Sweet potato fries with aioli, the perfect creamy dipping sauce studded with garlic and fresh lemon. These make a great side dish for burgers and can also stand alone as an appetizer.

plate of sweet potato fries with aioli sauce

The perfect made-at-home, oven-baked sweet potato fry can be elusive. Sometimes the simplest things can be the most fussy and hard to master, right? I think these sweet potato fries with aioli sauce will be a new house staple.

Ingredients

sweet potatoes. go for long medium-size potatoes
spices: granulated garlic & smoked paprika (this combo is hard to beat)
mayo for the aioli
lemon juice (fresh-squeezed if possible!)
garlic. use a microplane to grate it

How to Cut a Potato into Fries

Start with a longer potato (rather than a short, wider one). I like to first slice it in half, widthwise so it’s easier to handle. Then using your sharpest chef’s knife, slice each half into long rectangles. Lay each piece flat on its side to then make the fry shape. You can also cut into wedges if you prefer!

Toss the fries with oil and spices in a large bowl before spreading on a baking sheet. This will ensure you get everything well-coated.

Aioli FAQs

What is aioli sauce made of?

I learned that traditional aioli sauce is an emulsion of olive oil and mashed garlic using a mortar and pestle. However in today’s world, especially in restaurants, it’s synonymous with mayo that’s been doctored up with some other flavor enhancer (like chiles, spices, aromatics etc.).

What does aioli taste like?

It’s a wonderful rich and creamy sauce! If you love mayo, you know that it brings an unbeatable flavor punch to just about anything. A little goes a long way and it’s bright, tangy, salty and just plain delicious. This recipe adds lemon and garlic to store-bought mayonnaise to add even more freshness and bite.

Is aioli vegan?

If you use traditional mayonnaise it’s not, because mayonnaise contains eggs. However there are plenty of comparable vegan options available now so you can certainly opt for one of those if you want to keep this recipe vegan. I love Sir Kensington’s!

What pairs well with aioli?

What doesn’t? 😜 In all seriousness it goes well with so many things. I love dipping all types of potatoes in aioli. It also makes a great condiment for burgers (like my California Style Sliders) and works well on fish tacos.

Aioli for sweet potato fries – other popular flavors:

chipotle aioli – just add chipotles in adobo sauce
sriracha or “spicy” aioli – add chile sauce
garlic aioli – add fresh garlic or granulated garlic
truffle aioli – add truffle salt
basil aioli – add basil chiffonade

dipping a sweet potato fry in aioli sauce

Serve these sweet potato fries as a fancy side dish or a stand-alone appetizer. They make a great football snack!