31 Sweet Potato Recipes to Make for Every Meal (Including Dessert) (2024)

There’s so much more to sweet potatoes than that much-loved casserole found on many a Thanksgiving table. Try them baked, as home fries, mashed with other root vegetables, or made into crispy pancakes. Beyond the side dish, they feature in soup, stew, chili, and curry—ones with meat and ones without. And then there is the "sweet" side of sweet potatoes, playing a starring role in pies, puddings, and cakes.

Though sweet potatoes are available year round, they are at their sweetest in fall and winter. They aresometimes mislabeled as yams, which are actually not widely available in North America (but are also delicious).

When shopping for sweet potatoes, look for ones that are very firm, with no areas of softening, sprouting, or wrinkling, all of which are signs of age. To store sweet potatoes, keep them in a cool, dark place for up to one month.They should never be kept in the refrigerator, as their natural sugars will convert to starch, making them less sweet.

A Rainbow of Sweet Potato Varieties That Everyone Should Try

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Smashed Salt-and-Vinegar Sweet Potatoes

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Steamed till fork tender, then drizzled with olive oil and roasted until they are crispy and golden, these smashed sweet potatoes are irresistible. Serve them with a drizzle of a light vinegar, like Champagne vinegar, and watch them disappear fast.

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02of 31

Spiced Sweet-Potato Cake with Meringue Frosting

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This spectacular single layer cake pairs sweet potatoes with pumpkin pie spice—and it’s a great combination. On top is an Italian meringue frosting that’s toasted under the broiler (or using your kitchen torch).

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03of 31

Sweet Potato and Chipotle Soup

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A bowl of this creamy, soothing sweet potato soup is comfort indeed. The sweetness of the tubers is balanced by a subtle spice from canned chipotles in adobo. The creamy consistency is all down to the sweet potatoes since this soup is made without dairy (sour cream is optional for serving).

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04of 31

Sweet-Potato Biscuits

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Amp up the color and nutrition of your breakfast baked goods by making these sweet potato biscuits. They bring everything you love about homemade biscuits and then some to the table.

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05of 31

Baked Sweet-Potato Chips

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Crispy, tasty, and good for you, these homemade sweet potato chips make the best snack—and are also a great accompaniment to a sandwich lunch.

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06of 31

Cauliflower-Sweet Potato Curry

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A satisfying vegan main that appeals on so many levels; hunks of sweet potato and cauliflower soak up a coconut milk and red curry sauce. Baby spinach, edamame, and zucchini bring plenty of green appeal. This might be the most colorful—and delicious—dinner of the week.

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Sweet Potato Pancakes

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These sweet potato pancakes are too good to save for Hannukah. They’re a tasty riff on latkes that you’ll want to make all through the fall and winter.

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08of 31

Sweet-Potato Pudding

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Wake up to this nourishing vegan pudding for breakfast. Roast a sweet potato the night before to shorten prep time in the morning. This recipe serves two but feels free to double or triple it in order to treat your entire family to a warming breakfast.

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Tzimmes

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Served as a side dish for Passover, this traditional stew combines sweet potatoes and carrots with prunes and dried apricots, cooking them in orange juice and honey. It pairs well with robust meat dishes like brisket.

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10of 31

Black-Bean and Sweet-Potato Stew

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In under one hour, you can prepare this hearty vegan stew. Chopped sweet potatoes are cooked with a combination of whole and puréed black beans, quinoa, minced chipotle in adobo, and chopped poblano peppers.

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Slow-Baked Sweet Potatoes

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There's no way to rush when making this easy, healthy side dish—medium sweet potatoes are wrapped in parchment and foil and roasted for an hour and a half until they're super tender and their sweet flavor shines. The cook time might be lengthy, but very little of it is hands-on.

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Sweet Potato Casserole

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Here's a Thanksgiving classic: Mashed sweet potatoes are placed in a baking dish, topped with marshmallows, and baked until bubbling and golden brown. Who could resist this sweet side?

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13of 31

Brown-Butter Sweet-Potato Gnocchi with Seeds

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Upgrade basic gnocchi by using sweet potatoes in place of the usual russet in this colorful, better-for-you pasta recipe. They're garnished with pepitas, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and a butter-sage sauce.

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Taco Salad with Sweet-Potatoes

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Roasted sweet potatoes are the base of this Southwestern-inspired salad bowl. They're topped with black beans, sliced radishes, crushed tortilla chips, and crumbled goat cheese (which you can leave off for a vegan meal).

