Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes: Your Ultimate Guide to Perfectly Roasted Sides

Discover the easiest and most delicious way to prepare sweet potato cubes with your air fryer! Achieve a delightful balance of crispiness on the outside and tender perfection on the inside, all with minimal effort and simple seasonings. This quick and versatile recipe is not just ideal for holiday gatherings but also serves as a fantastic, nutritious, and low-effort side dish for any day of the week. Forget soggy, unevenly cooked sweet potatoes; the air fryer revolutionizes this classic side, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser every time.

Sweet potato cubes, cooked in the air fryer, shown on a white plate.

🍠 Why These Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes Are a Must-Try

Unbeatable Flavor & Texture: These air fryer sweet potato cubes are more than just a side dish; they’re a culinary experience! Seasoned with just a few basic ingredients, they burst with incredible flavor. The magic of the air fryer ensures each cube develops a wonderfully crisp, golden-brown exterior while remaining incredibly soft and tender on the inside. This perfect texture contrast elevates the humble sweet potato to new heights, making them irresistible as a snack or a complement to almost any main course. Their naturally sweet and earthy notes are beautifully amplified by the simple savory spices.
Effortless and Speedy Preparation: Say goodbye to long cooking times and complicated steps. This recipe is designed for maximum convenience. Once you’ve peeled, diced, and tossed your sweet potatoes with oil and seasonings, your air fryer handles the majority of the work. The active cooking time is remarkably short, and the only “interruption” is a quick shake of the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking and optimal crispiness. This hands-off approach makes air frying sweet potatoes a foolproof method, perfect for busy weeknights or when you need a healthy side in a flash. Plus, the air fryer’s non-stick surfaces typically lead to significantly less clean-up compared to traditional oven roasting.
Incredibly Versatile: The beauty of these crispy sweet potato cubes lies in their adaptability. They make an excellent side for a wide array of proteins, from roasted chicken and grilled fish to juicy steaks. Beyond dinner, they can be a delightful addition to breakfast scrambles, a nutritious component of power bowls and salads, or a satisfying snack on their own. Their flavor profile is easily adjustable, allowing them to complement various culinary themes, from sweet to savory to spicy.
Nutrient-Packed Goodness: Sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse, loaded with vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. By preparing them in the air fryer with minimal oil, you lock in these health benefits while enjoying a truly delicious dish. They’re a fantastic source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and potassium, contributing to a balanced and wholesome diet without sacrificing taste.

👩🏼‍🍳 Chef’s Tips for Air Fryer Sweet Potato Perfection

Customize Your Seasonings for Endless Possibilities: The basic seasoning blend in this recipe is fantastic, but don’t hesitate to get creative! If serving these cubes with a specific main course, tailor the spices to match. For a savory profile, consider adding smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, rosemary, or thyme. For a touch of heat, a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes works wonders. Craving something sweeter? A dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, a sprinkle of brown sugar, or even a drizzle of maple syrup after cooking can transform them into a decadent treat. The flavor combinations are truly limitless, making these air fryer sweet potatoes a chameleon in your kitchen.
Scaling the Recipe for Any Crowd: This recipe is incredibly easy to double, triple, or even quadruple when feeding a larger group. The key to maintaining perfect crispiness and even cooking is to avoid overcrowding your air fryer basket. Air circulation is paramount for the air fryer to work its magic. If you have too many sweet potato cubes in one batch, they will steam rather than crisp. If you’re cooking for more people, simply work in batches. Cook one batch until golden and crispy, then remove it and start the next. Keep the cooked batches warm in a low oven (around 200°F/95°C) until all batches are ready to serve.
Achieve Uniformity with Even Dicing: To ensure every sweet potato cube cooks at the same rate and achieves that ideal crisp-tender texture, it’s crucial to cut them into pieces of roughly the same size. Aim for 1/2 to 3/4-inch cubes. If some pieces are significantly smaller or larger, the smaller ones may burn while the larger ones remain undercooked. Taking a few extra moments to dice them uniformly will pay off in perfectly cooked sweet potatoes.
Preheat Your Air Fryer: Just like a traditional oven, preheating your air fryer is a vital step often overlooked. A preheated air fryer ensures the sweet potato cubes start cooking immediately upon entering the basket, promoting quicker crisping and preventing them from becoming soggy. Don’t skip this step for the best results!
Shake, Shake, Shake!: Throughout the cooking process, make sure to shake the air fryer basket at least once, ideally twice. This redistributes the sweet potato cubes, exposing all sides to the circulating hot air. This simple action is key to achieving that coveted all-over crispiness and even browning without any soft spots.
Doneness is Key: Sweet potatoes vary in density and water content, and air fryers differ in wattage and efficiency. Therefore, the exact cook time can vary. Always use the suggested cooking time as a guideline, and start checking for doneness a few minutes before the recommended total time. The sweet potatoes should be easily pierced with a fork and have a beautiful golden-brown, crispy exterior.

