Sweet Potatoes Archives - Vegetable Recipes

Baked Sweet Potato in the Air Fryer

Mary Younkin — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 09:30:00 +0000

Forget heating up the oven, use the air fryer for baked sweet potatoes. The first time I baked sweet potatoes in the air fryer it was a game-changer for me.

Over the past couple of months, this has been my lunch at least once a week.

Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes

Baked sweet potatoes with their soft fluffy insides are delightful with a simple pat of butter and a sprinkling of kosher salt. Crispy on the outside and piping hot, sweet potatoes make a hearty side dish or a light meal on their own.

The cooking time for sweet potatoes depends entirely on the size of the potatoes. The sweet potatoes pictured here were fairly small to medium size and they cooked in just over 30 minutes.

Larger sweet potatoes typically require about 45 minutes of cooking time. Don’t stress the outsides of the potatoes, as they will be deeply browned by the time the potatoes are cooked through. Just test with a fork for doneness.

I use the COSORI Air Fryer for all of my air fryer recipes. I’m partial to a square basket air fryer as I find it easier to fit more food into the basket. This is a 5.8QT air fryer, one of the largest machines I’ve found that works effectively.

The machine is a bit retro with simple knob controls. It turns out that I really like the basic settings and ability to set the time and temp like a traditional appliance. I’ve used a few different air fryers with pre-programmed settings and I found I was still tweaking the times.

This air fryer is surprisingly easy to clean and the two-part basket locks together (it’s literally impossible for it to detach the way some do) until you open the latch and then push the button to release it. I simply wipe down the baskets with a sudsy dish scrub brush or sponge, rinse and let them air dry on the counter.

Air Fryer Potatoes

Let’s be honest, I bought an air fryer for making french fries, it is the closest thing I’ve found to the results you can achieve with an actual deep fryer. Fortunately, I’ve found quite a few other uses for my air fryer, especially when cooking for just one or two people.

You may not really need a recipe to cook frozen sweet potato fries in the air fryer, but the seasonings here take sweet potato fries to the next level.

Slightly crisp with soft sweet insides, air fryer sweet potato wedges dipped in ketchup are impossible to resist. Potatoes are a go-to side in my house and these air fryer potatoes make a weekly appearance on our table. When grilling or not wanting to heat up the oven these come in handy.

Baked Sweet Potato in the Air Fryer

You’ll need just three ingredients to make this recipe:

medium sweet potatoes
olive oil
kosher salt

Cooking Time for Sweet Potatoes

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Poke holes all over them with a fork.

Drizzle the sweet potatoes with oil and rub it over the potatoes with your hands.

Place the potatoes in the air fryer and sprinkle them generously with salt. Air fry for 30-45 minutes until fork tender. Serve with the toppings of your choice.

Why poke holes in potatoes?

Just a quick note here, don’t forget to poke holes in each potato. When you’re preparing any kind of potatoes, it’s a good idea to poke them with a fork or knife before baking.

As potatoes bake, the moisture inside them turns to steam, which builds up pressure inside the potato. If the pressure becomes too great, the potato can burst open in the oven.

By poking holes in the sweet potatoes before baking, you create vents that allow steam to escape. This helps to prevent the pressure from building up too much inside the potato, reducing the likelihood of an exploded sweet potato in the air fryer. Let’s just avoid that whole mess.

Sweet Potato Toppings

If I happen to have some taco beef or bbq chicken on hand, I like to pile it on top of the split sweet potato to amp up the protein in the meal. A scoop of chili also works well as a potato topping.

Burrata is an amazing sweet potato topping if you happen to have it on hand. For breakfast, a leftover sweet potato half topped with a fried egg is happiness on my plate.

As much as I love a savory sweet potato; there are a whole lot of people who go for the sweet option. A sprinkling of cinnamon and brown sugar with a handful of toasted mini marshmallows reminds me of the sweet potatoes served at Texas Roadhouse.

This crispy, cheesy, immensely snackable Air Fryer Eggplant is going to change your mind forever about this awesome vegetable.

With only a handful of ingredients, these Glazed Sweet Potatoes form an amazing caramelized brown sugar crust on top as they roast and broil in the oven.

Looking for more comfort food side dishes? Creamy, classic mashed potatoes are elevated with the sharp and tangy flavor of white cheddar cheese in these White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes.

Rich and savory ground beef is seasoned with a dash of aromatic spices, beneath a fluffy layer of mashed sweet potatoes in this ground beef sweet potato casserole.

Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes

Forget heating up the oven, use the air fryer for baked sweet potatoes. The first time I baked sweet potatoes in the air fryer it was a game-changer for me.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 30

Total Time 35

Servings

Calories 230kcal

Author Mary Younkin

Ingredients

2 medium sweet potatoes about 6-8 ounces each
2 teaspoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Poke holes all over them with a fork. Drizzle with oil and rub all over the potatoes with your hands.
Place in the air fryer and sprinkle generously with salt. Air fry for 30-45 minutes until fork tender. Serve with the toppings of your choice.

Notes

The cooking time for sweet potatoes depends entirely on the size of the potatoes. The sweet potatoes pictured here were fairly small to medium size and they cooked in just over 30 minutes.

Nutrition

{originally published 3/10/23 – recipe notes and photos updated 2/27/25}

Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Mary Younkin — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 08:30:00 +0000

Sliced, smashed, drizzled with butter, sprinkled with herbs and spices, and then topped with Parmesan, these smashed sweet potatoes are perfection. These potatoes smelled so fantastic, no one could resist eating them right off the pan when they came out of the oven.

The classic recipe for Parmesan Smashed Potatoes is the joyous marriage of fluffy, tender insides and delightfully crispy edges. Every flavor-packed bite will have your taste buds dancing.

Naturally, as a sweet potato fan, I had to try my hand at this variation. While the sweet potatoes don’t crisp up in quite the same way, the flavors are fantastic and I find the tender smashed sweet potatoes to be every bit as irresistible.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Oh, sweet potatoes, I love you so. There’s just something extra special about this vegetable. I enjoy potatoes just about every possible way you can cook and serve them, but when you make it a sweet potato dish? You get my attention right away.

Roasting brings out extra sweetness and flavor in sweet potatoes. With only a handful of ingredients, these glazed sweet potatoes form an amazing caramelized brown sugar crust on top as they roast and broil in the oven.

Tender sweet potatoes, crisp bell peppers, sweet onions, and spicy sausage are roasted together in this simple and flavorful meal that my family just can’t get enough of lately.

Tender roasted sweet potatoes are drizzled with a garlicky lemon herb butter to make this the side dish of my dreams. I think I ate about half of these potatoes right out of the pan after I shot these photos.

Smashed Sweet Potatoes

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

small sweet potatoes
olive oil
butter
fresh rosemary
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
granulated garlic or garlic powder
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
fresh Italian parsley

Smashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the potatoes in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender, about 15 minutes, then drain. Coat a baking sheet with a teaspoon of olive oil and set aside.

Use tongs to transfer the hot potatoes to a cutting board. Carefully cut each potato into 1-inch thick slices. Transfer the sliced potatoes to the oiled baking sheet.

Use the back of a heavy measuring cup to gently smash each potato. (They should be about ½-inch thick.) Melt the butter and drizzle it over the potato slices. Generously season the smashed potatoes with rosemary, salt, pepper, and garlic.

Roast for 20 minutes, until browned and crispy on the edges. Remove from the oven, and top with Parmesan cheese. Roast for an additional 5-10 minutes to melt the cheese.

Remove from the oven and sprinkle generously with parsley. Serve warm.

Pair the sweet potatoes with these chicken parmesan zucchini boats, a really great meatloaf, or a steak and mushroom stir fry for a winning dinner combination.

Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Sliced, smashed, drizzled with butter, sprinkled with herbs and spices, and then topped with Parmesan, these smashed sweet potatoes are perfection.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 219kcal

Author Mary Younkin

Ingredients

1 pound small, narrow sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil divided
2 tablespoons butter melted
1 teaspoon finely minced fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the potatoes in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender, about 15 minutes, then drain. Coat a baking sheet with a teaspoon of olive oil and set aside.
Use tongs to transfer the hot potatoes to a cutting board. Carefully cut each potato into 1-inch thick slices. Transfer the sliced potatoes to the oiled baking sheet.
Use the back of a heavy measuring cup to gently smash each potato. (They should be about ½-inch thick.) Melt the butter and drizzle it over the potato slices. Generously season the smashed potatoes with rosemary, salt, pepper, and garlic.
Roast for 20 minutes, until browned and crispy on the edges. Remove from the oven, and top with Parmesan cheese. Roast for an additional 5-10 minutes to melt the cheese.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle generously with parsley. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Mary Younkin — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 09:30:00 +0000

Spiced ground beef, black beans, and cheese top these stuffed sweet potatoes to combine sweet and savory flavors in the best possible way. Each bite blends the creamy, sweet potato with the boldness of a beefy taco, creating a delicious, wholesome fusion of Southwestern-inspired goodness..

Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

These flavorful, nutrient-packed potatoes offer a balance of textures and tastes—a delightful marriage of sweet and savory, ideal for those seeking a healthier, yet immensely satisfying, twist on traditional tacos.

