Loaded Sweet Potato Fries (Air Fryer)
These loaded sweet potato fries are air-fried to a shatter-crisp finish, then topped with melted cheese, black beans, and fresh fixings. Cornstarch and a hot 380°F cook deliver restaurant-level crunch without deep frying. Finish with pico, jalapeños, and a cool sour cream drizzle for the perfect game-day side or quick main.
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Mixing bowl
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Tongs
- Aluminum foil (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes cut into 1/4-inch fries
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup black beans warmed; canned or Instant Pot
- 1/3 cup pico de gallo
- 1/2 ripe avocado sliced
- 2 tablespoons red onion minced
- 1-2 whole jalapeños sliced
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- fresh cilantro chopped
- 2 whole green onions chopped
Instructions
- Pat sweet potato fries completely dry with paper towels until no surface moisture remains.
- In a mixing bowl, toss fries with avocado oil, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and cayenne until evenly coated.
- Arrange fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket; use a foil sling if your basket is small to prevent crowding and drips.
- Set air fryer to 380°F and cook for 12 minutes.
- At the 6-minute mark, pause and shake the basket to flip fries for even browning.
- After 12 minutes, add black beans and shredded cheese over the fries.
- Air fry 3 more minutes at 380°F until cheese is fully melted and edges are golden.
- Carefully remove the basket with tongs.
- Top with pico de gallo, avocado slices, red onion, jalapeños, sour cream, cilantro, and green onions.
- Serve immediately while fries are hot and crispy.
Notes
- Dry the cut sweet potatoes very thoroughly; surface moisture prevents crisping.
- 380°F delivers the best crunch in most air fryers; reduce to 370°F if your model runs hot.
- The foil sling technique helps in smaller baskets and simplifies cleanup.
- You can prep seasoned fries the night before; add 1–2 minutes to cook time if starting cold and add toppings fresh.
- For a ranch version, mix 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning into 1/4 cup sour cream.
- Reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 350°F for 4–5 minutes; add fresh toppings after reheating.