If you like sweet potato fries, then I think you’re going to love these baked white sweet potato fries. Sweet potatoes are usually the gorgeous deep orange color that has become synonymous with sweet, delicious flavor. Imagine my disappointment when I peeled this batch and found myself looking at pale yellow flesh that looked more like a ‘Yukon Gold’ than a sweet potato.
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Turns out, that not all sweet potatoes are orange inside. Some varieties, like those pictured here, have a light yellow or almost white color instead. Although they look more like typical white potatoes than their orange-fleshed siblings, they don’t taste anything like a traditional baking potato.
However, they aren’t identical to their orange counterparts, either. White sweet potatoes are a little less sweet and have more starch than “normal” sweet potatoes. Fortunately, they are absolutely wonderful when baked until crispy for these fries. Seasoned with olive oil, smoked paprika, and salt adds just the right amount of depth to their flavor. You can also use ground black pepper; the course ground pepper does great! Serve these with our Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Sliders.
Baked White Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients:
- 4 large sweet potatoes
- 2 T. olive oil
- 1 ½ t. smoked paprika
- 1 T. salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Peel sweet potatoes and slice them into equal-sized long rectangular pieces. Try to avoid leaving tapered ends as they will become too crisp while the thicker parts are still baking.
- Place potato slices on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper and drizzle with olive oil. Toss potatoes with your hands until thoroughly coated in oil.
- Arrange into a single layer without touching.
- Sprinkle with paprika and salt and put in the oven.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, turning once, or until the fries are crisp and golden.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
FAQ’s
Where can I find white sweet potatoes?
I find them at my local large grocery. You can also look at international markets that sell produce for Asian dishes. You can even buy them on Amazon.
Can I use regular sweet potatoes?
Certainly! Prepare them in the same way. Adjust baked time as needed until they are crispy on the outside and tender inside.
Can I use an air fryer to cook these white sweet potato fries?
Prepare them as you would for the oven. Spread them in your air fryer at 380°F, leaving room between them. and bake for about 13-15 minutes, turn over after 8 minutes for even crispness.
Why won’t my sweet potato fries get crispy?
Before baking soak your cut, uncooked fries in cold water for 10-30 minutes, and then pat dry really well to avoid them from steaming up. It also removes the excess starch. Your fries may be too crowded. Bake with more space between them.

These white sweet potato fries are baked instead fried so you can avoid the added calories of fried fries, plus the sweet potatoes are more nutritious than regular potatoes.
- 4 large sweet potatoes any type will is fine depending on what you find locally
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 Tbs salt
Preheat oven to 375℉
Peel sweet potatoes and slice into equal-sized long rectangular pieces. Try to avoid leaving tapered ends as they will become too crisp while the thicker parts are still baking.
Place potato slices on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper and drizzle with olive oil. Toss potatoes with your hands until thoroughly coated in oil.
Arrange into a single layer without touching. Sprinkle with paprika and salt and put in oven.
Bake for about 20 minutes, turning once, or until fries are crisp and golden.
Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
FAQ's
Where can I find white sweet potatoes?
I find them at my local large grocery. You can also look at international markets that sell produce for Asian dishes. You can even buy them on Amazon.
Can I use regular sweet potatoes?
Certainly! Prepare them in the same way. Adjust baked time as needed until they are crispy on the outside and tender inside.
Can I use an air fryer to cook these white sweet potato fries?
Prepare them as you would for the oven. Spread them in your air fryer at 380°F, leaving room between them. and bake for about 13-15 minutes, turn over after 8 minutes for even crispness.
Why won't my sweet potato fries get crispy?
Before baking soak your cut, uncooked fries in cold water for 10-30 minutes, and then pat dry really well to avoid them from steaming up. It also removes the excess starch. Your fries may be too crowded. Bake with more space between them.