From creamy to crispy, sweet to savory, sweet potatoes have a lot to offer—and we couldn't be more grateful.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi
If this extensive list of our best sweet potato recipes doesn’t make it obvious, we’ll just say it: We love these sweet, starchy, colorful spuds, which thrive whether they’re mashed, baked, or fried.
Maybe you already know your way around these tasty root vegetables—you’ve been making simple roasted sweet potatoes and festive candied sweet potatoes for years. But you still need some fresh ideas, right? So we’ve collected all of our favorite ways to cook sweet potatoes below.
First things first: Make sure you know the difference between sweet potatoes and yams. From there, just follow your cravings. This collection includes the kind of cozy casseroles you’ll want to snuggle up with, a sweet potato pie you can make right now and freeze for Thanksgiving, and a wide variety of methods for transforming a few sweet potatoes into a hearty vegetarian dinner.
Enough talking, though. Let’s get cooking.
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio
Sweet Potato Cake With Salted Cream Cheese Frosting
Did we even talk about sweet potato recipes if we didn’t mention this layer cake? Simple in design and mostly traditional in flavor—salted cream cheese frosting is a little glow-up—this one is, dare we say it, The One.- Photograph by Victoria Jane, Food Styling by Mallory Lance, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
This simple recipe will get you tender sweet potatoes every time—and we’re confident in assuming that those times will be many. Add these roasted vegetables to a salad, serve with roasted chicken, or use them as a meatless taco filling. - Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni
Almost-Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
Toasted marshmallows, we can’t quit you. This vintage-inspired Thanksgiving side gets its crunch from a crispy cornflake streusel, so it’s safe for folks who can’t eat nuts. - Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi
Sweet Potato Fries With Sriracha Dip
There’s no need to break out your air fryer for these. Preheat your oven, cut sweet potatoes into wedges, mix crème fraîche and sriracha in a bowl—that’s all the prep time you need—and roast the vegetables for half an hour. Boom. - Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Paola Andrea
Sweet Potato Pie With Marshmallow Whip
Fresh ginger gives this silky pie the power to stand out from the crowd. And everything but the luscious marshmallow whip can be prepped in advance and kept frozen. - Photograph by Guang Xu
Sweet Potato and Blue Cheese Dip
When blended with blue cheese, roasted sweet potatoes make a creamy dip that tastes like a vegetable-driven version of queso. Top it with spiced pecans or walnuts if you like, or count on the potato chips for adding crunch. - Photograph by Isa Zapata. Food Styling by Cyd McDowell. Food Styling by Paige Hicks
Sweet Potato Pone
When sweet potato pie sheds its crust and takes a trip to the tropics, you end up with this delightfully spiced sweet potato pone. The Caribbean staple can be either sweet or savory, but the vanilla ice cream on top makes it clear that this one’s for dessert. - Photograph by Jenny Huang, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Martha Bernabe
Sweet Potato Tian
Tian, a Provençal-style gratin of sliced vegetables served right from its baking vessel, gets a Chinese American twist here thanks to ginger, miso, dark soy sauce, and five-spice powder. - Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Emma Ringness
Cornmeal-Crusted Sweet Potato Wedges
So many sweet potato wedge recipes don’t actually get crispy. But these extra-savory baked fries succeed where others have failed. You may have to turn up the TV because the crunching is so loud. - Alex Lau
Savory Sweet Potato Casserole
The first move on this list of our most beloved sweet potato recipes had to be a casserole, a.k.a. the ultimate fall comfort food. Plus, the combo of brown butter and rosemary? Chef’s kiss. - Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by JoJo Li
Sticky-Spicy Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Lots of sweet potato recipes head toward candy, but this one balances the sugar with punchy, bold flavors. You’ll glaze tender roasted sweet potatoes in a sticky-spicy sauce made with maple syrup, sambal oelek, vinegar, soy sauce, and miso, then scatter on chopped peanuts, sliced pickled sushi ginger, and cilantro. - Photograph by Christopher Testani, Food styling by Victoria Granof, prop styling by Alex Brannian
Sweet Potato Loaf Cake With Dark Chocolate Ganache
This tender, spiced cake, enrobed in dark chocolate ganache, requires that you make your own sweet potato purée. It’s absolutely worth the effort. - Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman
Spicy Kimchi–Sweet Potato Fritters
You don’t need much equipment to make these fritters, but one thing is key: Wring out as much liquid as possible from the sweet potatoes if you want those super-crispy edges. These are a great way to kick off a Christmas or New Year’s Eve party. - Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime
Sweet Potatoes With Maple Tahini
Pro tip: Keep your baking sheet in the oven as it preheats so the sweet potato wedges start to sizzle and crisp as soon as they hit the pan, cutting down on cooking time. - Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Christina Allen
Sweet Potato Pecan Pie
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown
Glazed Sweet Potatoes With Lentils
Tearing roasted sweet potatoes into pieces creates more surface area for charring and glazing with spicy maple-soy sauce. It’s also really fun to do. - Alex Lau
Whiskey Sweet Potato Pie
Reasons to love this sweet potato pie: The custard is enriched with coconut cream and a generous pour of whiskey, the spelt flour crust is amazingly flaky, and let’s not forget the marshmallow-like whipped meringue on top. - Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D’mytrek Brown
Seedy Sweet Potato Oatmeal
A steamed and then mashed sweet potato adds creaminess and extra nutrients to this cozy oatmeal, which can be easily customized to fit various dietary preferences—or moods. - Photograph by Emma Fishman. Food Styling by Pearl Jones.
