Air fryer sweet potatoes cook in minutes. The outside gets lightly roasted while the inside stays soft and tender. You can cook them whole or cut into cubes, depending on what you need. This recipe works with orange, Japanese, or purple sweet potatoes.
Jump to:
- Why Use an Air Fryer for Sweet Potatoes
- Air Fryer Settings (Bake, Air Fry, Roast)
- Sweet Potato Cubes (Air Fryer)
- How To Air Fry Baked Sweet Potato Cubes
- Whole Sweet Potatoes (Air Fryer)
- White and Purple Sweet Potatoes
- Top Tips
- Seasoning Ideas
- How to Serve Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
- Storage and Reheating
- Takeaway
- More Recipes You'll Love
- FAQ
- Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer (Cubes and Whole)
Air fryer sweet potatoes cook fast with soft centers and lightly roasted edges. Works for whole or cubed sweet potatoes.
Why Use an Air Fryer for Sweet Potatoes
The air fryer cooks sweet potatoes faster than the oven and gives you the same results in less time.
For cubes, you're looking at about 8 to 12 minutes. They come out browned on the outside and soft in the center.
Whole sweet potatoes take longer, closer to 30 to 45 minutes, but still cook faster than a traditional oven.
You can cook them whole or cut into cubes depending on what you need. They store well too, so it's easy to keep a few on hand for quick dinners or meal prep.
Air Fryer Settings (Bake, Air Fry, Roast)
Use the air fry setting for sweet potato cubes. It cooks them faster and helps them brown on the outside.
Use roast for whole sweet potatoes or larger pieces so they cook through evenly.
Set to 400°F and cook as directed.
If your air fryer doesn't have a roast setting, use air fry instead.
Sweet Potato Cubes (Air Fryer)
Figure about 1 cup of diced sweet potatoes per person. That's roughly one small potato or half of a large one.
- 2 to 3 sweet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper (optional)
How To Air Fry Baked Sweet Potato Cubes
Cubed or diced sweet potatoes cook fast and have lightly brown crispy edges.
You can make roasted sweet potato cubes with orange sweet potatoes, Japanese sweet potatoes, or purple sweet potatoes.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 1-inch cubes.
- Place the cubes in a bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Spread the cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook at 400°F on air fry for 8-9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking.
The cubes should be tender inside and lightly browned on the edges.
Whole Sweet Potatoes (Air Fryer)
You can bake whole sweet potatoes in the air fryer.
Scrub and dry the potatoes, then prick them a few times with a fork so steam can escape.
Air fry on the roast setting at 400°F until tender when pierced with a knife, about 30 minutes for medium potatoes.
Larger potatoes will take up to 45 minutes.
White and Purple Sweet Potatoes
Cubed white Japanese 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 cubes 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 the first time, check after 6 minutes to see where you are rather than relying only on the clock. Every air fryer is different.
Top Tips
- Cut cubes into similar sizes so they cook evenly.
- Don't overcrowd the basket or the potatoes will steam instead of roast.
- Cook in batches if needed for better browning.
- Use the cooking times as a guide. Larger or thicker sweet potatoes may need a few extra minutes.
Seasoning Ideas
Sweet potatoes taste great with just salt and pepper, but a few simple seasonings can add extra flavor.
- Savory mix-ins: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, black pepper, or cumin. Toss cubes with olive oil, salt, and your favorite spice before cooking.
- Sweet toppings: butter with cinnamon, brown sugar, or honey pair well with the natural sweetness. Add after cooking while the potatoes are still warm.
- Fresh toppings: add sliced scallions, chopped parsley, or crumbled feta before serving.
How to Serve Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
Serve cubed sweet potatoes with roasted vegetables or salads.
They also pair well with pan seared shrimp, steak, or roasted chicken.
You can also use them in bowls with rice, greens, or eggs for a quick meal.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat whole sweet potatoes, cut in half and warm in the air fryer at 350°F for 5 to 7 minutes. You can also microwave until heated through.
Reheat cubes in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes, or microwave on high for about 1 minute.
Takeaway
Sweet potatoes are one of the easiest sides you can make, and the air fryer keeps things simple.
You get soft centers, lightly roasted edges, and a dish that works with just about anything on the table.
You can switch up the seasoning or use different varieties like Japanese or purple sweet potatoes.
If you have extra on hand, there are plenty of other ways to use them.
Try my roasted purple sweet potatoes for an oven version, oven baked sweet potato cubes for a classic side dish, or this roasted sweet potato arugula salad when you want something lighter.
You can also browse all of my sweet potato recipes for more ideas.
FAQ
Yes. Sweet potatoes cook very well in the air fryer because the hot circulating air helps soften the inside while lightly roasting the outside. Whole sweet potatoes usually take 30 to 45 minutes, while cubed sweet potatoes cook in about 8-10 minutes.
Use the air fry setting for sweet potato cubes. It cooks them faster and helps them brown on the outside. Use the roast setting for whole sweet potatoes or larger pieces so they cook through evenly. If your air fryer doesn't have a roast setting, use air fry instead.
Plan on about 1 medium sweet potato per person for a side dish. If you're serving a larger meal with several sides, you can stretch that to ½ to ¾ of a potato per person. For cubed sweet potatoes, this works out to about 1 to 1½ cups per person once cooked.
No. The skin is completely edible. Many people leave the skin on for extra flavor and texture, especially when cooking whole sweet potatoes.
Cubed sweet potatoes usually take 8-9 minutes at 400°F. Shake the basket halfway through cooking so the cubes brown evenly.
Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer (Cubes and Whole)
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- kosher salt
- black pepper
Instructions
Cubed Sweet Potatoes
- Peel the sweet potatoes, slice off the tips, rinse, and cut into 1-inch cubes. Pat dry.
- Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Use the air fryer setting.
- Spread in a single layer in the air fryer basket without crowding. For better browning, don't overcrowd the basket.
- Cook at 400°F for 8-12 minutes, shaking halfway through.
Whole Sweet Potatoes
- Wash and scrub the sweet potatoes and pat them dry. Use a fork to poke several holes in each potato.
- Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket.
- Use the roast setting for whole potatoes.
- Cook at 400°F for 30 to 45 minutes, turning halfway through cooking. The potatoes are done when a knife slides easily into the center.
Bradley says
Made this as a fast side dish and it was perfect. Loved how easy it was and the seasoning combination was great.