Sweet potato cubes, cooked until brown and crisp, in an air fryer basket.

♨️ More Delicious Air Fryer Side Dishes We Love

Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Air Fryer Potato Skins
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
Air Fryer Green Beans

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

Total: 30 minutes

The air fryer cooks up perfect sweet potato cubes in less than 20 minutes!

Cheryl Malik Cheryl Malik

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2 servings

Ingredients

▢ 1 large sweet potato approximately 8 ounces, peeled and cut into ½-¾ inch cubes for even cooking
▢ 1 tablespoon neutral oil such as avocado oil, olive oil, or grapeseed oil, to help with crisping
▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper adjust to your preference for a mild kick
▢ ½ teaspoon salt fine sea salt or kosher salt works best, season more to taste after cooking

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Equipment

Vegetable scrub brush optional, but recommended for thoroughly cleaning sweet potatoes
Clean dish towel or high-quality paper towels for drying
Potato peeler or a sharp paring knife for efficient peeling
Cutting board a sturdy one will make dicing easier and safer
Sharp knife for precise and even sweet potato cubes
Large mixing bowl essential for thoroughly coating the sweet potato cubes with oil and seasonings
Silicone spatula or tongs for tossing and transferring without damaging the potatoes
Air Fryer any model will work, but cooking times may vary slightly

Instructions

Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit (200° Celsius). Allowing it to fully preheat ensures that the sweet potatoes start cooking immediately upon entering the basket, promoting optimal crispiness and even cooking.
Thoroughly rinse and scrub 1 large sweet potato under cold running water. Use a vegetable scrub brush to remove any lingering surface dirt or debris. Once clean, pat the sweet potato completely dry with a clean dish towel or paper towels. Drying the sweet potato helps the oil and seasonings adhere better and encourages crisping. Then, carefully peel the sweet potato completely using a potato peeler.
Place the peeled sweet potato on a sturdy cutting board. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the sweet potato into bite-sized cubes, aiming for pieces that are as equally-sized as possible (approximately ½ to ¾ inch). Uniformity in size is crucial for ensuring that all the cubes cook evenly, resulting in a consistent texture throughout.
Transfer the uniformly cubed sweet potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle 1 tablespoon neutral oil over the potato cubes. Next, add the seasonings: ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, and ½ teaspoon salt. Using a silicone spatula or your hands, stir or toss the ingredients together thoroughly until all sweet potato cubes are completely and evenly coated in the oil and seasonings. This ensures maximum flavor in every bite and helps with crisping.
Carefully remove the air fryer basket from the preheated air fryer. Transfer the seasoned sweet potato cubes into the basket. Spread the potatoes out into a single, even layer across the bottom of the basket. Avoid overcrowding, as this can lead to steaming instead of crisping. If necessary, cook in multiple batches.
Return the basket to the air fryer. Air fry the sweet potato cubes for an initial 6 minutes. After this time, remove the basket from the air fryer and give it a good shake to toss and flip the potato cubes. This ensures all sides get exposed to the hot air. Spread the potatoes back into an even layer before returning the basket to the air fryer.
Continue to air fry the potatoes for another 6 minutes. At this point, begin checking for doneness. The potatoes should be tender on the inside and starting to brown and crisp on the outside. If they need more time, continue air frying, checking the potatoes every 60 seconds, until they reach your desired level of tenderness and crispiness. Be careful not to overcook, as they can become dry.
Once you are satisfied with the doneness and crispiness of your sweet potato cubes, remove the basket from the air fryer. Taste a piece and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if desired. Serve these delicious, warm, and crispy air fryer sweet potato cubes immediately as a side dish or snack.

