Air Fryer Sweet Potato Slices
These Air Fryer Sweet Potato Slices are crispy at the edges and soft in the middle. They’re an easy side dish for roast chicken, pork chops or a steak.
Each batch takes 12 to 14 minutes. That’s much quicker than baking a whole sweet potato.
On Thanksgiving, you can make them in the air fryer when the oven is busy with the turkey. These sweet potato rounds are also good as a snack with a dip.
Please continue scrolling down to find the recipe card below, which contains the complete list of ingredients with measurements, detailed recipe instructions, additional notes, and nutritional information.
You only need one tablespoon of olive oil, so they’re lighter than fries. This recipe is naturally gluten free and vegan.
Why This Recipe Works
- You cook these air fryer sweet potato slices from raw, without boiling them first.
- Two medium sweet potatoes fit in my Cosori in one batch.
- I keep them savory, with smoked paprika and cumin instead of brown sugar.
- If you like them sweet, use cinnamon and a drizzle of maple syrup.
- For Thanksgiving, you can peel and slice them the day before.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Sweet potatoes – Pick two sweet potatoes of about the same width. The orange ones that some US stores label as yams work the same way.
- Seasoning – I use smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt and black pepper. Sweet paprika is fine if you don’t want the smoky flavor.
- Fresh cilantro (coriander) – If you don’t like cilantro, use flat-leaf parsley or chives instead.
How to Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Slices
Important Note
Before you start cooking, note that times may differ among air fryers. I develop my recipes using a Cosori 6.8 air fryer. If you’re using a different air fryer, view my recipes as a general guide and tweak the cooking time—add a bit more or cook slightly less as needed.
Peel the sweet potatoes and cut off the ends. Slice them into rounds about ¼ inch (6 mm) thick.
Put the slices in a large bowl with the olive oil, salt, smoked paprika, cumin and black pepper. Toss them with your hands until every slice is coated.
Lay the sliced sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer. If they don’t all fit, cook them in two batches. I don’t preheat mine, but some air fryers need it.
Air fry at 400° F (200° C) for 12 to 14 minutes. Turn them over halfway through.
Your air fryer sweet potato slices are ready when a knife goes in easily and the edges are golden. Sprinkle the cilantro on top.
Recipe Tips From the Chef
- Cut every round to the same thickness so they all cook evenly. You can use a sharp knife or a mandoline. If you slice them much thinner than ¼ inch (6 mm), they dry out and end up as chips.
- When you air fry sweet potato slices, don’t let them overlap in the basket, or the edges won’t crisp.
- Check them a couple of minutes early the first time you make them. Some air fryers run hotter than others.
- Serve the air fryer sweet potato slices right away. The edges soften as they cool.
Seasoning Variations
- Spicy – Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes with the other spices.
- Lemon pepper – Use lemon pepper instead of the black pepper and cumin. Skip the salt, as most blends are already salty.
- Rosemary – Mix some dried rosemary into the seasoning.
- Garlic Parmesan – Leave out the paprika and cumin. Season the slices with garlic powder and dried oregano, then toss them with grated Parmesan before air frying.
- Sweet cinnamon – Keep the oil and salt, but use cinnamon instead of the other spices. Drizzle a little maple syrup over them after cooking.
Serving Suggestions
I serve these air fryer sweet potato rounds with my Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe, Air Fryer Rib-Eye Steak or Air Fryer Marinated Salmon Recipe.
For a smaller Thanksgiving dinner, pair them with my Air Fryer Turkey Breast and Crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon.
If you’re having the air fryer sweet potato slices as a snack, dip them in ketchup, garlic aioli or sriracha mayo.
To make a party appetizer, top each round with a little goat cheese, dried cranberries and chopped pecans.
For a different shape, try my Diced Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer or 20 Minutes Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Wedges.
Storage Instructions
Keep leftover air fryer sweet potato slices in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. You can freeze them for up to 1 month. The slices are softer after freezing.
To reheat, put the sweet potato slices in the air fryer at 350° F (180° C) for 3 to 4 minutes, until hot all the way through. Thaw frozen ones in the fridge first.
Make Ahead
You can prep air fryer sweet potato slices up to a day ahead. Peel and slice them, then keep them in a bowl of cold water in the fridge.
Without the water, they turn brown. Drain them and pat them dry with paper towels before seasoning.
FAQs
To air fry sweet potato slices about ¼ inch (6 mm) thick, cook them at 400° F (200° C) for 12 to 14 minutes. Thicker slices need a few more minutes, so test them with a knife.
People often soak them to wash off some of the starch. It can help fries turn out a little crispier. Sweet potatoes have less starch than regular potatoes, so you don’t need to soak these slices before cooking. If you keep them in water to prep ahead, pat them dry before seasoning.
The most common reason is a crowded basket. When the pieces overlap, they steam and get soggy. Thick or wet pieces are slow to crisp. Cut them a little thinner and pat them dry before you season them.
No. If you scrub them well, you can leave the skin on. I peel mine for these slices.
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I hope you enjoy the process of making these delicious Air Fryer Sweet Potato Slices just as much as you enjoy eating them! 🙂
Bon appétit!
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Slices
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (about 500 g – 1 lb 2 oz), peeled
- 1 tbsp olive oil (15 ml)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp black pepper
To Serve
- 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut off the ends. Slice them into rounds about ¼ inch (6 mm) thick.
- Put the slices in a large bowl with the olive oil, salt, smoked paprika, cumin and black pepper. Toss them with your hands until every slice is coated.
- Lay them in the air fryer basket in a single layer. If they don’t all fit, cook them in two batches. I don’t preheat mine, but some air fryers need it.
- Air fry at 400° F (200° C) for 12 to 14 minutes. Turn them over halfway through.
- They’re ready when a knife goes in easily and the edges are golden. Sprinkle the cilantro on top and serve hot.
Notes
- Slices: Cut all the rounds about ¼ inch (6 mm) thick so they cook evenly. You can use a sharp knife or a mandoline. Thicker slices need a few more minutes. Much thinner slices dry out and end up as chips.
- Batches: Two medium sweet potatoes fit in one layer in my Cosori basket. In a smaller air fryer, cook them in two batches. Don’t overlap the slices, or they steam and get soggy.
- Timing: Some air fryers run hotter than others, so check them a couple of minutes early the first time.
- Skin: You can leave the skin on if you scrub the sweet potatoes well.
- Soaking: You don’t need to soak or boil the slices first. If you rinse them or keep them in water to prep ahead, pat them dry before seasoning.
- Serve hot: The edges soften as they cool.
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, or freeze them for up to 1 month. They’re softer after freezing.
- Reheating: Air fry at 350° F (180° C) for 3 to 4 minutes, until hot all the way through. Thaw frozen ones in the fridge first.
- Make ahead: Peel and slice the sweet potatoes up to a day ahead. Keep them covered in cold water in the fridge, then drain and pat them dry before seasoning.
- Variations: Add a pinch of cayenne for heat, or mix in some dried rosemary. Lemon pepper can replace the black pepper and cumin, but skip the salt, as most blends are already salty. To make them sweet, keep the oil and salt but use cinnamon instead of the other spices, then drizzle with maple syrup after cooking. For garlic Parmesan slices, leave out the paprika and cumin. Use garlic powder and dried oregano instead, then toss the slices with grated Parmesan before air frying.
- Servings: Two medium sweet potatoes are enough for 3 people as a side, or 2 people if you serve bigger portions.
