The best air fryer sweet potato slices are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. This recipe is quick and easy and only requires 6 ingredients. The caramel-like sweet flavor is balanced with a kick of spice from the cayenne for a combination that is irresistible. All resulting in golden-brown tasty little medallions of heaven.
These seasoned rounds of sweet potatoes are earthy & rich without being heavy or starchy. This is a simple recipe that is paleo, whole30, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegetarian, & vegan. So yeah, almost everyone can and will love eating this air-fried sweet potato recipe. Just slice them into coins, add seasoning, and air-fry.
This sweet potato recipe is a great side dish for Thanksgiving. It is easy. Let's be honest we always need one hassle-free delicious recipe for the holidays. Bonus - it's made in the air fryer so more room on your stove or oven for other foods.
This was inspired by my sweet potato fries on this site. I wanted a healthy low-fat sweet potato option that was still comforting and crave-worthy. These air-fried rounds of sweet potato came out perfect. It is a wonderful side dish, appetizer, snack, or vegan main dish.
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Ingredients
One or more large sweet potatoes are needed for this recipe. To make large round slices, you want the yams or sweet potato to be similar to the size seen below.
You will need oil and seasonings for this recipe. I recommend an oil that is heat-tolerated such as avocado oil. It is perfect for the high heat that comes when air frying. Then a 4-spice blend is used to season the spices for a salty and spicy kick.
- Sweet Potato
- Avocado Oil Spray
- Paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cayenne Pepper
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
No boiling or pre-baking is needed for this recipe. The air fryer does all the cooking in one easy step.
Begin by cleaning, drying, and peeling the sweet potatoes. I had one very large potato to peel but you may have 2 to equal one pound.
Using a sharp chef's knife, slice rounds that are ½" thick. It is important to make them as uniform in size as possible. This will ensure they will all cook evenly.
I got 16 nice slices from my one large potato. Each serving resulted in 4 slices. The number of slices will vary.
Lightly spray one side of the slices with the avocado oil. Sprinkle all the rounds with the seasoning blend. Use ½ of what is in the bowl, reserving the other half for the other side of the sweet potatoes.
Flip the slices over and repeat. Spray them with the avocado oil and sprinkle on the remaining half of the spices.
How Long to Air Fry Sweet Potato Slices
Preheat the air fryer to 370°. Set the timer for 15 minutes. The slices of sweet potato will take about 15 minutes to cook. Once done they will be soft with a golden brown surface and edges. Times may vary based on the thickness of your slices.
Once the air fryer is preheated, carefully add the slices to the air fryer. Place them in a single layer.
Let them cook for the 15 minutes that are on the timer.
Hint: It is also best to have a bit of space between each if you can. This helps them get crispy on all edges.
If you have a basket-style air fryer, you may want to flip them over halfway through cooking. I have a tray and did not need to flip or rotate the sweet potato slices.
Once the air frying is complete, use a set of tongs to carefully remove the crispy cooked sweet potato slices from the air fryer. Arrange them on a platter or individual dinner plates.
Top with fresh parsley if deserved. Serve and enjoy immediately.
If you love this recipe, try my Air Fryer Curried Acorn Squash Slices. They are sweet, savory, nutty, & fantastic.
Substitutions & Variations
As mentioned this recipe is already gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and low-fat, and meets many dietary needs or lifestyles. However, here are a few alternate ingredients or recipe variations that may interest you.
- Yams - instead of sweet potatoes, use yams.
- Avocado oil spray - use a vegetable oil spray.
- Spicy - double the amount of cayenne for a VERY spicy version.
- Mild or Kid-Friendly - if you do not like spicy food, omit the cayenne pepper.
Yams or sweet potatoes will work in this recipe. They are different but either can be sliced and cooked at the same time and temperature.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
This recipe goes great with just about any meat; beef, chicken, or pork. Also delicious with seafood or vegan entrees. Here are some ideas that all go well with air-fried sweet potatoes. Don't forget they are great by themselves as a small plate, appetizer, or snack.
Equipment
For the recipe, you need an air fryer. I have the Breville Air Fryer/Toaster Oven combo and LOVE it. Great for a large family has the band est rating year after year for good reason. Worth every penny and I even bake cookies in it!
I also recommend using avocado oil spray. If you are not a fan of clean-up, the liners are a life-saver!
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Storage
Leftovers store easily in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to a month.
FAQ
Yes, this recipe will work for yams instead of sweet potatoes. Make sure they are cut in the same manner and size. This will ensure they cook at the same time and temperature.
If you love to eat the skin on sweet potatoes, you can leave it on. You do not need to peel them, it is personally how I like them in this recipe. I do leave them on when I bake or fry them so I know how yummy the skins can be.
This recipe is pretty versatile and is a great simple recipe for air-frying sweet potatoes. These large round slices are bigger than skinny home-cut fries would be. If you want to make fries instead of slices, the same temperature is used but you may need less time so check them around the 10-minute mark.
If you want sweet potato chips, use a mandoline to slice the sweet potato thinly. You will need to cook this in several batches. I have not tested this so watch them carefully as they cook so they do not burn. This other recipe suggests cooking them for 6-9 minutes.
If you do not have an air fryer, this can be baked in the oven. I used to make them that way before I got my air fryer. Bake in a 400° preheated oven on a baking sheet for 30 minutes. They will not be as crispy on the outside but they will still be amazing.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Slices
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet potatoes 1-2 large
- avocado oil spray
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- fresh parsley, chopped optional
Instructions
- Begin by cleaning, drying, and peeling the sweet potatoes. I had one very large potato to peel but you may have 2 to equal one pound.
- Using a sharp chef's knife, slice rounds that are ½" thick. It is important to make them as uniform in size as possible. This will ensure they will all cook evenly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°. Set the timer for 15 minutes.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the 4 spices together and stir.
- Lightly spray one side of the slices with the avocado oil. Sprinkle all the rounds with the seasoning blend. Use ½ of what is in the bowl, reserving the other half for the other side of the sweet potatoes.Flip the slices over and repeat. Spray them with the avocado oil and sprinkle on the remaining half of the spices.
- Once the air fryer is preheated, carefully add the slices to the air fryer. Place them in a single layer. It is also best to have a bit of space between each if you can. This helps them get crispy on all edges.
- Let them cook for the 15 minutes that is on the timer. If you have a basket-style air fryer, you may want to flip them over halfway through cooking. I have a tray and did not need to flip or rotate the sweet potato slices.
- Once the air frying is complete, use a set of tongs to carefully remove the crispy cooked sweet potato slices from the air fryer.
- Top with fresh parsley if deserved. Serve and enjoy immediately.
- Leftovers store easily in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to a month.
Notes
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 4 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 166 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 3.7g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat 0.5g | 2% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 158mg | 7% |
| Total Carbohydrate 31.8g | 12% |
| Dietary Fiber 4.8g | 17% |
| Total Sugars 0.6g | |
| Protein 1.8g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Calcium 20mg | 2% |
| Iron 1mg | 4% |
| Potassium 931mg | 20% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
Gordie says
Enjoyed these a lot. I cut them thicker than suggested since I wanted to be able to stack them under filets. I just cooked them a bit longer and they were perfect.