I’ve been making sweet potato fries for over 15 years and THIS easy seasoning blend is by far our favorite! It’s just equal amounts of four ingredients you probably already have. (And you can use it for more than just sweet potato fries!
Creating seasoning blends is a love of mine, but this one happened on accident. I realized I grabbed the same four things over and over to make sweet potato fries and one day decided to make a blend so I wouldn’t have to grab four jars out of the cabinet anymore.
Not only is this sweet potato seasoning easy to make, you can also use it as a BBQ rub! I love it on grilled chicken especially. I linked to a few other recipes on my site that call for this versatile blend.
Why This Is The Best Seasoning for Sweet Potato Fries
I think this is one of those "whole is greater than the sum of the parts" situations. It's such a simple blend, but it's pretty magical combined with a sweet potato.
You may have to start buying them in bulk because you'll love this sweet potato fries seasoning so much you'll want to put it on a lot of other things. Like regular roasted sweet potatoes. Or sprinkled on a baked sweet potato.
I think this should be the official sweet potato seasoning. Should we start a petition? Even my mom keeps this blend in her cupboard (and the kitchen cupboard of the condo they own in a different state). And she's not into making her own seasoning blends.
Ingredients for Sweet Potato Fry Seasoning
Are you ready for this? I'm 99% certain you have all of these spices in your cupboard already -- garlic powder, chili powder, ground cumin, and sea salt. That's it. Basic grocery store spices.
Note: Some people add brown sugar to their sweet potato fries. You could add a little to this. I'd rather have my sweet potato seasoning more savory because the sweet potatoes are already sweet.
How to Season Sweet Potato Fries
Once you’ve cut your sweet potato fries into slivers, drizzle with oil (I use avocado oil or melted coconut oil), and a tablespoon or two of seasoning.
Tips for Sweet Potato Fry Seasoning
- Coat the fries in heat-safe oil to ensure even browning and for the spice blend to have something to hold on to.
- I wrote a whole post on making sweet potato fries – how to cut and roast them so that they’ve got crispy edges. In a nutshell – slice the sweet potato fries thin, don’t crowd the pan, and flip them around occasionally during baking.
- You can also use this seasoning as a Tex-Mex style seasoning in chili, on other roasted vegetables, as a seasoning in ground meats, and a rub for grilled chicken.
When to use Sweet Potato Fries Seasoning
This seasoning is best when added before roasting the fries to develop the flavors.
Other ways to use this Seasoning for Sweet Potatoes
I like to use sweet potato fry blend as a dry rub for grilled chicken or steak, too.
(A friend of mine says it's delicious on salmon, too!)
It has a tex-mex flavor, but it's different from taco seasoning. (Speaking of... I have a bomb homemade taco seasoning recipe.)
How to Store Seasoning for Sweet Potato Fries
Keep your seasoning in an airtight container for several months or until the spices start to lose their flavor.
If you make one of my recipes, I'd love to see! Post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!
More Recipes on Perry's Plate
Sweet Potato Fries Seasoning
Just four simple ingredients (that you probably already have!) create an amazing seasoning for sweet potato fries or any other roasted vegetable or grilled meat rub/marinade that you wand to give a southwest kick.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons chili powder
- 2 Tablespoons garlic powder (or granulated garlic)
- 2 Tablespoons ground cumin
- 2 Tablespoons sea salt
Instructions
Combine in an airtight container. Shake well. Keeps for several months. (until the spices start to lose their flavor) You can also add black pepper or cayenne if you'd like a little kick.
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Cookbook Queen says
YES!!
It's SO easy to fall into the "what can I make that no one else has made before" trap..but really...simple is sometimes best. I like stuff I can make every day.
This is perfect. WE love sweet potato fries, and I can keep a little container of this seasoning nearby. Yay!!
Tieghan says
YES, yes yes! I love this seasoning mix! Chili powder on sweet potato fries is so good!
Loretta E. says
We have sweet potatoes all the time! Just yesterday, in fact...Love this mix!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Sweet potato fries are the best!
Karly says
Aaaaaand, now I want these for breakfast.
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
We had these last night and I'm embarrassed to admit how many I consumed......
DancingMooney says
We LOVE sweet potato fries, and I'm going to have to try your taco seasoning too! xo! :)
Joanne says
I love simple recipes like this! And I need a way to spruce up my SP fries anyway...sounds super tasty!
Stephie @ Eat Your Heart Out says
You had me at "sweet potatoes"! Mmmmmmm I LOVE a good sweet potato fry. Those are the same types of spices I use on mine - love that cumin in there! It's what makes 'em, if you ask me. :-)
DessertForTwo says
I agree exactly with what Kristan said! Easy and simple is best, but we forget sometimes.
Karen S says
Hi:
When I click "print", only the header prints, and not the text.
Can't wait to try this recipe!
Kris says
i just ran across your blog and chuckled when I saw your seasoning for sweet potato fries. My husband had a heart attack recently and was told he needed to reduce his salt intake. After experimenting with spices for several months I concocted the exact recipe that you have posted here. It is excellent and much healthier than the traditional salt that many of us pour onto our food. We use it on everything from eggs in the morning to hamburgers for dinner at night.
Natalie Perry says
Ha! Great minds!
Lizzie kingi says
Could I please get the mix for the Kumara spice mix please
Natalie Perry says
For the sweet potato fry seasoning? It's right above the comment section in the post.
Lori Crocker says
Great recipe. I add a little onion powder and a pinch of nutmeg (I know, but try it). Delish!
Natalie Perry says
Hi Lori! I trust you on that. Sounds good!
Tina says
@Lori Crocker, paprika works well with it too.
Judy says
I just found this and am so glad I did. I was about to buy some fry seasoning and this was so easy to do with spices I have! I am going to try adding a little smoked paprika to it too. I love it. Thanks for the tips on the sweet potato fries too. I realize now I often cut them too big. Some were still too big this time but the smaller ones were definitely crispier but not overdone.
Natalie Perry says
Great idea! So glad you enjoyed it!
Karen says
What do you dip them in? I am thinking a pineapple yogurt says?
Natalie Perry says
Sure! That sounds delicious! We're sort of boring and just dip them in ketchup and mustard. My favorite is to make them with sloppy joe meat and do a "chili fry" sort of thing putting the sloppy joe meat on top of the sweet potato fries. It's delicious.
L says
This was good. I also added cornstarch since they were going in the air fryer. Used 'red Chile powder' from New Mexico instead of "chili powder", so it was hot. Mitigated this by dipping them in maple syrup.
L says
Can't edit this comment! Wanted to add that I used canola oil and seasoned the fries liberally.
Natalie Perry says
ohhh maple syrup sounds lovely.
Alyce Cooks says
Your seasoning for sweet potato fries is delicious on a variety of meat. I tried it on lamb and my family loved it!
Thanks
Natalie Perry says
So good to hear! We use it as a dry rub, too!