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Pair the sweet potato with this spice blend, and you’ve got yourself an “I’m still thinking about those fries from last night” kind of fry. These spicy sweet potato fries are crispy and tender, and the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries on a plate with harissa mayo

Crispy sweet potato fries can feel like the holy grail — trust me, I’ve chased them for years — but this recipe actually delivers. These spicy sweet potato fries come out crispy on the edges, soft in the center, and wildly addictive in that “wait… who ate the last one?” kind of way. I make them all the time, and every single batch disappears faster than I’d like to admit.

The magic really happens when you toss the sweet potatoes in smoked paprika, garlic granules, cayenne, and sea salt. That mix gives them a deep, smoky warmth with just the right kick. They smell incredible as they roast, and the moment they come out of the oven, you’ll wonder why you ever settled for store-bought fries.

And the best part? Once you know the tricks — how to cut them, how to coat them, how to roast them just right — you can make perfect sweet potato fries any night of the week. I love serving these alongside burgers, tacos, or honestly just a big bowl of them with dipping sauce. Enough teasing … let’s get cooking!

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries on a dinner plate with spicy mayo

a plate of Spicy Sweet Potato Fries with spicy dip

Tips to make perfect (crispy) spicy sweet potato fries

Around this neck of the woods, there’s nothing but love for the sweet potato fries that come out of the oven that aren’t quite crispy. The tender ones are good, too! That said, if you only want to eat them at crisp perfection, follow these expert tips:

For crispier sweet potatoes, try soaking them for at least an hour in cold water before baking.
Once you’ve oiled the fries, dust them with cornstarch. Rub the cornstarch into the fries and then add the rest of the spices.
Try experimenting with cutting them different widths to see how you like them best – just make sure that each batch you make are all roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
Make sure not to crowd the sheet pan or they will be too soft.

What to serve with spicy sweet potato fries

You can serve these spicy sweet potato fries as a side dish or eat them as a snack all on their own! Here are some options for what to serve with these spicy sweet potatoes:

Sauces: First and foremost, these spicy sweet potato fries go so well with a dipping sauce. Top recommendations include harissa mayo, chipotle mayo, homemade mayonnaise, or this chili cheese dip.
Burgers: Fries and burgers are best friends, and these spicy sweet potato fries are no exception. Pair them with this southwest veggie burger, a guacamole burger, or this chicken feta spinach burger.
Sandwiches: try a fry and sandwich combo with this grilled salmon sandwich, pulled chicken sandwich, or grilled cheese sandwich.
Salads: Fries and salad should be the definition of a balanced meal! Try the spicy sweet potato fries with this chicken salad with raspberries or a bacon kale caesar salad.

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

Prep: 10

Cook: 30

Total: 40

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Pair the naturally sweet, sweet potato with this spice blend and you've got yourself an "I'm still thinking about those fries from last night" kind of fry. These spicy sweet potato fries are crispy and tender and the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

Ingredients

▢ 2 medium sweet potatoes (cut into thin strips)
▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
▢ ½ teaspoon EACH: smoked paprika, garlic granules, cayenne pepper, and sea salt

The Harissa Mayo

▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise
▢ 1 tablespoon harissa paste
▢ ¼ teaspoon garlic granules
▢ 1 pinch sea salt

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the sweet potato strips in a large bowl and toss them with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic granules, cayenne peppers, and sea salt.
2 medium sweet potatoes, 2 tablespoons olive oil, ½ teaspoon EACH: smoked paprika, garlic granules, cayenne pepper, and sea salt
Spread the spicy sweet potato fries in a single layer on the baking sheet and drizzle the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over the top.
Bake the fries for 25-30 minutes. We prefer ours when some are soft and a few are crispy. If you'd like them crispier, leave them in the oven a little longer, just make sure to keep an eye so they don't burn.
Make the harissa mayo when the fries are baking. Combine the ingredients in a small bowl. Taste and add more harissa if your tongue can handle it.
¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon harissa paste, ¼ teaspoon garlic granules, 1 pinch sea salt
Serve the fries straight out of the oven with the mayo on the side for dipping.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving = ¼ of the recipe, Calories: 173kcal (9%), Carbohydrates: 26g (9%), Protein: 2g (4%), Fat: 7g (11%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 2mg (1%), Sodium: 568mg (25%), Potassium: 426mg (12%), Fiber: 4g (17%), Sugar: 6g (7%), Vitamin A: 16099IU (322%), Vitamin C: 4mg (5%), Calcium: 45mg (5%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.