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Air Fryer Canned Sweet Potatoes

Name: Air Fryer Canned Sweet Potatoes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 30 ounces sweet potatoes (drained and rinsed); 1/4 cup butter (unsalted butter, melted); 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional); 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; Mini marshmallows (for topping, optional)

Author: Laurie Fleming
Published: May 22, 2021

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If you love the sweet, earthy and rustic deliciousness of sweet potatoes, you’ve got to try making these Air Fryer canned sweet potatoes.

Perfectly caramelized air fryer canned sweet potatoes in a white bowl.

With a crispy outside and a soft, sweet inside, these air fried canned sweet potatoes are an absolute game-changer if you’re looking for a quick and tasty side dish to pair with your meats, or use for your soups, casseroles and curries.

Best of all, you’ll just need a few minutes and some pantry staples to make them! Sweet potatoes are my absolute favorite veggie to use for making nutritious and healthy sides.

They’re so versatile, and when made in the Air Fryer, they turn out perfectly crispy and delicious! Whenever I have some fresh sweet potatoes at hand, I always end up making some Air Fryer spicy sweet potato fries or my Air Fryer outback steakhouse sweet potatoes.

I also love putting frozen sweet potatoes to use- my frozen sweet potato fries and air fried sweet potato nachos are both big hits, but this time, I thought of using canned sweet potatoes with my Air Fryer to whip up something delicious.

And here we are!

"Air fryer sweet potatoes from canned, crispy and golden brown."

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Quick and easy: No need to peel or chop- these sweet potatoes come together with minimal effort and kitchen time.
Versatile: Enjoy different versions of the recipe by playing around with different seasonings and spices.
Packed with nutrients: Sweet potatoes are chock full of antioxidants, fiber and vitamins, making them a great choice if you’re looking for a healthy side dish.

Ingredients For the Air Fryer Canned Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Ingredients needed for Air Fryer Canned Sweet Potatoes on kitchen table.

Canned sweet potatoes: These are super convenient and time saving, since they come pre-cooked and have a delicious natural sweetness. You could use fresh sweet potatoes too, but remember that they’ll take longer to cook.
Oil: Just a drizzle of olive oil or avocado oil or any other cooking oil of your choice works well. This helps crisp up the outside of the potatoes. If you’re not sensitive to dairy, you can use melted butter too.
Seasonings: I kept it simple and used just a bit of salt, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, black pepper and some herbs to amp up the flavors of the sweet potatoes. Use whatever you prefer.

Variations & Substitutions

Bring a nice kick of heat to these crispy sweet potatoes by adding some red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne along with the other seasonings.
To lend the crispy potatoes a bit of smoky flavor, use some smoked paprika along with the other seasonings.
Making these as a fall side dish? Season the potatoes with some cinnamon powder, brown sugar and maple syrup.

How to Make Air Fryer Canned Sweet Potatoes

Dry the canned sweet potatoes, for them to crisp up.

Prep potatoes: Start by draining the liquid from the canned potatoes and rinsing them under cold water. Pat them dry and remove all excess moisture from the surface.

Mix Canned Sweet Potatoes with seasonings, and olive oil. Mix well, coating the potatoes.

Season time: It is now time to season the potatoes! Toss them in some olive oil or melted butter, and ensure that they’re coated nicely. Sprinkle your choice of seasonings and herbs and mix again.

Place canned sweet potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket.

Time to cook: Arrange the sweet potatoes in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer, and cook them for 10-15 minutes or until they’re nice and crispy.

Remove and serve: Get the potatoes out of the Air Fryer and serve them hot.

"Quick and easy air fryer canned sweet potatoes with a hint of caramelization."

Tips & Tricks to Make Canned Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Make sure you pat dry the sweet potatoes after you rinse them. Doing this will help them soak up all those seasonings and oil you’re coating them with, and also get them to crisp up nicely.
Remember that with air frying, less is more. You don’t need copious amounts of oil to grease the potatoes. Just a little goes a long way.
Don’t overcrowd the Air Fryer basket with too many potatoes. This can cause them to get soggy and cook unevenly. Leave space for the hot air to flow through and get the potatoes to have that crispy texture.
Flip the potatoes over midway during the cooking process to get them crispy on all sides.
Different Air Fryers operate differently, so make sure you check the potatoes at the 10 minute mark, and cook them for a little longer if needed.

"Golden-brown air fryer canned sweet potatoes served as a delicious side dish."

Storage Instructions

Refrigeration: If you have any leftover crispy sweet potatoes, allow them to cool down and then transfer them to an airtight container. You can refrigerate these for 2-3 days and then reheat them when you want to serve them.

Reheating: The easiest way to reheat these air fried canned sweet potatoes is to air fry them, again. This gets them nice and crispy, as opposed to other methods of reheating, which can make them a bit soft and soggy.

Serving Ideas & Suggestions

These crispy air fried sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish to any vegan main of your choice. I love pairing them with my Air Fryer cauliflower tacos and some Instant Pot vegan chili, whenever I’m hosting my vegan friends.

Another great idea is to serve them with some Air Fryer vegan meatballs, or some delicious frozen turkey meatballs if you’re not vegan.

Sometimes, I love serving them as a snack, paired with a dipping sauce like some Air Fryer cheesy dip or a creamy alfredo dip.

FAQs

Can I skip the rinsing step? I would highly recommend rinsing the sweet potatoes in some cold water before you coat them in the oil and spices. This can help remove excess starch and can get them to crisp up nicely.

How long does it take to air fry canned sweet potatoes? In most cases, canned sweet potatoes get that perfect crispy texture on the outside within 8-12 minutes of cooking. Take a peek at the 10 minute mark to see if they’re done, and pop them back in again if they need a little more time.

How do I keep the sweet potatoes from sticking to the Air Fryer basket? Grease the basket with a bit of oil or cooking spray before you layer the potatoes in to keep them from sticking. You could also use an Air Fryer liner if you want to.

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