Pan-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Tempeh
The best part of this easy vegan dinner is the crispy, golden shallots. No, it’s the tempeh that tastes like bacon bits. No, it’s the velvety roasted sweet potatoes. No, no, no—it’s the smoky chipotle oil that flavors it all. - Alex Lau
Coconut-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Collard Greens
The genius move here: a touch of cardamom cooked with the greens. This luscious, coconutty dish can be made with kale or chard, but collards are really best. Roast the sweet potatoes ahead for a speedy Tuesday dinner. - Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski
Feel-Better Chicken and Rice Soup
Made with chicken thighs, jasmine rice, ginger, and sweet potatoes, this is the soup that’ll stand by you when you’re sick. Or when you just need a little comfort. - Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
Dinner Salad With Radicchio and Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Soft-boiled eggs and roasted sweet potatoes make this salad a full meal, not a sidekick. We like to double the dressing so there’s extra on hand for the rest of the week. - Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou
Green Curry Lentil Soup
Ginger, cilantro, spinach, and sweet potatoes—rich in vitamin C and potassium—can bolster us even in the coldest days of sweater season. Bonus: Total time in the kitchen is just 30 minutes. - Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski
Loaded Sweet Potatoes
You can roast these sweet potatoes ahead of time, then rewarm them once you’re good and hungry by flattening and crisping them in a hot skillet. - Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Sue Li
Sweet Potato Tea Cake
Instead of icing, this spiced loaf gets a blanket of fluffy vanilla meringue, which bakes up crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. - Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski
Meal-Prep Roasted Vegetables
We love devoting a portion of Sunday to meal prep and reaping the reward for take-to-work lunches all week long. Here, brussels sprouts, onions, sweet potatoes, and whatever vegetables you’re craving get roasted in one fell swoop. - Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski
Black Lentil and Harissa-Roasted Veggie Bowl
This filling, endlessly riffable bowl is pictured with roasted sweet potatoes, but you can mix in any hardy vegetable that you have on hand. Think delicata squash, cauliflower, eggplant, or a mix. - Photo by Gentl and Hyers, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Nina Lalli
Sweet Potatoes With Tahini Butter
Steam sweet potatoes until their flesh is fluffy and then dress in a sauce made with butter, lime juice, tahini, soy sauce, and sesame oil and showered with sesame seeds. Honestly, what could possibly sound better? - Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
Shingled Sweet Potatoes With Harissa
If you often find sweet potato side dishes too sweet, try this elegant rendition of the classic casserole, which gets complex, earthy flavor and a touch of heat from harissa. - Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio
Roasted Squash Salad With Crispy Chickpeas
Crispy, chewy, savory, bright, and about a dozen other wonderful adjectives apply to this easy dinner. Serve it with a dollop of yogurt and you can call it creamy too. - Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Micah Morton
Dakgalbi
This beloved stir-fried Korean chicken dish is spicy, sweet, aromatic, and filling—and it comes together in a few easy steps (and one pan) on the stovetop. - Photo by Marcus Nilsson, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski
Charred Sweet Potatoes With Hot Honey Butter and Lime
When you mix hot sauce with butter, it turns into a spicy, creamy spread that’s perfect for melting atop burnished sweet potato halves. It’s a never-boring holiday side that’ll also jazz up any weeknight meal. - Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Chris Morocco
Simple Quiche With Sweet Potato Crust
This gluten-free breakfast quiche uses caramelized sweet potato instead of dough for its “crust.” It’s clever packaging for creamy eggs, sharp cheddar, curly kale, and sweet, tender onions, and it’s one of our favorite sweet potato dishes to serve for brunch. - Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou
Spiced Sweet Potato Sandwich With Feta
Carb heaven is a place where sesame kaiser rolls and slices of sweet potato spiced with ancho chile powder and cumin hang out together. Quick-pickled beets add a tart bite, but cranberry sauce would be good too. - Alex Lau
Charred Sweet Potatoes With Honey and Olive Oil