And if you’re anything like me and will happily eat sweet potatoes breakfast, lunch, and dinner pretty much any day of the week? You’re going to be in heaven with this stuffed sweet potato recipe.

For ease of serving small children, you can chop the roasted potatoes prior to filling them with the beef and bean mixture and then adding the extra toppings of your choice.

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

sweet potatoes
olive oil
ground beef
taco seasoning
tomato sauce
black beans
shredded Pepperjack or cheddar cheese
fresh cilantro, chopped
kosher salt
OPTIONAL: sour cream, salsa, hot sauce, avocados

Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Scrub the sweet potatoes, rinse, and dry them thoroughly. Use a fork to poke several holes into each potato and place them on a baking sheet.

Drizzle the potatoes lightly with oil. Generously sprinkle each potato with salt. Bake until the potatoes are crisp on the outside and fork tender, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

When the potatoes are almost done in the oven, cook and crumble the beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. As it is cooking, sprinkle with the spice mix.

When the meat has browned, add the tomato sauce and the beans. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken for a minute or two. Remove from the heat.

While the black beans in this recipe are technically not required, we enjoy the heartiness they add and the additional flavors and textures too. Feel free to swap in pinto beans, canned corn, or just leave them out if they aren’t your thing.

Slice each baked sweet potato down the center and fluff the insides with a fork. Top each potato with the beef and bean mixture and then sprinkle with cheese and cilantro. Add any additional toppings that you desire.

Stuffed Sweet Potato Recipe

Sweet potatoes are a delicious variation on these BBQ chicken stuffed potatoes too. I’m pretty certain that there aren’t many foods that wouldn’t be even more delicious when stuffed into potatoes.

Soft, tender, buttery spinach tossed with hot garlic and then combined with roasted sweet potatoes has become one of my newest favorite side dishes. The original recipe I found was for spinach stuffed sweet potatoes and I adapted it to this much simpler version. I made these potatoes three times the first week I tried them and I’ve loved them more each time since.

“Unstuffed” sweet potatoes are pretty amazing too, and this ground beef sweet potato shepherd’s pie is proof of that.

Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Spiced ground beef, black beans, and cheese top these stuffed sweet potatoes to combine sweet and savory flavors in the best possible way.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 5

Servings

Calories 322kcal

Author Mary Younkin

Ingredients

4 medium-sized sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pound ground beef
3 tablespoons taco seasoning
½ cup tomato sauce
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
1 cup shredded cheese Pepper jack and cheddar work well
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped, plus more for serving
OPTIONAL: sour cream salsa, hot sauce, avocados

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Scrub the sweet potatoes, rinse, and dry them thoroughly. Use a fork to poke several holes into each potato and place them on a baking sheet.
Drizzle the potatoes lightly with oil. Generously sprinkle each potato with salt. Bake until the potatoes are crisp on the outside and fork tender, about 50-55 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
When the potatoes are almost done in the oven, cook and crumble the beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. As it is cooking, sprinkle with the spice mix.
When the meat has browned, add the tomato sauce and the beans. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken for a minute or two. Remove from the heat.
Slice each potato down the center and fluff the insides with a fork. Top each potato with the beef and bean mixture and sprinkle with cheese and cilantro. Add any additional toppings that you desire.

Nutrition

Brown Sugar Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Mary Younkin — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 08:30:00 +0000

With only a handful of ingredients, these glazed sweet potatoes form an amazing caramelized brown sugar crust on top as they roast and broil in the oven.

They are a quintessential side dish, brimming with warm, comforting, savory and sweet flavors. These tender, caramelized delights make a perfect addition to any meal, whether it’s a cozy family dinner or a festive holiday feast.

Brown Sugar Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Friends, if you have never tasted a brown sugar glazed sweet potato you are missing out. And I do mean truly missing out.

I first tried a version of glazed sweet potatoes from a recipe in Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc at Home cookbook and it was love at first bite. I have since adapted it a tiny bit to make it simpler and easier to multiply for a crowd. (I’ve also reduced the sugar significantly as I found that I actually like it best this way.)

My aunt was in the kitchen with me the day that I photographed these and her reaction was priceless. I printed the recipe for her that same day, knowing this recipe wouldn’t be published right away.

This was a huge compliment if you happen to know how talented my Aunt Judy is in the kitchen. She was excited to make these potatoes again when she returned home.

I will absolutely be making these again for Thanksgiving and likely for Christmas too. I’ve never been a big fan of sweet potatoes that are sugared or sweetened in any way, but these sweet potatoes with brown sugar are clearly the exception. I’ll likely consider this dessert and very happily indulge in them as often as possible.

