Ina Garten’s Spicy Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe: Crispy Delight
Golden, crispy sweet potato fries with Ina Garten’s expert touch will make your taste buds dance with delight.
These aren’t your ordinary side dish – they’re a culinary adventure waiting to happen.
Perfectly seasoned and baked to a gorgeous amber color, these fries bring serious restaurant-quality flavor to your home kitchen.
Forget greasy fast food versions that leave you feeling heavy and unsatisfied.
Her simple technique ensures each fry comes out wonderfully crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The secret lies in her precise cutting method and smart seasoning blend that turns ordinary sweet potatoes into an extraordinary treat.
You’ll want to serve these irresistible fries at every meal and watch everyone ask for seconds.
Ingredients for Ina Garten Sweet Potato Fries
For Potato Base:
Sweet Potatoes: Vibrant orange roots packed with nutrients, choose firm and unblemished potatoes with smooth skin for best texture and flavor.
Olive Oil: Helps crisp the fries and ensures even browning, select extra virgin olive oil for richer taste and healthier coating.
For Seasoning Blend:
Brown Sugar: Adds caramelized sweetness and helps create a golden crispy exterior, select fresh and soft brown sugar without hardened clumps.
Salt: Enhances overall flavor profile and brings out natural sweetness of potatoes, use fine sea salt for even distribution.
Black Pepper: Provides subtle heat and complex depth, freshly ground gives more robust flavor compared to pre-ground versions.
For Finishing Touch:
Kosher Salt: Light sprinkle at the end to elevate final taste, choose flaky salt for delicate crunch and balanced seasoning.
Equipment List for Ina Garten Sweet Potato Fries
Sheet Pan: Large, flat baking tray for even roasting of sweet potato fries.
Sharp Knife: Essential for cutting sweet potatoes into uniform spears.
Cutting Board: Sturdy surface for safely slicing potatoes.
Spatula: Helps turn fries midway through baking for even browning.
Measuring Spoons: For accurately measuring brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
Mixing Bowl: Used for combining seasoning ingredients.
How to Cook Ina Garten Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet Potato Fries Adventure
Kitchen Prep Space Arrangement Organize your cooking area with a large baking sheet, sharp knife, and clean cutting surface for easy potato transformation.
Potato Sculpting Select fresh sweet potatoes and slice them into elegant, uniform spears about the length of your palm, creating matchstick-like pieces that promise crispy perfection.
Flavor Foundation Drizzle the potato spears with golden olive oil, ensuring each piece gets a light, delicious coating that will help them crisp up beautifully in the oven.
Seasoning Magic Dust the oiled potatoes with a tantalizing blend of brown sugar, sea salt, and cracked black pepper, creating a sweet and savory symphony of flavors.
Oven Transformation Place the seasoned fries in a preheated 450°F oven, allowing them to roast and caramelize into golden, crispy delights. Halfway through cooking, gently flip the fries to ensure even browning and maximum crunchiness.
Final Flourish Remove the fries when they're perfectly golden and sprinkle with an extra pinch of salt, serving them immediately while they're hot and irresistibly crisp.
Tips for Perfect Ina Garten Sweet Potato Fries
Experiment with different spice blends like smoked paprika, cumin, or chili powder to add extra kick and personalize your fries.
Whip up complementary sauces such as garlic aioli, honey mustard, or sriracha mayo to elevate the flavor profile and make eating more exciting.
Pat sweet potato spears completely dry before seasoning to prevent steaming and achieve maximum crispiness in the oven.
Sprinkle nutritional yeast or finely grated Parmesan cheese after baking for additional flavor and protein enhancement.
How to Serve Ina Garten Sweet Potato Fries
Dip and Delight: Pair these sweet potato fries with a zesty chipotle mayo or cool ranch dressing for an extra flavor kick that'll make your taste buds dance.
Party Pleaser Platter: Arrange the fries on a large wooden board with small dipping bowls, creating an Instagram-worthy appetizer spread that'll impress your guests.
Meal Matcher: Serve alongside grilled chicken, juicy burgers, or as a side to your favorite barbecue dishes for a complete and satisfying meal that balances sweet and savory flavors.
Keeping Ina Garten Sweet Potato Fries Fresh
Maximize Freshness and Flavor
Refrigerate Leftovers: Store cooled sweet potato fries in an airtight container for up to 3 days, keeping them crisp and delicious in the refrigerator.
Reheat with Crunch: Revive cold fries by placing them on a baking sheet and warming in a 425°F oven for 5-7 minutes to restore their original crispiness.
Meal Prep Strategy: Cut and season sweet potatoes ahead of time, storing them in the refrigerator for quick cooking during busy weeknights.
Freeze for Later: Arrange uncooked seasoned fries on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months of quick meal preparation.
Ina Garten’s sweet potato fries recipe delivers crispy, golden perfection with simple seasonings. Home cooks can easily recreate this restaurant-style side dish with professional-level results.
Ingredients
Scale
2 medium sweet potatoes (peeled)
1 tbsp light brown sugar
½ tsp kosher salt (plus extra for sprinkling)
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsps good olive oil (28 ml)
Instructions
Preparation: Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C), creating an ideal environment for transforming sweet potatoes into crispy, caramelized fries.
Cutting: Slice sweet potatoes into uniform, elongated spears, ensuring even cooking and consistent texture throughout each wedge.
Seasoning and Oiling: Distribute sweet potato spears on a large sheet pan, generously drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with a flavor-packed blend of brown sugar, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper, guaranteeing comprehensive coverage.
Roasting: Place the seasoned spears in the preheated oven, roasting for 15-20 minutes and rotating halfway through to achieve a golden-brown exterior with perfectly crisp edges and a tender, succulent interior.
Finishing Touch: Immediately remove from oven and garnish with a delicate dusting of flaky sea salt, serving hot to maintain maximum crispness and flavor intensity.
Notes
Slice with Precision: Cut sweet potatoes into uniform spears for even cooking and consistent texture.
Oil Matters: Use extra virgin olive oil generously and spread wedges in a single layer to achieve perfect caramelization.
Seasoning Secret: Blend brown sugar, kosher salt, and black pepper for a balanced flavor profile that enhances natural sweetness.
Roasting Technique: Rotate fries halfway through cooking to ensure golden-brown edges and a crispy exterior while maintaining a tender inside.
Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Baking and Pastry Arts
Focus: Techniques in baking, pastry creation, and dessert presentation.
San Antonio Culinary Institute
Program: Diploma in Farm-to-Table Culinary Practices
Focus: Emphasis on utilizing locally sourced ingredients and understanding seasonal flavors.
Sophia’s passion for baking began in her family kitchen, where she spent hours experimenting with new recipes. With a background in baking and pastry arts, she loves making desserts that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Sophia is all about using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to create treats that everyone will enjoy. When she’s not creating mouth-watering desserts, you can find her gardening, making new recipes, or enjoying a relaxing afternoon with her family.
Sophia Rivera
Recipe Developer & Kitchen Tips Specialist
Expertise
Education
Austin Community College
San Antonio Culinary Institute
Sophia’s passion for baking began in her family kitchen, where she spent hours experimenting with new recipes. With a background in baking and pastry arts, she loves making desserts that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.
Sophia is all about using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to create treats that everyone will enjoy. When she’s not creating mouth-watering desserts, you can find her gardening, making new recipes, or enjoying a relaxing afternoon with her family.