These easy sautéed sweet potatoes are cooked in a skillet until tender with golden, caramelized edges. Made with just six simple ingredients and ready in about 15 minutes, they're an easy side dish for weeknight dinners, Thanksgiving, or any fall meal.
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My new cookbook is here!
My cookbook, Tasting Every Day, is filled with simple, elevated recipes made for busy home cooks - just like this one.
As a cookbook author and recipe developer, I love recipes like this that transform simple ingredients into something special. With just a few pantry staples and a quick cook in the skillet, these sautéed sweet potatoes become a versatile side dish that pairs beautifully with everything from roasted chicken to seafood.
If you're looking for more side dish recipes, check out our Roasted Garlic Potatoes, Parmesan Potatoes, and Green Beans and Potatoes.
Jump to:
- My new cookbook is here!
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients
- How to Cut Sweet Potatoes for Sautéing
- Step by Step Directions
- Sweet Potato Cooking Time Guide
- Tina's Tips and Tricks
- Kitchen Equipment
- Recipe Substitutions/Variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Recipe Storage and Reheating
- What to Serve with Sautéed Sweet Potatoes
- Sautéed Sweet Potatoes
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Here's why you'll love this easy side dish:
- Quick and Easy: These sautéed sweet potatoes cook in about 15 minutes, making them a perfect side dish for busy weeknights.
- Crispy and Caramelized: Cooking sweet potatoes in a skillet helps create golden edges while keeping the centers tender.
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses just a few basic ingredients like sweet potatoes, olive oil, and seasoning.
- Versatile: Sautéed sweet potatoes pair well with chicken, seafood, steak, or vegetarian meals.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need for this recipe:
- Sweet Potatoes - 3 medium sweet potatoes, 4 small sweet potatoes, or 2 large sweet potatoes
- Olive Oil - good quality
- Sea Salt
- Black Pepper - freshly ground
- Garlic Powder and Onion Powder - I buy all my spices in bulk at Costco
How to Cut Sweet Potatoes for Sautéing
For this recipe, slice the sweet potatoes into thin rounds about ⅛ inch thick, then cut each round in half to create half moons. Keeping the slices thin and evenly sized helps them cook quickly and evenly in the skillet while developing golden, caramelized edges.
Try to keep the pieces roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
Step by Step Directions
Let's make this sweet potato recipe together!
Step 1
Slice sweet potatoes into thin rounds, about ⅛ inch thick. Slice rounds in half to create a half moon shape.
Step 2
Heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sweet potatoes in one even layer in the pan, working in batches if necessary. Top with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. If the potatoes start to burn, lower to medium heat.
Step 3
Cook sweet potatoes for 5 minutes on each side, until browned and tender. Serve and enjoy!
Sweet Potato Cooking Time Guide
Thinly sliced sweet potatoes take about 10 minutes to sauté over medium heat. Cook them for about 5 minutes on the first side, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the centers are tender and the edges are golden brown.
Cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of your slices and the size of your skillet. If the potatoes are browning before they become tender, reduce the heat slightly and continue cooking until they can easily be pierced with a fork.
Tina's Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks for this healthy side dish.
- Slice the potatoes thinly and evenly. Keeping the slices about the same thickness helps them cook at the same rate and develop golden edges without burning.
- Use a large skillet. Giving the sweet potatoes enough space helps them brown instead of steam.
- Work in batches if needed. If your skillet is crowded, cook the sweet potatoes in two batches for the best texture.
- Don't move them too much. Let the slices cook undisturbed for a few minutes before flipping so they have time to caramelize.
- Adjust the heat as needed. If the potatoes are browning too quickly before they're tender, lower the heat slightly and continue cooking.
Kitchen Equipment
Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.
- Chef's Knife - A sharp chef's knife is essential for cutting the sweet potatoes in this recipe.
- Cutting Board - Investing in a quality cutting board will be a game changer for your kitchen!
- Non-Stick Pan - A good non-stick pan will not only last, but it will make cooking a breeze!
Recipe Substitutions/Variations
Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for this easy recipe.
- Sweet and Savory: Add a small drizzle of maple syrup during the last minute of cooking for a slightly sweeter fall side dish.
- Herb Variation: Finish with fresh rosemary, thyme, or sage for a holiday-friendly version.
- Spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika for a little heat.
- Add Onions: Sauté thinly sliced yellow or red onion with the sweet potatoes for extra savory flavor.
- Oil Substitution: Avocado oil can be used in place of olive oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make sweet potatoes taste better by adding appropriate seasonings. On their own, sweet potatoes, can be bland, but with seasoning such as salt, pepper, and garlic powder, they can be very flavorful.
This usually happens when the pan is overcrowded or the heat is too low. Use a large skillet and cook over medium heat.
Peeling is optional. The skins are edible and add texture, but you can peel them if you prefer a softer bite.
Yes, sweet potato skins are completely safe to heat. They are a very nutritious part of the sweet potato.
Yes. You do not need to boil sweet potatoes before sautéing them as long as they are sliced thinly. Cutting them into ⅛-inch slices allows them to cook through directly in the skillet while developing golden edges.
Recipe Storage and Reheating
Here are storage and reheating instructions for this recipe.
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container and eat leftovers within 4-5 days.
- Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a cast iron pan with a little olive oil over low heat until warm.
What to Serve with Sautéed Sweet Potatoes
These sautéed sweet potatoes are an easy side dish for everything from simple weeknight dinners to Thanksgiving and holiday meals. Their slightly sweet, savory flavor pairs especially well with roasted meats, chicken, pork, and other fall side dishes.
For an easy dinner, serve them with roasted chicken, pork chops, steak, or salmon. For Thanksgiving or a holiday meal, pair them with turkey, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, green beans, or a simple fall salad.
These sautéed sweet potatoes cook in one skillet in about 15 minutes and develop crispy edges with a tender, caramelized center.
Sautéed Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- Chef's Knife
- Cutting Board
- Large Skillet
Ingredients
- 3 medium sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Slice sweet potatoes into thin rounds, about ⅛ inch thick. Slice rounds in half to create a half moon shape.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sweet potatoes in one layer, working in batches if necessary. Top with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Cook sweet potatoes for 5 minutes on each side, until browned and tender. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Work in Batches - Don't overcrowd the pan! Work in batches if necessary, so the sweet potatoes cook evenly.
- Meal Prep - These sweet potatoes are delicious for meal prep! They are great in a breakfast burrito, sweet potato hash, or topped with a fried egg. I love making a big batch and eating throughout the week.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Leave a comment below or tag us @tasting.with.tina on Instagram!
Isabella says
These were so easy and so delicious! Will be making them again for meal prep.
Christina Musgrave says
So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Jen says
Yum! Made these last night and I can't believe how easy these were!
Christina Musgrave says
So happy you enjoyed!
Linda says
I’m in love with this dish.
Christina Musgrave says
Thanks so much, Linda! So happy you enjoyed. 🙂