or Cajun seasoning salt (or your preferred seasoning salt).
Enjoy the sweet potato fries while still warm!
Why do you suggest peeling sweet potatoes? I find the peeling appeeling.
You definitely don’t have to peel if you don’t want to!
Didnt rate yet, because i havent made them. Just want an opinion- i was plannjng to make these tonight as a side for the bbq bean sliders. But i just started to wonder about serving the bbq bean/coleslaw combo inside a baked sweet potato. Should i just bake the sweet potato, open, season and stuff? Do u think this would work? Any tips?
I would bake the sweet potato whole (make sure to prick some holes in it with a fork), then after it is baked cut it open and top with the beans and slaw. :)
Thanks!!!!
I am so happy to leave a message when the author stated that you cant get crispy sweet potato fries, partially accurate and thankfully so. Let me explain why, Air Fryer! Simply put about 12-15 minutes on an air fryer will get the outside of sweet potato wedges nice and crispy BUT the inside turns into an amazingly delicious yam texture. I absolutely love them.
NO straining of water, NO super thin fry cuts, NO oil, Plain and simple cook so that you can create whatever dip you want. My wife loves using a melted marshmallow dip, these are delicious for desert or for a side or for whatever desire you want to satiate!
Of COURSE you used Tony’s! I lived in NO for 18 years and always have my can of Tony’s (now use More Spice) handy; even converted a friend to it. If any dish needs more flavor, that’s what I add.
I bet an air fryer would make them crispy??
We haven’t tested with an air fryer but I bet they’d be wonderful!
I regularly make sweet potato fries in the air fryer and they come out delicious and very crispy. After drizzling with olive oil I coat them with the spices and a bit of corn starch. Also making sure they are spread evenly in one layer helps them to crisp up!
Thanks! I was wondering how these would do in an air fryer!
mmm best recipe ever
I’ve got teenagers in the house on a health kick, and they love making these instead of french fries!
Is there a reason why you peel the potatoes? Can you leave the skins on?
It’s personal preference really!
What kind of baking sheet is being used in the pictures? I only have a metal baking sheet and it’s seen better days LOL
I understand that Danielle! Beth uses Rove and Swig enamelware
Convection bake really helps with the crispy factor if your oven has that option. Sometimes I forget to flip or stir and they still turn out ok.