Skillet Sweet Potatoes

Skillet sweet potatoes make an easy and quick side dish that is perfect for any meal! This simple sweet potato recipe is a must-try, gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free, paleo, and vegan!

Sweet potatoes are without a doubt the world’s most amazing food gift from the above! Is anyone else as enamored as I with them?

I probably eat them 3-4 times a week when the season is on. You can use it in a holiday dinner recipe, Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast,  Sweet Potato Stew, Vegan Candied Baked Sweet Potatoes, and more! Personally, I like to bake or roast them, then put the roasted ones in salads, stir fry them, pour chili beans on top of baked sweet potatoes, use them in soups or burritos… The choices are endless!

I am excited to share a simple sweet potato side dish recipe with you that could be an excellent option for the holiday season (Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.). I hope you give it a try and enjoy it. This Skillet Sweet Potatoes recipe is simple to prepare and packed with flavors!

Simple recipes with very few ingredients are always desirable, especially when you’re short on time and need to instantly get the meal on the table. This nutritionally balanced skillet sweet potatoes recipe is one of my favorite side dishes. The best part is that you can enjoy a delicious recipe that’s also healthy!

Are Sweet Potatoes Healthy?

Yes! Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin C, potassium, and beta carotene. They’re also a good source of a variety of vitamins and minerals. They also contain antioxidants that protect against free radicals damage and chronic disease. All these nutrients possess different health benefits.

Due to vitamin A’s critical role in the body, vitamin A deficiency is the main health concern in various developing countries. Highly absorbable beta-carotene found in sweet potatoes can be converted into vitamin A by your body. Developing countries grow more than 95% of the world’s sweet potato crop.  Therefore, eating sweet potatoes is a great way to prevent vitamin A deficiency in these countries.

Beta-carotene also supports your vision, immune system, and gut health.

It has been found in a study that a diet that is high in sweet potatoes helps lower fasting plasma glucose and bad (LDL) cholesterol levels while improving insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes patients.

Antioxidant-rich diets, such as those high in carotenoids, are linked to a lower risk of breast, gastric, and kidney cancer.

What goes well with sweet potatoes?

I never thought ginger and cinnamon would go well together, but I can assure you that it is delicious!

Why ginger and cinnamon?

Ginger is antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant. Regular ginger consumption may help alleviate nausea, reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, fight bacterial and viral infections, improve insulin sensitivity and glucose regulation, fight cancer, improve the immune system, promote oral health and hygiene, aid in weight loss, and alleviate menstrual cramps.

Cinnamon is a natural anti-inflammatory spice that can help you lose weight and control your blood sugar levels. Therefore,

If you eat these skillet sweet potatoes paired with cinnamon and ginger, there are no saturated fats to intrude with your diet efforts. Isn’t that wonderful?

However you can substitute cinnamon with a combination of cardamom and coriander powder as cinnamon subsitute.

Skillet Sweet Potatoes Recipe

You just need the following handful of pantry ingredients for this recipe. I often make a large batch of these skillet sweet potatoes that I like to keep on hand for quick side dishes all week long. You may, however, adjust the quantity of the ingredients to suit your needs.

Ingredients

• 1 Medium Sweet Potato
• 1 tbsp. Coconut Oil
• 1/4-1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
• 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1 tsp. Freshly Grated Ginger
• 1 tbsp. Maple Syrup

Directions 

1. Scrub the sweet potato, then peel and dice into 1/2″ cubes.
2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
3. Add the sweet potato cubes.
4. Cook the potatoes, occasionally stirring, for about 19 minutes.
5. Add salt, cinnamon, ginger, maple syrup, and cooking stirring to coat the sweet potatoes for another minute.
6. Serve immediately.

Chef’s Notes

Smaller is Better

The trick to cooking these skillet sweet potatoes faster is to cut them into smaller cubes (about 1/2″). This method takes slightly longer than cutting them larger, but this way, you get uniformly tender potatoes with perfectly crisp exteriors.

Seasoning Variation Options

Feel free to experiment with the seasonings you use. For example, some people prefer not to use cinnamon at all, but it adds many flavors. So I love to use it in mine.

For a little sweet and savory kick, you can add some smoked paprika and chipotle pepper.

For Crispness

If you prefer slightly crispy sweet potatoes, increase the heat to medium-high for the last 2 minutes of cooking. Take care not to burn the sweet potatoes!

Topping Ideas

Once skillet sweet potatoes are done, you can top them with pecan and walnut topping.  To prepare this topping,

• In a medium-sized saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of vegan butter. Once the butter has melted, combine it with the 2 tbsp. Brown sugar, 1 tsp. Vanilla and 1 tsp. Cinnamon. Add ½ cup pecans and ½ cup walnuts (roughly chopped).
• Cook for 3-6 minutes, or until the nuts are lightly toasted and a nutty aroma emanates.

Serving

Serve as is; it is crispy, flavorsome, and the perfect side dish. Try it with vegan fried chicken and Greek salad for a delectable dinner!

Oven Cooking Instructions

You can also cook these in the oven if you want. To do so, I simply toss all the ingredients in a baking dish and stir. Bake at 400°F for around 25-35 minutes – the time may vary depending on the type of oven and the size of the sweet potato cubes you chop.

Storage

You can refrigerate the leftovers for up to 3 days. To re-crisp then, before serving, reheat them in a skillet or put them in a baking tray and bake for 2-3 minutes.

Although these skillet sweet potatoes can be safely frozen for up to 1 month, however, they may become soggy, so I don’t suggest it. Instead, it’s better to enjoy freshly cooked.

Other Sweet Potato Recipes

1. Vegan Sweet Potato Recipes
2. Vegan Sweet Potato Biscuits
3. Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls

If you tried this recipe and liked it – or made some changes – I would love to hear about it in the comments section below.