Caramelized Sweet Potatoes

These brown sugar glazed sweet potatoes are a delectable side dish known for their delightful blend of sweet and savory flavors. To prepare them, sweet potatoes are peeled and sliced before being tossed in butter and roasted until meltingly tender.

The roasted potatoes are then topped with brown sugar and a sprinkling of salt before being set under the broiler to caramelize and create the most irresistible crispy exterior that you’ve ever tasted.

This combination of savory and sweet flavors makes this a popular choice for holiday feasts and everyday meals, offering a comforting and indulgent side dish.

Glazed Sweet Potatoes

You’ll need the following ingredients for this recipe:

sweet potatoes
butter, melted
kosher salt
brown sugar

This is a great make-ahead recipe, as you can roast the potatoes ahead of time. Just top them with sugar and don’t forget that pinch of salt before broiling and caramelizing them.

You can also double or triple this recipe without any issues, as they’ll easily fit on a sheet pan. I made this on a small quarter sheet pan and certainly could’ve fit more on the pan.

Oven Baked Caramelized Sweet Potatoes

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Peel each potato and slice into 1-inch thick rounds.

Melt the butter in a small bowl and dip each potato into the butter before placing them on a baking sheet. Drizzle any remaining butter over the potatoes. Sprinkle with salt.

Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake until the potatoes are tender, about 35 minutes. Remove them from the oven, uncover, and let cool.

Just before serving, top the cooled potatoes generously with brown sugar. Sprinkle with a bit more salt.

Place the potatoes under the broiler until caramelized and heated through, 3-6 minutes depending on the oven.

(Don’t step away from the oven at this point, you’ll want to keep a close eye on them.) Serve warm.

If you love a wonderfully caramelized sweet potato as much as I do, check out these recipes too:

Fluffy sweet potatoes with crisp edges are tossed with crumbled bacon and drizzled with balsamic glaze to make these roasted sweet potato bites.

This asparagus skillet is a delightful combination of sweet potatoes, fresh corn, asparagus, and bacon. Pulled together on a whim many years ago, using leftovers from the fridge, this has become an often-requested family favorite.

Tender roasted sweet potatoes are drizzled with a garlicky lemon herb butter to make this the side dish of my dreams. I think I ate about half of those potatoes right out of the pan after I shot these photos.

Glazed Sweet Potatoes

With only a handful of ingredients, these glazed sweet potatoes form an amazing caramelized brown sugar crust on top as they roast and broil in the oven.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Total Time 50

Servings servings

Calories 232kcal

Author Mary Younkin

Ingredients

2 pounds large sweet potatoes
½ cup butter melted butter
½ teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
¼ cup light brown sugar

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Peel each potato and then slice into 1-inch thick rounds.
Melt the butter in a small bowl and dip each potato into the butter before placing them on a baking sheet. Drizzle any remaining butter over the potatoes. Sprinkle with salt.
Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake until the potatoes are tender, about 35 minutes. Remove them from the oven, uncover, and let cool.
Just before serving, top the cooled potatoes generously with brown sugar. Sprinkle with a bit more salt.
Place the potatoes under the broiler until caramelized and heated through, 3-6 minutes depending on the oven. (Don't step away from the oven at this point, you'll want to keep a close eye on them.) Serve warm.

Video

Notes

This is a great make-ahead recipe, as you can roast the potatoes ahead of time. Just top them with sugar and don’t forget that pinch of salt before broiling and caramelizing them.

You can also double or triple this recipe without any issues, as they’ll easily fit on a sheet pan. (I made this on a small quarter sheet pan and certainly could’ve fit more on the pan.)

Nutrition

Ground Beef Sweet Potato Casserole

Mary Younkin — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 08:30:00 +0000

This Ground Beef Sweet Potato Casserole is loaded with richly seasoned ground beef beneath a fluffy layer of mashed sweet potatoes. Even in my family of spud lovers, this dinner is an enormous hit.

I’ve cooked sweet potatoes just about every way imaginable. And, let me tell you, the savory side of sweet potatoes is so underrated. We adore these savory mashed sweet potatoes and smashed roasted sweet potatoes. This casserole is all I need to prove that the sweet potato is meant for more than marshmallows.

Ground Beef Sweet Potato Casserole

If you’ve never swapped out mashed potatoes for their orange counterparts in different recipes and casseroles, you are missing out! While, we still love our regular potatoes, I have to admit that this sweet potato topping is truly something special.

Instead of fading quietly into the background like potatoes, it lends complexity and contrast. There’s an almost nutty, slightly sweet taste that balances the savory beef perfectly. Hearty enough for serious appetites, but simple enough to pull together on a weeknight. This one leaves no leftovers.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Sweet Potato Topping – I use sweet potatoes here for the complex flavors they add. A splash of milk is all it takes to make them fluffy.

