Crisp on the outside and pillowy-soft on the inside, these air fryer sweet potatoes roast to perfection in just 15 minutes, bringing out their natural caramelized sweetness. This easy, hands-off recipe is perfect when you're craving a quick side dish or a wholesome snack.
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Roasted sweet potatoes are a fairly new addition to my family's favorite side dishes. Quite honestly, neither of us cared for the plain baked sweet potato, but roasting them was a game changer for us.
Roasting them accentuates their natural sweetness. And the contrast of texture is amazing- they stay light and fluffy on the inside, and the skin crisps up!
In this easy-to-make 15-minute recipe, I peel and cut the sweet potatoes into chunks, then toss them with oil and seasoning. A quick 10-minute roast is all they need in the air fryer. And I love that these get done in half the time it takes in the oven.
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Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions
Here's a short list of ingredients needed to roast sweet potatoes in the air fryer. You can find all of these in your nearest supermarket. Here's what you need:
- Sweet Potatoes: I use an orange Garnet or Jewel sweet potato, which are the easiest to find, but you can use any kind of sweet potato.
- Oil: I use olive or avocado oil. You can use any clear, neutral-tasting oil.
- Seasoning: I use a simple mix of salt, pepper, garlic, and a pinch of cayenne to season them, but you can add your favorite go-to seasoning. I have also mentioned more seasoning suggestions in the 'variations' section below.
Scroll to the recipe card for a detailed list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Cook Sweet Potatoes in an Air Fryer
Here are the step-by-step instructions and photos for how to roast sweet potatoes in the air fryer. I start by peeling and cutting sweet potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Here are my tips on how to cut a sweet potato:
Step 1: Cut Sweet Potatoes
- Use a vegetable peeler or a knife to peel the skin off of the sweet potato. (The skin is perfectly edible, so you can leave it on if you prefer.) (pic 1)
- Place the sweet potato on your cutting board with the long side facing up. Cut off the ends of the sweet potato, then cut it in half.
- Lay the sweet potato on the cutting board, with the cut middle of the potato resting on the cutting board. Make cuts all the way through the sweet potato, ½ inch apart.
- Cut the slices of sweet potato you just made into ½ inch cubes.
Step 2: Season Potatoes
- Transfer sweet potato pieces to a large mixing bowl. Add oil and seasoning, and toss well until potatoes get evenly coated.
Step 3: Air Fry
- Preheat the air fryer at 400°F for 2 minutes. Spread the seasoned sweet potatoes in the fryer tray, in a single layer. You may have to cook these in 2 batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, at about 5-6 minutes. Remove and check the sweet potatoes.
- For extra crispiness, shake the basket, lightly spray with cooking spray, and air fry for another 2 minutes.
Serving Suggestion
These air-fried sweet potatoes have become one of our go-to side dishes for weeknight meals. They pair beautifully with Mediterranean Chicken, BBQ Ribs, Tandoori chicken, and even these Indian Spiced Chicken Wings.
Lately, we've even been enjoying these as a side with simple Indian meal combinations like Toor Dal and rice or Chana Dal and Roti.
Storing & Reheating
Storage: Place your sweet potatoes in an airtight container or bag and keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheating: To reheat your sweet potatoes, cook them at 350°F in the air fryer for about 2-3 minutes until they are warm throughout.
Alternate Method: Oven-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
To cook your sweet potatoes in the oven, preheat the oven to 425°F. Spread the seasoned sweet potatoes evenly on an aluminum lined baking sheet in a single layer.
Cook for 25 minutes, flipping the potatoes after 15 minutes. Cook them for an extra 2-3 minutes for extra crispy potatoes.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Use a sharp knife when cutting: A dull knife means you'll end up pressing harder to cut, which requires more effort and is more likely to slip and cut you.
- Cut them the same size: This ensures even cooking. To get a consistent size, I start by making cut marks that are ½ inch apart and then cut them through.
- Make them crispy: Make sure to spread the sweet potatoes in a single layer when cooking them, even if you have to make multiple batches.
- Shake the basket halfway: Don't neglect to shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to allow all the edges of each cube to be cooked evenly.
- Serve them immediately: These roasted sweet potatoes get soft and lose their crispness as they cool, so I find it best to serve them immediately!
Try a Variation: Air fryer Sweet Potato Wedges & Seasoning Options
- Sweet Potato Wedges: You can use this recipe to make air fryer sweet potato wedges instead. Cut them in long wedges instead, season them, and roast them in the air fryer at 400F for 12-14 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. You may have to roast them for 2-3 minutes longer to get the desired crispiness.
- Seasoning Variations: Try the following seasoning variations to better suit your meal:
- Indian: Toss sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon coriander powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon cayenne. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh lime juice.
- Mexican: Toss with 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning and 1 tablespoon oil.
- Mediterranean: Use 1 tablespoon oil, 1 teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Sweet: Toss potatoes in 1 tablespoon oil, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon brown sugar
FAQ
While there are several different types of sweet potatoes, whichever is your favorite is great for roasting in the air fryer. I personally use an orange Garnet or Jewel sweet potato, which are the easiest to find.
If your sweet potatoes do not get crispy on the outside, it may be that your oven or air fryer runs a little cool. Start by pat drying them, then try increasing the temperature or cooking the sweet potatoes for slightly longer.
No! Sweet potato skins are edible, but make sure you wash them thoroughly before cooking.
More Air Fryer Vegetables from my Kitchen
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- French Fries in Air fryer
- Spicy Bombay Potatoes
- Stuffed Mushrooms
- Samosa Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
- Harissa Roasted Turnips
- More Air Fryer recipes, including appetizers, entrees, and desserts.
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes (Roasted in 15 Minutes!)
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Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (garnet) about 16 ounces
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt reduce to ⅓ for low-salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne reduce to ⅛ or skip for mild
Instructions
Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
- Peel and cut sweet potatoes into ½-inch pieces.
- Transfer sweet potatoes pieces to a large mixing bowl. Add oil and seasoning, and toss well until potatoes get evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer at 400°F for 2 minutes. Spread the seasoned sweet potatoes in the fryer tray, in a single layer. You may have to cook these in 2 batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fryer for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove and check the sweet potatoes. For extra crispy, shake the basket and air fry for another 2 minutes.
Alternative Method: Oven
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spread the seasoned sweet potatoes evenly on an aluminum lined baking sheet, in a single layer. Cook for 25 minutes, flipping the potatoes after 15 minutes.
Notes
- Use a sharp knife when cutting: A dull knife means you'll end up pressing harder to cut, which requires more effort and is more likely to slip and cut you.
- Cut them the same size: This ensures even cooking. To get a consistent size, I start by making cut marks that are ½ inch apart and then cut them through.
- Make them crispy: Make sure to spread the sweet potatoes in a single layer when cooking them, even if you have to make multiple batches.
- Shake the basket halfway: Don't neglect to shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to allow all the edges of each cube to be cooked evenly.
- Serve them immediately: These roasted sweet potatoes get soft and lose their crispness as they cool, so I find it best to serve them immediately!
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