Fried Sweet Potatoes

These Fried Sweet Potatoes have an irresistible crunch and are golden perfection. These crispy delights are the perfect addition to any meal, whether served alongside your favorite breakfast dishes or as a flavorful side for lunch or dinner.

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Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Delicious Flavor: Fried sweet potatoes offer a great balance of sweetness and crispiness. The natural sugars in sweet potatoes caramelize during frying, resulting in a rich, savory-sweet flavor that is hard to resist.
• Texture: These have a crispy exterior while remaining tender and creamy on the inside.
• Nutritional Benefits: Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are also high in vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants, providing a host of health benefits.
• Customizable: The potatoes can be seasoned and flavored in numerous ways to suit individual preferences. Whether sprinkled with salt for a simple snack or seasoned with spices for a flavorful side dish, there are so many ways to switch it up.
• Easy to Make: This recipe requires just a few simple ingredients. You will only need basic kitchen equipment.

Do You Have to Peel Them?

This is up to you and will come down to preference. I often make these both ways. Here are some things to consider:

• Texture: The skin of sweet potatoes is edible and can become crispy when fried. Leaving the skin on can add a rustic texture to the dish.
• Nutritional Benefits: The skin of sweet potatoes contains additional nutrients, including fiber and antioxidants.
• Preference: Some people prefer the taste and texture of fried sweet potatoes with the skin left on, while others prefer the smoother texture of peeled sweet potatoes.
• Cleaning: If you choose to leave the skin on, make sure to scrub the sweet potatoes thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or debris.

How to Slice the Potatoes

1. If you prefer to peel the sweet potatoes, use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin.
2. Use a sharp knife to trim off both ends of each sweet potato. This will create flat surfaces for stability while slicing.
3. Depending on your preference, you can slice the sweet potatoes into rounds or cubes. Aim for uniform thickness to ensure even cooking. A thickness of about 1/4 to 1/2 inch works well.
4. You can slice the sweet potatoes by hand using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer for more precise and uniform cuts. Be careful!

How to Make Fried Sweet Potatoes

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Heat a skillet on medium-high heat and add olive oil, potatoes, and spices to the pan.
2. Saute.
3. Place the lid on the skillet and simmer the potatoes.
4. Remove the lid from the skillet and flip the potatoes.

How to Tell When They Finish Cooking

• Color: Fried sweet potatoes should turn a golden brown color when they are fully cooked. Keep an eye on the color of the sweet potato slices or cubes as they fry. When they reach a deep golden brown hue, they are likely done.
• Texture: The texture should be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Test the texture by gently pressing on a sweet potato fry with a fork or spatula. It should feel firm and crispy on the outside but soft and cooked through on the inside.
• Frying Time: The cooking time will vary based on the thickness of the slices. Keep in mind that the size of the batch being fried can affect cooking time. Frying smaller batches will allow for more even cooking and better control over doneness.

Do Not Overcrowd the Pan

Be sure not to overcrowd the pan and cook the potatoes in batches if necessary. Overcrowding will increase your cook time and some potatoes will cook faster than others. If you end up with some potatoes that are hard and aren’t cooked through, it’s likely because you had too many potatoes in the pan. Use a larger pan or cook in batches.

Substitutions and More Ways to Add Flavor

• Cajun Seasoning
• Maple Syrup
• Nutmeg
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Parsley
• Cilantro
• Sage
• Cumin
• Chili powder
• Onion powder
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Crumbled feta cheese
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Chopped pecans
• Sliced almonds
• Sriracha mayo
• Honey mustard
• BBQ sauce
• Balsamic glaze
• Chipotle aioli

How to Store Leftovers

Store them in a sealed, airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days for best results. They will last for 3-4 days max.

How to Reheat

You can reheat them on the stove at medium heat with a little oil until warm. You can also use the air fryer at 350 degrees until warm. If you use the microwave, it will soften the potatoes and they will not crisp.

Pair With These Recipes

Crab Roll (New England Style)
Braised Beef Short Ribs
Grilled Turkey Legs
Marry Me Chicken Thighs

More Sweet Potato Recipes

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar
Stovetop Candied Sweet Potatoes
Candied Sweet Potatoes (Yams) with Marshmallows
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes