These flavorful jicama fries make a great alternative to French fries. Making them is easy! Microwave them briefly and then bake them in a hot oven.

These delicious fries are one of my favorite side dishes. While they are not exactly like French fries, they are delightful when served with ketchup or any other dip and satisfy the need for a salty, savory snack.. To make sure they bake evenly, I first microwave them briefly to soften them. This helps prevent them from remaining crunchy after they've been baked.
Ingredients and Variations
See the recipe card for exact measurements. Here are my comments on the ingredients.
Raw jicama: When I started making this recipe in 2014, I had to peel and slice a whole jicama. As I update this recipe in 2025, we have the option to buy pre-sliced jicama sticks. As you can see in the photo below, the packaged sticks are sometimes fairly wide, so it's best to cut them thinner to better resemble the shape of French fries.
Olive oil: I love the flavor this delicious oil adds to the fries. Melted butter is another delicious option.
To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. You can make them spicy by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Instructions
The detailed instructions and step-by-step photos are included in the recipe card. Here's a quick overview.
Peel the jicama and cut it into strips. Microwave the strips to make them somewhat tender, then toss them with olive oil and spices.
Bake them for about 40 minutes in a 400°F oven, until they are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and golden brown.
Serve them immediately with your dip of choice. Here, they are shown dipped in unsweetened ketchup.
2nd time making this and it's delicious! thank you for a fabulous substitute for fries!
Madeline
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Recipe Tips
- Unlike potato fries, these tend to remain crunchy on the inside even after being cooked for a long time. The method described here, of microwaving them first and then baking, is the best way I have found to make them relatively tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.
- Keep in mind that these fries, while delicious, are not the same as French fries. They lack the texture that only starchy potatoes can offer - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
- Sometimes, I bake the fries with other sturdy veggies like cauliflower, as shown in the photo below.
- Storage: You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. Better yet, re-crisp them in a 350°F oven for about ten minutes or until heated through.
Serving Suggestions
Main Courses
Since I bake them in a 400°F oven, I like to serve jicama fries with a main course I can bake in the same oven, such as:
- Boneless chicken thighs
- Crispy baked chicken thighs
- Baked chicken drumsticks
- Baked chicken wings
- Baked hamburgers
- Baked pork chops
- Baked shrimp
They are also a natural choice to serve with steak (think steak frites!), including New York strip steak, ribeye steak, and flat iron steak.
Dipping Sauce
I usually serve these fries with unsweetened ketchup. My Dutch dad likes to dip them in mayonnaise. They are also delicious with guacamole or salsa, as shown in the photos below.
Recipe Card
Easy Oven-Baked Jicama Fries
Video
Ingredients
- 1 raw jicama - about 1 pound
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt - or ¼ teaspoon of any other salt, including Morton kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper - freshly ground
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a ceramic or glass baking dish (such as a 9 X 13-inch baking dish). Alternatively, use a rimmed baking sheet and line it with parchment paper.
- Peel the jicama and cut it into ¼-inch-thick fries, or use pre-sliced jicama strips.
- Place the jicama strips in a microwave-safe bowl. Add ¼ cup of water. Cover and microwave for 8 minutes, stopping once to gently stir. If I use a large jicama, I sometimes microwave it for up to 10 minutes, but 8 minutes is usually enough.
- Using oven mittens, remove the bowl from the microwave. Be careful when removing the cover - hot steam will escape. Remove the jicama strips to paper towels to dry.
- In a large bowl, toss the partially cooked jicama fries with olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Arrange them in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Bake until browned and tender-crisp, about 40 minutes. Serve immediately.
Notes
- The packaged jicama sticks are sometimes fairly wide, so it's best to cut them thinner to better resemble the shape of French fries.
- You can use melted butter as an alternative to olive oil.
- Microwaving the jicama fries before baking them is optional. But if you don't microwave them first, the fries retain some of their crunch even when baked for a long time. I tried both versions, and my family preferred the microwaved version.
- I usually serve these fries with unsweetened ketchup. My Dutch dad likes to dip them in mayonnaise. They are also delicious with guacamole or salsa.
- You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. Better yet, re-crisp them uncovered in a 350°F oven for about ten minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition per Serving
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Disclaimers
Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.
Madeline says
2nd time making this and it's delicious! thank you for a fabulous substitute for fries!
Vered DeLeeuw says
You're very welcome, Madeline! 🙂
Jan says
Hi - lovin' your [recently-found] website so far! Wondering if you can tell me if TURNIPS could be used in lieu of jicamas [since the structure of them seems so similar to the jicamas, tho' turnips a bit more specific in flavor than jicamas]? IF so, would you have suggestions more specific to using turnips in above recipe? TKS!
Vered DeLeeuw says
Hey Jan,
Nice to meet you! This is a great question. Both are root vegetables with similar texture, but I only tested this recipe with jicama, so I'm not sure if it would work with turnips.
Karen Reynolds says
Looking forward to trying this recipe! Can I par cook the fries hours in advance or is it better to cook them directly after the microwave?
Vered DeLeeuw says
Hi Karen,
Great question! Yes, you can par-cook them a few hours in advance and refrigerate them until ready to use. Place them on paper towels to absorb extra moisture.
Karen Reynolds says
Perfect - thank you!
Linda Cubitt says
Delicious!
I made it in the air fryer. It took about 15 minutes. Paired it with a mayo/ butter chicken spice dip.
Thank you for the recipe.
Vered DeLeeuw says
I'm so glad you enjoyed these fries, Linda! Thank you for taking the time to write a review.
Lisa says
Would this work in an air fryer?
Vered DeLeeuw says
Hi Lisa, I only tested this recipe in an oven.