Expert Notes for Best Results

Adjusting Servings: The number of total servings shown is approximate and will primarily depend on the size of your sweet potato and how you cut your cubes. While you can certainly cook any quantity of sweet potatoes using this method, always prioritize cooking in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Overcrowding inhibits proper air circulation, leading to steamed rather than crispy potatoes. Always aim for a single layer for optimal results.
Variable Cook Times: It’s important to remember that air fryer models can vary significantly in wattage and efficiency. Therefore, actual cook times may differ from the guidelines provided. Use the recommended times as a starting point, but always monitor your potatoes, especially towards the end of the cooking process. Adjust the cook time as needed based on your specific appliance and preferred level of crispiness and tenderness. To prevent dry, tough, or burnt sweet potatoes, avoid overcooking and begin checking doneness a few minutes early.
Storage and Reheating: Leftover air fryer sweet potato cubes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat and restore their crispiness, place them back in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 3-5 minutes, or until heated through and re-crisped. Avoid reheating in the microwave, as this will make them soft and soggy.
Can I use frozen sweet potato cubes? Yes, you can! For frozen sweet potato cubes, there’s no need to thaw. Toss them with oil and seasonings as instructed. You will likely need to increase the cooking time by 5-10 minutes, shaking the basket more frequently, until they are heated through and crispy.
Do I need to peel the sweet potatoes? Peeling is optional. Many people enjoy the added fiber and rustic feel of leaving the skin on. If you choose not to peel, ensure you scrub the sweet potato exceptionally well to remove all dirt.

Nutrition Information

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need to peel the sweet potatoes before air frying?: Peeling is entirely optional! Leaving the skin on adds a rustic texture, extra fiber, and saves a bit of prep time. If you opt to keep the skin on, make sure to scrub the sweet potatoes thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or impurities.
Can I use frozen sweet potato cubes for this recipe?: Absolutely! Frozen sweet potato cubes are a convenient shortcut. There’s no need to thaw them beforehand. Simply toss the frozen cubes with oil and seasonings as instructed. You’ll likely need to increase the cooking time by about 5-10 minutes, and remember to shake the basket more frequently, perhaps every 4-5 minutes, to ensure even cooking and optimal crispiness.
How do I store leftover air fryer sweet potato cubes?: To store any leftover sweet potato cubes, allow them to cool completely to room temperature. Then, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Proper cooling prevents condensation, which can make them soggy.
What’s the best way to reheat crispy sweet potato cubes?: To bring back that desirable crispiness, reheating in the air fryer is your best bet! Place the refrigerated sweet potato cubes back into a preheated air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for about 3-5 minutes, or until they are heated through and have re-crisped to your liking. Reheating in the microwave is not recommended as it will result in soft, soggy potatoes.
How important is it to cut the sweet potatoes into equal sizes?: Cutting the sweet potatoes into uniform, bite-sized cubes (roughly ½ to ¾ inch) is very important for even cooking. If your cubes are of varying sizes, the smaller pieces will cook faster and potentially burn, while larger pieces might remain undercooked or raw in the center. Taking a moment to ensure consistent sizing guarantees a perfectly cooked batch every time.

Serving Suggestions for Your Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes

These versatile air fryer sweet potato cubes are not just a simple side; they can elevate a variety of meals! Here are some delicious ways to serve them:

Classic Side Dish: Pair them with your favorite protein like grilled chicken, baked salmon, pan-seared steak, or pork chops for a wholesome and satisfying meal.
Breakfast Booster: Add them to a breakfast scramble, alongside fried eggs and bacon, or as a bed for a poached egg to kickstart your day with flavor and nutrients.
Salad Topping: Toss cooled sweet potato cubes into your favorite green salads or grain bowls for added texture, sweetness, and nutritional value. They’re excellent in a warm kale or spinach salad.
Healthy Snack: Enjoy them on their own as a guilt-free snack. For an extra treat, serve them with a dipping sauce like a creamy sriracha mayo, a tangy yogurt dip, or a simple garlic aioli.
Holiday Feast: While simple, their vibrant color and delicious taste make them a perfect addition to any holiday table, offering a lighter alternative to traditional heavy sides.
Taco or Burrito Bowl Filling: Use them as a flavorful, plant-based component in your taco or burrito bowls, alongside black beans, rice, and your favorite toppings.

No matter how you choose to enjoy them, these crispy air fryer sweet potato cubes are sure to become a staple in your kitchen. Their ease of preparation and incredible taste make them an undeniable winner for any occasion.

Conclusion

Achieving perfectly crispy, tender sweet potato cubes has never been easier, thanks to the magic of the air fryer. This recipe not only delivers on flavor and texture but also offers a convenient and healthy way to enjoy this versatile vegetable. With minimal prep, quick cooking times, and easy cleanup, these air fryer sweet potato cubes are poised to become a staple in your meal rotation. Experiment with seasonings, scale the recipe to your needs, and enjoy the delightful results!

We encourage you to try this recipe and discover for yourself why it’s a favorite. Don’t forget to share your creations and experiences with us!