These air fryer sweet potato cubes are an easy and healthy side dish and are ready in 20 minutes. Beautifully seasoned with a crisp outside and sweet interior. These are gluten free, dairy free, Whole30, Paleo, and vegan.
Sometimes side dishes are the star of the meal, and these no-fuss air fryer sweet potato cubes are not only ridiculously easy, but they are flavor packed, nutritious, and loved by even the pickiest of eaters. Roasting sweet potatoes brings out their natural sweetness, making them the perfect vegetable for roasting.
Sweet potatoes pack a punch when it comes to nutrition. They are known for their beta-carotene (which converts into vitamin A and is great for the immune system), are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, antioxidants, and fiber. So dig right in!
Why use an air fryer? Using an air fryer is quicker and requires less energy than the oven. Air fryers preheat in no time and due to the technology, they cook the food quicker as well.
Looking for more easy side dishes to add to your rotation? Try my air fryer roasted carrots, Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, healthy creamy coleslaw, roasted cauliflower steaks, or broccoli kale salad.
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Ingredient Notes
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below. Here are some specific notes and substitutions.
- Sweet Potatoes - You can really use any variation for these air fryer sweet potato cubes. See the below section for recommendations.
- Extra-virgin olive oil - You can use either extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil. Both are safe for the air fryer and are healthy clean eating oils that provide numerous health benefits.
Seasoning Variations
This recipe calls for a perfect blend of simple savory seasonings. But feel free to switch things up with some of these flavor variations.
Cinnamon sugar: Sprinkle with coconut sugar (or brown sugar), cinnamon, and nutmeg (want some extra sweetness, drizzle with pure maple syrup after roasting).
Spicy: Add chili powder or cayenne pepper and swap out the paprika for smoked paprika.
Which Type of Sweet Potatoes Are Best for Air Frying?
You'll likely encounter a few different kinds of sweet potatoes when you are at the grocery store. First off, you really can't go wrong, and any kind will work great in this air fryer recipe, but they each have their differences.
Most commonly you'll see either Beauregards or jewel sweet potatoes. These both have a firm flesh and sweet flavor profile and are ideal for roasting. If you see a bin labeled "sweet potatoes" they are most likely Beauregards.
Beauregards have purplish-red skin and a deep orange interior and are typically pretty large. Jewel sweet potatoes are a little less sweet, but have a similar interior and will roast up the same.
You may also find Garnet varieties, which have a darker red-ish/purple flesh. They are less sweet and have a little more of a "watery" texture. These are not the best for roasting in the air fryer, but if that's all you have, they will definitely still work.
And lastly, Hannah (aka white sweet potatoes) are more dense and dry than a Beauregard or jewel variety. They are slightly less sweet, but roast up beautifully. I actually really like using these from time to time. Just know they are more similar to a Yukon gold potato.
How to Make
Step 1: Peel and slice sweet potatoes into ½" cubes. Try to keep them all roughly the same size so they cook up evenly.
Step 2: Add sweet potato cubes to a mixing bowl and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil
Step 3: Add paprika, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Step 4: Mix until sweet potato cubes are evenly coated in oil and seasonings.
Step 5: Preheat air fryer to 390F. Add sweet potato cubes to air fryer basket, trying not to overlap too much. It's okay if they are touching as they will shrink as they cook.
Step 6: Air fry for 12-14 minutes, shaking basket halfway through. Sweet potatoes are done when they can easily be pierced with a fork and are browned to your liking.
These air fryer sweet potato cubes are best served right away. Enjoy!
Expert Tips & Notes
Roasting in the oven: No air fryer? No problem! Follow the same prep steps and then place on a large lined baking sheet and bake at 420-degrees F for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Cook longer if you'd like them extra browned.
Make into sweet potato fries or wedges: Not digging the sweet potato cubes? You can follow the same directions, but cut your sweet potatoes into evenly shaped fries or wedges. You may need to increase cook time if making wedges.
Serving Suggestions
Oh my gosh, we buy sweet potatoes every week as they are a favorite in our house and they go with SO many things! First off, they are great to just snack on. But they also go perfectly with any of the following.
Air Fryer Turkey Burgers (directions for stovetop and oven, too)
One-dish Oven Baked Fajitas
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Breakfast Frittata
Southwest Chicken Chili
Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers
Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
Recipe FAQs
This is a personal preference. My kids like them peeled, so I do peel them, but you can keep the skin on if you prefer.
You don't need to; I never do because I'm never planful enough...haha! Soaking them releases some of the starch so they will be even more crispy. If you'd like, chop them and then soak in COLD water for 30-60 minutes before seasoning and cooking.
The directions are written for pre-heating, but you don't need to. They will probably just take an extra minute or two to fully cook if you add before pre-heating.
It could be a few different reasons. You may have too much oil, the sweet potato chunks may be overcrowded in the air fryer basket, or you aren't cooking them long enough. If they still aren't crisping up to your liking, I recommend soaking them first in cold water for 30-60 minutes. This will help remove some of the starch and make them extra crispy.
Storing and Reheating
Storing: Leftovers should be stored in the fridge in an airtight container and will stay fresh for up to 5 days. Just know they will lose their crispiness once stored.
Freezing: Air fryer sweet potatoes can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Make sure to freeze in a freezer safe container. I love Stasher bags for freezing.
Reheating: You can reheat in the air fryer or the microwave. Air fry at 400F for 3-5 minutes or throw in the microwave for about a minute (total time will vary depending on how many you are reheating).
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
If you make this recipe, please let me know what you think! I would so appreciate you leaving a star rating and/or comment below. And don't forget to share a photo on Instagram or Facebook and mention @CleanPlateMama!
Eat Clean.Be Well!
-Sara
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
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Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
- 1 Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 5 cups peeled and cubed sweet potatoes (about 3 large sweet potatoes)
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil (or avocado oil)
- 1 tsp. fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp. paprika
- ¼ tsp. onion powder
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
Instructions
- Peel and cut sweet potatoes into roughly ½" cubes.
- Place cubed sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Add oil, salt, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix until sweet potatoes are coated in oil and seasoning.
- Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees F. Add the sweet potatoes to the air fryer basket. (It's okay if they overlap slightly as they will shrink as they cook, but try not to let them be too crowded. You can cook in batches if needed.)
- Air fry for 12 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes can easily be pierced with a fork and they are browned to your liking. Shake the air fryer basket halfway through cooking time.
- Remove from air fryer and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Directions for Roasting in the Oven
- Preheat oven to 420 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Peel and cut sweet potatoes into roughly ½" cubes.
- Place cubed sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Add oil, salt, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix until sweet potatoes are coated in oil and seasoning.
- Spread sweet potato cubes evenly on baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Potatoes are done when they can easily be pierced with a fork and are browned to your liking.
- Remove from oven and enjoy!
Notes
- Cut potatoes into as even of cubes as possible to ensure even cooking.
- Sweet potatoes can be hard to cut so ensure you are using a sharp chef style knife.
- If desired, you can sprinkle cooked potatoes with additional fine sea salt and/or chopped fresh parsley.
Nutrition
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Mohammad Younis
hi I like your this recipe I will definitely try that that because I love sweet potato but one thing I want to ask that which paprika we should use either hot or sweet paprika you didn't mention in your recipe thanks
Sara
Great question. I use regular/sweet paprika, but if you like smoked paprika you could definitely use that as well. Enjoy!