A simple sweet potato sauté made with a handful of ingredients, and ready in 20 minutes! This is an excellent way to quickly cook crisp sweet potatoes without having to turn on the oven. Serve as a side dish, enjoy as breakfast potatoes, or add to your buddha bowls! There are so many ways to enjoy these crispy sweet potatoes!
Sweet potatoes are by far my favorite potato! It’s not just because they are slightly sweet and totally delicious, but because they are packed with so many vitamins and nutrients like B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium and so many more!
I have cooked sweet potatoes in many ways such as making it part of the main course in my vegan stuffed sweet potato recipe, as a spring side dish in my roasted sweet potatoes, or air fryer baked sweet potatoes. But what do you do when you want a crispy sweet potato in a hurry? How about making a sweet potato sauté.
Making a quick sauté using olive oil in a non-stick pan is the ticket to golden brown sweet potatoes that you can use any way you like! I enjoy them as a side dish with my lentil tacos or added to a simple buddha bowl with quinoa, and kale. Enjoy these crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside, seasoned to perfection with crisp onions and sweet potatoes.
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💗 Why This Recipe Works
- Crispy
- Quick and Easy
- Simple Ingredients
- Versatile Recipe
🥣 Ingredients and Notes
Sweet Potatoes: Two large sweet potatoes peeled, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
Red Onion: Finely chopped. Adds a bit more flavor and texture to the sauté. Feel free to leave out the onions if you prefer.
Olive Oil: A small amount of olive oil allows the sweet potatoes to be brown on each side. Sautéing the sweet potatoes in olive oil allows you to use less oil than roasting and reduces the calories and fat.
Seasoning: These sweet potatoes are seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Feel free to use a bit of cayenne pepper for spice, or paprika for smokiness.
📋 Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Peel the sweet potatoes, chop them into thin rounds, then cut them into quarters. Finely chop the red onion.
Step 2: Heat a non-stick pan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil, and red onion. Sauté until translucent.
Step 3: Add the sweet potatoes in a single layer. Cook for 5-7 minutes, flip and cook on the other side for an additional 5-7 minutes or until fork-tender. Additional time may be needed if the potatoes are thickly sliced.
Step 4: Add the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with chopped herbs (optional).
❓Recipe FAQS
The time it takes to cook sweet potatoes on the stove depends on the thickness of the sliced sweet potatoes. The thinner the potatoes are sliced the faster they are cut. The thicker the potatoes are sliced the longer they will take to cook.
There are a variety of ways to cook sweet potatoes including roasting, air frying, boiling, baking, frying, and sautéing. The healthiest way to prepare sweet potatoes is the way that uses the least amount of oil. Boiling would be the healthiest way to prepare them since no oil is needed. However, sautéing the sweet potatoes in a tablespoon of olive oil drastically reduces the amount of oil used if you were to fry or roast them. Air frying is another healthy way to prepare sweet potatoes if you want a crisp finish using a minimal amount of oil.
Simply season with salt and pepper. For a spicy take add cayenne pepper, for a smoky flavor add paprika. For a hint of warm spice toss with cinnamon and nutmeg.
👩🏻🍳 How to Serve
Breakfast Potatoes: Serve as a side with an omelette, breakfast casserole, or quiche.
Buddha Bowls: This side dish is excellent for meal prep. Add it to your buddha bowls, burrito bowls, or fold it into a wrap.
Side Dish: Enjoy as a side dish to any main dish you like. Take to a picnic! They can be eaten and enjoyed at room temperature too.
❄️ How to Store and Keep
Allow the sweet potatoes to cool completely to room temperature. Transfer them to an airtight container. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
💭 Expert Tips
- Cook time will vary depending on the thickness of the sliced sweet potatoes.
- Make sure to cook the sweet potatoes in a single layer to allow them to brown and crisp on both sides.
- Slice the sweet potatoes evenly so that they cook at the same rate.
- Use a large skillet so that the potatoes can cook in a single layer.
😋 More Sweet Potato Recipes!
Recipe
Sweet Potato Sauté
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and thinly sliced
- ½ cup red onion finely diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ tsp garlic
Instructions
- Peel the sweet potatoes, and chop into thin rounds, then cut into quarters. Finely chop the red onion.
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, and red onion. Sauté until translucent.
- Add the sweet potatoes in a single layer. Cook for 5 minutes, flip and cook the other side for an additional 5 minutes.
- Add the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with chopped herbs (optional).
Video
Notes
- Cook time will vary depending on the thickness of the sliced sweet potatoes.
- Make sure to cook the sweet potatoes in a single layer to allow them to brown and crisp on both sides.
- Slice the sweet potatoes evenly so that they cook at the same rate.
- Use a large skillet so that the potatoes can cook in a single layer.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Add different seasoning depending on your taste preference. Cayenne for spice. Paprika for smoky. Cinnamon and Nutmeg for warm hints of sweet.
Thomas C
Great recipe! Thank you!
Would extra virgin olive oil work on medium-high heat here, or should we use refined oil?
Alison Corey
Yes, extra virgin olive oil will work.
Seema Doraiswamy Sriram
This is the perfect warm side to any dinner! I love how the slight char on the sweet potatoes makes them taste even better. Easy, simple and delicious, love the recipe.
Vidya Narayan
Since we love sweet potatoes at home, will be making and serving this as side with dal and basmati rice. Easy and delicious!
Sara Welch
Quite possibly the best way to enjoy sweet potatoes! Quick, easy and hands down delicious; easily, a new favorite recipe!
Sandhya S
Oh yum! Love an easy sweet potato side dish.