These 4-ingredient Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and so satisfying! With only 4 simple ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, you can make this recipe in less than 30 minutes. Enjoy these as a snack or serve them on the side of your favorite burger for an extra dose of fiber and vitamins A and C.
I remember back in the early 2000’s when sweet potato fries became all the rage. I worked in the restaurant industry and slowly but surely regular potato fries were being replaced for these left, right and center. While I don’t see these as a replacement (I do still love a good ol’ regular potato fry), sweet potato fries are delicious in their own right, serving that delicious combo of sweet and savory. Plus they’re packed with nutrition like fiber, and antioxidant vitamins A and C.
So it probably comes as no surprise that as a registered dietitian and mom, sweet potatoes are a pantry staple. The kids love them in any shape or form. I often meal prep two trays of sweet potatoes and add them into chilis, bowls and salads for an extra dose of nutrition.
To mix things up, some weeks I’ll make a batch of these air fryer sweet potato wedges at the beginning of the week so that we can enjoy them as a snack or as a tasty side to my oven baked chicken tenders or juicy grilled chicken burger. The kids love dipping them in ketchup, honey mustard sauce or a creamy sriracha aioli (yes, my 5 year old is spicy food obsessed!) — the options are endless. Whatever your dipping preference, this is a great recipe to add into your meal prep rotation that the whole family will enjoy!
PS – Don’t have an air fryer? No problem – I included alternative cooking options so everyone can enjoy this recipe!
What You Need To Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potatoes: The star of this dish is none other than the sweet potato (not to be mistaken for it’s less sweet, slightly starchier relative – the yam). The sweet potato works perfectly in this crispy wedge recipe with the sweet flavor profile pairing really nicely with the savory seasonings.
When sweet potatoes are cooked using an air fryer, they crisp up on the outside while keeping a soft texture on the inside. You can also use this recipe as a guide to make yam or potato wedges, but one thing to note is that cooking times may vary slightly so you’ll want to keep an eye on them the first time you make ‘em.
Avocado oil: Because the sweet potato wedges are cooked at a high temperature in the air fryer, I wanted to use a neutral cooking oil with a high smoke point. Avocado oil is usually my go-to for recipes like this one. Coating the sweet potato in avocado oil helps the seasoning stick to the fries and allows them to cook evenly and helps create that crispy exterior without burning.
If you don’t have avocado oil on hand, you can choose any high-heat cooking oil that I’ve highlighted in this blog post comparing different types of cooking oils.
Paprika & garlic salt: I used the combo of paprika and garlic salt to season the sweet potatoes. I love how paprika adds a warm, slightly sweet flavor to the sweet potato fries, while the garlic salt adds a savory touch, with the salt component enhancing the overall flavor.
You can also use garlic powder + salt to replace the garlic salt if you prefer or have them on hand! Or try one of my other favorite seasonings like parmesan or nutritional yeast, cajun spice, or traditional salt and pepper!
How To Make Crispy Wedges
In a large bowl, mix together the potatoes with oil, paprika, and garlic salt.
Place the wedges into the basket in a single layer, it’s ok if they overlap a bit but depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in 2 batches.
Turn the air fryer to 200 C or 400 F and cook for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. The wedges are ready when they are golden brown around the edges and fork-tender.
No Air Fryer? No Problem!
I know Air Fryer is in the title of this recipe but just because you don’t have an air fryer doesn’t mean you can’t make this recipe! Here are 2 alternative cooking methods to making crispy sweet potato wedges.
Convection Oven
If you have a convection oven, you can make this recipe essentially the same way. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the sweet potatoes with oil and seasoning then bake at 200C of 400F for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway.
HOT TIP: Place a cooling rack on top of the baking sheet, then the sweet potatoes on top of the cooling rack. This allows some air flow to get underneath the sweet potatoes and crisp up without getting soggy, similar to the air fryer!
Standard Oven
For a standard oven, your cooking time will increase and you want to make sure that there is space between the sweet potato wedges to crisp up. If they are close together or overlapping, your wedges will steam and may end up soggy.
