These Easy Sweet Potato Wedges made in the air fryer come out with crisp edges and tender middles using just 3 ingredients, 5 minutes of prep and 10 minutes in the air fryer. Another shortcut is a store-bought seasoning blend that does the work of three spices, and I'll walk you through exactly what size sweet potato to buy and how to cut it, because you know there's no guesswork in my kitchen, y'all!
SAVE THIS RECIPE
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges are thick-cut, seasoned sweet potato wedges (made with fresh sweet potatoes) that come out with crisp, caramelized edges and soft, creamy centers. One medium sweet potato gives you 12 wedges, which fit in most air fryers in a single layer, so there's no cooking in batches! They'll be your new favorite go-to side, and kids will love them on the Thanksgiving table, too.
You'll also want to check out my recipe for Air Fryer Spicy Sweet Potato Fries.
Now that our kids are grown and gone, I cook for two most nights, and these air fried sweet potato wedges are just right for us for one meal. Come fall, when the sweet potatoes are piled high at the market and my garden is winding down, I can't stop making them.
Of course, I want to make it as easy as possible for you to learn how to make the best sweet potato wedges in the air fryer. When I was a test kitchen director, we tested recipes until they worked every single time, and I still cook that way. So I'll tell you the weight of sweet potato to look for, and I'll show you exactly how to cut wedges that cook evenly instead of leaving you with some burnt edges and some raw!
If you're looking for more ways to cook fall root vegetables in your air fryer, try my Honey Roasted Carrots and Air Fryer Butternut Squash, or my oven-roasted Roasted Parsnips and Carrots with air fryer option. And if you love sweet potatoes as much as I do, you'll also want my Candied Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Hasselback Sweet Potatoes!
Shortcuts
- The air fryer cuts the cook time in half. Roasted sweet potato wedges usually take 20 to 25 minutes in the oven, but the air fryer gets them crisp and tender in about 10. Plus, it won't heat up your whole kitchen.
- One seasoning blend replaces three ingredients. A salt, pepper and garlic blend like Kinder's "The Blend" means you're measuring one thing instead of three. It's already balanced, so your seasoned sweet potato wedges taste right every time.
- Skip the peeler if you want. Leaving the skin on saves a step and adds a little extra texture. Just give the sweet potato a good scrub first.
Ingredients to Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
Scroll down to printable recipe for exact ingredient quantities.
- Sweet potato: Look for one medium sweet potato that weighs about 9 ounces. That size cuts into 12 even wedges that fit in a single layer in most air fryers. Choose one that's fairly uniform in thickness from end to end so the wedges cook at the same rate.
- Oil: Olive oil, avocado oil or vegetable oil all work. One tablespoon is plenty to help the seasoning stick and give you those crisp edges.
- Seasoning blend: I use 1 ½ teaspoons of a salt, pepper and garlic blend, and Kinder's "The Blend" is my favorite. Check your blend's label; if it doesn't include salt, add about ½ teaspoon of salt.
- Fresh herbs (optional): A sprinkle of chopped parsley, cilantro or basil right before serving adds color and freshness. Here's how I keep fresh herbs fresh so they're ready when you need them.
Substitutions & Variations
Swap the 1 ½ teaspoons of seasoning blend for any of these flavor options:
- Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges: Use 1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning. Most Cajun blends already contain salt, so taste one wedge before adding more.
- Smoky: Use ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika for a campfire-style flavor that's great with grilled meats.
- Garlic Paprika: Use ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder and ¼ teaspoon paprika. This is the closest homemade match if you don't have a store-bought blend.
- Your favorite blend: Mesquite, lemon pepper, Italian herbs or any blend you love will work. Just check whether it contains salt and adjust.
- Bigger batch: Double or triple the recipe for a crowd or an extra-large air fryer, but keep the wedges in a single layer. Cook in batches if needed so they crisp instead of steam.
How to Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe with detailed instructions.
- Preheat the air fryer at 375°F for 3 minutes.
- Prep. Peel the sweet potato, or scrub it well to leave the skin on.
- Cut. Halve it lengthwise, then halve each piece again to make 4 quarters. Stand each quarter pointed side down and slice straight down into 3 wedges, for 12 total.
- Season. Toss the wedges with the oil in a bowl, then sprinkle with the seasoning and toss to coat.
- Air fry. Spray metal racks with oil (nonstick baskets don't need it). Arrange the wedges in a single layer and cook at 375°F for 8 minutes. Flip and cook 2 more minutes, until crisp and fork-tender.
- Serve warm, sprinkled with parsley if you like.
Kathleen's tip: Air fryers run hotter or cooler depending on the brand and size. Check your first batch at the 8-minute mark, and if your wedges are thicker than the ones in my photos, add a minute or two. I use a Ninja air fryer.
Pro Tips
- Shop smart for sweet potatoes. Pick firm sweet potatoes with smooth skin and no soft spots, wrinkles or sprouts, and look for ones that are evenly thick rather than skinny on one end. Peak season is September through November, but they store well, so you'll find good ones most of the year.
