These Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes are a quick, flavorful side dish with crisp edges, tender centers, and a sweet, smoky seasoning blend. They cook in about 12 minutes once prepped and pair beautifully with grilled meats, seafood, chicken, and roasted vegetables.
If you are looking for an easy air fryer vegetable side dish, these sweet potato cubes are a great recipe to add to your weekly rotation. The air fryer makes it simple to cook vegetables quickly without heating the oven, and sweet potatoes are especially delicious when they get slightly crisp on the outside while staying soft and fluffy inside.
This recipe uses simple pantry seasonings, a little oil, and cornstarch to help create the best texture. The brown sugar brings out the natural sweetness of the potatoes, while chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and salt add a warm, smoky flavor. The result is a family-friendly side dish that tastes special but requires very little effort.
Reasons You Will Love This Recipe
- Budget-friendly: Sweet potatoes are affordable, easy to find, and this recipe uses basic pantry staples.
- Quick to make: The potatoes cook in the air fryer in about 12 minutes, making this a practical side dish for busy nights.
- Great texture: Cornstarch helps the sweet potato cubes develop crisp edges while the inside stays tender.
- Full of flavor: The seasoning blend is sweet, smoky, and savory without being too spicy.
- Versatile: Serve these air fryer sweet potatoes with pork, chicken, shrimp, burgers, bowls, salads, or roasted vegetables.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Sweet Potato
This air fryer sweet potato recipe keeps the ingredient list short and simple. You only need sweet potatoes, oil, cornstarch, and a handful of spices. For exact amounts, see the recipe card below.
- Sweet Potatoes: You will need about 3 cups of cubed sweet potatoes, which is usually equal to 2 medium sweet potatoes. If you are short on time, pre-cut sweet potato cubes from the produce section can make this recipe even faster.
- Oil: Olive oil works well, but avocado oil is also a good option. The oil helps the seasoning stick and encourages browning in the air fryer.
- Sweetener: Brown sugar adds a light caramelized flavor. If you want a sugar-free option, use a brown sugar-style or golden monk fruit sweetener.
- Spices: Chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and salt create a balanced smoky-sweet seasoning.
- Cornstarch: This is the secret to a better crisp texture. It helps absorb surface moisture so the sweet potatoes can brown more effectively.
How to Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
You only need a mixing bowl and an air fryer to prepare this simple side dish. For the best results, cut the sweet potatoes into evenly sized cubes, coat them well with oil, and avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
Prepare the Sweet Potatoes
Wash and peel the sweet potatoes, then use a sharp knife to cut them into 1/2-inch cubes. Try to keep the pieces close to the same size so they cook evenly. If some cubes are much larger than others, the smaller pieces may finish first while the larger ones remain firm in the center.
Mix the Spices
In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch, brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and salt. Mixing the dry ingredients first helps distribute the seasoning more evenly over the sweet potatoes.
Add Oil and Spices
Place the cubed sweet potatoes in a large bowl and toss them with olive oil until lightly coated. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the potatoes and toss again until every piece is evenly seasoned. A thin, even coating gives the best flavor and texture.
Air Fry
Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F for 3 minutes. Add the seasoned sweet potato cubes to the basket in an even layer. Cook for 6 minutes, toss well, then cook for another 6 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender and crisp around the edges. Depending on your air fryer and the size of your cubes, you may want to add an extra minute or two.
Serve
Serve these air fryer sweet potato cubes immediately while they are hot and freshly cooked. Add extra salt and pepper to taste if desired. They make an easy side dish for weeknight dinners, meal prep bowls, or casual cookouts.
- Blackened Pork Chops: The smoky spices in the pork pair well with the sweet and savory potatoes.
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin: A tender grilled main dish is a natural match for these seasoned sweet potato cubes.
- Air Fryer Shrimp: A quick seafood entree works nicely with this fast vegetable side.
- Cheesy Rotel Chicken: The sweetness of the potatoes balances rich, cheesy chicken.
- Baked Pork Chops: Serve with juicy oven-baked chops for a simple, satisfying dinner.
What Air Fryer Should I Use?
This recipe works in most air fryer models, including basket-style and rack-style air fryers. A 4-quart basket air fryer fits this amount well. If your air fryer is smaller, cook the potatoes in batches so they are not crowded. If the basket is too full, the potatoes may steam instead of crisp.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato FAQ
Cornstarch helps absorb moisture on the outside of the sweet potatoes. This allows the cubes to become crisp around the edges while the inside stays soft and fluffy.
The flavor is mild, smoky, and slightly sweet. The potatoes are seasoned with brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and salt. They are flavorful but not spicy.
Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free as written.
Yes. Prepare the potatoes as directed, then spread them on a greased sheet pan. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes, flip, and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until fork-tender and crisp on the outside.
Other Great Recipes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
- Barbecue Chicken Pizza Recipe
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Black Bean Tostadas
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Ingredients
- 3 cups sweet potato cubes, about 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon each chili powder, paprika, and brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, cumin, and salt
Instructions
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Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 1/2-inch cubes. Add the cubes to a bowl and toss with olive oil.
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In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, chili powder, paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, cumin, and salt.
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Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the sweet potatoes and toss until evenly coated.
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Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F for 3 minutes.
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Add the potatoes to the preheated air fryer basket. Cook for 6 minutes, toss, then cook for another 6 minutes, or until tender and crisp around the edges.
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Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 130kcal
Carbohydrates: 23g
Protein: 1.9g
Fat: 3.8g
Sodium: 366mg
Fiber: 3.5g
Sugar: 5g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an estimate only.