Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes

Name: Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 500 g sweet potatoes, sliced into 2cm cubes/skin left on ((£1.19/2)=(£0.60)); 2 tbsp canola/ rapeseed oil; 2 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp Cayenne pepper; 1 tsp Italian seasoning; Salt and pepper

I absolutely love this recipe for air fryer sweet potato cubes. The smaller sized bites make cooking super fast, plus they turn out with a delicious crisp outside and tender sweetness inside. These bite-sized nuggets are perfect for a quick weeknight side dish or healthy midday snack option.

Lots of cooked and browned sweet potato cubes on a blue plate.

Table of Contents

Why you’ll love this recipe

Fast cooking – There are two reasons that these airfryer sweet potato cubes are super quick. 1) no peeling! I love the flavor and texture of the skin. And 2) the airfryer! We don’t have to spend ages pre-heating our oven and waiting for them to fully cook through. These are ready in just 20 minutes!

Healthy – Airfryer sweet potatoes use less oil and they’re such a fab source of Vitamin A and C.

Bite size – By slicing the sweet potatoes into small cubes, we get more more surface area to crisp up!

Versatile – They go well with burgers, or any protein of choice, they can be tossed into a salad hot or cold or they could be used as a topping on a soup. The options are endless!

Love using the air fryer for these tasty sides? You’ll need to try my; Easy Diced Air Fryer Potatoes, Air fryer Zucchini Fries and Air Fry Frozen Dumplings

Best Sweet Potatoes to Air Fry

This recipe will work with any sort of sweet potato – luckily the cook time doesn’t vary hugely as they are mostly similar in texture.
Frozen sweet potato cubes can work for this recipe.

→ You can either heat them in the microwave for 5 minutes and then use a clean tea-towel to remove the excess moisture

→ Or you can add them straight into your airfryer basket and cook for a further 6 -10 minutes. If you’re doing this, add the seasoning and oil half way through to prevent it from just melting off of the frozen potatoes.

How to prepare sweet potatoes for air frying

Do you need to wash or rinse them? Yes! Because we aren’t going through the effort of peeling these air fry sweet potato cubes, they will need to be washed to get rid of the dirt on the skin. This only takes a minute or two!

Peel on or off – I leave the peel on for the nutrients and texture that it provides for these crispy air fryer potatoes.

Best way to slice – If possible, use a really sharp knife as they can be difficult to cut. I like to put a damp cloth under my chopping board to ensure that it won’t slide around and then I use two hands to put pressure on the knife.

How big the chunks should be – For this sweet potato air fryer recipe, I like to chop them into 2 cm cubes / ¾ inch.

Should you soak sweet potato cubes? There’s no need to soak them with this recipe.

Should you parboil sweet potato cubes? Nope – as we are chopping them into small cubes, there’s no need to parboil as the cook time is already quick!

How far ahead of cooking them can I cut them? Up to 24 hours. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Ingredients

500g /1 lb of sweet potatoes – this is the perfect quantity to not overcrowd your airfryer basket and yield the crispiest sweet potatoes in the airfryer.

Canola oil/ rapeseed oil – because we’re using a high high heat, we want to use an oil with a higher smoke point. So extra virgin olive oil isn’t good with this recipe!

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

If you love sweet potatoes, try my; Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes, Sweet Potato wedges or Halloumi and Sweet Potato Tex-Mex Bowls

Variations/ Adaptations

Try it with regular potatoes or make sweet potato fries.
Change up the seasoning you use. You could have a different style of air fry sweet potato by having a mixed herb, garlic powder and finish with a squeeze of lemon and parmesan.
If you don’t like the skin, you can definitely peel it off.

Pair these yummy sweet potato cubes with one of these protein-rich mains; Thin Pork Chops in Air Fryer, Sauteed Chicken Breasts or Gammon Joint in the Air Fryer

How to make air fryer sweet potato cubes

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C for 5 minutes.

Start by washing the potatoes (Image 1).
Then slice the potatoes into cubes (Image 2).

2 step by step photos, the first with washed sweet potatoes in a colander on a chopping board and the second with a knife with cubed sweet potatoes.

3. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the sweet potatoes cubes with smoked paprika, Cayenne pepper, a generous pinch of salt/pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning (Image 3).

4. Stir to coat with tongs or a spoon, then add the oil and stir again (Image 4).

2 step by step photos, the first with cubed sweet potatoes in a bowl with seasoning and the second with tongs mixing the sweet potao cubes.

5. Pop the cubes into the preheated air fryer basket and shake to spread them out. Cook at 380°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes (Image 5).

6. After this time they should be crispy and tender on the inside. Serve with flakey salt and a crack of black pepper (Image 6).

2 step by step photos, the first with cubed sweet potatoes in an air fryer tray and the second with the sweet ptoato cubes now cooked in tray.

Need inspiration for some tasty, high protein recipes to serve? Try my; Air Fryer Ribeye Steak, Boiled Chicken Legs and Air Fryer Pork Belly

Tips for the best result

Don’t overcrowd the basket – ensure that the potatoes aren’t overlapping and they are spaced out as much as possible.

Shake the basket half way through cooking time – this will ensure that the crispiness is even throughout the airfryer sweet potatoes.

Make sure you add the oil – without the oil, the potatoes will dry up and the texture will be undesirable.

No need to add foil – you can if you want, but the best air circulation occurs without foil which promotes the crispiest exterior.

Lots of cooked and browned sweet potato cubes on a blue plate on a blue background next to some salt in a bowl and a container with spices.

Delicious ways to use air fried sweet potato cubes

Dipping Delight: Pair your crispy air fryer cubes with a variety of dipping sauces like garlic aioli, spicy sriracha mayo, or classic ketchup for a fun and flavorful snack.

Salad Crunch: Add the cubes to your favorite salad as a crunchy topping. They work great in a Caesar salad or a mixed greens salad for added texture and flavor. Or serve with Greek Chicken Salad or Prawn Salad Recipe.

Loaded Bites: Top your air fryer cubes with melted cheese, bacon bits, sour cream, and chives for a delicious and indulgent appetizer or side dish.

Bowl Boost: Incorporate the cubes into a grain bowl with quinoa or rice, roasted veggies, and a drizzle of tahini or soy sauce for a satisfying and balanced meal.

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

Refrigerator – store in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

Freezer – you can freeze these air fryer sweet potato cubes for up to 3 months. Ensure that it’s properly sealed to prevent water from getting in. This would prevent crispiness.

Reheat – reheat in the airfryer for 5 minutes at 390°F (200°C) of in the microwave for 1-2 minutes on a high.

Lots of cooked and browned sweet potato cubes on a blue plate with some sea salt sprinkled over.

FAQs

Why are my sweet potatoes soggy in the air fryer?

This will be due to overcrowding or if they are frozen beforehand, they often retain more moisture which can lead to sogginess.

Why do sweet potatoes turn black in the air fryer?

This is when they dry out so much that the exterior burns slightly. To prevent this, make sure that you evenly coat the airfryer sweet potato cubes with oil and shake the basket multiple times

Can you eat sweet potato skin?

Yes you can – be sure to wash the dirt off of them though.

Can I use frozen sweet potato cubes?

Yes, see the section above on ‘best sweet potatoes to airfry.’

What seasonings go well with sweet potatoes?

They are naturally sweet, so I like to pair them with salty/smoky seasonings to contrast with that. So paprika, Cayenne pepper, Cajun seasoning, Italian dried herbs etc.