37 Better-For-You Sweet Potato Recipes To Enjoy Year Round (2024)

37 Better-For-You Sweet Potato Recipes To Enjoy Year Round (1)

Trying to eat a little more mindfully this fall? Turn to the humble sweet potato. Higher in antioxidants and vitamins than your average potato, these spuds are ultra-seasonal while still being extremely versatile. From snacks to stews, bowls to casseroles, these orange tubers can do it all, and these 37 healthy sweet potato recipes are proof.

We know “healthy” means different things to different people, so we’ve included options for every diet, like vegan or vegetarian, low-carb or gluten-free, and even low oil (air fryer, we love you).

First things first—you’ve gotta know how to cook your sweet potatoes! We’ve got guides on how to bake a sweet potato, how to roast sweet potatoes, and how to “bake” a sweet potato in the microwave, as well as tips on how to smash 'em, mash 'em, fry 'em, or turn 'em into noodles. Once you get the hang of these, you’ll be ready to make more exciting recipes featuring sweet potatoes with ease.

Looking for something hearty yet light? Try our sweet potato salad, our sweet potato lasagna (no noodles!), or our copycat Sweetgreen harvest bowls. Need something that’ll please the whole family? Check out our harvest chicken casserole, our BBQ chicken twice-baked sweet potatoes, or our chili cheese sweet potato casserole. Need a snack that satisfies? Our Cajun sweet potato tots, our air fryer sweet potato fries, or our sweet potato chips all fit the bill.

Want even more fall veggie inspiration? Check out our top pumpkin recipes, our best apple recipes, and our favorite butternut squash recipes too.

1

Sweet Potato Lasagna

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Lasagnas can do no wrong. They're the most soul-satisfying food around, and this one is no exception. It also proves that pasta isn't necessary. With no noodles to boil, it's almost easier to make than a classic lasagna.

Get the Sweet Potato Lasagna recipe.

2

Sweet Potato Pudding

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This silky smooth sweet potato pudding is a lighter, simplified cousin of sweet potato casserole, without the topping or crust. It's essentially the filling of sweet potato pie with an optional whipped cream or marshmallow fluff topping. No crust or crimping fuss required!

Get the Sweet Potato Pudding recipe.

3

Sweet Potato Chili

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Loaded with Italian sausage, sweet potatoes, and vegetables, this is a chili that will definitely warm you up without weighing you down. It might just become your new fall and winter favorite.

Get the Sweet Potato Chili recipe.

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4

Chili Cheese Sweet Potato Casserole

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With roasted sweet potatoes and black bean chili layered together under a gooey blanket of cheese, this vegetarian weeknight dinner is both incredibly comforting and surprisingly hearty.

Get the Chili Cheese Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.

5

Cacio E Pepe Sweet Potato Noodles

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Looking to convert a spiralized veggie skeptic? Make them these cacio e pepe sweet potato noodles. Tossed in buttery black pepper sauce and showered with Parmesan and Pecorino, these sweet potato noodles are so delicious that no one will even think about asking for “regular” pasta.

Get the Cacio E Pepe Sweet Potato Noodles recipe.

6

Harvest Chicken Casserole

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This satisfying casserole has ALL of your fall favorites—Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, cranberries. Make it for a big crowd, or pack it up and eat the leftovers for lunch. It's a meal prep DREAM.

Get the Harvest Chicken Casserole recipe.

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7

Sheet-Pan Harissa Chicken & Sweet Potatoes

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We love when a dish’s prep is simple and fast; this sheet-pan chicken recipe is the perfect example. If you roast the sweet potatoes as indicated, your gift = creamy centers and crispy edges, enhanced by jammy red onions. Using bone-in thighs guarantees super-tender chicken too!

Get the .

8

BBQ Chicken Twice-Baked Potatoes

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These twice-baked potatoes are loaded with the makings of a full BBQ chicken dinner (and using leftover rotisserie chicken means they come together fast). If you love these, you're going to love these Mexican-inspired twice-baked sweet potatoes too.

Get the BBQ Chicken Twice-Baked Potatoes recipe.

9

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

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We love a good, crispy sweet potato fry. Though the oven-baked variety is great, these air fryer fries get even crispier and take way less time! Paired with our favorite 3-ingredient secret sauce, we can't think of a better snack.

Get the Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries recipe.

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10

Copycat Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl

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Attention, Sweetgreen lovers! Your regular weekday lunch is about to get an instant upgrade. Loaded with roast chicken, sweet potato, and that signature balsamic vinaigrette, our copycat version of Sweetgreen’s beloved harvest bowl will make your favorite takeout lunch an everyday reality.

Get the Copycat Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl recipe.

11

Coconut Ranch Kale Salad

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This plant-based coconut ranch is absolutely irresistible (seriously, you'll want to dip everything in it). But the crunchy chickpeas may just be our favorite part. Who needs croutons?

Get the Coconut Ranch Kale Salad recipe.