- Yams are not sweet potatoes. True yams are a starchy, rough-skinned tuber that's rarely sold in American grocery stores. The "yams" you see labeled in the produce aisle are almost always orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, so either label works for this recipe.
- Don't crowd the basket. The hot air needs room to move around each wedge to crisp the edges. If the wedges overlap, they'll steam and turn soft, so cook in batches when you scale up.
- Cut evenly. Wedges of the same thickness finish at the same time, so none are burnt while others are still firm.
What to Serve with Air Fried Sweet Potato Wedges
These air fryer sweet potato wedges are a sweet-and-savory side that goes with just about anything off the grill or out of the oven. For a weeknight supper, pair them with my Air Fryer Whole Chicken, Pan-Seared Pork Chops and Fried Cinnamon Apples or Easy Air Fryer Tilapia. They're also a fun swap for French fries next to burgers, pulled pork sandwiches or wings on game day.
For dipping, my Comeback Sauce is the house favorite, and Pesto Mayonnaise is a close second.
Storage
- Store: Let leftovers cool, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for 3 to 4 minutes, until hot and the edges crisp back up. The microwave works in a pinch, but the wedges will be softer.
- Make ahead: Cut the wedges up to a day ahead and refrigerate them in a container of cold water so they don't dry out. Pat them completely dry before tossing with oil and seasoning.
- Freeze: Freeze cooked, cooled wedges in a single layer on a sheet pan, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer at 375°F for 6 to 8 minutes; they'll be a little softer than fresh.
- Store raw sweet potatoes: Keep whole sweet potatoes in a cool, dark, dry spot, not the refrigerator, where they can turn hard in the center and have an off flavor.
Kathleen Answers Your Questions
Usually the basket is too crowded, which traps steam, or the wedges went in wet or before the air fryer was preheated. Pat them dry, preheat, and cook them in a single layer with a little space between each wedge.
No, soaking isn't necessary for this recipe. Sweet potatoes have less starch than russets, and a light coat of oil is all you need for crisp edges.
It's up to you: peeled wedges are softer, while skin-on wedges have a bit more texture and fiber. If you leave the peel on, scrub the sweet potato well before cutting.
Yes. They use just 1 tablespoon of oil for 2 to 3 servings, far less than deep-frying. Sweet potatoes are also a good source of fiber and vitamin A.
Want More Air Fryer Recipes?
Leave a comment below the printable recipe if you have questions or tell me how you liked the recipe. Don't forget to rate it 5 stars if you love it!
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. Be social and share, y'all! Want all my new recipes and updates? Get my weekly newsletter in your inbox!
Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Wedges
SAVE THIS RECIPE
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato (about 9 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil avocado oil or vegetable oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon seasoning blend with salt pepper and garlic (Kinders “The Blend” is my favorite) See Variations for other seasoning suggestions.
- Garnish: chopped parsley, cilantro, or basil (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 375F° degrees for 3 minutes.
- Meanwhile, peel the sweet potatoes. You can also leave the peel on, if you prefer, but be sure to scrub the potatoes well.
- Cut the sweet potato in half, then lay the sweet potato halves, cut side down on a cutting board.
- Turn the large “wedge” flat against the cutting board, pointed side down. It’s easier to cut the wedges this way.
- Place your knife alongside the pointed edge and cut downward toward the cutting board, to cut 3 thinner wedges out of each sweet potato quarter.
- You can also cut the wedges from the other side, if that is easier for you.
- In a medium size bowl, toss the wedges in the oil. Sprinkle the seasoning blend over the wedges and toss or stir well to coat the wedges.
- If you’re using a basket style air fryer with a nonstick rack like the 5.5 quart Ninja air fryer, there’s no need to spray the rack with oil. If you are using an oven-style air fryer with metal racks, coat the rack with oil spray.
- Arrange the seasoned sweet potato wedges in a single layer on the air fryer racks. Air fry at 375F for 8 minutes. Turn them over with tongs. Air fry an additional 2 minutes or until the edges are crisp and fork tender on the inside.
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley, if you like. Serve warm. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce like my Comeback Sauce.
- Yield: 2 to 3 servings. This recipe easily doubles and triples!
Notes
- Sweet potato size: One medium sweet potato (about 9 ounces) makes 12 wedges that fit in a single layer in most air fryers. For a crowd, double or triple the recipe, but keep the wedges in a single layer and cook in batches if needed.
- Seasoning: If your seasoning blend doesn't contain salt, add ½ teaspoon salt.
- Spicy: Replace the seasoning blend with 1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning.
- Smoky: Replace the seasoning blend with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika.
- Garlic paprika: Replace the seasoning blend with ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder and ¼ teaspoon paprika.
- Cook time: Air fryers vary by brand and size. Check the wedges at 8 minutes, and add 1 to 2 minutes for thicker wedges.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Freezing: Freeze cooked wedges for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen at 375°F for 6 to 8 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.
Comments
No Comments