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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Perfectly Roasted Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chunks

    Published: Dec 14, 2021 · Modified: Jan 26, 2022 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Believe it or not, you can roast small chunks of sweet potatoes to perfection in just 10 minutes with the help of an air fryer! When cooked just right, sweet potatoes turn a little crispy on the outside and stay soft on the inside- kids just love them!

    Roasted sweet potato chunks on a white plate.

    The air fryer saves so much time! If you don't have an air fryer, you can easily make these sweet potatoes in the oven - it will just take longer (time to preheat your oven + longer cook time).

    I am not one to have every appliance out there. In fact, I was very resistant to the air fryer when it first came out. Afterall, I don't care for fried anything really. It turns out that an air fryer is simply a mini convection oven - genius!

    Now, back to the sweet potatoes - your kids will eat these up! The dusting of cayenne pepper is completely optional. Some kids like spice, others do not.

    One of my kids loves spicey food and my other two don't want even a hint of 'spice' on anything. And, while I encourage my kids to continue to try foods that they don't like, "spicey" food is one exception that I make.

    So, when I roast sweet potatoes for my kids, I put a light dusting of cayenne on half of them and leave the others to be seasoned just with salt. Yum!

    For another air fryer sweet potato recipe, check out my sweet potato fries (from frozen) recipe - kids love them!

    And, as for what to serve them with, I'd say these sweet potato chunks pair well with everything from Air Fryer BBQ Chicken to Sloppy Joe's, to Chicken Wraps!

    Why This Recipe is so Great

    • 10 minutes from start to finish.
    • High in fiber so kids feel full longer.
    • Shorter cooking time, thanks to the air fryer.
    • Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet.
    • Made with simple ingredients that are easy to find year-round.
    • Healthy side dish that can be served as a side to pretty much anything, even sandwiches!
    • Roasted to a consistency that kids love: a little crispy on the outside, while remaining soft on the inside.

    Ingredient Notes

    Sweet potatoes, olive oil, and salt, labeled.

    Sweet potatoes That's it - just one main ingredient! Sweet potatoes are a root vegetable. They typically have an orange flesh and are high in fiber and beta carotene (vitamin A). Sweet potatoes are also a good source of vitamins C and B6, and potassium. Leave the skins on.

    Dietitian Tip

    For kids, repeated exposure to foods (up to 15 times!) is key to increasing acceptance of a food. And it doesn't mean that the food has to be prepared the same way every time.

    For instance, sweet potatoes can be served 'baked potato style', mashed, roasted alone or with other veggies, air-fried in chunks, or made into sweet potato fries. If your kids say they don't like sweet potatoes after having them a few times, keep trying!

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Four process shots showing sliced sweet potatoes, sweet potato chunks in a bowl, and sweet potato chunks on an air fryer basket.

    Here's a quick overview of the steps to make roasted sweet potatoes in the air fryer. For the full list of ingredients and specific instructions, scroll down to the recipe.

    1. Scrub the skins of the sweet potatoes well.
    2. Slice sweet potatoes into small rectangle shaped pieces, about one-half to one inch in length.
    3. Place sweet potato chunks, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl and toss to coat.
    4. Spread sweet potatoes out in a single layer on an air fryer rack fit for your air fryer.
    5. Air fry for eight minutes.
    6. Serve and enjoy!
    My Knife Pick for Meal Prep
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    Photo Credit: amazon.com

    6-inch Mercer Chef Knife.

    Expert Tips

    • Larger chunks will take longer to cook.
    • Use a good quality knife to make it easier to cut through the sweet potato.
    • Using a narrow sweet potato will result in more skin proportionate to the flesh. This will give it a thicker texture once roasted. To avoid this, peel about a quarter to half of the skin before slicing a narrow sweet potato.
    • Kids are more likely to eat a vegetable that is cut into small pieces.
    • The cayenne pepper is optional. Some kids enjoy foods with 'spice', others do not.
    • If you are feeling adventurous, Tajin can be used in place of cayenne to give the sweet potatoes more of a citrus flavor.
    • I use a Cuisinart Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven. Different air fryers may require small adjustments in temperature and/or cook time.
    • If you do not have an air fryer, these sweet potatoes can be roasted in the oven at 425 degrees for about twenty minutes instead.

