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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Hash – with candied bacon!

By: Rachel GurkPosted: 09/16/2020Updated: 06/14/2021

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Air fryer sweet potato hash with candied bacon — do I need to say more? Stunningly good for breakfast or brunch, on a salad, or as a side dish.

Overhead view of two plates and a bowl of air fryer sweet potato hash.

Oh, my goodness! Words can hardly describe how good this air fryer sweet potato hash is: Crispy cubes of sweet potato that are creamy on the inside, crunchy bits of sugary salty bacon, caramelized sweet onion, with the floral herbal scents of rosemary …. sigh, I’ve fallen in love. I want to spend all my time with this hash. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack!

Joking aside (not really joking though), you have to try this hash as soon as possible. You’re going to fall in love, too. This is maybe the best way ever to prepare sweet potatoes, and that’s saying something.

Air fried sweet potatoes, bacon, and onions on a wooden spoon over a white bowl full of mixture.

I just counted, I have twenty-seven recipes that include sweet potatoes. Twenty-seven! I love roasted sweet potatoes and sweet potato tacos and sweet potato chips and sweet potato salad but air fryer sweet potato hash with candied bacon is just plain addictive.

Sweet potato hash in the basket of an air fryer, overhead view.

About this recipe

Before I get too caught up with the bacon and brown sugar, I’d like to remind you that sweet potatoes are highly nutritious. According to Healthline, sweet potatoes have tons of vitamins, (769% of your RDA for Vitamin A), minerals, and antioxidants. They promote gut health, may have cancer-fighting properties, promote good vision and brain function, and support your immune system.

Sweet potatoes are inexpensive, available year round, and store well. I always have at least a couple in my pantry, ready to use for recipes like this.

This recipe is easy! You can have this sweet potato hash ready in about a half hour, if you’re a fast chopper. There’s no need to peel unless the sweet potatoes are wrinkly. I like to scrub and cube the sweet potatoes the night before and put them in a bowl of water. When you’re ready, drain the potatoes well, and dry with paper towels or a clean dish towel.

The candied bacon is so flavorful and crispy. Sweet, salty, smoky bits of yumminess! Simply dice 4 strips of bacon (I like thick cut), sprinkle on dark brown sugar, mix to coat the bacon with the sugar, and set aside.

Bowl of sweet potatoes, onion, and rosemary.

Toss sweet potato cubes with chopped onion, olive oil, fresh rosemary, salt and pepper. Put the mixture in your air fryer for eight minutes. Stir, and sprinkle the bacon on. Air fry for six more minutes, stir, and then air fry another 6 minutes or so, or until everything is nice and crispy.

Serve this veggie hash for breakfast with eggs and toast. Sweet potato hash is so good on salads for a simple lunch. Just toss some greens with vinaigrette, and top it with the hash, warm or cold. You can add it to a grain bowl. Or make it for dinner as a delicious side dish.

Overhead view of breakfast comprised of sweet potato hash, eggs, strawberries and coffee.

Indescribably delicious, easy, perfectly welcome at any meal, good for you, and good-looking, too! What’s not to love?

How to make this sweet potato hash your own

Replace the fresh rosemary with dried rosemary (1 teaspoon), or go in a different direction, and use 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika instead, for smoky sweet potatoes with bacon. I’d be hard pressed to say which one I like better.
For a different twist, try using carrots instead of sweet potatoes. Or use regular potatoes. Yukon Gold or baby red potatoes are great.
Skip the bacon for a vegetarian hash.
To make this hash Whole30, omit the brown sugar. The bacon won’t be candied but it will still taste great.

Plate of sweet potato hash, a fried egg, and whole strawberries.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Sweet potato hash is best served right away for ultimate crispiness.

If you have any leftover, you can store it for 3 or 4 days in the fridge, in a tightly covered bowl.

Reheat gently in the microwave. To re-crisp the hash, use your toaster oven or stick it back in the air fryer briefly.

More air fryer recipes

Everything’s so crispy and good, without added oil. Here’s a few more of my favorite recipes:

Breaded air fryer pork chops — you won’t believe how good these are.
Air fryer chicken nuggets — so much healthier than fast food!
Air fryer French fries
Air fryer French toast sticks — so good dipped in maple syrup, my kids can’t get enough of these!
Air fryer falafel — this vegetarian Middle Eastern treat is so delicious.
Air fryer Brussels sprouts
Garlic roasted potatoes — make these in your oven or air fryer.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Hash - with candied bacon!

5 from 2 votes

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 35

4 servings

Print Rate Recipe

Air fryer sweet potato hash with candied bacon -- do I need to say more? Stunningly good for breakfast or brunch, on a salad, or as a side dish.

Ingredients

▢ 4 strips of bacon, diced
▢ 2 tablespoon dark brown sugar
▢ 2 sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (approximately 3 cups)
▢ 1 ⁄2 cup diced yellow onion
▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
▢ 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary)
▢ 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
▢ 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 400ºF.
In a small bowl, sprinkle diced bacon with brown sugar, mix to coat, and set aside.
In a larger mixing bowl, combine diced sweet potatoes, onion, olive oil, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Stir until potatoes are well coated.
Add mixture to preheated air fryer and cook for 8 minutes.
Open basket, stir mixture, and add brown sugar-coated bacon to the hash (just sprinkle it on top). Return to the air fryer and cook for 6 minutes.
Stir again and cook for an additional 6 to 7 minutes, or until the potatoes are lightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the bacon is crispy and cooked all the way through.

Notes

Vegetarian option: omit bacon and brown sugar.
Substitute 1 teaspoon smoked paprika for rosemary, if desired.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1of 4, Calories: 199kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 349mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 10g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.