The Beef Base – Ground beef is the heart of the dish. I brown it with onion and garlic for a classic savory profile.

Vegetables – Diced carrots and frozen peas are great in this casserole. But, this is where it is most versatile. You can use diced leftover vegetables, too!

Acidity – The balsamic vinegar and stewed tomatoes are pivotal to this recipe, in my opinion. They cut down the richness with a hit of acidity, making everything brighter.

Herbs – I add parsley, thyme, and basil for a subtly herby warmth. You can swap for Italian seasoning in a pinch, but it will make the dish more earthy with the oregano.

Salt and Pepper – I always use kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper in my recipes.

Notes on Equipment

Vegetable peeler
Chef’s knife
Cutting board
Large pot
Colander
Potato masher
Large skillet
Wooden spoon or spatula
Measuring cups and spoons
Baking dish

How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole

Prepping Vegetables: I start by cleaning, peeling, and chopping the sweet potatoes into 1″ chunks. Then, dice the onion and carrots, and mince the garlic.

Boiling: I set the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water and a dash of salt. Then, I set them over high heat on the stove to cook until fork tender.

Browning the Beef: While the potatoes cook, I cook and crumble the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat.

Draining Excess Fat: Once the beef is mostly browned, I drain the excess fat. Then, I add the diced carrots and onions and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Seasoning the Filling: The garlic, herbs, salt and pepper all go in once the carrots have started to soften. Then, I just give it a good mix, and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Adding the Acids: While those cook, I add the canned tomatoes and balsamic vinegar to the meat. Let the liquids simmer until mostly reduced.

Final Check: Taste the meat filling, and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Then, you just have to stir in the frozen peas.

Preheating the Oven: Once the meat is finished, I preheat the oven to 350°F. That way, it can warm up while I make the topping.

Finishing the Layers & Baking

Mashing the Potatoes: I drain the sweet potatoes and then mash them in the same pot with just a bit of salt and pepper.

Adding the Milk: I carefully add the milk, a little at a time. It doesn’t take much to make them smooth and fluffy.

Layering the Casserole: I spread the beef mixture evenly across the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Then, I spoon the mashed topping across the top before spreading it out.

Baking: When the oven is ready, I pop it into the oven for about 25 minutes, until it is hot and bubbling.

Expert Tip

Don’t rush the reduction in this ground beef sweet potato casserole recipe. The filling should be thick and cohesive before it ever goes into the baking dish. I let the tomatoes and balsamic reduce until there’s very little liquid left in the pan. If there’s too much moisture, the topping can sink as the liquid bubbles, messing up the layers.

Dice Small – Dicing the carrots into smaller pieces lets them cook faster and distribute more evenly through the dish. The goal in recipes like this is for each bite to contain the same balance of vegetables and meat.

Mash Carefully – You don’t want to whip the sweet potatoes. Just, gently mash them so that the topping is light instead of gluey. And, you’re going to want to add just a bit of milk at a time. It’s easy to add more, but hard to fix too much.

Let It Rest – I give this casserole about 10 minutes to cool after it comes out of the oven. The layers thicken a bit as they cool down, making it easier to serve. And, this way, no one gets a burnt mouth. Win win.

Serving Suggestions

When it’s just me and my family, I pair this ground beef sweet potato casserole with a simple salad like my spinach apple salad or sweet kale salad. That’s enough to have a well rounded meal.

But, if I’m going to make this the centerpiece of our next gathering? I like to set out some snackable appetizers like stovetop spinach artichoke dip and roasted cauliflower hummus, so that people can visit a little longer before sitting down to eat.

Make Ahead & Storage

Make Ahead: You can assemble the entire casserole, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to a day before baking. If baking straight from the fridge, add a few extra minutes to the oven time.

How to Store: Once baked, let the casserole cool completely before transferring to an airtight container in the fridge. It stays good for up to 3 days.

How to Reheat: I pop individual servings into the microwave at 30 second intervals to warm the leftovers back up.

More Sweet Potato Recipes

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this with regular potatoes instead of sweet potatoes?

Yes. You can swap in regular potatoes and mash them the same way for the topping. But, I strongly suggest you give the sweet potatoes a try. They’re so good!

What size baking dish should I use?

I use a 9×13 baking dish. But, you can also make this in two 8×8 baking dishes. The key is to have enough depth in the layers without making this ground beef sweet potato casserole too thick.

Why is my beef filling so soupy?

Chances are good that you didn’t reduce enough of the liquid from the tomatoes. The filling should be saucy, but still very thick, when it goes into the baking dish.

