Air fryer sweet potato cubes are an easy and quick appetizer or side! Perfectly crisp and caramelized, these sweet potato bites take less than half the time as an oven. They’re perfect for meal prep, adding to salads or nourish bowls, or dipping in your favorite sauce as a snack.

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Air fried sweet potato cubes in a bowl with a fork picking up a couple pieces.

You’re going to love this healthier twist on sweet potatoes. Air frying is my preferred roasting method because everything comes out crispy and golden with less oil, thanks to the magic of the air fryer.

Air frying veggies is a great way to quickly and easily prepare an easy side dish, appetizer, or healthy snack. Some of my favorite things to air fry are cauliflower bites, tater tots, and polenta fries.

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Why you’ll love this recipe

These easy air fryer sweet potato chunks make meal time a breeze! No more long cooking times in the oven and they come out perfect every time!

Using an air fryer cuts the cooking time in half so you can make these even on busy nights.

I love cooking sweet potatoes quickly in the microwave, but sometimes I want them nice and crispy! That’s when I switch to the air fryer which only takes a few minutes longer.

I use this Dash air fryer and found that I don’t even need to preheat it to get great results! And truth be told, sometimes I don’t even shake the basket halfway—everything still comes out crispy from all sides!

If you’re a novice at air frying, this is a great beginner recipe and shows how perfectly roasted an air fryer can make sweet potato.

These roasted air fried sweet potatoes are:

  • Perfectly crispy. The air fryer transforms sweet potato cubes into crispy, golden delights with just a fraction of the oil. Enjoy that satisfying crunch without the guilt of deep frying.
  • Quick and effortless. The air fryer significantly reduces cooking time, allowing you to enjoy perfectly cooked sweet potato cubes in a matter of minutes, making it an ideal option for busy days.
  • Versatile and easy to customize. Experiment with various spices and herbs, such as cinnamon, paprika, rosemary, or a sprinkle of brown sugar, to create a sweet or salty dish depending on how you’re feeling.
  • Crowd-pleasing. Make a great side dish or great addition for salads, nourish bowls, stir fries, etc. Air-fried sweet potato cubes are sure to win over everyone at the table, making it a go-to snack or appetizer for gatherings.

How to cook sweet potato cubes in the air fryer

You really only need one ingredient (sweet potatoes!) to roast sweet potatoes to perfection in an air fryer, but for more flavor you can toss them with a savor combination of spices. Full details can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

1. Start by scrubbing your sweet potatoes under cold, running water to remove any dirt/debris.

2. Grab a cutting board and slice the sweet potato into 1/2-inch cubes. Try to chop them as evenly as possible.

Chopped sweet potato on a cutting board.

3. Place the sweet potato cubes in a large bowl. Optionally, drizzle with olive oil—this isn’t necessary but does increase the golden color. Sprinkle with the seasonings and toss to combine.

Chopped sweet potato cubes in a bowl.
Sweet potato cubes tossed in olive oil and spices.

4. Evenly spread out your seasoned sweet potatoes in an air fryer basket in a single layer and cook at 400F for 8 minutes. Shake the basket to flip them around, then continue cooking for 5-7 more minutes. Once they can be easily pierced with a fork, they’re done.

Seasoned sweet potato cubes spread out in an air fryer basket.

5. Transfer to a bowl and toss with the sliced parsley. Serve immediately to enjoy crispy. Over time they will start to soften.

Air fried sweet potato cubes in a bowl.

What to serve with

These air fryer sweet potatoes  are great for adding to salads, wraps, tacos, stir fries, or chilis. They are really versatile!

They’re also the perfect side dish for almost any meal. We love them alongside chickpea and lentil curry, chickpea patties, vegan lasagna, and jackfruit burgers.

They also taste great with just a little salt and black pepper as a side dish or dip them in your favorite sauce for a snack!

A bowl of air fryer sweet potato cubes tossed with chopped parsley.

If you want to get creative with your sweet potato chunks, below are some additional flavor ideas.

Savory sweet potatoes (mix and match or add a dash of them all!):

  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Ground cumin
  • Chili powder or cayenne pepper
  • Smoked paprika

Sweet flavors:

  • Ground cinnamon
  • Coconut sugar
  • Maple syrup

Toss in your favorite seasonings before cooking.

