These oven-baked Cajun sweet potato fries are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and loaded with bold, smoky spices. The healthier, flavorful alternative to traditional fries.
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💡Recipe Overview
- Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to bake
- Cooking Method: Oven-baked
- Dietary Info: Whole30, Paleo, GAPS, Ancestral diet
- Tools Needed: sheet pan
- Skill Level: Easy
What is an ancestral diet? Read my post on what nourishing foods are based on the traditional dietary principles of the Weston A. Price Foundation.
Ingredients for Cajun Sweet Potato Fries
These fries start with firm, bright sweet potatoes - no soft spots or shriveled ends. The fresher they are, the better they'll crisp up, so hit up that farmer's market. Avocado oil is key here because it can handle high heat (but you can totally use beef tallow - just melt it first so it's easier to handle), and Cajun seasoning is where the magic happens. Go for quality blend without fillers, or better yet, make your own Cajun seasoning blend for a fraction of the cost. And sea salt to balance out all the flavors.
Substitutions and Variations
- Not too spicy? - Dial back the Cajun seasoning or use a milder mix like smoked paprika with garlic powder. You still get the flavor without the fire.
- Make it herby - Not into spice? Swap the Cajun for Italian seasoning or fresh rosemary and thyme for a more savory, herby flavor.
Sweet Potato Fries Baked in Oven
The complete printable recipe is below in the recipe card for your convenience. Follow these simple step-by-step instructions for the best results.
Step 1. Season
In a large bowl or directly on the baking sheet, toss the sweet potatoes with avocado oil, sea salt, and Cajun seasoning.
Step 2. Roast
Arrange sweet potatoes in single layer on baking sheet, making sure not to overcrowd. Bake until sweet potatoes are tender and golden brown. Flip with a wide spatula midway.
Helpful Tips
- Cut evenly - To encourage even cooking, cut your sweet potatoes into uniform sizes. This way, they all bake at the same rate and get crispy.
- Don't overcrowd the pan - For the best crispy texture, make sure the fries are spread in a single layer. If needed, use two baking sheets to avoid crowding.
- Broil for the perfect crisp - During the last 3 minutes of cooking, switch your oven to broil to give that golden, crispy finish. Just be sure to keep an eye on them, as they can burn quickly under the broiler.
- No Cajun seasoning - Quickly make your own - use 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, and ½ teaspoon oregano.
Troubleshooting
- Fries are soggy? It could be because they were overcrowded on the baking sheet. Make sure to spread them out in a single layer to allow for proper crisping.
- Uneven crispiness? To get an even crisp, make sure to flip the fries halfway through cooking. Also, using the broiler for the last few minutes helps achieve that golden brown crisp on top.
Serving Suggestions
We love serving these sweet potato fries with burgers, grilled chicken, steak, or wraps. Try them with pan fried boneless pork chops.
They're great on the side, in a salad, or on their own with a good dip like Greek yogurt ranch dressing, mayo with sriracha, or Greek yogurt blue cheese dressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftover fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. These glass snap containers are perfect for leftovers. To reheat, bake at 375°F for 10-15 minutes or air fry at 375°F for 5-8 minutes until crispy.
Arrange the fries in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. To reheat, bake from frozen at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Cut them evenly, don’t overcrowd the pan, and bake at high heat. Flipping halfway and finishing under the broiler helps a lot. For even more crispiness, toss the cut sweet potatoes with a tablespoon of arrowroot or tapioca starch before adding the oil and seasoning -this creates a light coating that crisps up beautifully in the oven.
Looking for more related recipes? Here are some ideas:
Did you make this sweet potato fries Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ recipe rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comments. Thank you!💚
Printable Recipe
Cajun Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- In a large bowl or directly on the baking sheet, toss the 2 pounds sweet potatoes with 2 tablespoons avocado oil, 1 ½ teaspoon sea salt, and 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning.
- Arrange sweet potatoes in single layer on baking sheet, making sure not to overcrowd. Bake until sweet potatoes are tender and golden brown, approximately 20 minutes. Turn with a wide spatula midway.
Notes
- Cut evenly - To encourage even cooking, cut your sweet potatoes into uniform sizes. This way, they all bake at the same rate and get crispy.
- Don't overcrowd the pan - For the best crispy texture, make sure the fries are spread in a single layer. If needed, use two baking sheets to avoid crowding.
- Broil for the perfect crisp - During the last 3 minutes of cooking, switch your oven to broil to give that golden, crispy finish. Just be sure to keep an eye on them, as they can burn quickly under the broiler.
- No Cajun seasoning - Quickly make your own - use 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, and ½ teaspoon oregano.
Kathryn Grace says
We love baked sweet potato "fries" at our house and Cajun just sounds all the more fun and tasty. Thanks for all the info, too!
Katie says
These look awesome - if you see my post on Insta over the weekend it's a fact that sweet potato fries are my weakness 🙂 Thanks for sharing, i'm resharing!
Anya says
Thanks Katie....if seasoned right, sweet potatoes are my weakness too.
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
These look beautiful! My family loves sweet potato fries. Pinned it. Thanks for stopping by my blog too, and leaving such kind words on the tribute post to my mom. Such a small world, I also live in the same town as you 🙂
Anya says
Small world indeed. Loved visiting your blog and hope to do so more in the future, Emily.
Raia says
Fries are definitely my favorite way to eat sweet potatoes. So delicious! I'm going to have to give your seasoning a try - I love cajun foods. 🙂
Anya says
Thanks Raia.