For this method, preheat your oven to 425 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the sweet potatoes with oil and seasoning. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes and then flip and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 15 to 20 minutes more. Note: You can also use the baking sheet with a rack combo described above!
Nutritional Benefits (Nutrition by Addition)
Adding snacks and sides onto your plate is a great way to practice nutrition by addition – the practice of looking at what you can add to your plate vs. what you need to cut out or take away.
I know this principle might seem counterintuitive especially with everything that diet culture has been preaching these past decades (ugh!) but as a dietitian I am here to tell you that you can have a burger with a side (any side) and enjoy it without the guilt.
It’s all about what would taste good, feel good, and be satisfying.
Some days I might be craving a crunchy salad with fresh veggies and a delicious dressing so I’ll opt for a side salad. Other days, I might be wanting something with a little spice that’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside as a vehicle for my favorite dip—enter the fries!
Learning to listen to your body and making food choices that serve you is something I work on with my clients in the Make Food Feel Good Program. I teach them how to challenge old food rules (like fries are bad and salads are good) and reframe how they look at food so they can enjoy all foods without stress or guilt.
So besides the texture and flavor, what else can sweet potato wedges add into your life? Let’s get a little nerdy about nutrition.
Fiber: Fiber supports our overall gut health, helping us stay regular while also supporting beneficial gut bacteria. Fiber also helps regulate blood sugar levels by slowing down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. This prevents rapid spikes and crashes in blood sugar and helps keep our energy levels stable throughout the day.
Vitamins & minerals: Did you know that 1 cup of sweet potato contains over 200% of our daily requirement of Vitamin A?! Vitamin A helps support our immune and eye health. That same 1 cup also serves us with nearly 45% of our DV of vitamin C, 35% DV B6 and 20% DV of potassium.
Antioxidants: Sweet potatoes are also rich in antioxidants (including vitamins A & C) which help protect our body from free radical damage.
Recipe, Kitchen, & Time Saving Hacks
Over my years in the kitchen, I’ve picked up a few time saving hacks that I love passing on. These are little things that you can incorporate into your cooking life that can save you time and energy, so you can spend more time doing other things!
Here are a couples ways you can shave off time in the kitchen:
Meal prep: This is a great batch prep recipe! I love doubling this recipe and making a big batch of these wedges during my Sunday meal prep. We will enjoy them throughout the week as a snack or as a side to my buffalo chicken burgers or these juicy greek turkey burgers. The kids love them. To reheat, you can either microwave until warmed through or toss them in the oven or air fryer for 5 to 10 minutes.
Buy pre-cut frozen sweet potatoes: I love having frozen veggies on hand. I’ll typically have at least 2 to 3 different veggies that I can easily throw into a dish to add a little more color, flavor and nutrition without needing to take out the cutting board. Buy some pre-cut frozen sweet potato fries and keep them in the freezer. If you’re in a time crunch for dinner, pop them in the air fryer and enjoy!
If you make these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges, it would make my day if you would leave a comment and/or star rating below— I love hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @lindsaypleskot.rd so I can see your versions! It makes me so happy to see these recipes come to life in your kitchens! Xo
Print4 Ingredient Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
These 4-ingredient Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and so satisfying! With only 4 simple ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, you can make this recipe in less than 30 minutes. Enjoy these as a snack or serve them on the side of your favorite burger for an extra dose of fiber and vitamins A and C.
Ingredients
1 medium sweet potatoes (approximately 1 ½ cups), cut into wedges
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic salt
Instructions
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In a large bowl, mix together the potatoes with oil, paprika, and garlic salt.
-
Place the wedges into the basket in a single layer, it’s ok if they overlap a bit but depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in 2 batches.
-
Turn the air fryer to 200 C or 400 F and cook for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. The wedges are ready when they are golden brown around the edges and fork-tender.
Notes
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make these in the oven. Click here for oven instructions.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 20
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