12

Sweet Potato Chips

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Sure, no one can resist a bowl of potato chips, but they can be a little boring. Switch things up by making these delicious and absolutely gorgeous sweet potato chips. The natural, earthy sweetness of the potatoes add an another dimension of flavor that is lacking from a regular potato chip.

Get the Sweet Potato Chips recipe.

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13

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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We all love classic sweet potato casserole, but sometimes it feels like the marshmallows steal the spotlight. So this year, why not mix it up—literally—and try mashing them instead?

Get the Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe.

14

Sheet Pan Sweet Potato Hash

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This easy bacon and sweet potato hash can upgrade any breakfast and comes together in one. single. pan. Yes, even the bacon! Make this for any occasion; casual weeknight dinner, Thanksgiving side, potluck... you get the idea.

Get the Sheet Pan Sweet Potato Hash recipe.

15

Salt 'N Pepper Sweet Potato Fries

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Sweet potato fries beat French fries any day, and this recipe has a few tricks up its sleeves to get extra-crispy in the oven with no frying in sight! (Hint: A little cornstarch goes a long way.)

Get the Salt 'N Pepper Sweet Potato Fries recipe.

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16

Vegan Chili

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Sweet potato, black beans, pinto beans, and a whole bottle of beer (like Modelo) come together to make a super hearty meatless chili. This soup is a wintertime staple but is so delicious, we make it year-round.

Get the Vegan Chili recipe.

17

Buddha Bowls

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The beauty about this bowl is that it's infinitely adaptable. You can add about any roasted veggies, use any number of toppings, and it'll taste amazing in this recipe. The only thing we might insist you must keep on the bowl is the incredible peanut butter dressing.

Get the Buddha Bowls recipe.

18

Sweet Potato Salad

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This sweet potato salad is the perfect way to lighten up any autumnal dinner or even your Thanksgiving spread. Feta, dried cranberries, and red onions pair really nicely with the earthy sweetness of the orange superfood. Did we mention it's great warm or cold?

Get the Sweet Potato Salad recipe.

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19

Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes with Avocado, Pesto & Fried Eggs

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Just go home, white potatoes. These whole roasted sweet potatoes, pesto, fried eggs, and creamy avocado are the perfect breakfast.

Get the .

20

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

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Serve this gnocchi boiled or seared, either in a caramelized sauce of bacon fat, butter, maple syrup, and bourbon (😋), or in a simple cacio e pepe-inspired finish like in our potato gnocchi recipe.

Get the Sweet Potato Gnocchi recipe.

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Camille Lowder

Digital Food Producer

Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.

37 Better-For-You Sweet Potato Recipes To Enjoy Year Round (2024)

FAQs

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.

Are sweet potatoes anti inflammatory? ›

Antioxidants Aplenty

Purple-fleshed sweet potatoes are thought to contain super-high levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. As these substances pass through your system, they balance out free radicals -- chemicals that harm your cells.

Can I eat sweet potato everyday? ›

If you enjoy sweet potatoes, you can absolutely enjoy them daily. However, eating multiple sweet potatoes every day could cause a harmless condition called carotenodermia, where your skin turns yellow-orange. You may also want to be cautious about your sweet potato intake if you have a history of kidney stones.

Are sweet potatoes available year round? ›

They're available in stores year-round, but are most flavorful in late fall and winter months. When buying sweet potatoes, choose medium sized potatoes that feel heavy for their size, without bruises or sprouts. Store unwashed sweet potatoes in the pantry or in a cool, dark place for a week.

Is it better to bake or boil your sweet potatoes? ›

Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.

Are sweet potatoes actually healthier than potatoes? ›

In terms of micronutrients, boiled sweet potatoes come out on top in terms of vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorus while the regular potato wins when it comes to potassium, Vitamin B1 and folic acid. Next up, we compared a baked sweet potato with a baked white potato.

Are sweet potatoes healthier cooked or raw? ›

Cooking methods like boiling or baking can cause some loss of water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins. Eating raw sweet potatoes can help preserve these nutrients. 2. Enzyme activity: Raw sweet potatoes contain enzymes that can aid in digestion.

What's the best way to eat sweet potatoes? ›

Top 10 Ways To Enjoy Sweet Potatoes
  1. Bake, Roast, or Steam 'em! Pick a cooking method and enjoy!
  2. Mash 'em! ...
  3. Top Your Salad. ...
  4. Sweet Potato Fries. ...
  5. Grill 'em! ...
  6. The New Potato Salad. ...
  7. Sweet Potato Pancakes! ...
  8. Add a Twist to Your Sandwiches. ...

Does frying sweet potatoes remove nutrients? ›

Boiling retained more iron and copper while frying retained more zinc, magnesium, sodium and calcium in both Irish and sweet potato tubers. Boiling retained more carbohydrate while frying retained more vitamin C and minerals.

Does roasting sweet potatoes destroy nutrients? ›

The study did find that boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes it more absorbable than other cooking methods, such as frying, baking or steaming. Though this is the case, roasting sweet potatoes retained more anthocyanins than the other cooking methods.

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