If you like crunchy food and you're also a fan of sweet potatoes, then these Homemade Fried Sweet Potato Chips with sweet and smoky flavor are what you'll crave.
I originally shared this recipe back in 2013. I've recently updated this post with additional information, including a recipe card complete with nutritional information, but the recipe itself and the photos you'll see have remained unchanged.
**Please Note - The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making deep-fried Sweet Potato Chips is available at the end of this post. Or you can hit the "jump to recipe" button (found above) to be taken directly to the recipe.
The ingredient list for making deep fryed sweet potato chips:
- sweet potatoes (I find that long, slender sweet potatoes are best)
- peanut oil (or other light colored oil with a high smoke point)
- salt
- grated nutmeg (ground nutmeg will also work)
- ground cinnamon
- smoked paprika
Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- large Dutch oven (7-quart) OR deep fat fryer
- spider or extra large slotted spoon
- mondolin or chef's knife
- cutting board
- instant-read thermometer
- nutmeg grater or microplane
- large and small mixing bowls
- paper towels
- baking sheets
- brown bags (for storage)
How this recipe came to be:
Back when I first started food blogging I belonged to a fun recipe group called Sunday Supper.
In order to participate in this group, there would be a new theme or topic every week, and you'd need to post a new recipe to go along with that theme.
Back in September of 2013, the topic was "crunchy food," and this fried sweet potato chip recipe is what I posted at that time.
What I wrote about these fried sweet potato chips back in 2013:
I hate to be rude but, Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
I'm excited to tell you, Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
that for this week's #SundaySupper theme of crunchy foods, Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
I got to make something I've been wanting to make for a long, long time. Potato Chips!!!
Not any old potato chips, mind you. Fried Sweet Potato Chips that I just could NOT stop munching and crunching on! Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
See what I mean? LOL
So satisfying! So delicious! So LOUD!!
Pretty cleaver of me, huh? LOL *wink*
What is the best type of oil for frying food?
As mentioned earlier, a high smoke point oil is best.
What that means is that an oil with a higher smoke point can withstand higher heat than other oils that will start to smoke at a lower temperature.
What oils are considered high smoke point oils?
A good visual indicator for a high smoke-point oil is one that is very light or pale in color.
The following oils have the highest smoke points:
- refined avocado oil (smoke point is 520-degrees Fahrenheit)
- safflower oil (smoke point is 510-degreeg Fahrenheit) - best option
- refined or light olive oil (smoke point is 465-degrees Fahrenheit)
- peanut oil (smoke point is 450-degrees Fahrenheit) - best option
- refined coconut oil (smoke point is 450-degrees Fahrenheit)
- corn oil (smoke point is 450-degrees Fahrenheit) - best option
- vegetable oil (smoke point is 400-450-degrees Fahrenheit) - best option
- canola oil (smoke point is 400-degrees Fahrenheit)
- grapeseed oil (smoke point is 390-degrees Fahrenheit)
What does refined mean when it comes to oil?
It basically means that an oil has been processed or "purified" using chemicals and shelf stabilizers. They're not a good choice to use for deep fat frying or for any other type of cooking, even though they do have a very high smoke point.
The best and worst cooking oils for your health.
Can frying oil be reused?
Yes. I do it all the time.
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Just make sure you don't reuse the same oil that you used for that last Friday night fish fry to fry your Sunday morning donuts.
You may want to mark your oils for sweet and savory if you're doing a lot of deep fat frying.
What is the best way to store frying oil for reuse?
I like to let my oil cool completely (covered) overnight on the counter or on the stovetop with the heat off.
In the morning I use a strainer and funnel to strain off the fried bits of batter and food leftover in the oil (discard those), and funnel the oil back into it's original container, or something else that is airtight.
As stated above, make sure to mark the reusable oil sweet or savory so you don't grab the wrong oil for the wrong dish.
I then store the used oil in a cool, dry spot until I'm ready to fry again.
I typically reuse my oil 3-4 times, relying on the same strainer/funnel method for storage. After 3-4 uses, I discard the used oil and start with fresh for whatever I happen to be frying next.
What is the best method for storing homemade sweet potato chips?
I store mine in a brown paper bag (a lunch bag size works great), at room temperature.
They'll keep fresh for 3-4 days this way, but I bet they won't be around for that long.
Does the spice blend need to be used for these chips?
No, not at all. If you'd like to make the sweet potato chips with just a touch of salt, go for it!
However, if you'd like to try something new that will excite your taste buds please give the smoked paprika, cinnamon, and nutmeg blend a try.
Additional fried food recipes (sweet and savory):
*Fried Bratwurst on a Stick (cornwurst) (shown below and featured in the video)
My recipe for Bratwurst on a Stick with Fried Cornmeal Beer Batter is a fun and deliciously different take on a corn dog. It’s the best, make that WURST, corn dog you’ll ever eat!
