Steamed sweet potatoes are an easy side dish for lunch or dinner. Cut them into chunks, steam until fork-tender, and serve warm with butter, lemon, herbs, or a little salt and pepper. I make these often because they are quick, filling, and good hot, cold, or reheated in a skillet the next day.
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Steaming sweet potato chunks is simple. Peel, cut into 1-inch pieces, and steam over medium heat until tender. Serve with butter, lemon, or herbs. Enjoy them warm, chilled, or mashed. Steamed sweet potatoes are naturally gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and easy to work into simple meals throughout the week.
Sweet Potato Varieties
- Beauregard sweet potatoes are a common grocery-store variety. They have bright orange flesh with a mild, sweet flavor.
- Jewel - Orange flesh; soft texture when cooked.
- Garnet - Deep reddish skin; rich orange flesh and sweeter taste.
- Japanese (Satsumaimo) - Red skin with pale flesh; firmer and less sweet.
A few weeks ago, I shared a steamed purple sweet potato recipe. It shows how the flavor and texture are different from the orange types.
Ingredients
- Sweet Potatoes
- Water
Are Sweet Potatoes Hard to Cut?
Sweet potatoes can be firm, especially when they are cold.
Use a large sharp chef's knife and a sturdy cutting board.
Peel the potato, then cut it in half lengthwise so it sits flat.
Then slice each half in half.
Slice across into even pieces.
Trim any large chunks so they cook evenly.
How to Steam Sweet Potatoes
TIP: You can pick up a collapsible steamer basket at the dollar store. It expands to fit different pot sizes.
- Place a steamer basket inside a medium or large pot and add water until it sits just below the bottom of the basket.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
- Peel 1-4 sweet potatoes and cut them into evenly sized chunks.
- Add the potatoes to the steamer basket.
- Cover, bring back to a boil, then lower heat to medium.
- Steam for 10-15 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
Serving Suggestions
Steamed sweet potatoes go great with steak, chicken, fish, and salads.
These sweet potatoes are mixed with sautéed mushrooms and served with seared snapper fillets.
Here are a few easy ways to work sweet potatoes into your meals.
- You can enjoy steamed sweet potatoes without any seasoning and appreciate their earthy flavor. I love to eat them cold!
- Pair with two sunny-side-up eggs for an easy breakfast.
- Drizzle with melted butter and fresh lemon juice. Add a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and chopped fresh parsley.
- Combine cooled sweet potatoes with other chopped vegetables and a light vinaigrette for a cold salad.
- Mash steamed sweet potatoes with the back of a fork. Mix with a little butter, cream, and salt.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate the sweet potatoes in an airtight container within 2 hours and use them within 3-4 days.
To reheat, warm them in a skillet over medium heat with a pat of butter or a spoonful of olive oil.
You can also microwave them for a minute or two until heated through. They taste great cold too, especially in salads.
Takeaway
Steaming is one of the easiest ways to cook orange sweet potatoes. While many people save them for the holidays, I eat them year-round.
I usually make these for myself and love seeing leftovers in the fridge the next morning. They're filling and work well with eggs for breakfast.
For more pairing ideas, see my What To Eat with Sweet Potatoes post.
Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, which supports healthy vision and converts to vitamin A to support skin and immune health.
All you need is a pot and a steamer basket. Cut into chunks and steam over medium heat until tender.
Serve warm with butter, chill for salads, or mash with a fork and a little butter or olive oil.
FAQ
Steaming helps sweet potatoes retain their flavor and keeps them from becoming waterlogged.
Yes. The skin is edible. Most folks peel them for a softer bite, but it's your choice.
Use 1-4 medium sweet potatoes for this method. That's enough to fill a steamer basket without crowding. An 8-quart pot works well, but you can use a smaller 2- to 4-quart pot if you're cooking just one or two potatoes. If you need to make more, cook in batches so the pieces steam evenly.
Boiling keeps them moist. Baking gives deeper flavor. Both work. It depends on how you want to serve them.
Top with butter, salt, and pepper for a simple side. Add fresh herbs, a squeeze of lemon, or a spoon of sour cream. They also pair well with sautéed mushrooms or a drizzle of garlic butter.
Steamed Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Medium or Large Saucepan
- Collapsible Steamer Basket
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- water
Instructions
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into evenly sized chunks.
- Place a steamer basket inside a medium or large pot and add water until it sits just below the bottom of the basket.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
- Add the sweet potatoes to the steamer basket.
- Cover the pot, return the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium.
- Steam for 10-15 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
Bradley says
Tried this as a quick side and it was perfect. Loved how easy it was.