These Easy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes have a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior that make them a wonderful and versatile side dish.
» You might also like these Easy Air Fryer Pasta Chips and Air Fryer Cubed Butternut Squash.
Whenever we want an easy side dish, we pull out this air fryer sweet potato cubes recipe. They take less than 20 minutes, but are flavorful and delightfully crispy. Whether we’re having beer braised short ribs or Cajun seasoned blackened cod, these sweet potatoes complement so many types of main dishes.
These sweet potatoes are seasoned with salt and pepper, but you can use any seasoning you like. Make the cubes savory, spicy, or even sweet. There are so many ways you can go with these delicious air fryer sweet potato cubes, so give this recipe a try and let us know in the comments how you spiced them up.
Ingredients You Need
- Sweet Potatoes – this recipe uses sweet potatoes that are peeled. If you want to keep the skin on, make sure to wash and scrub the potatoes thoroughly because dirt can easily become lodged in the skin. You could also use yams for this recipe, if you want.
- Cooking spray or olive oil – A little bit of oil will help the potatoes get crispy and prevent them from sticking to the air fryer basket. You can either spray them with your favorite cooking oil, or toss them in a bit of olive oil before putting them in the basket.
- Salt & pepper – Adjust the amount used to fit your tastes. You could also use seasoned salt or your favorite salt blend instead.
Equipment Information
- Air fryer: I use this 4-quart basket-style air fryer. It’s large enough to fit a meal for 4-6. But some things need more space in the air fryer basket, so they cook evenly.
- Kitchen tongs: It’s very easy to remove food from your air fryer with kitchen tongs. I use these kitchen tongs that are silicon coated so they don’t scratch the interior.
What Oil & Oil Sprayer is Best for the Air Fryer?
The biggest issue most air fryer lovers face is finding the right oil and oil sprayer to use on food cooked in the air fryer. A fine mist of oil will help the entire piece of food crisp evenly, so it’s very important.
My personal preference is to use canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil. I use both a refillable spray bottle like the Evo one pictured below and non-propellant extra virgin olive oil, which has no harmful aerosols or chemicals.
What Sweet Potatoes To Use
There are several different types of sweet potatoes, each with their own unique qualities and flavors. However, when it comes to roasting, some types of sweet potatoes are better suited than others. Here are a few of the best kinds of sweet potatoes to use for roasting:
- Jewel Sweet Potatoes: These are a popular variety of sweet potato that have a deep orange flesh and a sweet flavor. They hold up well when roasted and have a slightly crispy texture on the outside.
- Garnet Sweet Potatoes: These are another popular variety that have a bright red skin and a deep orange flesh. They have a sweet and slightly nutty flavor and work well for roasting.
- Hannah Sweet Potatoes: These sweet potatoes have a lighter color and a more delicate flavor than other varieties. They have a creamy texture and hold up well when roasted.
- Japanese Sweet Potatoes: These have a purplish-red skin and a white flesh. They have a slightly sweet and nutty flavor and crisp up nicely when roasted.
When selecting potatoes, choose firm ones that are free from bruises or discolorations. It’s best to avoid potatoes that are starting to feel soft. To store them, find a cool, dry, and dark location with proper ventilation to maintain their freshness.
How To Cut Sweet Potatoes
Peeling and cutting sweet potatoes into cubes is a relatively simple process.
Rinse the sweet potatoes under cold water and scrub them with a vegetable brush to remove any dirt or debris. Using a sharp vegetable peeler or knife, remove the skin from the sweet potatoes. You can eat the skin of a sweet potato if you want to. It comes down to personal preference.
If the sweet potatoes have any blemishes or eyes, cut these out with a small knife. Cut the sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Stack several rounds on top of each other and cut them into 1/2-inch wide strips. Then, turn the strips 90 degrees and cut them into1/2-inch cubes.
Ninja® Foodi®XL 2-Basket Air Fryer
- 2 independent XL air fryer baskets
- Integrated Foodi® Smart Thermometer
- Cook 2 foods 2 ways that finish at the same time
How to Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Peel the sweet potatoes. Rinse them with cold water to remove any dirt and debris.