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15of 31

Sweet-Potato Toast Four Ways

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Instead of sandwich bread, substitute thin slices of roasted sweet potatoes as the base for a gluten-free breakfast or lunch toast. Top with sliced hard-boiled eggs and spinach; sliced avocado and co*cktail tomatoes; nut butter and berries; or hummus, sliced cucumbers, and radishes.

16of 31

Rutabaga-Sweet Potato Mash with Garlic and Sage

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Take a break from the usual mashed potatoes and serve your family this innovative root vegetable side dish instead. Rutabaga and sweet potatoes are mashed with minced garlic, fresh sage, and heavy cream for a flavorful autumnal recipe.

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Sweet-Potato Custard Pie

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Yes, you can serve sweet potatoes for dessert! Roasted sweet potatoes are puréed in a food processor and mixed with eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then topped with mouthwateringly sweet large marshmallows.

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18of 31

Roasted Sea Bass with Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, and Salsa Rustica

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Sheet-pan suppers are big on taste and short on cleanup. Sliced sweet potatoes roast alongside fresh spinach and sea bass fillets. This recipe comes together in under an hour and will surely be a hit with the whole family.

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19of 31

Vegan Sweet Potato Chili

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This vegan chili recipe doesn't lack flavor—tomato paste, chili powder, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper add plenty of heat.

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20of 31

Sweet Potato Home Fries

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Upgrade bacon and eggs with these breakfast potatoes. Diced sweet potatoes are roasted on a sheet pan, then tossed with chopped onion, green bell pepper, jalapeño peppers, and plenty of unsalted butter.

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21of 31

Sweet-Potato-and-Cauliflower Mash

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Here's a totally creative way to make use of cauliflower: boil it with sweet potatoes and then mash with milk, butter, freshly grated nutmeg, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. It's a delicious side dish for Thanksgiving—or any night of the week.

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22of 31

Soba and Sweet Potatoes in Miso-Lime Broth

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Nourishing, healthy, and hearty, this warm noodle bowl is packed with shiitake mushrooms, diced sweet potatoes, sliced baby bok choy, plus aromatics like scallions, garlic, sweet white miso, and fresh lime juice.

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23of 31

Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes

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Loaded sweet potatoes get a healthy upgrade with this better-for-you recipe featuring trimmed broccoli rabe, cannellini beans for protein, and sliced pepperoncini.

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West African Peanut Stew

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This flavorful, family-friendly stew comes together in under one hour. It's loaded with collard greens and sweet potatoes, which float in a combination of chicken broth and creamy peanut butter.

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25of 31

Pork Tenderloin with Kale Salad

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This simple dinner will transport you to Tuscany. Diced sweet potatoes are roasted with chopped kale for a colorful, plentiful salad that's topped with dried currants and lots of freshly grated pecorino. It's served alongside pork tenderloin and steamed quinoa.

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Sweet Potato Parmesan Fries

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A healthy take on French fries, we keep the skin on for these sweet potato fries. The potatoes are tossed with olive oil, coarse salt, and Parmesan cheese for a rich, sweet flavor and a slightly caramelized texture.

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Sweet Potato-Sausage Soup

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Twenty minutes of prep time yields a hearty pot of soup with Italian sausage aplenty, pasta shells, sweet potato, and nutritious winter greens.

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Sweet Potatoes and Buttermilk

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Simply roasted wedges of sweet potatoes take on an almost candied flavor. Pair them with an easy, tangy buttermilk-mayo for dipping.

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Sweet Potato and Sage-Butter Casserole

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Sage adds a savory note to sweet-potato casserole topped with crunchy toasted breadcrumbs. Best of all: It can be made two days ahead of time.

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Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

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Bourbon and brown sugar have a natural affinity for sweet potatoes. This simple side dish can be roasted in the oven along with the main dish such as turkey, ham, or pork loin.

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Boneless Pork Chops and Roasted Yam Fries

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Pork loin medallions are dredged in breadcrumbs that are with seasoned with oregano. The earthy, fatty flavors pair well with sweet yams tossed in dark brown sugar.

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31 Sweet Potato Recipes to Make for Every Meal (Including Dessert) (2024)

FAQs

How many sweet potatoes do I need for 30 people? ›

Use 1 medium sweet potato per person.

Can you eat sweet potato as a meal? ›

Caramelized Sweet Potatoes with Brown Butter Seeds and Salted Yogurt. This dish is a great vegetarian main with a crisp green salad and some pickled onions, it also works as a hearty side to bring to a holiday gathering - it does well assembled and served at room temperature.

