12 Ways to Cook Sweet Potatoes You May Not Have Tried Yet (2024)

Sweet potatoes are extremely versatile and have a nice, starchy texture, so they're the perfect replacement for basic white potatoes when you're trying to increase flavor, antioxidants (beta carotene is found in orange fruits and veggies), and fiber and get a pop of color on your plate. Beta carotene helps protect your heart and boosts skin health to prevent aging, too, and it helps keep your nails, teeth, and hair strong and radiant. Eating sweet potatoes regularly can improve health in the long term and keep you fuller longer, thanks to satiating fiber.

Since sweet potatoes are in season right now, it's the perfect time to use them in new recipes, whether you enjoy them mashed, roasted, or baked. If you're struggling to find new recipes to shake up your sweet potato repertoire, here are a few fun and creative ways to get more sweet potatoes on the plate this season.

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Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole

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Great for the holidays this year, a sweet potato casserole is rich and comforting with the added bonus of fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. Make a crispy, crunchy pecan topping to add some texture to the moist, creamy interior of the casserole.

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Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes

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These candied sweet potatoes are sticky and syrupy, and they taste just like dessert but have more nutrients than you'd find in a slice of cake. Use cinnamon and nutmeg for a bit of spice to complement the sweeter notes from the sugar and vanilla.

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Candied Sweet Potatoes

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Add toasty, decadent marshmallow to these sweet potatoes for a side dish that'll make your meal feel super indulgent. The brown sugar adds more sweet flavor, and you can make it in just 40 minutes, so it's super easy for last-minute holiday prep or a side dish for the week.

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Savory Sweet Potato Hash

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Take breakfast hash up a notch by swapping white potatoes for sweet potatoes — you'll get more nutrition in the dish and add some sweetness to balance out the savory feel. Plus, it takes 25 minutes to make, which is easy for hectic mornings. Add ham or swap for chicken or tofu.

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Sweet Potato Baked Oatmeal

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Oatmeal is loaded with fiber and can take on various flavors, both sweet and savory. Try incorporating mashed sweet potato and then adding spices like nutmeg and cinnamon to highlight those savory notes. Plus, you can make a big batch at once and save for breakfast throughout the week.

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Make-Ahead Sweet Potato and Chorizo Breakfast Burritos

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Meal prep is simple with pre-planned, on-the-go breakfast foods, like burritos and sandwiches. And sweet potato is a tasty and nutritious filling for burritos with meat or eggs. Swap chorizo for chicken or tofu if preferred. You can store these in the fridge for three days.

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Sweet Potato Banana Pancakes

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In a little over half an hour, you can sit down to a stack of these sweet potato banana pancakes, which have lots of fiber and sweet flavor to make breakfast nutritious and indulgent. Plus, they're packed with protein, thanks to vanilla protein powder and a variety of crunchy nuts on top.

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Vegan Sweet Potato Bread

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Swap cornbread for a sweet potato bread that has a better nutrition profile and is actually vegan, too. Add banana, pecans, and some spice, like cinnamon and vanilla, to get those festive fall flavors you desire for the season.

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Simple Sweet Potato Soup

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Creamy and velvety, this silky smooth sweet potato soup will warm you up on fall evenings. You can enjoy it hot or cold, and it comes together in under an hour. Make a big batch to keep on hand for leftovers during the week.

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Creamy Sweet Potato with Ginger Soup

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Fragrant and packed with fall flavors, this ginger, and sweet potato soup has a light but creamy texture to it, and crunchy peanuts on top add heart-healthy fats and a bit of crunch to balance out the dish.

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Warm Sweet Potato Salad

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Fall isn't super cold, so it's still possible to enjoy picnics outdoors and to nosh on potato salad over bread or greens. Yet, this sweet potato salad adds more antioxidants and fiber, and it works well with the spices and Dijon seasoning.

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Vegan Black Bean and Sweet Potato Salad

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Black bean and sweet potato come together for a fun, colorful, fiber-rich, and protein-dense salad that can be a side or main for those on a vegan diet. If a main, add in a topper, like avocado, tofu, or seitan — or chicken or fish if you don't need it to be vegan.