Loaded Sweet Potato Fries

These loaded sweet potato fries will satisfy all your loaded french fry cravings in a much healthier way. The sweet potatoes are air fried instead of deep fried, and they’re topped with lean ground beef, fresh pico de gallo, guacamole, and a Greek yogurt-based chipotle ranch. You still get the cheesy, savory, fully loaded flavor, but with more protein and fresh toppings built into every serving.

Why You'll Love These Loaded Sweet Potato Fries 

I’ve been on a serious sweet potato kick lately, especially when I’m trying to round out a high-protein meal. Between my stuffed sweet potatoes, ground turkey sweet potato bowl, and all the other combinations I’ve been making, I still haven’t gotten tired of them.

This inspiration for this recipe actually started with my crispy chicken loaded fries. I wanted to make a version I could work into a post-workout meal or a healthy weeknight dinner, so I swapped the regular fries for air-fried sweet potatoes and loaded them with lean ground beef, fresh pico, guacamole, and a Greek yogurt chipotle ranch.

I also took some inspiration from a viral loaded sweet potato fries video I saw from itsjackearly and the result has everything I want from loaded fries, but with more protein and fresh ingredients built into the meal.

Ingredients You'll Need

For the sweet potato fries:

• 2 large sweet potatoes, cut into fries
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the ground beef:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the pico de gallo:

• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
• ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
• 2 tablespoons jalapeño, finely diced
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• Salt, to taste

For the Greek yogurt chipotle ranch:

• ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon water, plus more as needed
• 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Black pepper, to taste

For topping:

• ½ cup shredded cheddar or Mexican-style cheese
• 1 cup guacamole (about 2 ripe avocados mashed with a little finely diced red onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper)
• Fresh cilantro or green onions, optional

How to Make Loaded Sweet Potato Fries

Step 1: Air Fry the Sweet Potatoes

Toss the sweet potato fries with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Air fry at 400°F for 15–20 minutes, shaking the basket a few times, until browned and crisp around the edges. Cook in batches if needed so the fries aren’t overcrowded.

Step 2: Cook the Ground Beef

While the fries cook, add the ground beef to a skillet over medium-high heat. Season with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper, then cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned and cooked through.

Step 3: Make the Pico and Chipotle Ranch

For the pico de gallo, mix the tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a small bowl. For the chipotle ranch, blend the Greek yogurt, chipotle peppers, lime juice, ranch seasoning, water, salt, and pepper until smooth and drizzleable.

Step 4: Add the Beef and Cheese

Arrange the crispy sweet potato fries on a platter or divide them between bowls. Top with the hot ground beef and shredded cheese. For extra-melty cheese, return the fries to the air fryer for 1–2 minutes.

Step 5: Add the Toppings

Finish the loaded sweet potato fries with pico de gallo, guacamole, chipotle ranch, and fresh cilantro. Serve right away while the fries are still hot and crisp.

My Tips for the Best Loaded Sweet Potato Fries

• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. The sweet potatoes need room for the hot air to circulate. If the basket is packed too tightly, they’ll steam instead of getting browned around the edges.
• Cut the fries to a similar thickness. Evenly sized sweet potato fries cook at the same rate, which helps prevent some from burning while others stay soft.
• Add the cold toppings last. Wait until the beef and cheese are on the hot fries before adding the pico, guacamole, and chipotle ranch. This keeps the fries from getting soggy too quickly.
• Use lean ground beef. Lean beef keeps the loaded fries from becoming greasy while still adding plenty of protein and savory flavor.
• Serve them right away. Sweet potato fries soften as they sit under the toppings, so these are best assembled just before eating.

Loaded Sweet Potato Fries Meal Prep Tips

These loaded sweet potato fries work really well for meal prep as long as you store the components separately.

