My purple sweet potato fries are crispy on the outside, tender in the middle, and ready in one pan with just a handful of pantry seasonings. Naturally vegan and gluten-free, they’ve got all the smoky-sweet flavor of regular sweet potato fries with a striking purple color that makes them fun to serve.
5-Stars From Our Readers
“My kids loved these, which makes me so happy because they are big lovers of junk most of the time!! So to find something healthy that they enjoy as much as regular fries was a god send!!! I served them with some ribs, corn and slaw and the whole meal was such a success. Thank you!”
— Claire
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Why We Make These Purple Sweet Potato Fries on Repeat
Purple sweet potatoes are my favorite potato, hands down, and I use them regularly in our kitchen, so these fries have become a genuine staple in our house. There’s something about that deep purple color turning golden and crisp in the oven that gets me every time. I’m also a huge fan of homemade fries in general, and some nights dinner really is just a big bowl of these with my favorite dipping sauce, nothing else required. If you haven’t cooked with purple sweet potatoes before, this recipe is the easiest place to start.
What Are Purple Sweet Potatoes?
Purple sweet potatoes are a variety of sweet potato with deep purple flesh, most often labeled Okinawan sweet potatoes at the grocery store. They’re sometimes confused with ube (purple yam), but ube is actually a different plant entirely, not a sweet potato at all.
Ingredients and Substitutes
Purple sweet potato fries: Use nice firm, fresh purple sweet potatoes. I prefer these fries with peeled potatoes, but you can make them unpeeled if you prefer.
Olive oil: I find extra virgin olive oil works well and also contributes to the flavor slightly. If you do not have olive, a different oil like avocado oil, coconut oil or grapeseed oil are other great choices.
Smoked paprika: Be certain to use the smoked variety of paprika in this recipe. Regular sweet or hot paprika will give these fries a completely different flavor.
Garlic powder: Garlic powder works extraordinarily well in combination with smoked paprika. I do not recommend omitting this ingredient.
Salt: I find one teaspoon of salt to be just about perfect when using two medium purple sweet potatoes, but feel free to adjust based on the size of the potatoes you use and your own personal taste preference. This is a great recipe for using coarse sea salt in!
How to Make Purple Sweet Potato Fries
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven.
- Place the peeled and chopped sweet potatoes onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Drizzle with the oil and spices, then toss to coat.
- Bake until tender and crispy.
- Enjoy!
Serving Ideas
- These sweet potato fries taste delicious dipped in sauces like garlic aioli, tzatziki, sriracha aioli, hummus, tahini sauce, ketchup, bbq sauce, and hot sauce.
- Serve these healthy fries along with main dishes like veggie burgers, vegan gyros, falafel, and chili.
- These purple potatoes also make a delicious side dish to serve alongside a variety of other side dishes to serve mezze-style.
- Serve these fries nacho-style drizzled in queso and topped with fresh herbs.
Do purple sweet potatoes taste different?
Yes, purple sweet potatoes have a slightly different taste than regular orange sweet potatoes. They have a slightly sweeter and nuttier flavor compared to the more earthy taste of regular sweet potatoes. The texture of purple sweet potatoes is also slightly firmer and less starchy.
Can purple sweet potato fries be made in an air fryer?
Yes. After tossing the fries in oil and spices, place them into the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry at 400°F for about 15 minutes of cooking time, or until golden brown, giving a shake about halfway through. Air frying does result in slightly crispier fries.
More Delicious Fries Recipes
Purple Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
- 2 purple sweet potatoes peeled, cut into fries, approximately 1 pound
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the peeled and cut purple sweet potato fries onto the parchment paper.
- Drizzle with the olive oil, then sprinkle with the paprika, garlic and salt.
- Using a spatula or your hands, toss the fries until all are well coating in the oil-spice mixture.
- Place the fries into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the fries are crispy on the outside, but still tender on the inside. Cook time will vary based on how thinly or thickly you cut the fries. If unsure, simply test one by taking a bite.
- Serve right away on its own or with a favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated using a third-party calculator and is an estimate only.
I’ll be making them again. The smoked paprika is a nice touch..
how many lbs is 2 potatoes? ours are the size of our forearm so not sure how much to use.
Hi, Emily! Sorry about that. Thank you for pointing out that this was missing. In this case, it is approximately 1 pound total, and I use two medium-sized purple sweet potatoes. I hope this helps! Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
Our Whole Foods Market carries these sweet potatoes which I have never tried, but had to once I found this recipe. You are right these purple sweet potatoes are a bit sweeter and I loved them fried with your easy recipe.
Love the smoky flavor of these purple sweet potato fries! Kids love to have these as an after school snacks as well as for a family picnic! Obviously, one of our go-to snack recipes!
I could not believe that i ate the whole plate by myself. I loved them. Love how flavorful and crispy they are. Easy to make and delicious, the best combination ever. Thank you!
Delicious! I loved all the flavors from these smokey sweets potato fries! They made the perfect side to my salmon dinner.
Yum! It was my first time using purple sweet potatoes and I’m so glad I did – so tasty. The smoky paprika was the perfect balance.
My kids loved these, which makes me so happy because they are big lovers of junk most of the time!! So to find something healthy that they enjoy as much as regular fries was a god send!!!
I served them with some ribs, corn and slaw and the whole meal was such a success. Thank you!