If you've ever tried to make sweet potato fries at home and ended up with a soggy mess, you're not alone. Crispy sweet potatoes are tricky, but when they're done right, they're golden, crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. They're oven baked, naturally gluten free, and paired with a creamy dairy-free ranch dressing that's just as good as the classic version. Perfect as a snack, side dish, or game day appetizer.
The Secret to Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
Have you tried to make sweet potato fries at home just to have them turn out soggy? Yup, me too. The biggest challenge with sweet potato fries is moisture. Sweet potatoes have a higher water content than regular potatoes, which is why they tend to go soft instead of crispy.
A few simple tricks make all the difference:
- Cut fries evenly so they cook at the same rate
- Don't overcrowd the pan
- Use a little tapioca starch or arrowroot
- Roast at a high temperature
Spacing is key! If the fries are too close together, they'll steam instead of crisp. These homemade sweet potato fries are always a huge hit thanks to a secret ingredient that makes them crispy.
Why You'll Love These Sweet Potato Fries
- Crispy outside, tender inside
- Naturally gluten free
- Easy to make at home
- Paired with a creamy dairy-free ranch
- Perfect for snacks, sides, or parties
These fries are great on their own, but that ranch takes them to the next level.
What ingredients do I need to make these Crispy Sweet Potato Fries?
- Sweet Potatoes. Choose long potatoes, instead of chunkier potatoes, because it makes them easier to cut!
- Oil. I'm a big fan of avocado oil. We get a huge bottle of it from Costco.
- Tapioca Flour. This is the secret ingredient that turns the fries from a soggy mess into crispy deliciousness.
- Seasonings: Salt and garlic powder are used in the recipe, but feel free to sprinkle on a ¼-1/2 teaspoon of a few extra seasonings. Paprika, onion powder or chili powder are some great options.
Dairy-Free Ranch Dipping Sauce
I think dipping is the best part of eating fries, so I made an easy dairy-free ranch sauce to go with the sweet potato fries. It's super simple, but does require a variety of spices. I believe that if you have a well-stocked pantry, you can literally make anything store bought at home!
Here's what you'll need:
- Plain Unsweetened Greek Style Dairy-Free Yogurt. I always use Kite Hill Brand. The flavor is on point and it's also the perfect dairy-free sour cream replacement!
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Seasonings: Onion Powder, dill, parsley, chives & seasoned salt.
Other ideas for dipping are good ole ketchup, or my family loves this homemade garlic aioli sauce used in my recipe for grain free onion rings!
How to Make the Best Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Peel & Cut the Sweet Potatoes. You'll want to cut evenly sized fries. Keep them thin and all about the same size to help them bake evenly.
- Toss the Fries. In a large bowl, toss the fries with oil, then toss in a mixture of the tapioca flour and seasonings.
- Ready to Bake! Have your oven preheated and baking sheets prepped with parchment paper to avoid the fries sticking to the pan. Don't overcrowd the pan! Use 2 baking sheets if you need to avoid crowding or overlapping fries.
- Flip! Be sure to flip the fries halfway through baking time to ensure they get crispy on all sides.
How to Make Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing
While the fries are cooking, whisk together all the ranch ingredients in a bowl. Adjust seasoning to taste, if desired.
If you're looking for more delicious recipes for gluten free sides, I think you'll also love these Loaded Baked Potato Skins and this Gluten Free Mac and Cheese
Tips for Extra Crispy Fries
- Use high heat
- Don't overcrowd the pan
- Flip halfway through cooking
- Serve immediately
These sweet potato fries are best eaten fresh while they're hot and crispy!
Storage & Reheating
If you have leftovers, store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to bring back some of the crispiness. The dairy-free ranch can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
These sweet potato fries are perfect as a side dish or an afternoon snack, and they're 100% kid-appoved! They're especially great alongside burgers, sandwiches, salads or grilled chicken.
If you try this crispy sweet potato fry recipe, be sure to tag me on instagram @thrivingglutenfree so I can see how it turned out!
Let's eat!
Crispy Sweet Potato Fries with Dairy-Free Ranch
Equipment
Ingredients
Sweet Potato Fries
- 2 Sweet Potatoes
- ¼ cup Oil I use avocado oil
- 3 tablespoon Tapioca Flour arrowroot or cornstarch will also work!
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder additional seasoning options: add ½ teaspoon of chili powder, onion powder or smoked paprika.
Dairy-Free Ranch Dipping Sauce
- ½ cup Plain Greek Style Dairy-Free Yogurt I use Kite Hill
- ½ teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Dill
- ½ teaspoon Parsley
- ½ teaspoon Chives
- ½ teaspoon Seasoned Salt or to taste
- Pinch of Cayenne Powder Optional for a little heat!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°. Prepare 2 baking sheets with parchment paper if desired or lightly grease the baking sheet.
- Peel and cut the sweet potatoes. Cut in half lengthwise, place cut side down, then cut ¼ inch slices lengthwise. Lay those pieces flat, then cut lengthwise again in ¼ inch slices, making sure all slices are similiar in size.
- In a large bowl, toss the sweet potato fries in the oil until all are covered. Then toss in the tapioca flour and seasonings until absorbed.
- Divide the sweet potatoes among the 2 baking sheets in a single layer making sure not to over-crowd.
- Bake for about 15 minutes, then use a spatula to flip them. Bake another 10-15 minutes until browned and crispy. The fries will crisp up more as they cool.
- The fries are best served immediatly.
Dairy-Free Ranch Dipping Sauce
- Combine yogurt, vinegar and seasonings then stir until well combined. Refrigerate any leftovers.
Courtney Radmall says
I made these the other night and they were devoured! They are so crispy compared to when I’ve made them in the past. So delicious!
ThrivingGlutenFree says
So glad you enjoyed the recipe Courtney!