The BEST Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes

Name: The BEST Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 kg sweet potatoes, washed thoroughly ((£1.20)); 3 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp garlic powder; Salt and pepper

These delicious roasted sweet potato cubes are tender and creamy inside yet crispy and caramelised on the outside. They’re the perfect combo of sweet and salty. Made with a simple spice list, they’re flavourful and easy to make. Roasting also helps accent the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes. There’s no going back once you eat sweet potatoes made via this method!

Close up of roasted sweet potato cubes with some coarse salt displayed on a blue tray.

Table of Contents

Why you’ll love this recipe

Easy – These roasted sweet potato cubes only require a few ingredients and steps.

Delicious – This recipe for roasted sweet potatoes features yummy spices that complement the sweetness of the potatoes.

Crispy – You’ll get a deliciously crispy exterior by creating roasted instead of baked sweet potatoes.

Quick – You’ll only need a few minutes for prep time, and the potatoes can go right into the oven.

Great as a side dish – These yummy cubed sweet potatoes in oven recipe is full of fibre, making it a healthy, filling side dish for mealtime.

Use leftover sweet potatoes to make these other tasty recipes: Crispy Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges, Halloumi and Sweet Potato Tex Mex Bowls, or Homemade Pan-fried Sweet Potato Gnocchi.

Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes
Jewel, Garnet, or Japanese sweet potatoes are delicious in this roasted sweet potato cubes dish. Use one of these varieties for the best results.

Olive Oil
For this sweet potato cubes oven recipe, you’ll need a neutral oil that can handle high heat. Avocado oil is also a great option as you can cook with it in hotter temps.

Smoked Paprika
I love using smoked paprika for this recipe, which complements the sweet potato flavour well. However, you can also use spicy or sweet paprika if you prefer those flavours.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How Do You Roast Something?

Roasting vs baking difference
There’s one primary difference between roasting and baking: the temperature. Roasting (like this roasted sweet potato cubes recipe) requires higher temperatures than baking. These high temps help create a golden-brown colour and crispy exterior.

High temp
In this recipe for oven-roasted sweet potato cubes, I recommend roasting the potatoes between 370-410F. However, you can roast sweet potatoes up to 450F to get a crispy outside.

Uncovered
When roasting sweet potatoes, you want to leave them uncovered so they can caramelise and crisp up. If you cover sweet potatoes in foil, you’ll be steaming them instead of roasting them, so they’ll have a softer/non-crispy texture.

Caramelisation and sugars= crispiness
While it’s important to flip the cubed sweet potatoes while they’re in the oven for a more even cook, it’s also necessary to not over-flip them. The juices will caramelise as they sit, creating an even more crispy and delicious outside.

roasted sweet potato cubes with some coarse salt displayed on a blue tray.

Choosing a good sweet potato

The key to creating the best roasted sweet potato cubes is selecting a good sweet potato. I prefer using smaller sweet potatoes for this roasted sweet potato recipe, which means a higher skin-to-potato ratio. The potato skin also has a good amount of fibre and nutrients, so I recommend leaving the skins on for this recipe.

Best types of sweet potatoes for roasting

If you head to the grocery store, you’ll likely see jewel and garnet sweet potatoes. These are more “moist” on the inside, making them a great option for roasting. You can also use Japanese sweet potatoes, as they have a delicious nutty taste and are sweeter in flavour. They’ll also provide a creamier texture inside if used in this roasted sweet potato cubes recipe.

How To Prepare Sweet Potatoes

How to wash whilst leaving skin on
I leave the skin on the sweet potatoes in this recipe for the best results. Since you’re leaving the skin on, washing the outside of the potato is necessary to get rid of any dirt. If you don’t have a vegetable scrubber, soak the potatoes for a few minutes to loosen up any dirt/debris. Then, rinse in a colander. If you have a scrubber, brush the dirt off the exterior of the potatoes while rinsing under cool water.

How to cut into cubes
Sweet potatoes can be tricky to chop, as they’re very hard. Use a very sharp knife to slice the roast sweet potato cubes for the best results.

Does a sweet potato need to be soaked in water before cooking?
No, you do not need to soak a sweet potato before cooking it. Generally, you soak potatoes in water if you’re making fries, as it helps them turn out crispier while frying. Since this recipe is for roasted sweet potato cubes, soaking the potatoes beforehand is unnecessary.

How long to bake sweet potato cubes

The total cook time for these roasted sweet potato cubes will depend on their size. It should take 30 minutes for them to cook if you’ve cubed the potatoes into 1″ pieces. You’ll need to adjust the cook time if the cubes are larger or smaller. You’ll know the roasted cubes sweet potatoes are ready when they’re golden brown/caramelised on the outside and fork tender. If it’s difficult for you to put a fork into the potatoes, let them roast for a few minutes until a fork goes into them easily.

