Sweet Potato Recipes (2024)

Foodie With Family’s Guide to Sweet Potato Recipes

I can honestly say that sweet potato recipes are go-tos for me when I want to create a delicious and impressive meal. I always feel good about serving them because sweet potatoes pack so much nutritional punch, even if I do end up covering them in Herculean quantities of butter or bacon.

What is it about sweet potato recipes that makes me turn to them so often? It must be that they are just so very versatile and filling.

Whether you’re a seasoned home chef or completely new to the game, you can master the art of cooking sweet potatoes. These are forgiving spuds that are easy to cook with the right recipe and a few tips and tricks.

SELECTING SWEET POTATOES

It’s hard to find a sweet potato that will do you wrong, but for the absolute best sweet potato recipe results look for sweet potatoes on the small to medium size. These tend to be sweeter and creamier than their large counterparts. Pick sweet potatoes with the deepest color to get the best nutritional benefits, including significant amounts of beta-carotene and vitamin A.

STORING FRESH SWEET POTATOES

Sweet potatoes have a higher sugar content than other types of spuds meaning they spoil more quickly. Keep whole sweet potatoes in a cool and dry place like a cellar, garage or behind a closed pantry door to keep them from rotting or bruising.

Wait to wash sweet potatoes until just before you’re about to use them, otherwise the moisture left on the skin may result in mold growth and rapid spoilage. If you must clean them up a little, you can use a dry cloth to remove excess dirt before storage and save the rinsing for later.

Stored correctly, fresh sweet potatoes should keep for several weeks!

PREPARING SWEET POTATOES

When you’re ready to whip up a mouthwatering sweet potato dish, it’s time to rinse and scrub those tubers! Rinse each sweet potato in cold water, scrub to remove any remaining dirt, and pat dry.

How to Peel Sweet Potatoes

Lots of sweet potato recipes, such as my Guaranteed Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries call for peeling the potatoes prior to cooking. Unless you want to make life harder for yourself, peel your sweet potatoes after washing but before chopping or slicing.

While any vegetable peeler will do, a serrated peeler makes the job easier and faster. Use the peeler to make even strokes from root to tip, turning the potato and repeating on each section of the potato until all the skin is removed.

Peeling isn’t always necessary before cooking sweet potatoes though. For myLoaded Baked Sweet PotatoesandSmashed Sweet Potatoes with Bacon and Bleu Cheese,no peeling is required.Sweet potato skin is entirely edible and packed with fiber and vitamins, along with being full of flavour. I call that a win-win!

How to Cut Sweet Potatoes

Different sweet potato recipes call for different methods of slicing or chopping. To make medallion shaped rounds, like for Melting Sweet Potatoes, use a chef’s knife to make even slices across the potato crosswise. To create sweet potato cubes, like the ones you’ll need for the Roasted Sweet Potatoes in my Brazilian Black Bean Stew, dice your potato by first cutting it lengthwise into planks, then cutting the planks crosswise to the desired width. Turn these matchsticks and cut across those for small cubes. Voila! Diced sweet potatoes.

However you slice or dice, just be sure to make them as evenly sized as possible. The more even your slices the more even your sweet potatoes will cook, whether you’re baking, frying, roasting or boiling them. This takes a little practice but it’s worth it to avoid ending up with that one overcooked (or undercooked) slice of sweet potato hiding on your plate.

STORING COOKED SWEET POTATOES

Believe it or not, I often cook more sweet potatoes than I think we’ll need just so I can have leftovers. Store cooked in an air-tight container in the refrigerator if you plan to eat them in the next few days. Leftover cooked sweet potatoes make fantastic toppings for salad, fillings for sandwiches, and even cold straight out of the fridge for a late-night snack. (Don’t judge me.)

Several of my sweet potato recipes also freeze well, including Sweet Potato Dinner Rollsand Roasted Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers. Once frozen, you can store these dishes for several weeks or even months. Not having to worry about wasted leftovers makes these dishes even better in my eyes!

Sweet Potato Main Dish Recipes

Roasted Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers with Smoked Paprika Chipotle Sauce

Slow Cooker Peach Salsa Pork Roast with Sweet Potatoes

1-Pot Roasted Turkey Breast Dinner with Sweet Potatoes

Brazilian Black Bean Stew with Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Leftover Thanksgiving Rice Porridge | Congee | Juk

Slow Cooker Five Spice Pork Roast with Sweet Potatoes

Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes

Melting Sweet Potato Salad with Candied Maple Pecans and Bacon

Sweet Potato Side Dish Recipes

Melting Sweet Potatoes

Guaranteed Crispy Sweet Potato Fries

Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Bacon and Bleu Cheese

Sweet Potato Bread Recipes

Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls

Other Sweet Potato Recipes

Sweet Potato Croutons

Mexican Poutine | Sweet Potato Fries with Chorizo and Queso Fresco

Carnival Black Bean and Shrimp Puff Pastry Cups

FAQs

What is the healthiest way to eat a sweet potato? ›

Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.

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Why do you soak sweet potatoes? ›

TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: The main secrets to achieving that incredible crispy texture, is to soak the cut sweet potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes. This helps remove the starch from the sweet potatoes so they´re not limp & soggy.

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What makes sweet potatoes taste better? ›

The longer and slower you cook a sweet potato, the more maltose is formed and the sweeter it will taste. So if you want a much less sweet potato try steaming it, or cut it into small pieces and roast on a higher heat.

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Is it better to boil or bake sweet potatoes? ›

Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.

Why is it better to boil sweet potatoes? ›

"Boiling sweet potatoes whole for 20 minutes covered is actually the best way to keep the glycemic impact low," she explains. After your potato has boiled and cooled, it's time to get creative with preparation.

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Why do I feel better after eating sweet potato? ›

Along with anti-inflammatory properties, sweet potatoes have plenty of gut-friendly fiber, especially if you eat the skin. They are a mixture of soluble fiber, which can lower cholesterol and balance glucose, and insoluble fiber, which helps keep your bowels healthy and regular.

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What flavor goes well with sweet potato? ›

Ginger: Gives a spicy kick and pairs particularly well with the sweetness of the potatoes. 7. Garlic: Add roasted garlic for a sophisticated savory twist.

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What is the difference between a sweet potato and a yam? ›

Sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family, while yams belong to the lily family. Yams aren't as sweet as sweet potatoes, and they are starchier and drier. Their texture and flavor are more similar to potatoes or yuca.

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Is eating baked sweet potato healthy? ›

Sweet potatoes are full of antioxidants, vitamins and fiber to support your eye, digestive and heart health. They're generally safe to eat daily, especially if you eat them with calcium to prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones. There are so many fun and tasty ways to eat sweet potatoes.

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Are sweet potatoes healthier cooked or raw? ›

Cooking methods like boiling or baking can cause some loss of water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins. Eating raw sweet potatoes can help preserve these nutrients. 2. Enzyme activity: Raw sweet potatoes contain enzymes that can aid in digestion.

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Are sweet potatoes healthy for weight loss? ›

Absolutely. Besides their health benefits, sweet potatoes are a great addition to any weight loss diet. First up, they're very high in fibre — especially soluble fibre. Soluble fibre is excellent because it slows down your digestion and helps you feel full, which can curb the urge to snack between meals.

Are baked or boiled potatoes healthier? ›

Plus, the way you prepare your potatoes may lead to micronutrient losses. For example, potatoes pack a significant amount of vitamin C. However, baked or microwaved potatoes have about twice the amount as boiled or fried potatoes ( 1 ).