*Beer Battered Fried Mushrooms (not shown)
Even if you’re not a huge mushroom fan, I’ll bet you’re going to flip over this beer batter fried mushroom recipe!
*Homemade Beignets (shown below)
In celebration of Mardi Gras and dressed in green, gold, and purple sanding sugar these pillowy soft and perfectly fried homemade beignets are ready to party!
*Homemade Fried Tilapia (not shown)
Hungry for a Friday night fish fry but don’t want to pay restaurant prices? My homemade fried tilapia recipe is crispy, crunchy, and utterly delicious.
*Deep Fried Sweet Potato Chips (shown below) THIS IS THE PLACE!!
Below is the printable recipe card along with the exact ingredient measurements and nutritional information for making today's crispy and crunchy deep fried homemade sweet potato chips.
When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did.
Search engines such as Google appreciate comments and ratings and, in turn, will show my recipes to more people. Please look for the pink star rating box within the printable recipe card. Thank you!!
Printable Recipe Card
HOMEMADE FRIED SWEET POTATO CHIPS
Equipment
- paper towels
- brown bags (for storage)
Ingredients
- 3-4 long, slender sweep potatoes slender sweet potatoes, peeled
- 6 cups peanut oil or other neutral-flavored, high smoke point oil
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
- -Using the mandolin or chef's knife, slice the sweet potatoes, width-wise, into very thin slices (approximately 1/16" slices) but not so thin that you can see through them.
- -After slicing the potatoes, place them in the water, making sure to separate each slice.
- -Allow the sliced potatoes to sit in the water for 5 minutes while preparing a baking sheet with layers of paper towels.
- -Arrange the sliced, soaked potato slices evenly between the layers of paper towels. *NOTE - Drying the potato slices thoroughly on paper towels is critical because wet potato slices will spit and sputter hot oil, which can become dangerous.
- -Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven, heat the peanut oil over medium heat until the oil reaches 325-degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer.
- -While waiting for the oil to heat, use a small bowl to mix the salt, paprika, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- -Working in small batches and using a large slotted spoon, carefully lower some dried sweet potato slices into the hot oil.
- -Watch them carefully, and gently turn them occasionally using the slotted spoon until they are lightly browned and crunchy. *Important - This should only take a few minutes, so this needs process needs your complete attention.
- -Carefully remove the fried chips from the oil (allowing the excess fat to runoff), and place the chips on dry paper towels to drain.
- -Immediately after removing the chips from the oil, sprinkle them evenly with the salt and cinnamon mixture.
- -Continue the same process with the remaining potato slices until all the chips are fried and crunchy.
- -Serve immediately.
Notes
Store the oil in a cool dry place in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Marsha says
These were super easy to make, and so delicious! Thank you!
Renée says
Awesome, Marsha. Thanks for letting me know.
Renee
Ashley says
I love making these homemade chips. I try to keep them on hand because they are so good.
Renée says
You are a girl after my own heart, Ashley.
Thank you 🙂
Renee
Faye Leong says
I always wanted to try to make this but I am lack of confidence but I won't now! Thanks so much for all the steps and those wonderful pictures. Awesome!
Susan says
There are chips and there are sweet potato chips. Really hard to resist, love that touch of sweetness from them too.
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere says
Sweet potato chips are the best! We just got a bunch of sweet potatoes, and chips are close to the top of our list to try out!
Cindy Kerschner says
I love sweet potato chips, great flavor combo!
german in pdx says
Sweet potato chips? Yes, please - these sound and look fantastic!
Bea @ The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
Alida says
Well done getting the perfect, crispy sweet potato chip! Paprika is so good on sweet potatoes...these sound delicious!
Renee Goerger says
Thanks Alida. I've always loved adding paprika onto sweet potatoes. It's that sweet/savory thing that gets me every time!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
Wow, the sweet, smoky, spicy combo is awesome!
Renee says
Now these chips look wonderful! My husband recently had a salad at this restaurant that was topped with sweet potato chips. Only thing is those chips were awful (mostly burnt). Now yours on the other hand, wow! Now I know I have to make them and re-create that salad with some good chips.
Renee Goerger says
Thanks Renee. I did have a batch that got pretty dark but I just ate those right away! LOL Topping a salad with sweet potato chips sounds like an awesome idea. I must try that!
Sarah Reid says
I love sweet potato ANYTHING, especially chips!
Heather King says
I love homemade chips. Yours look seriously amazing!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Smoky, sweet AND crunchy? Awesome.
Liz Berg says
Oooh, my favorite kind of chip!! And you made them!!! Brava! They look fabulous.
Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez says
Yes, please - I lurve sweet potato chips! They look perfect, Renee 🙂
Laura Dembowski says
Homemade potato chips are the best! I definitely need to try these sweet potato ones as I just love sweet potato chips!
Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Yum! I love, love, love sweet potato chips and yours look delish!!