25+ Easy Sweet Potato Recipes

Sweet potatoes don’t have to be covered in marshmallows on your Thanksgiving table. This healthy and versatile root vegetable is great for any day of the year. Try one of these easy sweet potato recipes!

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Sweet potatoes are full of orange goodness and are so unbelievably versatile. Don’t let sweet potatoes be held captive to Thanksgiving Day, blanketed under a layer of gooey white marshmallows. There are so many ways to enjoy them!

Sweet potatoes can be the star of any day. Enjoy them for breakfast, dinner, snacks and more. They can be baked, roasted, pressure cooked, air fried, or steamed. Enjoy sweet potatoes whole, mashed, sliced, cut into fries, or cubed. Sweet potato recipes can be savory or sweet, ranging from simple to complex.

Roast cubed sweet potatoes to add to salads or meal bowls. Microwave thinly sliced sweet potatoes for the best sweet potato chips. Make homemade sweet potato fries in your air fryer. Add sweet potatoes to easy sheet pan dinners. The possibilities are nearly endless!

Are Sweet Potatoes Good For you?

You’ll be glad to know that eating sweet potatoes can benefit your health in important ways (Healthline).

Fiber: Sweet potatoes have both soluble and insoluble fiber. Both kinds are essential for good digestion and gut health.
Antioxidants: Like most orange-colored foods, sweet potatoes contain beta carotene and anthocyanin, important antioxidants that convert to vitamin A in your body. They are important for maintaining good eye health and fighting against cancer. Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin C, too.
Minerals: Sweet potatoes are a good source of various minerals, such as potassium, manganese, and copper.

Remember, loading up sweet potatoes with lots of butter, sugar, and marshmallows will negate some of the health benefits. It’s best to cook them simply. Sweet potatoes are very flavorful so it’s not necessary to doll them up. A little olive oil, herbs, and seasonings will enhance but not mask their deliciousness.

Are Yams and Sweet Potatoes The Same Thing?

Often sweet potatoes are called yams, especially in the United States, but this is incorrect. They are both root vegetables but differ in many ways.

Yams are not sweet potatoes. They are in a different botanical family. Yams have rough brown skin that is tough, and dry white starchy flesh. They are usually boiled and mashed.

Sweet potatoes have tender skins and sweet flesh. There are five main types of sweet potatoes with lots of varieties included in each type. They may have orange, red, yellow, or purple skin, with orange, white, or purple flesh. The most common variety found in grocery stores, is the Beauregard, a large sweet potato with reddish orange skin and dark orange flesh.

How to choose and store Sweet Potatoes

How to Choose: Look for smooth-skinned, unwrinkled sweet potatoes. They should be free of blemishes, mold, or soft spots. Short plump sweet potatoes may have a sweeter flavor; long skinny potatoes tend to be a bit stringier.
How to Store: Sweet potatoes should be stored in a cool dry place with good air circulation. They’ll keep for up to two weeks, ready to use for any of the following easy sweet potato recipes.
What not to do: Do not store uncooked sweet potatoes in the refrigerator. They tend to develop an unpleasant flavor and hardness in the center, even after they’re cooked. Raw sweet potatoes should not be frozen. Cooked sweet potatoes can be frozen in a freezer safe container or bag for up to a year.
Want more info? For lots of interesting information about sweet potatoes, take a look at the U.S. Sweet Potato Council website.

Should I Peel Sweet Potatoes?

The skin of sweet potatoes is tender and totally edible so it isn’t necessary to peel them. Scrub the potatoes well with a firm-bristled brush under running water to remove any dirt. Trim any spots or eyes off with a sharp paring knife.