Perfect Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Air fryer sweet potato cubes are crispy, beautifully seasoned and a perfect side dish for any meal. All you need is a few simple ingredients and fifteen minutes, let’s make them!
- 1 The recipe story:
- 2 What you need to make air fryer sweet potato cubes:
- 3 How to cube a sweet potato:
- 4 How to make air fryer sweet potato cubes:
- 5 Variation ideas:
- 6 How do I make these sweet potatoes in the oven?
- 7 FAQs
- 8 If you love these air fryer roasted sweet potatoes you’ll love these other healthy side dish ideas!
- 9 Perfect Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
The recipe story:
Growing up my only context for sweet potatoes was the gloppy yam mess topped with marshmallows at Thanksgiving. Errrrr, that’s going to be a hard pass for 10-year-old Erica.
So I grew up thinking I didn’t like sweet potatoes.
And I don’t think I prepared a sweet potato for myself until I was at least eighteen, probably older. Turns out, I loved sweet potatoes! Especially, savory sweet potatoes. In college I’d microwave a sweet potato and top it with pepperjack cheese for a snack haha.
There are countless ways to enjoy sweet potatoes (marshmallow casserole NOT being one of them sorrynotsorry) like sweet potato French fries, baked sweet potato wedges and sweet potato tots. My favorite way however, is roasted sweet potatoes.
And a strategy to make perfect roasted sweet potatoes? An AIR FRYER. It makes them perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. You can of course make these without an air fryer and I have the oven instructions outlined in the recipe card.
These crispy air fryer sweet potatoes are an amazing addition to rice bowls, as an easy side dish with any protein or if you’re like me, eaten straight from the air fryer as a healthy snack. I love to dunk them in this addicting harissa aioli and it’s like a magical sweet, savory, spicy flavor explosion.
What you need to make air fryer sweet potato cubes:
Sweet potatoes: there are several varieties of sweet potatoes. You can use any variety but for best results I recommend the red-skinned, orange fresh sweet potatoes.
Spices: this recipe combines smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, a savory spice blend like green goddess or 21 seasoning salute (both from Trader Joe’s), kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.
Olive oil: oil provides moisture and flavor to vegetables and helps create that crispy exterior. Since we’re using the air fryer we can use less oil, just enough to coat the sweet potatoes and get the seasonings to stick. You can use your favorite cooking oil- both avocado oil and canola oil will work.
How to cube a sweet potato:
Use a vegetable peeler to peel the sweet potatoes.
Chop the sweet potatoes in half crosswise using a sharp knife (chef’s knife).
Slice each half lengthwise into three planks. Lay each plank flat-side down on a cutting board and cut lengthwise into 3 or 4 strips or skinny planks.
Next, chop the strips into ½-inch cubes. Voila! Perfect uniform sweet potato cubes!
How to make air fryer sweet potato cubes:
Place sweet potato chunks in a large mixing bowl and add the 1 ½ tablespoon of olive oil and spices, salt and pepper. Use your hands to toss the sweet potatoes until each piece has a coating of olive oil and seasoning.
Air fry for 11-14 minutes, shaking the basket at the 7 minute mark. Because all air fryers are a little different, check your potatoes at 11 minutes and air-fry another 1-2 minutes, if needed. (mine needed the full 14 minutes)
Taste and season with another crack of sea salt and pepper, if needed.
Variation ideas:
- Make a sweet version by seasoning the sweet potatoes with cinnamon, salt and maple syrup or brown sugar
- Add more spice with cayenne pepper or chili powder
- Use regular potatoes to make roasted white potatoes
- Serve with harissa aioli, roasted garlic aioli, creamy chipotle sauce or chimichurri aioli
How do I make these sweet potatoes in the oven?
Prepare and season the sweet potatoes chunks per the recipe, you may want to add another half tablespoon of oil. Spread the potatoes on a lined baking sheet in a single layer. Roast at 425 degrees for 22 minutes. Increase the oven temp to broil and cook for another 3 minutes until crispy. Enjoy!
FAQs
I have a basket 6 qt air fryer and was able to fit the entire batch in the basket without crowding. If you have anything smaller than this, I’d recommend air-frying the potatoes in two batches.
Sure, that’s totally personal preference. I prefer these without the skin but the recipe will still turn out great if you leave the peel on.
Aim for ½-inch to ¾-inch square cubes. If you have larger pieces you’ll need to adjust the cooking time.
Yes. Do not thaw, add oil and seasonings to frozen diced sweet potatoes and add them straight to the air fryer. Cook time will be similar, you may need an additional 1-2 minutes.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat by popping these back in the air fryer for a few minutes or under the broiler for 2-3 minutes.
If you love these air fryer roasted sweet potatoes you’ll love these other healthy side dish ideas!
Kale and spinach salad with balsamic fig dressing
Hot honey Brussels sprouts with feta
If you try and like this recipe please don’t forget to leave a comment and star rating down below! If you love more lifestyle, behind the scenes and ‘eating in real life’ type of content come find me over on Instagram, @itsaflavorfullife, I love connecting with you all there!
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Perfect Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 11-14 minutes
- Total Time: 16-20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Crispy, sweet and savory these air fryer sweet potato cubes make a great side dish, wholesome snack or topping for rice bowls, salads or tacos!
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon each smoked paprika, dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder
- 1 teaspoon seasoning blend like 21 seasoning salute, green goddess or Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon each kosher salt and black pepper
Instructions
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
Refer to blog post on how to slice sweet potatoes into uniform cubes. Add sweet potato pieces to a large bowl and add the olive oil and all of the seasonings. Use your hands to toss the sweet potatoes until each piece has a coating of olive oil and seasoning.
Add the sweet potatoes to the basket of an air fryer in a single layer. If you have a small air fryer you make need to work in two batches so you don’t crown the basket.
Air fry for 11-14 minutes. Give the basket a good shake at the 6-7 minute mark. Because all air fryers are a little different, check your potatoes at 11 minutes and air-fry another 1-2 minutes, if needed. (mine needed the full 14 minutes)
Taste and season with another crack of salt and pepper, if needed. Serve with harissa aioli (pictured), roasted garlic aioli, chimichurri mayo, or your favorite dipping sauce for potatoes.
Oven instructions: prepare and season the sweet potato chunks per the recipe, you may want to add another half tablespoon of oil. Spread the potatoes on a lined baking sheet in a single layer. Roast at 425 degrees for 22 minutes. Increase the oven temp to broil and cook for another 3 minutes until crispy. Enjoy!
Notes
Refer to the above blog post for answers to frequently asked questions and detailed information about the recipe!
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Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 101
- Sugar: 2.7 g
- Sodium: 35.8 mg
- Fat: 5.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.1 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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Where did you say to set the temperature of the air fryer? I missed it
400 degrees!