Crispy Sauteed Sweet Potatoes

These crispy sauteed sweet potatoes are crisp-tender, savory, slightly sweet, and garlicky. Just 3 simple ingredients and ready in 20 minutes, it makes an easy side dish for a busy weeknight or an excellent addition to breakfast burritos, soups, or salads.

I like transitioning to sweet potatoes when the weather turns colder. Maybe they remind me of the holiday season? Regardless, I love them baked, roasted (like these sweet potato fries and this sweet potato frittata), and mashed.

But one of my favorite ways to make sweet potatoes is on the stove top, which makes them crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Because they're ready in 20 minutes, skillet sweet potatoes are great for busy weeknights.

These sauteed sweet potatoes are also versatile and customizable, so you can add them to your favorite breakfast hash and use your favorite seasoning. They're super easy, high in fiber, and freezer-friendly.

Jump to:

• ⭐️ Why These Sweet Potatoes are the Best
• 🥔 Ingredient Notes
• 📝 Variations & Substitutions
• 🔪 How to Make Sauteed Sweet Potatoes
• 👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips
• 🍔 How to Serve Skillet Sweet Potatoes
• 🍽 More Potato Recipes
• Crispy Sauteed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

⭐️ Why These Sweet Potatoes are the Best

• Quick & easy skillet sweet potatoes recipe with just 3 ingredients and ready in 15 minutes
• Crisp-tender, savory, slightly sweet, and garlicky
• Versatile dish that can be served as a weeknight side dish or added to: breakfast hash or burrito, soups/stews, salads/grain bowls, or as an addition to your holiday table.
• Customizable - season your potatoes however you like!

🥔 Ingredient Notes

• Sweet potatoes - Look for plump and firm sweet potatoes that have an orange skin (and flesh). You could also use yellow or white-flesh sweet potatoes but they won't be as moist.
• Extra-virgin olive oil - Use a high-quality olive oil if you can since we only use 3 ingredients here.
• Garlic powder - We opt for garlic powder over fresh garlic here simply because we are cooking our sweet potatoes at a higher heat, which could burn fresh garlic. If you do want to use fresh garlic, you could add it at the end and cook it for around one minute.

📝 Variations & Substitutions

• Seasoning. Although garlic is a natural savory pairing for sweet potatoes, the sky's the limit regarding flavor. Substitute garlic powder for rosemary, cinnamon, cayenne, chipotle, or make your own Italian seasoning.
• Combine with your favorite roasted vegetable, like roasted Brussels sprouts.
• Potatoes. Use this recipe to saute red or russet potatoes, although cook times may vary.
• Oil. Substitute coconut oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil.
• Add to breakfast burritos, soups, salads, grain bowls, or serve with a poached egg on top.

🔪 How to Make Sauteed Sweet Potatoes

*See recipe card below for printable instructions.

Wash and peel potatoes. Dice into ½-inch cubes.

Heal oil over medium heat in a non-stick or cast-iron skillet. Add sweet potatoes to the skillet. Leave them to cook for 5 minutes (try your best not to touch them!), then lower the heat to medium-low and cook for an additional 8-12 minutes, stirring frequently, until the potatoes are fork tender.

Add the garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and stir to cook for an additional minute. *Test one piece of potato with a knife before removing from heat to test for doneness.

👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Storage: Place into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• How to reheat: Place leftovers in a medium-low skillet with a glug of olive oil for a few minutes, until heated through.
• How to freeze: After completely cooled, transfer to a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in refrigerator overnight.
• Use a non-stick pan or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet to prevent sweet potatoes from sticking to the pan.
• Cut potatoes uniformly for even cooking. Follow this helpful guide on how to cut sweet potatoes.
• Let sweet potatoes sit for about 5 minutes when they first hit the pan. This helps them develop a crispy crust while remaining tender on the inside.
• You can leave the potato skin on or peel it if you prefer (the skin is quite nutritious, high in fiber, and full of antioxidants). I like to leave the skin on for added texture.
• Stir frequently after the first 5 minutes of cooking to ensure even cooking and avoid burning; adjust heat as needed.
• Don't crowd the pan. I recommend making this recipe in two batches for extra crispy potatoes. Place cooked sweet potatoes on a plate and place foil loosely over the top to keep warm while you cook the second batch.

🍔 How to Serve Skillet Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a delicious accompaniment to so many dishes. Serve them when you want to add fiber to your meal, ensuring that you'll feel satisfied longer. Depending on how they're seasoned, they will add savory and slightly sweet flavor to a variety of dishes. Pair them with the following:

• Eggs. Pair them with your favorite egg dish, like my vegetarian frittata or spinach quiche.
• Fish. Serve with a variety of fish recipes, like mustard dill salmon.
• Sandwiches/burgers. Who doesn't love a side of sweet potatoes with a sandwich? Pair them with portobello burgers or your favorite burger.
• Tex-mex. Sweet potatoes pair well with the spiciness of Mexican cuisine. Try them with chicken enchiladas, bean and cheese tacos, or vegetarian fajitas.
• Sauce. Dip them in a bold-flavored sauce, like miso dipping sauce, basil aioli, or pistachio pesto.

🍽 More Potato Recipes

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook.

Subscribe to my email newsletter to get a FREE e-book of 15 Healthy Weeknight Recipes, and get new recipes delivered to your inbox every week!