Slice and cube the potatoes into 1/2” pieces. You can make them larger than this, if you like, but the cook time will vary based on the size of the cubes.
Spray the potato cubes with cooking spray (or toss with a small amount of olive oil) and season with salt & pepper. You can season the potatoes at this point with any seasoning or salt you like. Get creative with the seasonings for fun.
Place the sweet potato in the air fryer and cook at 400°F for approximately 12-14 minutes, shaking the basket at the halfway mark, until crispy and tender. Season with additional salt as desired before serving.
Why Use an Air Fryer
An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.
- I use a Ninja MaxXL air fryer (pictured left). If you don’t have an air fryer yet, check out these options to find one that fits your needs.
- See reviews and prices for air fryers on Amazon.
- Here’s a printable Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet to get you started.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Air Fryer.
- Learn how to make fun things in the air fryer, like potato wedges, pork belly bites, and chicken wings.
Substitutions & Variations
- Seasonings: Experiment with spices and seasonings like garlic salt, Cajun seasoning, Montreal seasoning, etc.
- International: Take these sweet potato cubes international and sprinkle them with curry powder or with our homemade taco seasoning.
- Sweet: Turn the sweet potato cubes into a sweet treat by tossing them in brown sugar or maple syrup, or sprinkling with cinnamon sugar, or nutmeg.
Questions About the Recipe
How can I make the sweet potato cubes in the oven?
To roast them in the oven, follow the same steps as for the air fryer, but place the cubed sweet potatoes into an oven that has been preheated at 425°F. Bake them for 30 minutes, shaking the baking pan halfway through.
Should I boil or soak the potatoes before adding them into the air fryer?
No. This recipe is meant to be super simple, so there is no need to boil or soak the potatoes ahead of time.
Can I use frozen sweet potato chunks in this recipe?
Absolutely. The steps are the same for frozen and fresh sweet potato cubes, but you should add a bit more oil to the frozen potatoes. Place them in the air fryer for about 15 minutes at 400°F and they should be good to go!
Tips and Notes
- To cube the sweet potatoes, it is best to use a sharp knife. Sweet potatoes can be difficult to cut, so be careful.
- Serve the sweet potatoes fresh, as they lose their crunchy texture quickly.
- Adjust the cooking time to make the sweet potato cubes more or less crispy – depending on your preference.
Storing & Reheating Suggestions
If you end up with some left overs, you can store the air fried sweet potato cubes in an airtight container and keep them refrigerated for up to 4 days. To reheat the potatoes, just air fry them again for 3-5 minutes at 400°F.
You can also freeze sweet potato cubes before or after they’ve been air fried. This is a great way to do meal prep, because all you’d need to do is take the prepared cubes from the freezer and put them in the air fryer to be reheated. They can last in the freezer for many months.
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Easy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 sweet potatoes
- Cooking spray or olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Peel the sweet potatoes. Rinse with cold water.
- Slice and cube the potatoes into 1/2” pieces.
- Spray the potato cubes with cooking spray (or toss with a small amount of olive oil) and season with salt & pepper.
- Place the sweet potato in the air fryer and cook at 400°F for approximately 12-14 minutes, shaking the basket at the halfway mark, until crispy and tender. Season with additional salt as desired.
All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.
Nutrition
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Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.
Is it necessary to toss the sweet potato cubes halfway through the cooking process?
Mike, while it’s not absolutely necessary that you shake the basket half way through cooking we highly recommend that you do. It will help ensure the sweet potato cubes get crispy on all sides.
Can I season the sweet potatoes with spices like cinnamon or paprika before air frying them, or is it better to stick with salt and pepper?
I think both of those spices sound like excellent choices. Experiment with different things and see what you flavors you like best.
A must-try for sweet potato lovers!
My air fryer has a preheat function. Should I preheat the air fryer before adding the sweet potato cubes?
You absolutely can though it isn’t necessary.
A delightful dish that I’ll be making over and over again!
The air fryer gives sweet potatoes a wonderful texture, and they cook so quickly.