Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chunks

Why Use an Air Fryer for Sweet Potato Chunks?

Years ago, I watched 50 First Dates and wished I could live somewhere tropical. Now I'm sitting at my desk in Key Largo, looking past swaying palm trees at the bay and writing about sweet potatoes. Apparently, this is what my dream life looks like. At least dinner will be good.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I'm remembering how there's never enough oven space. Candied sweet potatoes can be made ahead and reheated, but roasted sweet potatoes are best served fresh while the edges are still crisp. When the turkey has taken over the oven, the air fryer comes in handy.

These sweet potato chunks cook in about 8 to 12 minutes, with lightly browned edges and tender centers. All they need is a little oil, salt, and pepper.

For a sweeter holiday side, toss them with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon while they're hot. The butter melts and helps coat each piece.

One batch may be enough for a small dinner. For a crowd, cook in batches so the chunks have room to brown, and allow another 8 to 12 minutes per batch.

Leftovers reheat well in the air fryer for lunch or dinner the next day.

Ingredients

Plan on about 1 cup of sweet potato chunks per person.

See recipe card below for exact amounts.

• Sweet potatoes: Use 2 to 3 medium orange sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into even 1-inch chunks.
• Olive oil: Use 1 tablespoon to coat the potatoes and brown the edges. Avocado oil also works.
• Kosher salt: Season to taste.
• Black pepper: Optional, especially if you're adding sweet toppings.
• Optional holiday topping: Toss with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon after cooking, while the potatoes are hot.

How to Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chunks

Step 1: Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 1-inch chunks. Pat dry.

Step 2: Place in a bowl and toss with olive oil, kosher salt, and optional black pepper.

Step 3: Spread in a single layer in the air fryer basket without crowding. Cook in batches if needed.

Step 4: Air fry at 400°F for 8 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Check at 8 minutes and continue cooking until the centers are fork-tender and the edges are lightly browned.

Serve hot. For a sweeter version, toss with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon after cooking.

Cooking for a crowd? Try my oven-roasted sweet potato cubes for a larger batch.

White and Purple Sweet Potatoes

White Japanese sweet potatoes or purple sweet potatoes cook especially well in the air fryer. Both are drier than typical orange sweet potatoes, so they brown better and come out more like roasted potatoes.

Peel and slice into even 1-inch chunks so they cook evenly. Toss with a little olive oil, salt, and black pepper

Cooking time can vary by variety and cube size.

In testing, Japanese sweet potatoes cooked in about 7 minutes, while orange sweet potatoes took closer to 8 minutes at 400°F.

When making them for the first time, check after 6 minutes to see how they're going rather than relying only on the clock. Every air fryer is different.

Seasoning Ideas

Keep your sweet potato chunks simple with salt and pepper, or try one of these variations.

• Savory: Toss with olive oil, salt, and garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, or cumin before air frying.
• Sweet: Toss the hot chunks with butter and cinnamon, then add brown sugar or a drizzle of honey to taste.
• Fresh toppings: Finish with sliced scallions, chopped parsley, or crumbled feta before serving.

How to Serve Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Serve these sweet potato chunks with roast turkey, baked ham, roasted chicken, or steak. For a sweeter holiday side, toss with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon to taste while they're hot.

Add garlic Parmesan green beans, roasted Brussels sprouts, or a simple green salad to round out the meal.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftover sweet potato chunks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes, until heated through. For a quicker option, microwave for about 1 minute, adding more time as needed. The air fryer gives the edges a better texture.

More Sweet Potato Recipes

• Steamed Sweet Potatoes
• Oven-Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes
• Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Feta
• Cinnamon Sugar Sweet Potatoes

For more side dish ideas, browse all my easy sweet potato recipes.

If you tried this Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chunks recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the comments. I love hearing from you!