Skillet Sweet Potatoes
True story: I never say “no” to a side of sweet potatoes. And these crispy, buttery cast iron skillet sweet potatoes are one of my favorite ways to eat them! Really all you need are of course sweet potatoes… plus oil and salt and a little bit of butter. The best part is that you can make this sautéed sweet potato recipe on the stove in under 30 minutes – making them THE perfect sweet & savory side dish to serve at dinner, in a breakfast hash, nourishing bowl or salad!
About this Crispy Skillet Sweet Potatoes
While I love my slow cooker, on our extra hectic weeks I find myself turning to quick + easy high-protein dinner ideas when I need a meal on the table fast. We’re talkin’ the kind that I can throw together in under 30 minutes, with minimal prep steps and short & easy-to-find ingredient lists (bonus points if there’s lots of pantry staples too). And this simple cast iron sweet potato skillet is one of those tried & true fallback recipes that everyone in our house loves!
It’s honestly one of the best ways to cook sweet potatoes, and my favorite part (besides, hello, the deliciously crispy sweet potatoes!) is that they go with almost any protein, greens, cooked grains, veggies, sauce or dressing – so it’s a great recipe to lean on when you need to use up any leftovers in your fridge. All you have to do is throw the sweet potato in a skillet with just a little oil and salt. Easy, breezy! The ingredients and method may seem very basic, but trust me – the flavor & texture you get out of cooking sweet potatoes this way is anything but simple!
Just a Little Bit of Butter
You’ll see the on the instructions below that I like serving mine with a little bit of butter melted in too. But if you don’t like or don’t have butter, feel free to omit it – they’ll still taste fantastic without it!
Sautéed Sweet Potato: Process & Tips
The beauty of cooking with great, real, whole food ingredients is that you don’t really need that many things to make them shine. It always amazes me how much flavor you can get out of produce just by cooking it with a little oil and salt. Once you’ve peeled and chopped your sweet potatoes, you add them to a hot pan with oil and salt.
The trick with sweet potatoes is not to walk away during the sautéing stage – give them a stir every few minutes or so just to make sure they’re done the way you like them and don’t burn. If you notice them browning too quickly, you can always turn the heat down to medium and continue cooking them that way. Likewise, if you feel like they’re looking a little dry just add a bit more oil. In just 15-20 minutes they’ll be cooked through and ready to eat any way you like!
Fun Ways to Use Sweet Potato Hash
Personally, I could go for a side of sweet potatoes with almost any meal but if you’re a fan of skillet or cast iron meals like I am, try these with my Easy Italian Chicken Zucchini Skillet or my Skillet Chicken and Sweet Potatoes if you want to add a protein and turn this one into a full meal. Alternatively, enjoy them in a grain or veggie bowl by combining with your favorite greens and any protein, or create a simple sweet potato hash by topping with a fried egg or two to bring the brunch vibes (love this as a last-minute breakfast-for-dinner option too).
Meal Prep Tip
Make a double batch of these sweet potatoes to make quick breakfast hashes or breakfast burritos on busy mornings!
Cast Iron Skillet Sweet Potatoes Variations to Try
- Maple Cinnamon: Add 1 tablespoon maple syrup and 1 teaspoon cinnamon along with the butter in step three, stirring until well combined and fragrant.
- Italian: Add 1 teaspoon no-salt added Italian seasoning and 1 minced garlic clove along with the butter in step three, stirring until well combined and fragrant.
- Rosemary Garlic: Add 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary and 1 minced garlic clove along with the butter in step three, stirring until well combined and fragrant.
- Honey Chipotle: Add 1 tablespoon honey and 1 teaspoon minced chipotle in adobo along with the butter in step three, stirring until well combined and fragrant.
- Buffalo: Add 1 tablespoon hot sauce (such as Frank’s Red Hot) along with the butter in step three, stirring until well combined and fragrant.
Key Ingredients & Notes
- Avocado oil: I like using avocado oil for it’s neutral flavor and its high smoke point (which lets me use it in a variety of types of cooking from sauteing to grilling and baking & more). But you can also use any other neutral flavored oil in its place like vegetable or canola.
- Butter: I like serving my sweet potatoes with a little extra butter, it just gives it a little extra velvety flavor. But it’s entirely optional for this recipe. You can use traditional butter, or for dairy-free, use a plant-based butter. For paleo, use ghee or a paleo friendly plant-based butter in its place.
This Recipe Is…
Dairy FreeGluten FreeNut FreePaleoVeganVegetarianWhole30
Skillet Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 2 tb avocado oil, or other neutral flavored oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
Equipment
Instructions
- Heat the avocado oil in a large, 12-inch skillet over medium high heat.
- Add the sweet potatoes, sprinkle with salt, and sauté for 15-20 minutes until browned and cooked through, stirring frequently.
- Note: Sweet potatoes can burn easily, so don’t walk away from the pan. Be sure to stir every few minutes to avoid burning. If the potatoes start to brown too quickly, turn the heat to medium, and continue cooking until tender. If they dry out too much, add 1-2 teaspoons of additional oil.
- Add the butter and stir to coat. Taste and add additional salt if desired.
