If you’re looking for a quick, downright delicious and healthy side dish, these Sautéed Sweet Potatoes are calling your name. They’re golden and tender on the outside, soft on the inside, and full of flavor from pantry staples like butter, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Want to take them up a notch? Add a drizzle of maple syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon for the perfect sweet-savory combo. It’s an easy, one-pan stove top recipe you’ll want to make again and again!
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Why You’ll Love This Sweet Potato Recipe
- This is a great side dish that pairs perfectly with just about any meaty main course—grilled chicken, roasted pork, cube steak, or even a hearty veggie option.
- It comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
- The short cooking time makes it the perfect side dish for a busy weeknight dinner or a lazy weekends. Fast, flavorful, and family-friendly, what’s not to love?
Ingredient photo
Ingredient Notes
- Diced Sweet Potatoes: Any firm, smooth-skinned sweet potato will work great for this recipe. Avoid ones with wrinkles, soft spots, or signs of sprouting. Small to medium-sized sweet potatoes are usually sweeter, creamier, and cook more evenly than the larger, more starchy ones. They’re also easier to cut into uniform chunks for even cooking.
- Olive Oil: We love the nutritional value of olive oil, but any neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil works just as well.
- Butter: Adds a little extra flavor to the sweet potatoes. You can swap in margarine or use all oil if you prefer.
- Savory Seasonings: I keep it simple with salt and black pepper.
- Optional Sweet Seasonings: For a fun twist, we (sometimes) toss the cooked sweet potato cubes in a bit of maple syrup and cinnamon. It adds a little something special without being overly sweet. Feel free to use honey or brown sugar instead.
Step-By-Step Photos
See recipe card below for full list of ingredients and detailed instructions.
Step 1: Chop sweet potatoes into half-inch cubes.
Step 2: Heat the oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat and sauté for 13-15 minutes or until fork tender.
Step 3: Add the maple syrup and cinnamon.
Step 4: Cook stirring often for 3-5 minutes.
Optional Add-Ins
For a more savory dish, skip the maple syrup and cinnamon and season the sweet potatoes with your favorite spices. Here are some tasty ideas to get you started:
- Chili powder – ¼ tsp or to taste
- Cayenne pepper – ⅛ tsp or to taste (for a kick!)
- Garlic powder – ¼ tsp or to taste
- Onion powder – ¼ tsp or to taste
Mix and match to suit your taste buds!
Not Just a Side Dish
These skillet sweet potatoes aren’t just a quick and easy side — they’re also a great add-in for all kinds of meals. Make a big batch as part of your weekly meal prep and mix them into dishes throughout the week. Here are some tasty ways to use them:
- Use them as the base for a hearty breakfast hash.
- Stuff them into your favorite breakfast burrito.
- Toss them into grain bowls with rice, quinoa, or farro.
- Mix them into salads for a pop of color and flavor.
- Add them to a veggie wrap.
- Stir them into scrambled eggs or omelets.
- Serve them over greens with a drizzle of vinaigrette for a quick lunch.
They’re super versatile — savory or sweet, they show up ready to play!
Frequently Asked Questions
I like to use my non-stick skillet, but a cast-iron skillet works great too and adds a little extra crisp.
Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–5 days.
Yes — just know they’ll lose some of their crispy texture. Let them cool completely before freezing, then store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
For the crispiest results, reheat them in a skillet with a little oil or butter, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
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Sautéed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 medium sweet potatoes about 1 1/2 lbs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp maple syrup (optional)
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- Peel sweet potatoes then chop into half-inch cubes.3 medium sweet potatoes
- Heat the oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat, add sweet potatoes, season with salt and pepper then sauté for 13-15 minutes or until fork tender.1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp butter, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Add the cinnamon and maple syrup and cinnamon.2 tsp maple syrup (optional), 1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- Cook stirring often for 3-5 minutes.
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