Roasted Sweet Potatoes (air fryer or oven!)

These diced roasted sweet potatoes are quick and easy to make in the air fryer or the oven. Either way, they turn out soft and creamy on the inside and crispy, caramelized, and chewy on the outside. It's the best veggie side dish or add them to Buddha bowls, salads or plant based tacos.

I love sweet potatoes and make them a lot! They are easy to make, super delicious, and versatile. You can make black bean stuffed sweet potatoes, vegan burrito bowls, vegan sushi rolls, sprinkle them in tacos or salads, mash them, fry them, make sweet potato hash or desserts - the options are endless!

Plus, sweet potatoes are one of the healthiest vegetables - basically considered a superfood because of their nutrition profile.

One of the things I love about these roasted sweet potato cubes is how ridiculously easy they are to make. All you have to do is dice the potatoes, season them, then pop them into the oven or air fryer. Plus they're great for meal prep, make them on a Sunday and store them in the fridge to use up all week.

Roasted Sweet Potato Ingredients

Only very basic ingredients are needed:

• Sweet potatoes: Choose firm, sweet potatoes with dark orange or red skin. FYI: The darker the skin/flesh, the more nutrient dense the sweet potato is.
• Olive oil: Adds richness and helps the potato chunks caramelize as they cook. You can sub in avocado oil or any other oil if you prefer. If you follow an oil-free diet, you can spray the potato cubes with water, plant milk, lemon or lime juice to help the seasonings stick.
• Flavor ideas: These roasted potatoes are incredible with just salt, pepper, and garlic powder. But if you prefer, add some additional savory spices to enhance the natural sweetness of the potatoes. Taco seasoning, onion powder, chipotle powder, seasoning salt, chili, cumin, cinnamon, and smoked paprika are all great choices.

How To Roast Sweet Potato Cubes (2 ways!)

I love that roasting sweet potatoes is an easy, sheet pan recipe or air fryer recipe for meal prepping and busy weeknight dinners. It's effortless to whip up a batch to use all week in bowls and salads. Here’s how to roast them in the oven or the air fryer:

• First, chop the potatoes: Before you start, if the sweet potato ends are banged up or there are any soft spots, just trim them up as needed. I leave the sweet potato skin on, but go ahead and peel them before chopping if you prefer. Then dice the potatoes into similar sizes cubes (~½") so they're cooked at the same time.

• Then season the potatoes: Transfer the cubed potatoes to a large bowl (or you can do this right on the baking sheet for the oven method). Drizzle them with olive oil and the seasonings of choice then toss together to coat evenly.
• Time to bake: You choose - oven or air fryer.

Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes

The oven roasted method is simple - just grab a sheet pan!

1. Arrange the diced potatoes in a single layer on a parchment lined sheet pan with space between. If the potatoes are overlapping they steam instead of roasting and getting crispy. Be sure to stir a few times to keep all the cubes roasting evenly on all sides.
2. Roast the diced sweet potatoes in a preheated 425° F oven until they're puffy, browning and tender in the middle (~25-35 minutes*).
3. How long does it take to roast sweet potatoes?: *The cooking time will depend on the size of your potato cubes and how hot your oven runs. Smaller cubes cook faster, larger cubes take longer. Just keep your eyes on them and test one every now and then until they're the perfect texture for you!

Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Potatoes

The air fryer method is super fast and easy - they come out crispy and chewy in around 10 minutes!

1. Preheat the air fryer at 400º F for ~2 minutes.
2. Roast the sweet potatoes: Arrange the diced potatoes in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer (you can have more than I have in the photo). Don't overlap the potatoes in the air fryer basket - you may have to work in batches. Air fry until the edges are browning and crispy (~10-12 minutes*). Shake the basket several times for even cooking. *The cooking time depends on the size of your sweet potato cubes, how hot your air fryer runs, and how big your batch is. Smaller cubes cook faster, larger cubes take longer.

Tips for Roasting Sweet Potatoes

It doesn't get much better than roasted sweet potato cubes in my opinion. They are small, crunchy, creamy, chewy, and salty - so good! Here's a few tips to keep in mind:

• Should I peel the sweet potatoes?: If you like a rustic sweet potato cubes (I do!), wash the potatoes and leave the peels on. Or peel the potatoes before you roast them.

• How big should I cut the sweet potato cubes?: Any size or shape works. I love my sweet potatoes diced on the smaller size (more like a hash brown - see photo above). To me, they have the perfect crispy to creamy texture. Also, the cubes DO NOT have to be exactly the same size or shape - keep them similar so none end up raw or burnt. But, a variety of sizes ensures you get some crispy, crunchy bits (yum!) mixed in with the creamy, chewy pieces which is a killer texture combination.
• What temperature is best to bake sweet potatoes?: I start roasting my sweet potatoes cubes at 425º F and finish them for the last minute or two at 450º F if I want them crispier.
• MILLION DOLLAR TIP!: My husband doesn't like sweet potatoes, so I always dice one or two russet potatoes and roast them together - it's a great combination.
• Can I prepare the sweet potato cubes ahead?: Yes, you can prep the sweet potatoes ahead. Cut, season, and store the potatoes in a container or zip top bag in the fridge for roasting later.
• Reheating leftover roasted sweet potatoes: These sweet potatoes are great leftover at room temperature or warmed up in a toaster oven, air fryer, microwave or in a skillet on the stove.
• Storing: Any leftover potatoes will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these roasted sweet potato cubes as a snack, side dish with tofu, burgers, tacos, and more! They pair well with tons of dishes, such as:

• As a side dish: Move over fries, I love a side of roasted sweet potatoes with veggie burgers, sandwiches and wraps, vegan chili and baked tofu to name a few.
• In a bowl: Add to a Buddha bowl or big dinner salad like this harvest salad or Thai crunch salad. Build your own grain bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, rice or quinoa, baked tofu, black beans, slaw and leafy green all tossed together with a killer sauce like sweet and spicy tahini or creamy chipotle.
• Workout snack!: Roasted sweet potato cubes are easy to take on a bike trip or tuck into your gym bag for a quick and nourishing post workout snack. I used to take sweet potatoes, dates, and crispy lentils during my training rides - so good and nourishing!
• As a taco filling: Air fryer roasted sweet potatoes are quick and amazing in tacos like black bean and corn tacos, crispy black beans tacos, cauliflower and chickpea tacos for fast weeknight meals!
• For breakfast: Add some roasted sweet potatoes to a breakfast burrito for extra texture and nutrients. Serve a side of diced, roasted sweet potatoes with your vegan scrambled eggs instead of hashbrowns.

Did you make this Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes recipe? I'd love to hear if you roasted them in the oven or air fryer. Let me know in the comments below!
CRAVING MORE PLANT BASED RECIPES?: Join our Sunday morning NEWSLETTER!