Expert Tips

  • For one large sweet potato, I’ve found that 12-15 minutes total is perfect. A small sweet potato may only need 8-10 minutes.
  • Work in batches if needed to avoid overfilling your air fryer. You don’t want your sweet potato chunks to touch if possible, so that they cook evenly on all sides.
  • Try to slice your cubes to all be similar in size. This makes sure they all cook evenly in the same amount of time.
A wooden spoon holding roasted sweet potato cubes.

Storage and reheating

Store cooked sweet potato in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze for longer.

Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes to maintain crispiness. You can also reheat in the microwave for a minute or two if crispiness is not desired. Increase time if reheating from frozen.

FAQ’s

Do you have to soak sweet potatoes in water before air frying?

Sweet potatoes don’t have as much starch content as white potatoes, so there’s no need to soak them to remove the starch before air frying. They crisp up just fine without soaking.

Do you need to peel sweet potatoes before air frying?

It’s completely up to your personal preference. I love potato skins, plus they hold extra fiber and nutrients so I never peel. If you prefer yours without the peel, feel free to remove them. Cooking time and temperature stays the same regardless.

How do you cook frozen sweet potato cubes?

If you’re cooking from frozen, I recommend preheating your air fryer first. Do this by setting the desired temperature and allowing it to run for 3 minutes first before adding food. Evenly spread out the frozen sweet potato chunks in the air fryer and cook until heated through and crispy.

Why is it hard to get sweet potatoes crispy?

It could be that you’re not cooking them for long enough—perhaps because your air fryer is not as powerful. Add a couple minutes at a time until you see the outside start to brown. You could also spray your sweet potatoes with a little oil to help, but I’ve achieved crispy results without any oil.

More easy air fryer recipes

If you love this sweet potato cubes recipe, check out these other easy air fryer recipes:

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Air fried sweet potato cubes in a bowl with a fork picking up a couple pieces.

Easy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes

5 from 4 votes
Author: Rachel
Cook sweet potatoes fast in the air fryer! They come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They're perfect for meal prep, adding to salads or nourish bowls, or dipping in your favorite sauce as a snack.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2

Method

  • air fryer

Ingredients  

  • 1 medium sweet potato
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil optional
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley thinly sliced

Instructions 

  • Start by scrubbing your sweet potatoes under cold running water to remove and dirt/debris.
    1 medium sweet potato
  • Then slice into ½-inch cubes. Try to chop them as evenly as possible.
  • Place the sweet potato cubes in a large mixing bowl. Optionally, drizzle with olive oil—this isn't necessary but does increase the golden color. Sprinkle with the seasonings and toss to combine.
    ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon ground paprika, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Evenly spread out your sweet potato cubes in an air fryer basket in a single layer and cook at 400°F for 8 minutes. Shake the basket, then continue cooking for 5-7 more minutes until crispy and starting to brown on the outside. Pierce with a fork to check for doneness.
  • Transfer to a bowl and toss with the fresh parsley. Serve and enjoy!
    2 tablespoons fresh parsley

Notes

Sweet Option:
Skip the oil and savoring seasonings and toss with 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Storage:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze for longer.
Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes to maintain crispiness. You can also reheat in the microwave for a minute or two if crispiness is not desired. Increase time if reheating from frozen.
Tips:
For one large sweet potato, I’ve found that 12-15 minutes total is plenty of time to cook thoroughly. If cooking 2 sweet potatoes at once, add 3-5 more minutes.
Work in batches if needed to avoid overfilling your air fryer. You don’t want your sweet potato cubes to overlap if possible, so that they cook evenly on all sides.
Try to slice your cubes to all be similar in size. This makes sure they all cook evenly in the same amount of time.

Nutrition

Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 381mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 16031IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
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These air fryer sweet potato cubes were originally posted on January 10th, 2022, and updated on October 1, 2023 with additional tips and new photos.

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Recipe Rating




2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Love these! The seasoning was perfect and they were so easy to make. I’m going to try the sweet version next time!