Tender and Crispy Sauteed Sweet Potatoes (Perfect Every Time)

These sauteed sweet potatoes are perfectly tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and jam-packed with flavor. Plus, not only are they delicious, but they're also super quick and easy to make. In fact, you can have these sauteed sweet potatoes cooked and on the table in under 20 minutes!

The Best Sauteed Sweet Potatoes

These sautéed sweet potatoes are a tasty and healthy side dish you can make year-round, and they're sure to be an instant family favorite. Atleast they are at our house.

The bite-sized sweet potato cubes are lightly seasoned and then cooked until they're perfectly caramelized and crisp on the outside yet still soft and tender on the inside.

Gah, they're just so good.

In fact, since they're so yummy and so easy to make, I honestly think this is one of the best sweet potato recipes out there! As I mentioned, it'll take you under 20 minutes from start to finish to make 'em, and the entire process is a breeze to execute. All you have to do is cut the sweet potatoes into cubes, and saute them in a skillet with some seasonings. Yep, that's all that's all there is to this recipe.

By the way, if you're wondering what to eat with sweet potatoes, I usually make these grilled chicken thighs, these thin pork chops, this grilled tilapia, or this ground turkey to pair with 'em.

 

Ingredients

Another reason I love this recipe is that you only need 4 basic ingredients to whip it up. And honestly, you probably have most - if not all - of them at home already!

Anyway, here's everything you'll need for this easy sweet potato recipe:

• 2 sweet potatoes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Simple stuff, right?!

By the way, if end up with some extra sweet potato after making this recipe, you should definitely try making these air fryer sweet potato fries next. They're super crispy, flavorful, and easy to make too.

How To Make Sauteed Sweet Potatoes

I know I've said this a few times, but it's worth saying again, making these skillet sweet potatoes is as easy as it gets. Just a few simple steps are all you have to follow to make 'em.

Anyway, with that said, let's not waste another second: let's get cooking!

Step 1: Prepare The Sweet Potatoes

First, you'll want to wash the sweet potatoes and peel them completely.

Then, you can cut the sweet potatoes into cubes that are about ½ inch thick. Also, just so you know, you can make the cubes bigger or smaller if you want, but I think half-inch cubes cook the best.

Step 2: Sauté The Sweet Potatoes

Now that the sweet potatoes are good to go, you'll want to heat some olive oil in a large cast iron skillet - or any non stick skillet - over medium high heat.

Once the oil is hot, you can add the diced sweet potatoes to the skillet and cook 'em for about 10 minutes. Also, while the sweet potatoes are cooking, make sure to give them a gentle toss - or stir - every few minutes so they cook evenly.

Now, after the 10 minutes is up, you'll want to add the cumin, salt, and pepper to the skillet and toss the sweet potatoes in it. Then, let them cook for a couple more minutes or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender. 

Step 3: Serve The Sweet Potatoes

As soon as the sweet potatoes are cooked through, you can serve them warm along with anything you want, like a fried egg for breakfast or grilled chicken for dinner.

Enjoy!

How To Store Cooked Sweet Potatoes

This recipe for sautéed sweet potatoes makes enough for 4 side dish sized servings. So, if you think you'll need more, you can easily double or triple the recipe. Oh, and consider yourself lucky if you end up with some leftovers.

Speaking of leftovers, if you end up with some, just store 'em in a shallow airtight container - or sealable bag - in the fridge, and they should stay good for up to 5 days.

Alternatively, if you want to keep them for even longer, you can freeze sweet potatoes in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for about 10-12 months.

How To Reheat Sauteed Sweet Potatoes

Whenever you're ready to enjoy these sauteed sweet potatoes again, you'll definitely want to warm them up. So, to reheat 'em, you can either pop them in the microwave, the oven, or the toaster oven.

If you want to use the microwave, just put the sweet potatoes in a bowl, cover them with a wet paper towel, and microwave them in 20-second increments until warm. 

Now, my favorite way to reheat the sweet potatoes - and keep them crispy while doing so - is to put them in the oven or toaster oven. Just put the sweet potatoes on a tray and heat them at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes - or until they're warmed through and slightly crisp.

FAQs About Cooking Sweet Potatoes

How do you cook sweet potatoes in a pan?

To cook sweet potatoes in a pan, simply heat some neutral oil in a pan over medium heat, then once the oil is hot, you can add your diced sweet potato cubes and stir them occasionally for about 10-15 minutes. Once the potatoes are fork tender they're done.

Should sweet potatoes be soaked before frying?

You don't have to soak sweet potatoes in water before frying them. But, if you have extra time, soaking sliced sweet potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes or overnight can remove extra starch from the sweet potatoes and help them crisp up while they fry. Just keep in mind that if you're going to do this step, you'll want to pat the sweet potatoes completely dry before frying them.

What is the healthiest way to cook sweet potatoes?

While boiling sweet potatoes is probably the healthiest way to cook them, sauteing sweet potatoes is also a super healthy way to cook them too. The faster cooking time that sauteeing provides helps prevent too many nutrients from breaking down. Plus, some vitamins in sweet potatoes, like beta-carotene (vitamin A), are fat-soluble - so they're actually better absorbed when they're eaten with a little bit of oil.

Wrapping it Up

Well, that's how to sauté sweet potatoes!

These tender, crispy, and flavorful sweet potatoes have been my go-to healthy side dish to make with dinner lately. They're just so easy to make, and honestly, they turn out perfect every single time. I've literally been obsessed with them, and I have a feeling you're going to love them too!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this sautéed sweet potato recipe as much as I do.

As always, if you make them, be sure to let me know what you think in the comments below.

More Sauteed Vegetable Recipes

If you're looking for more sauteed vegetable recipes, you're in the right place. I have a bunch on the blog that you to try next!

Here are some reader favorites:

• Sauteed shiitake mushrooms
• Sauteed asparagus
• Sauteed eggplant
• Sauteed brussels sprouts
• Sauteed cauliflower

Oh, and for even more tasty, easy, and healthy recipes, don't forget to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube. I post new recipes all the time on 'em!