Ingredient Guide
What to Cook With Sweet Potatoes: 8 Cozy, Filling Ideas
Sweet potatoes are one of the most satisfying pantry ingredients around — but what to cook with sweet potatoes beyond the obvious goes much further than you think. Recipes with sweet potatoes cover everything from crispy roasted sides to creamy soups and spiced curries. Here's exactly how to use up sweet potatoes in ways that are genuinely delicious.
8 Recipes With Sweet Potatoes
Sheet Pan Sweet Potato and Black Bean Bowls
Roast sweet potato cubes and seasoned black beans on one sheet pan, then build bowls with rice, avocado, and chipotle lime sauce.
Thai-Spiced Sweet Potato Soup
Simmer sweet potato with coconut milk, red curry paste, and ginger until tender, then blend until silky and finish with lime.
Sweet Potato Toast
Slice sweet potato lengthwise into slabs and toast twice in a toaster or oven — top with almond butter and honey or avocado and eggs.
Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
Make thin cuts across the potato almost all the way through, brush with maple-miso butter, and bake until tender inside and caramelized on top.
Sweet Potato Lentil Curry
Cook sweet potato cubes into a fragrant red lentil dahl with cumin, coriander, and tomatoes — ready in 30 minutes and perfect over rice.
Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs
Crisp diced sweet potato in a skillet with onion and bell pepper, season with smoked paprika, and crack eggs directly into the pan.
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Chickpeas
Roast sweet potatoes whole, then fill with spiced chickpeas, tahini drizzle, and pomegranate seeds for a showstopping weeknight meal.
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Mash roasted sweet potato into a simple dough, roll and cut into pillows, then toss in brown butter with sage and parmesan.
Pro Tips for Cooking With Sweet Potatoes
- 1
Store sweet potatoes in a cool, dark, dry place — not the fridge, which makes them hard and alters their starch. A pantry or a cupboard away from the stove works well.
- 2
Pierce sweet potatoes before microwaving (7–8 minutes) for a fast baked potato — a great shortcut for weeknight stuffed sweet potatoes.
- 3
Roast at 425°F for the best caramelization — a lower temperature steams them rather than browning the sugars.
Ingredients That Pair Well With Sweet Potatoes
Chickpeas
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View guide →Frequently Asked Questions
How long do sweet potatoes last?
Raw sweet potatoes last 3–5 weeks in a cool, dark, dry spot (like a pantry shelf). Don't refrigerate them raw — cold temperatures convert the starches and affect texture. Cooked sweet potatoes last 5 days in the fridge and 6 months in the freezer.
Can I freeze sweet potatoes?
Yes, but only after cooking. Freezing raw sweet potato causes ice crystals to break down the cell structure and results in mushy texture after thawing. Freeze cooked and mashed, roasted, or baked sweet potato in portions for up to 6 months.
What spices go with sweet potatoes?
Sweet potatoes pair with two distinct spice profiles: warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger highlight their natural sweetness, while savory spices like cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, and coriander balance and deepen the flavor. Chipotle and sriracha are excellent for heat without clashing.
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