Ground Beef Sweet Potato Casserole

Rich and savory ground beef is seasoned with a dash of aromatic spices, beneath a fluffy layer of mashed sweet potatoes. This Ground Beef Sweet Potato Casserole is a hearty dinner you're sure to love.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 45

Total Time 50

Servings

Calories 306kcal

Author Mary Younkin

Ingredients

2 medium-large sweet potatoes about 1 pound
1½ pounds ground beef
½ large yellow onion
3-4 large cloves of garlic minced
1 cup carrots about 3 medium diced into ½" pieces
14 ounces diced stewed tomatoes
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon parsley
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper adjust to taste
½ cup frozen peas
2-3 tablespoons milk adjust as needed

Instructions

Peel and dice the sweet potatoes into 1" pieces. Place them in a pot and cover with water and a sprinkle of salt. Cook until fork tender, this should take less than 15 minutes.
While the potatoes are cooking, cook and crumble the ground beef over medium heat. When it is almost browned, drain off any fat and add the onions, and carrots.
Cook for 2-3 minutes then add the minced garlic, parsley, thyme, basil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes until the onions are soft.
Add the tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Cook until the liquid is reduced, as needed. Stir in the peas. Taste and then season with salt and pepper. Adjust as desired. Remove from heat and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Drain the potatoes and mash gently with a potato masher. Season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper to taste. Add just a splash of milk and stir until the potatoes are smooth and fluffy.
Layer the beef mixture into a baking dish and then top with the mashed sweet potatoes. Bake for 25 minutes, until hot and bubbling.

Nutrition

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges

Mary Younkin — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 09:30:00 +0000

Slightly crisp with soft sweet insides, air fryer sweet potato wedges dipped in ketchup are impossible to resist.

Sweet Potato Wedges in Air Fryer

Wedges, slices, diced, in hash, or whole – it doesn’t matter how you slice them, sweet potatoes always satisfy just a bit differently than regular potatoes. Sweet potatoes have a way of making a meal feel just a bit more celebratory than regular old potatoes.

I think that is because sweet potatoes are often served as a holiday side dish or treat and are frequently served topped with brown sugar, a praline mixture, or marshmallows. Don’t get me wrong I love those dishes too.

However, over the years, the savory side of sweet potatoes has won me over. Hand me a savory sweet potato dish and I’m a very happy camper. Sweet potatoes are delicious with just a sprinkling of salt and pepper. You can treat them just like traditional potatoes.

To make sweet potato wedges in the air fryer, peel and slice your sweet potatoes. The number and size of your wedges is entirely up to you.

Obviously, thicker wedges will take longer to cook than thinner or small wedges. Keep an eye on the cooking and adjust as needed.

It will take just under 20 minutes to air fry wedges like pictured here. I do stop halfway through and flip the wedges. Make sure to allow for plenty of airflow around each of the pieces for more even air frying.

Sweet Potato Wedges Air Fryer

Ingredients

sweet potato
olive oil
kosher salt
freshly cracked black pepper
granulated garlic or garlic powder
plain or smoked paprika

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the sweet potato wedges in a large mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika. Toss to coat thoroughly.
Line the sweet potatoes up in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd them. (If there isn’t room for the air to flow between them, they will not have crispy edges.)
Air fry the potatoes until they are fork tender, and then fry a bit longer to get a slightly crisp edge. This usually takes about 16-18 minutes. Use tongs to turn each wedge over halfway through the cooking time.

Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes

Using the air fryer for vegetables is quickly becoming one of my favorite ways to make them. It is super simple and the results are crispy and delicious.

This crispy, cheesy, immensely snackable Air Fryer Eggplant is going to change your mind forever about this awesome vegetable.

Air fryer asparagus is a quick easy side with minimal prep and almost no dirty dishes. Not to mention barely any oil and a perfect crisp.

Air fryer Brussels sprouts are the popcorn of the vegetable world. There is no way you can eat just one – they are such a great snack or side. I feel like brussels sprouts are finally getting the attention they have long deserved.

While you may not really need a recipe for air fryer frozen fries, the seasonings here take ordinary fries to something amazing!

Forget heating up the oven, use the air fryer for baked sweet potatoes. The first time I baked sweet potatoes in the air fryer it was a game-changer for me.

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges

Slightly crisp with soft sweet insides, air fryer sweet potato wedges dipped in ketchup are impossible to resist.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 159kcal

Author Mary Younkin

Ingredients

1 large sweet potato cut into wedges, about ¼-inch thick, about 10-12 ounces
olive oil cooking spray
½ teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper adjust to taste
¼ teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
¼ teaspoon plain or smoked paprika

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the sweet potato wedges in a large mixing bowl and spray with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika. Toss to coat thoroughly.
Line the sweet potatoes up in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd them. (If there isn't room for the air to flow between them, they will not have crispy edges.)
Air fry the potatoes until they are fork tender, and then fry a bit longer to get a slightly crisp edge. This usually takes about 16-18 minutes. Use tongs to turn each wedge over halfway through the cooking time.