Japanese sweet potatoes are starchier than orange-fleshed varieties and worth seeking out. If you’re out of oven space and still need a side dish, start here. These babies are steamed, then grilled. - Photo by Oriana Koren, food styling by Lillian Kang, prop styling by Jillian Knox
Sweet Potato Grits
Grits are already perfect, but this recipe proves that blending in roasted sweet potatoes is a no-fail, crowd-pleasing move. (Both can be true, no?) - Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Anna Stockwell, prop styling by Emily Eisen
Sweet Potato Bowls With Spiced Lamb and Mushrooms
Recipes with sweet potatoes are a cheat code for weeknights. Steam a few while you sauté mushrooms with lamb, quick-pickle fennel and onions, and stir together a simple yogurt sauce, and in half an hour, dinner’s on the table. - Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell
Harissa Sweet Potato Tarte Tatin
Can sweet potatoes be glamorous? We say yes—and this tart, which could be the center of a brunch spread or a hearty vegetarian option at your next dinner party, agrees. - Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
Sweet Potatoes With Charred Lemons and Crunchies
With custardy insides and charred exteriors, these sweet potatoes have crème brûlée energy. A shower of toasty nuts and seeds adds crunch; lemony yogurt dials up the richness. - Photo by Alex Lau
Charred Sweet Potatoes With Toum
One of our favorite sweet potato recipes comes with a smear of toum, a garlic sauce that’s a staple of Lebanese cuisine and others from the Levant. - Photograph by Chris Simpson, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker
Sweet Potato and Onion Tempura With Chive Mayo
Shatteringly crisp tempura like this is best eaten in your kitchen—as soon as it cools enough enough to safely cram into your mouth. - Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Emily Eisen
Ponzu Roasted Salmon for Two
Dressed with a tart-and-sweet combo of ginger, garlic, lime juice, tamari, honey, and sesame oil, this combination of fish and veg feels fancy enough for a special occasion. - Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Sue Li
Sweet Potato Hummus
Hummus, but make it sweet potatoes instead of chickpeas. The rest is the same: garlic, olive oil, tahini, kosher salt, and a little tart citrus, blended until silky. Just add flatbread or crunchy vegetables for dipping. - Peden + Munk
Sweet Potato Curry
This one-dish wonder is chock-full of nourishing ingredients: ginger, sweet potatoes, carrots, and herbs, all brought together with crushed tomatoes, coconut milk, and red curry paste. - Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Sue Li
Cauliflower Sabzi With Sweet Potatoes
Serve this spicy cauliflower and sweet potato dish alongside pork chops or cod—or just add a dollop of yogurt and some cooked rice to make a satisfying vegetarian dinner. - Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
Obe Ata Stew With Chicken and Spinach
This recipe uses obe ata, a Nigerian sauce that incorporates floral habanero chiles and bell peppers, as the base for a warming, weeknight-friendly chicken and sweet potato stew. - Linda Xiao
Grilled Sweet Potato Baba Ghanoush
There’s a method for making baba ghanoush—and it applies to more than eggplant. Here, sweet potatoes get the same treatment: You’ll char them; blend the flesh with garlic, lemon juice, tahini, and oil; and serve the creamy result with pita bread. It’s one of our best sweet potato recipes for kicking off a dinner party.
Sweet Potatoes With Stilton and Walnuts
Brazen blue cheese cuts the sweetness of the roasted roots; if you like your sweet potato recipes a little mellower, you can use a creamier option, like Gorgonzola dolce.
Is sweet potato actually healthy?
In addition to being an excellent source of vitamins A and C, sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber, vitamin B-6 and potassium. And like all vegetables, they're relatively low in calories — one-half of a large sweet potato has just 81 calories. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
What are the benefits of sweet potato?
Health benefits of sweet potato.
1: Support healthy vision: ... .
2: Help for good digestion:.
3: Help to manage diabetes: ... .
4: Help to prevent the risk of cancer: ... .
5: Help to minimizing the risk of heart health. ... .
6: May enhance brain function: ... .
7: May boost the immune system: ... .
8: Help to improve skin:.
Are sweet potatoes healthy for weight loss?
Summary. Sweet potatoes are beneficial for weight loss due to their high fibre content, low fat and calorie levels, and nutrient density. They promote satiety, regulate blood sugar levels, and provide essential vitamins and minerals. Additionally, sweet potatoes are low in sodium and rich in antioxidants.
What is the healthiest way to eat sweet potatoes?
Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.