Pan-fried sweet potatoes are a quick and easy side dish cooked to crispy perfection with minimal ingredients. These tasty sweet potatoes are tossed with olive oil and seasoning, then fried until fork tender. Serve them up nice and hot for the whole family to enjoy!
Serve them with my pork chops or air fried salmon and pan-seared brussel sprouts for a tasty dinner.
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Stove-top sweet potatoes come together quickly and taste amazing when you cook them in a frying pan with some olive oil and seasonings. It will only take 10 minutes to fry diced sweet potatoes until they are fully cooked and tender!
This recipe is great when you're in a hurry for a sweet and savory potato side dish. My pan-fried sweet potatoes will pair well with any meal from breakfast to dinner!
🥘 Ingredients
This ingredient list is short and simple. If you don't like chili powder, you can use any of your favorite seasonings.
- Sweet Potato - 1 large sweet potato (washed and peeled).
- Olive Oil - 1 tablespoon of olive oil (extra virgin).
- Yellow Onion (optional) - ¼ cup yellow onion (diced).
- Salt & Pepper - ¼ teaspoon of each, salt & pepper (to taste).
- Chili Powder (optional) - ¼ teaspoon of chili powder (to taste).
Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!
🔪 How To Make Pan Fried Sweet Potatoes
Frying sweet potatoes is as easy as it comes; just make sure that you don't overcrowd the pan so that every piece is cooked evenly. You will only need a chef's knife, frying pan, and rubber spatula.
This recipe calls for 1 sweet potato which makes about 2 servings. If you need to make more, you may need to use an extra skillet.
- Prep. Wash and peel the 1 large sweet potato, then dice it into cubes that are roughly ½-1" in size.
- Heat oil. In a large non-stick frying pan or skillet, heat the 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Cook potato. Once the oil is shimmering hot, add the sweet potato to the pan (and optional ¼ cup onion, if using). Cook for 10 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes, until the sweet potato is browned and cooked all the way through. *Your sweet potato should be fork-tender when done.
- Add seasonings. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of salt, ground black pepper, and optional ¼ teaspoon of chili powder, and stir to combine. Cook for 1 more minute, then remove from heat and serve immediately.
These sweet potatoes would be a great addition to any breakfast, lunch, or dinner main course. Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Managing Multiple Sweet Potatoes: When cooking several sweet potatoes, consider using an additional skillet to avoid overcrowding. Alternatively, a large electric skillet can be used, or you can cook the sweet potatoes in batches. This ensures each potato is cooked evenly and gets the proper caramelization.
- Seasoning Alternatives: If chili powder isn't to your liking, there are other great seasoning options for sweet potatoes. Brown sugar, cumin, rosemary, sage, and cinnamon are all excellent choices that can add a unique flavor to your dish. Feel free to experiment with these seasonings to find your preferred taste.
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🥡 Storing & Reheating
To store your leftovers, place them in an airtight storage container or Ziploc bag. They'll keep in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Reheating your sweet potatoes is a snap! Simply add them to a skillet with a splash of oil over medium heat and cook until warmed through. Alternatively, portions can be reheated in the microwave in short 30-second increments at high power.
❓ Recipe FAQs
No, it is not necessary to soak the sweet potatoes beforehand. However, if you do, it would release some of the potato's starch making them turn out even more crispy after frying. Soak them in an ice water bath for at least 30 minutes, drain, then pat dry with a clean towel.
Pan-fried sweet potatoes will go well with any kind of meat and vegetable! They are especially delicious with pan seared swordfish, pork tenderloin, and sasso chicken!
Absolutely! There is no need to peel sweet potatoes before frying. Leaving the skin on the potatoes will give them a great texture and save you time in the kitchen.
😋 Best Sweet Potato Recipes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries- These sweet and savory french fries are great to make when you need a hands off side dish.
- Baked Sweet Potatoes- A baked potato recipe that you can stuff with your favorite sweet or savory toppings.
- Sweet Potato Sushi- If someone in your family doesn't like raw fish, try my delicious sweet potato sushi dish.
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes- Make these wonderful mashed sweet potatoes for your next holiday get together.
- Sweet Potato Tart- A stunning sweet potato tart recipe with marshmallow maringue that will impress your guests on the holidays.
- Roasted Sweet Potato & Onions- Try my oven roasted sweet potatoes when you need an easy side dish that pairs well with anything.
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📖 Recipe Card
Pan Fried Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato (washed and peeled)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- ¼ cup yellow onion (optional, diced)
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder (optional, to taste)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Wash and peel the sweet potato, then dice it into cubes that are roughly ½-1" in size.
- In a large non-stick frying pan or skillet, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is shimmering hot, add the sweet potato to the pan (and optional onion, if using). Cook for 10 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes until the sweet potato is browned and cooked all the way through. *Your sweet potato should be fork-tender when done.
- Sprinkle with salt, ground black pepper, and optional chili powder and stir to combine. Cook for 1 more minute, then remove from heat and serve immediately.
Notes
- If cooking multiple sweet potatoes, use an extra skillet as needed to keep the potato from crowding the pan. Alternatively, you can also use a large electric skillet or cook in batches.
- If you do not prefer chili powder, other good seasoning choices could include brown sugar, cumin, rosemary, sage, and/or cinnamon.
- To store: Keep leftover pan-fried sweet potatoes in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- To reheat: Add sweet potatoes to a skillet with a splash of oil over medium heat until warmed through. Alternatively, portions can be reheated in the microwave in short 30-second increments at high power.
Rebecca says
So easy and delicious! I cooked in a cast iron pan and used ghee instead of olive oil, seasoned with the chili powder and a few sprinkles of chipotle powder to add a little heat. Turned out great!