Nutrition

Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mary Younkin — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 09:30:00 +0000

Savory mashed sweet potatoes are a quick side dish for any meal. Sweet potatoes are often served sweetened with brown sugar or maple syrup, but I’m here to tell you that savory sweet potatoes are where it’s at.

Savory Mashed Sweet Potato

If you have been following the recipes here for long you probably noticed I don’t usually peel my potatoes for mashed potatoes. My exception to that rule is sweet potatoes. In my opinion, they definitely need to be peeled. The skins don’t quite disappear into the dish as I prefer.

A good sharp vegetable peeler makes short work of this task. Along with a sharp knife, cutting board, and a little bit of muscle you will have them ready to boil in no time.

When getting my sweet potatoes ready I like to cut them in batches. I peel 2-3 potatoes then dice them and put them into the cold water. This prevents any of those dark grey patches that can appear after you peel the sweet potatoes.

While you can use a mixer to mash these potatoes, I promise they are the easiest thing to mash by hand. I like to use my slightly finer grid potato masher for a super smooth almost silky result.

The resulting mashed sweet potatoes will be slightly sweet and oh-so-savory with a hint of smoke from the smoked paprika. It is amazing the rave reviews these potatoes get every time.

Savory Sweet Potato Recipe

Ingredients

pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
butter
heavy cream
granulated garlic or garlic powder
smoked paprika
freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover them with water. Bring to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and stir to dissolve. Boil for 10-15 minutes, until you are able to easily pierce with a fork. Take care not to overcook.
Drain potatoes and return them to the pot. Place the pot back on the stove over very low heat. Add the butter and cream to the potatoes. Use a potato masher or hand mixer to mash the potatoes and incorporate the butter and cream into the potatoes.
Sprinkle with garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper and stir to mix well. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Serve warm.

Mashed Potato Recipes

Mashed Potatoes are my love language. Any combination of seasonings and hold the gravy. I can eat them with every meal.

Mashed potatoes are hands down the first side dish gone every holiday. No matter how large the bowl of homestyle mashed potatoes is, it will be empty, guaranteed. Every time.

Rich and savory ground beef is seasoned with a dash of aromatic spices, beneath a fluffy layer of mashed sweet potatoes in this ground beef sweet potato casserole.

No peeling or getting out the heavy mixer is needed for these creamy, delicious garlic red skin mashed potatoes.

Creamy, buttery, cheesy mashed potatoes are what food dreams are made of, I suggest making extra, to avoid arguments over who gets seconds.

Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Savory mashed sweet potatoes are a quick side dish for any meal. Not sweetened with brown sugar or maple syrup, savory is where it is at!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 222kcal

Author Mary Younkin

Ingredients

3 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon kosher salt for boiling
4 tablespoons butter
¼ cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper adjust to taste

Instructions

Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover them with water. Bring to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and stir to dissolve. Boil for 10-15 minutes, until you are able to easily pierce with a fork. Take care not to overcook.
Drain potatoes and return them to the pot. Place the pot back on the stove over very low heat. Add the butter and cream to the potatoes. Use a potato masher or hand mixer to mash the potatoes and incorporate the butter and cream into the potatoes.
Sprinkle with garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper and stir to mix well. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Balsamic Sweet Potatoes

Mary Younkin — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Fluffy sweet potatoes with crisp edges are tossed with crumbled bacon and drizzled with balsamic glaze to make these roasted sweet potato bites.

Balsamic Sweet Potatoes

So often sweet potatoes are given a sweet treatment with delicious butter, brown sugar, or honey. Personally, I like to take them to the savory side with things like olive oil, garlic, rosemary, or in this case bacon and balsamic.

Gone are the days of simmering down balsamic vinegar into a glaze for me. Yes, I used to do this regularly but since discovering off the shelf balsamic glazes, I have not looked back. Have you tried drizzling balsamic glaze on your vegetables or berries?

I do stop short of drinking it from the bottle, however balsamic glaze has become a go to condiment for us, right there with homemade ranch and ketchup. It brings out just the right amount of sweetness when tossed with sweet potatoes. The sweet combined with the salt bacon make for the perfect bite.

Best way to Roast Sweet Potatoes

Roasting sweet potatoes result in the tastiest little morsels. I like the crispness of the outside combined with the soft insides. The salty, savoriness is so good with the natural sweetness of the potatoes.