• Prep the beef and sweet potatoes ahead. Cook both, let them cool, then refrigerate them in separate airtight containers for up to 4 days.
• Keep the toppings separate. Store the pico de gallo, guacamole, cheese, and chipotle ranch in their own containers so the fries don’t get soggy. Prep the pico for up to 3 days, the chipotle ranch for up to 5 days, and the guacamole no more than 1–2 days ahead for the best color and texture.
• Reheat the sweet potatoes in the air fryer. Air fry them at 375°F for 3–5 minutes to bring back some of the crispness. Reheat the ground beef separately in the microwave or a skillet.
• Assemble just before eating. Add the hot beef and cheese first, then finish with the cold pico, guacamole, and chipotle ranch. This gives you the best texture and keeps the meal tasting fresh.

Loaded Sweet Potato Fries FAQs

Can I make loaded sweet potato fries in the oven?

Yes. Toss the sweet potato fries with the oil and seasonings, then spread them in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake at 425°F for about 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until browned and tender. Add the beef and cheese at the end, then return them to the oven briefly to melt the cheese.

Can I use frozen sweet potato fries?

Absolutely. Frozen sweet potato fries are an easy shortcut. Cook them according to the air fryer or oven directions on the package until crispy, then add the ground beef, cheese, pico, guacamole, and chipotle ranch.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?

Yes. Ground turkey or ground chicken both work well in these loaded fries. Season and cook them the same way as the beef, making sure the meat is fully cooked before assembling the fries.

How do I keep loaded sweet potato fries from getting soggy?

Cook the sweet potato fries until the edges are well browned, avoid overcrowding the air fryer, and wait to add the pico, guacamole, and chipotle ranch until just before serving. The wetter toppings will soften the fries the longer they sit.

What cheese is best for loaded sweet potato fries?

Shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, pepper Jack, or a Mexican-style cheese blend all work well. I usually go with cheddar or a Mexican blend because they melt easily and pair well with the beef and chipotle ranch.

What other toppings can I add?

Black beans, corn, sliced jalapeños, pickled red onions, green onions, salsa, or hot sauce are all good additions. You can also add extra Greek yogurt or avocado if you want to change up the toppings without altering the base recipe.

More Sweet Potato Recipes to Try

• Ground beef sweet potato bowl
• Sweet potato taco bowl
• Sweet potato burger bowl
• Sweet potato steak bowl
• Loaded sweet potato nachos

Continue to Content

Yield: 4 serving

Loaded Sweet Potato Fries

Print

These loaded sweet potato fries will satisfy all your loaded french fry cravings in a much healthier way. The sweet potatoes are air fried instead of deep fried, and they’re topped with lean ground beef, fresh pico de gallo, guacamole, and a Greek yogurt-based chipotle ranch. You still get the cheesy, savory, fully loaded flavor, but with more protein and fresh toppings built into every serving.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

Sweet Potato Fries:

• 2 large sweet potatoes, cut into fries
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Ground Beef:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Pico de Gallo:

• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
• ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
• 2 tablespoon jalapeno, finely diced
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• Salt, to taste

Greek Yogurt Chipotle Ranch:

• ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon water, plus more as needed
• 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Black pepper, to taste

For Topping:

• ½ cup shredded cheddar or Mexican-style cheese
• 1 cup Guacamole
• Fresh cilantro, optional

Instructions

1. Add the sweet potato fries to a large bowl with the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Toss until evenly coated.
2. Arrange the fries in the air fryer basket in an even layer. Air fry at 400°F for 15–20 minutes, shaking the basket a few times, until browned and crisp around the edges. Cook in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
3. While the fries cook, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and season with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking the beef into small crumbles, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess grease if needed.
4. Combine the diced tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Stir well and set aside.
5. Blend or whisk together the Greek yogurt, chipotle peppers, lime juice, ranch seasoning, water, salt, and black pepper. Add another splash of water as needed until the sauce is smooth and easy to drizzle.
6. Arrange the crispy sweet potato fries on a serving platter or divide them between bowls. Top with the hot ground beef and shredded cheese.
7. Return the loaded fries to the air fryer for 1–2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. If using a serving platter that isn’t air-fryer safe, you can skip this step and let the heat from the beef melt the cheese.
8. Add the toppings. Finish with the pico de gallo, guacamole, a generous drizzle of chipotle ranch, and fresh cilantro if desired. Serve immediately while the fries are still crisp.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

¼ of the recipe
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 575Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 10gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 1150mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 10gSugar: 12gProtein: 35g