Pan Fried Sweet Potatoes

6 Servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
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Pan Fried Sweet Potatoes are the perfect balance of sweet and savory, crisp and fluffy, made quick and easy for a flavorful side.

Pan-Fried Potatoes make the perfect Potato Side Dish for anything from breakfast to dinner. This version uses sweet potatoes, giving the recipe some extra flavor that tastes amazing.  

Recipe Snapshot

Why You’ll Love This Pan Fried Sweet Potato?

  • An easy and versatile stovetop side dish, great for serving alongside breakfast favorites, weeknight dinners, or holiday meals.
  • With sautéed onions, garlic, smoky paprika, and seasoned butter complementing the natural sweet and earthy flavor of the potatoes in every bite.

Sabrina’s Pan Fried Sweet Potatoes Recipe

In this Pan Fried Sweet Potato recipe, the pieces are combined with savory flavors from the aromatics and spices for a wonderfully balanced dish. This is the perfect breakfast side to go along with Pancakes or Waffles. Or bring them out to pair with a classic Chicken Dinner. Tips and Tricks are listed below, as well as my own personal Chef’s Note, so you can get ideal, and delicious results.

Recipe Card

Pan Fried Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Pan Fried Sweet Potatoes are the perfect balance of sweet and savory, crisp and fluffy, made quick and easy for a flavorful side.
Yield 6 Servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Author Sabrina Snyder

Ingredients
 

  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes , peeled
  • 1/2 yellow onion , diced
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil , divided
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • chopped parsley , for garnish

Instructions

  • Cut the sweet potatoes into 1″ chunks.
  • Add to a large, deep skillet and cover with water.
  • Boil for 5 minutes then drain the water.
  • Remove potatoes from the pan and let them dry. Wipe the pan dry with a paper towel.
  • Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil to the skillet on medium heat.
  • Add the onion to the skillet and cook until onions are softened, about 4-5 minutes.
  • Remove the onions from the pan and add in the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
  • Add the sweet potatoes and brown them on each side until golden brown.
  • Add the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper to a small bowl, then add the butter to it. Mash well to combine.
  • Add the butter mixture and onions to the pan, let it melt, and stir well to coat the fried sweet potatoes.
  • Garnish with parsley and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 472mg | Potassium: 539mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 21592IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg

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Chef’s Note

It’s very important that the potatoes have no excess moisture on the surface, so don’t skip out on drying them after they boil. If still wet, they’ll steam instead of fry, and you’ll miss out on the nice golden crust that develops when cooking in the oil.

Can this be made ahead of time?

The best part of this recipe is the crispy and golden exterior which is ideal when freshly pan fried. However, you can split up the prep into two parts if needed. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into cubes, and boil as directed. Drain thoroughly and cool, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Then follow the rest of the recipe when ready to serve.

How to Store

  • Serve: Don’t leave out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. 
  • Store: Store in a shallow airtight container or sealable bag. They’ll stay good in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat on the stovetop, or in a single layer on a baking sheet in the oven at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  • Freeze: Seal and freeze leftovers for up to 6 months in the freezer. 

Tips and Tricks

Follow these simple tips for the best results with this tasty side dish.

  • Cut into even pieces: Keep the potato pieces as even and uniform as possible so they’ll cook at the same rate.
  • Don’t over boil: The initial 5 minute boil is to partially cook them, not make them tender. They should still be firm enough to hold their shape when transferred to the skillet.
  • Avoid overcrowding: Arrange in a single layer with a bit of space to allow any moisture to evaporate. If your skillet isn’t large enough, cook in batches for better browning.
  • Let brown before turning: Resist the urge to stir constantly. Leaving undisturbed for a few minutes allows a golden crust to form before flipping to brown the other side.

Sweet Potato Recipes

Skillet with diced and fried vegetables.

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

Dinner, then Dessert, Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this site unless authorization is given. Read my disclosure and copyright policy. This post may contain affiliate links.

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