Toss your sweet potato cubes with olive oil, salt, and pepper on a sheet pan. The sweet potatoes roast up soft and fluffy on the inside with nice crispy edges. To serve, simply drizzle with balsamic glaze and crumbled bacon.

This easy side dish could accompany literally any meal. I like to serve balamic sweet potatoes with pork chops and green beans for a meal everyone will enjoy.

For another super fast side dish that is about as hands-off as you can ask, the seasonings here take frozen sweet potato fries in the air fryer to the next level.

Balsamic Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

sweet potatoes
olive oil
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
balsamic glaze
bacon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Chop the potatoes into bite-size pieces and place them on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat thoroughly.
Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Toss again to distribute the spices over all the pieces. Spread the potatoes across the baking sheet.
Roast for 40-45 minutes, stirring the potatoes and turning them over with a large spatula at least once halfway through.
Potatoes are done when they are fork tender with browned slightly crips edges. Drizzle with balsamic glaze before serving. Top with crumbled bacon, if desired.

Oven Roasted Vegetables

Oven roasted vegetables brings such a simple deliciousness to any meal. I love the fact that you can roast literally any vegetable. Even cabbage and tomatoes!

Parmesan zucchini can best be described as crispy, and delicious, the best way possible to eat zucchini. Seriously so good my kids devoured seconds.

I love the sweetness that roasted carrots deliver as their natural sugars caramelize! They are fabulous when tossed with nothing more than oil, salt, and pepper.

Balsamic Sweet Potatoes

Fluffy sweet potatoes with crisp edges are tossed with crumbled bacon and drizzled with balsamic glaze to make these roasted sweet potato bites.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Servings

Calories 158kcal

Author Mary Younkin

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes peeled and cut into ¾-inch pieces, about 4 cups worth
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper adjust to taste
2 tablespoons balsamic glaze
¼ cup cooked and crumbled bacon about 4 strips worth OPTIONAL

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Chop the potatoes into bite-size pieces and place them on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat thoroughly.
Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Toss again to distribute the spices over all the pieces. Spread the potatoes across the baking sheet.
Roast for 40-45 minutes, stirring the potatoes and turning them over with a large spatula at least once halfway through.
Potatoes are done when they are fork tender with browned slightly crips edges. Drizzle with balsamic glaze before serving. Top with crumbled bacon, if desired.

Nutrition

Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Mary Younkin — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 04:30:00 +0000

Air fryer sweet potatoes are the perfect little crispy bite with a soft interior. They are great as a side, tossed into hash, or tucked into tacos.

Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer

The air fryer makes sweet potatoes for a side or my hash base super easy. The air fry creates such tasty little bites.

The air fryer makes it easy to make just a few potatoes or when cooking for two. Is a completely different experience. Here are the tips to keep in mind.

First, select fresh, firm sweet potatoes for the best results. Avoid any that have started to sprout or are wrinkly in skin texture. When dicing be sure to keep an even size to the sweet potatoes pieces.

Second, toss the sweet potatoes gently with oil before putting them in the air fryer. Spread them out so there’s plenty of air flow.

Third, the best-tasting sweet potatoes are the ones that have browned and blackened areas on the edges where they develop a crispy char.

Do not stop frying until they are crispy. They are not burning those brown edges are the goal!

How to Air Fry Sweet Potatoes

Preheat: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.

Prep the sweet potatoes: Clean and peel them. Dice into cubes 1/2″-1″ in size. Oil and season them, then place them in a single layer in the air fryer.

How Long to Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Not sure how long to air fry sweet potatoes? That depends on how crispy you like them and how full you make your air fryer, etc.

Air fry the sweet potatoes for 10-12 minutes. If you are using a basket-style air fryer toss the basket at about 5 minutes for even cooking.”

They should be fork tender with brown crispy edges when done. Roasted (and air-fried) sweet potatoes are best served immediately.

These will be tender potatoes with a soft center and crisp edges, however, those lovely crisp edges will soften as they cool.

The air fryer is a quick and easy way to make almost any vegetable. here are some vegetables to try: cabbage, onions, cauliflower, asparagus, broccoli, and even carrots.

Slightly crisp with soft sweet insides, air fryer sweet potato wedges dipped in ketchup are impossible to resist.

Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Air fryer sweet potatoes are the perfect little crispy bite with a soft interior. They are great as a side, tossed into hash or tucked into tacos.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 159kcal

Author Mary Younkin

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes cut into 1" pieces, about 4 cups
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper adjust to taste

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper and toss to coat thoroughly.
Air fry the potatoes until they are fork tender, and then fry a bit longer to get a slightly crisp edge. This usually takes about 10-12 minutes. Toss potatoes every 5 minutes for even frying.

Nutrition