    Recipe FAQs

    Do I need to soak the sweet potatoes?

    No, you do not need to soak the sweet potatoes for this recipe. Soaking sweet potatoes is a recommended step when making homemade sweet potato fries, but not when you are roasting small chunks of sweet potatoes in an air fryer (or oven).

    What do you serve sweet potatoes with?

    Roasted sweet potatoes can be served with pretty much anything: burgers, barbequed or grilled chicken, salmon, sandwiches, wraps. In fact, some restaurants have started to offer roasted sweet potatoes as a side in place of french fries - love it!

    Do I have to peel the sweet potato?

    No. Leaving the skin on increases the fiber content, saves prep time, and helps the sweet potato chunks keep their shape.

    Did you make this sweet potato recipe in your air fryer? Tell me how it went! Leave a comment below.

    Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more healthy, kid-friendly recipes and meal inspiration!

    Other Side Dish Recipes Your Kids Will Love

    • Simple Unsweetened Applesauce
    • Super Easy Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan
    • Tortilla Chips (Air Fryer) For Kids
    • Easy Caprese Bruschetta
    Roasted sweet potato chunks.

    Perfectly Roasted Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chunks

    Kristi
    If you've got a sweet potato, an air fryer, and ten minutes, you can make the most delicious sweet potato side ever! When roasted to perfection, sweet potatoes turn a little crispy on the outside and stay soft on the inside- kids just love them!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 8 mins
    Total Time 13 mins
    Course Recipes, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 66 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Air Fryer
    • 1 Good quality knife

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 sweet potato One large sweet potato or two smaller ones (about two cups when cut into pieces)
    • 2 teaspoon olive oil extra virgin
    • 1 pinch salt
    • 1 dash cayenne pepper optional

    Instructions
     

    • Scrub sweet potato well.
    • Cut sweet potato into small chunks. See notes.
    • Place sweet potato chunks into a bowl and toss to coat.
    • Spread sweet potato pieces out in a single layer on the air fryer rack fit for your air fryer.
    • Sprinkle salt on top of the sweet potatoes. If your kids like spicey food, top sweet potatoes with just a dash of cayenne pepper.
    • Air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    Cutting sweet potato into small rectangular pieces reduces cooking time and it makes sweet potatoes more appealing to kids.
    As for the cayenne pepper - a little goes a long way. If your kids don't like spice, I do not suggest adding any cayenne. I often put cayenne on half and leave the other half simply salted, because one of my kids likes spicey food and the others do not.
    Larger pieces will take longer to cook. 
    Narrow sweet potatoes have more skin proportionate to flesh. To ensure a consistency desirable to kids, peel about one-quarter to half of the skin off before slicing.
    Use a good quality knife to make cutting through the sweet potato easier.
    Always follow the manufactures instructions on how to use your air fryer safely.
    I use a Cuisinart Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven. Different air fryers may require small adjustments in temperature and/or cook time.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 66kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 41mgPotassium: 191mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 8026IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Side Dishes

    • Easy Vegan Chocolate Avocado Truffles for Kids
    • Easy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (Vitamix)
    • Easy Homemade Garlic Croutons (in Air Fryer)
    • Kale Chips (Air Fryer)

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    Kristi Ruth wearing a green long sleeved blouse and jeans, holding tri-colored carrots plated on a white oval platter with one hand and leaning on the counter with the other hand in a kitchen.
    Welcome! Kristi is a Registered Dietitian and busy mom of three, ages 7-15. After being displaced from a housefire in 2021, Kristi decided to say 'goodbye' to her long commute so she could turn her passion for sharing easy recipes and tips to help you learn what it means to feed your family well with less stress into a reality. Let's get cooking!

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