How often can you eat baked sweet potatoes? ›

Because of their higher sugar levels and high vitamin A content, you can likely enjoy them in moderation about two or three times per week. Eating these vegetables too often could lead to too much vitamin A intake or increase the potential for negative effects on your blood sugar.

Do sweet potatoes lose nutrients when baked? ›

When you bake sweet potatoes, the peel's nutrition value decreases. Also, approximately two-thirds of the antioxidants are lost but microwaving or boiling is gentler. The remainder of the sweet potato is the same way. Baking can also reduce vitamin A levels by 80%, twice as much as boiling.

How many people will 6 lbs of sweet potatoes feed? ›

Will feed 10-12 people.

How much sweet potatoes per meal? ›

A standard serve of sweet potato, ½ cup (75g), is low in FODMAPs, so given an overall green light on the app.

When should you not eat sweet potatoes? ›

How to tell if sweet potatoes have gone bad. If your sweet potato is soft in spots, smells rotten, or oozes a mysterious liquid, that potato should be discarded. Another sign that sweet potatoes have taken a turn for the worse is if they start growing stalky purplish sprouts.

What meat pairs well with sweet potatoes? ›

Let's delve into the meats that harmonize best with sweet potato mash, creating a perfect balance of savory and sweet.
  • Pork Tenderloin: A Symphony of Flavors. ...
  • Roasted Duck: An Opulent Pairing. ...
  • Grilled Chicken: A Lighter Complement. ...
  • Braised Beef Short Ribs: Comfort in Every Bite. ...
  • Seared Salmon: An Unexpected Harmony.

What pairs well with sweet potatoes? ›

If you're serving your oven baked sweet potatoes as a side dish, pair them with your favorite protein or vegetarian chili. For a topping, stick to butter, Greek yogurt, or sour cream, or try adding a dollop of cilantro lime dressing, tzatziki, chipotle sauce, pesto, guacamole, or a drizzle of tahini sauce.

What is the healthiest way to eat sweet potatoes? ›

Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.

Is sweet potato anti-inflammatory? ›

The beta-carotene in sweet potatoes has been shown to fight inflammation, and eating them regularly can help ease joint pain and other symptoms of inflammatory conditions like arthritis. If you're looking for a delicious way to reduce inflammation, add some sweet potatoes to a salad or bake alongside protein!

Which color sweet potato is healthiest? ›

Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are one of the richest natural sources of beta carotene, a plant-based compound that is converted to vitamin A in your body ( 28 ). Vitamin A is critical to a healthy immune system, and low blood levels have been linked to reduced immunity ( 29 ).

Is it better to bake sweet potatoes in the air fryer or the oven? ›

Less time than the oven: Baked sweet potatoes take only about 30 minutes in the air fryer versus 60-80 minutes in the oven. Easy to make: All you really need are a couple of sweet potatoes and an air fryer! Healthy: Sweet potatoes provide plenty of nutritional benefits.

Is it better to boil or bake a sweet potato? ›

The takeaway. If you want to eat sweet potatoes and maintain blood sugar balance, Sapola suggests boiling rather than roasting them. This method will take the glycemic index impact down a few points and maybe even challenge your cooking creativity.

Is it healthier to bake or microwave a sweet potato? ›

It's really the best way. Microwaving sweet potatoes cuts down cook time by 45 to 55 minutes, and, according to a 2018 study, helps maintain the potato's nutritional value. All cooking methods cause foods to lose some of their nutrients, but the quicker your potato cooks, the more nutrients it will retain.

How many potatoes to cook for 30 people? ›

On average, potatoes lose about 25% of their weight during the peeling and cooking process. So, if you start with 10 pounds of potatoes, you'll end up with approximately 7.5 pounds of cooked potatoes. Based on this calculation, you have enough cooked potatoes to serve 30 people.

How many pounds of sweet potatoes do you need to feed 20 people? ›

Potatoes or sweet potatoes: 5 to 6 ounces per person, which equals about 1 large Yukon Gold or white potato, or half of a large sweet potato.

How many potatoes do I need for 25 adults? ›

How Much Food to Serve at a Party
FOODSERVE 25SERVE 50
Meats
Peas (fresh)12 pounds25 pounds
Potatoes9 pounds18 pounds
Potato salad3 quarts1–1/2 gallons
35 more rows
Apr 1, 2024

How many lbs of sweet potatoes for 20 people? ›

I did some research, and here's the answer: a large sweet potato is about a ½ pound. You'll want to figure on ⅓ to ½ pound per person.

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