How to serve roast sweet potato

These roasted sweet potato cubes are great alongside various dishes. You can pair them with roasted poultry, pork loin, or pan-fried steak. Or, use them as a main dish and create some yummy vegetarian/vegan recipes. Turn them into tacos or use them as a topping for salads.

Here are some other healthy side dishes to try; Creamy White Beans with Parmesan (Cannellini Beans), Israeli Couscous (Pearl Couscous Recipe) and Sauteed Broccoli (in 10 minutes!)

Variations/ Adaptations

If you want to alter the roasted sweet potato cubes to your taste preferences, try these variations/adaptations. These yummy sweet potato cubes make excellent tacos. Use the typical toppings like cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, etc., for flavourful sweet potato tacos. You can also use roasted sweet potatoes to make a warm salad.

Or, toss these oven roasted sweet potatoes with a whole grain (like cooked brown rice or quinoa) for a more filling dish. You can even turn sweet potatoes into a healthy dessert/breakfast option. Simply swap out the seasoning for brown sugar and warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Here are some healthy soup recipes, if you are serving a starter : Courgette Soup, Celeriac Soup and Red Cabbage Soup with Feta

How to make roasted sweet potato cubes

Preheat your oven to 190°C FAN/ 210°C conventional/ 370°/410°F

Start washing the sweet potatoes, drain and dry them (Image 1).
Then using a chopping board, slice your potatoes into 1 inch cubes (Image 2).

2 step by step photos, the first with sweet potatoes in a sieve and the second with the sweet potatoes sliced into cubes on a chopping board.

3. Add the potatoes cubes to a foil lined baking sheet, then add the paprika, onion and garlic powder. Season generously with salt and pepper. Drizzle over the olive oil and toss with your hands, ensuring all of the sweet potato cubes are evenly coated (Image 3).

4. Pop in the oven for 30 minutes, shaking the tray halfway. Serve with a sprinkle of salt and black pepper and dig in! (Image 4).

2 step by step photos, the first with sweet potato cubes laid out on a foil lined baking tray with a hand moving the cubes and the second with the sweet potato cubes baked in the tray.

Serve the roasted sweet potato cubes with ; The BEST Crispy Bone-in Chicken Thighs, Meatballs in Tomato Sauce and Grinder Salad (Italian Sub Salad)

Tips for the best result

Leave space between cubes
When making cubed sweet potato recipes like this one, leaving plenty of space between the sweet potato chunks is essential. Otherwise, you won’t get a crispy exterior. If you have smaller baking sheets, you may need to use two for this recipe.

Only flip the sweet potatoes once
The key to making the best roasted sweet potato cubes is minimally flipping/shaking the tray. I recommend only flipping/shaking the potatoes once for this recipe. By doing this, you’re allowing them to caramelise as they cook.

Don’t skip the oil
The oil in this recipe helps keep the potatoes from sticking to the pan. It also helps create a deliciously crispy exterior.

Use foil
Since this recipe requires the potatoes to caramelise, you’ll want to place a sheet of foil on the baking pan before adding the potatoes. This extra step helps make cleaning up much easier once the potatoes are roasted.

roasted sweet potato cubes spread out on a blue tray topped with some coarse salt.

FAQs

What is the difference between baking and roasting?

When baking a recipe, it’s at a lower temperature than roasting.

Should you soak sweet potatoes before roasting?

It is unnecessary to soak sweet potatoes before roasting, like with this roasted sweet potato cubes dish.

Why are my roasted sweet potato cubes not crispy?

If you cover your roasted sweet potato chunks with foil, they will not turn out crispy. You may also need to keep them in the oven at a higher temperature or for longer.

Why are my roasted sweet potatoes mushy?

You may have mushy roasted sweet potatoes if you overcrowd the baking sheet. Roasted sweet potatoes need space so they can caramelise and crisp up.

Are sweet potatoes and yams the same?

No, sweet potatoes and yams are two separate food items. Yams typically have darker skin and starchy flesh. In comparison, sweet potatoes typically have a softer flesh (once cooked), a slightly sweet taste, and a reddish skin.

What spices go well with sweet potatoes?

Since sweet potatoes have a mild, slightly sweet taste, many spices pair well with them. You can use everything from citrus to fresh herbs to season sweet potatoes. A few seasoning options include lime juice, cilantro, chili powder, cloves, and garlic.

Can you cook sweet potato cubes in an airfryer?

Yes, you can cook sweet potato cubes in an air fryer. Follow the recipe above, except you’ll need to preheat the air fryer to 400°F / 200°C instead of the oven. Then, roast the potatoes for about 12 minutes, shaking the basket at the halfway point.

Pair these roasted sweet potatoes with yummy mains like Easy Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Basa Fillet Recipe with Creamy Tuscan Sauce, or Marry Me Chicken for a more filling meal.