The Secret to Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries (No Deep Frying!)

by The Healthy Lab — ★★★★★ Leave a review

Tired of soggy, floppy sweet potato fries? The secret to restaurant-style crunch at home — without deep frying — is one ingredient you already have in your pantry.

Every home cook has made the same mistake — overcrowding the pan, skipping the drying step, and ending up with limp, steamed sweet potato fries instead of crispy ones. The fix is one tablespoon of cornstarch. It absorbs surface moisture and creates a light crust that crisps up beautifully in the oven.

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The Secret: Cornstarch absorbs moisture from the potato surface before baking, creating a thin crust that goes golden and crunchy in the oven — no deep fryer needed.

Smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic and onion powder round out the spice mix. Serve with a spicy mayo dip and these disappear faster than any bag of chips. Perfect for burger night, movie night, or any night.

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Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

by The Healthy Lab | ★★★★★

The cornstarch trick gives you restaurant-style crunch at home — no deep frying, no soggy fries.

Serves

4 people

Prep Time

10 min

Bake Time

15–20 min

Total Time

~30 min

Equipment

🔪 Chef's knife + cutting board
🥣 Large mixing bowl
🍳 Large baking sheet
📄 Parchment paper

Ingredients

Scale:

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice sweet potatoes into even sticks — about 1cm thick.
2

Toss with oil and cornstarch first — add the fries to a large bowl, drizzle with oil, sprinkle cornstarch, and toss vigorously until fully coated. Then add all the spices and toss again. 🤫 The cornstarch is the secret!
3

Spread in a single layer — this is critical. Fries touching each other will steam, not crisp. ⚠️ Don't crowd the pan! Use two baking sheets if needed.
4

Bake for 15–20 minutes until golden and crispy on the edges. No need to flip — just check at 15 minutes.
5

Finish with flaky salt right out of the oven. Serve immediately with a spicy mayo dip while the crunch is at its peak.

Notes

🌽 Cornstarch is non-negotiable — it's the only thing standing between you and soggy fries.
📐 Cut evenly — inconsistent thickness means some burn while others stay raw.
🍳 Single layer only — overcrowding creates steam, which kills the crunch.
🌡️ 425°F is the sweet spot — lower and they won't crisp, higher and they burn.
🥣 Spicy mayo dip — mix mayo + sriracha + squeeze of lime. Takes 30 seconds and makes everything better.