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    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes

    Air fryer sweet potato chunks (oven directions included!)

    Published: Dec 27, 2020 · Modified: Sep 6, 2023 by Becky Striepe · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Recipe Video Print
    bowl of air fryer sweet potatoes on a blue napkin
    bowl of air fryer sweet potatoes on a blue napkin

    Tender, lightly crisp chunks of air fryer sweet potato are a lovely side dish or addition to a salad or other bowl meal. No air fryer? No problem! I've added oven directions, just for you.

    bowl of air fryer sweet potatoes on a blue napkin

    Do you want to hear something sad? Dave doesn't like sweet potato! That means it's rarely on the menu around here.

    That's why I created this recipe for air fryer sweet potato. I can quickly make just enough for me and the kid, and Dave can figure out his own starchy side dish.

    Jump to:
    • Recipe notes
    • Flavor variations
    • Oven variation
    • Oil-free option
    • How to serve and store
    • More ways to use sweet potatoes
    • 📖 Recipe
    cubed sweet potato on a cutting board

    Recipe notes

    Making sweet potato in the air fryer is super easy!

    The key to success with this recipe is cutting your sweet potato into uniform, one-inch chunks. If your pieces are uneven in size, they will cook unevenly.

    This recipe is as flexible as it is simple, and I wanted to talk about some ways to mix things up.

    The first option you have is to peel or not. I like the texture that the peel brings to the table, but I know that not everyone does. Feel free to peel, if you want!

    You can also mix up your flavors and omit the oil in this recipe, if you want to. The sections below dive into those variations.

    image collage showing the diced sweet potato, mixing with seasoning, and ready to cook in the basket

    Flavor variations

    What's fun about making sweet potatoes in the air fryer is that you can mix up your flavors! In the photos, I'm making chili-lime sweet potatoes, but feel free to choose your own flavor adventure.

    Try fun combinations of different oils, herbs, and spices, like:

    • oils to try: toasted sesame, coconut, truffle oil, maple syrup instead of oil
    • fun spices: cumin, coriander, cinnamon, curry powder, regular or chipotle powder, dried rosemary, ground sage

    A like to add a little bit of acid to the mix in this recipe, because it offsets the sweetness so nicely. In the recipe card, you have the option of using lemon juice or lime juice. Which you choose really depends on what oils and spices you add.

    Lemon juice has a more neutral flavor, so I'd suggest treating it as the default. Lime juice works well with spices like coriander and chili powder. If you're not sure, just go with lemon.

    Oven variation

    If you don't have an air fryer, I don't want you to miss out on these flavorful sweet potato cubes! I've added oven directions to the recipe below.

    cubed sweet potato pieces on a baking sheet, before baking

    Basically, to make these in the oven, you follow the same preparation directions, but then you spread the pieces out on a baking sheet. Bake them at a slightly higher temperature for about twice as long, and you are in business.

    You can choose to flip these, if you want them browned more evenly. If you prefer a more set-it-and-forget-it situation, though, you can skip the flip. They'll still cook through beautifully.

    Oil-free option

    I mentioned this above, but you can absolutely make this oil-free, if that's your jam.

    Instead of a teaspoon of oil, toss your sweet potato chunks in a tablespoon of maple syrup before air frying. Like with oil, just make sure you evenly coat the pieces, so you won't end up with dry results.

    cooked sweet potato chunks in the air fryer basket

    How to serve and store

    Air fryer sweet potato is a lovely addition to salads, tacos, and bowls. Here are some ideas for you!

    • Add it to an avocado taco for a little sweetness.
    • Throw the cubes into a salad with your favorite easy salad dressing.
    • Serve it up with a side of panko tofu and stir fried kale.

    If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for three to four days.

    You can use these cold in a salad or warm them back up. To warm them, pop leftovers into the air fryer at 350° F for five to seven minutes. You can also warm them up in the microwave.

    More ways to use sweet potatoes

    • roasted beet and sweet potato salad with arugula and smashed chickpeas in a white bowl
      Roasted Beet and Sweet Potato Salad with Lemon Smashed Chickpeas
    • overhead photo of a serving container of sweet potato fries next to creamy dipping sauce
      Curried sweet potato oven fries with creamy cumin ketchup
    • spatula in a serving dish of black bean sweet potato enchiladas
      Black bean sweet potato enchiladas with chipotle cashew cream sauce

    📖 Recipe

    bowl of air fryer sweet potatoes on a blue napkin

    Air fryer sweet potato chunks recipe (with oven directions!)

    Tender, lightly crisp chunks of air fryer sweet potato are a lovely side dish or addition to a salad or other bowl meal. No air fryer? No problem! I've added oven directions, just for you.
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: air fryer sweet potato, air fryer sweet potato chunks, how to air fry sweet potato
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 34kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 1 large sweet potato - cut into 1" pieces
    • 1 ½ teaspoon olive oil - see note for oil-free
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice or lime juice
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt - see note
    • up to 1 teaspoon seasonings of choice - see note

    Instructions

    • If you are baking, preheat the oven to 425° F.
    • In a medium bowl, toss together the sweet potato chunks with the lime juice, oil and salt, making sure to coat the potato pieces well.
    • In the air fryer: Air fry at 400° F for 15-20 minutes, stopping to shake the basket after 8 minutes.
    • In the oven: Transfer the sweet potato pieces to a lined baking sheet, and spread them out into a single layer. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender and a little bit crispy.

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Video

    Notes

    If sweet potato peel isn't your thing, feel free to peel your sweet potatoes prior to air frying. I like the texture the peels bring to the table, but I also know that this is a divisive topic!
    Feel free to mix up the oils for added flavor. Toasted sesame oil and melted coconut oil are both great substitutes for the olive oil.
    For an oil-free option, use a tablespoon of maple syrup instead of a teaspoon and a half of oil.
    You can omit the salt, if you want. If you do, I definitely recommend using one or more of the spices listed in the seasoning section below.
    Optional seasoning ideas:
    • cumin
    • coriander
    • cinnamon
    • chili powder
    • curry powder
    • rosemary
    • ground sage

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Air fryer sweet potato chunks recipe (with oven directions!)
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    34
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    3
    g
    5
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    0.5
    g
    3
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    0.3
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Sodium
     
    292
    mg
    12
    %
    Potassium
     
    36
    mg
    1
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    2
    g
    1
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    0.2
    g
    0
    %
    Protein
     
    0.2
    g
    0
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    138
    IU
    3
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    40
    mg
    4
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

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    About Me

    photo of Becky Striepe
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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