40+ Unique Uses for Sweetpotatoes
- January 20, 2021
- Last Updated: February 24, 2025
- 0 Comments
- Recipes
Sweetpotatoes are one of the most versatile foods around. There are several unique and delicious uses for sweetpotatoes to satisfy any meal, flavor or craving.
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As a Registered Dietitian and mom, sweetpotatoes are one of my favorite foods.
They are so uniquely nutritious and they are great for every age group.
Sweetpotatoes are great for babies and toddlers, kids, adults, older adults, athletes, etc.
I’ll even add that dogs love them! My dog, Tater (yep – that’s really her name), loves mashed sweet potatoes mixed into her dry dog food.
So, with all that being said, this versatile food has so many uses in a variety of recipes and courses. Here are some of my favorite uses for sweetpotatoes.
These 40+ creative sweetpotato recipes showcase the millions of uses for sweetpotatoes, from sweet to savory, from breakfast to dessert and everything in between.
Nutrition Content of Sweetpotatoes
Sweet potatoes are nutritionally dense, which is one reason why they are an appealing food to all people, even little people.
As a matter of fact, sweetpotatoes for baby led weaning are always one of the first foods we introduce.
While their natural sweetness makes them well accepted, they can also be pureed and mashed, or served as finger foods.
Using sweetpotato for baby finger food is probably easier than you imagined.
Here are some of the nutrition spotlights of sweetpotatoes:
- Fiber – One medium sweetpotato provides about four grams of fiber, which has so many health benefits! Fiber aids in fullness, digestion, balancing blood sugar and reducing cholesterol.
- Vitamin A – One medium sweetpotato provides more than your daily recommended allotment of Vitamin A, an important nutrient for cell development, vision and immune health.
- Vitamin C – Sweetpotatoes are also high in Vitamin C. Vitamin C is important for the absorption of non-heme iron (necessary for plant based eating and vegan recipes).
- Potassium – Sweetpotatoes are a great source of the electrolyte, potassium, which is great for heart health.
- Antioxidants – Beta-carotene, the precursor to Vitamin A, is one of many antioxidants found in sweetpotatoes.
Different Kinds of Sweetpotatoes to Cook With
You may be familiar with the traditional Covington or Beauregard sweet potato (which is sometimes confused with a yam).
There are so many varieties of sweetpotatoes available, ranging from white and mild to a deeper red sweetpotato.
North Carolina is the number one sweetpotato-producing state in the US, but they are grown nearly everywhere.
The best way to find local sweetpotatoes would be through your local farmers market, co-op or CSA.
Some other sweet potato varieties include:
- white sweet potatoes (may look like a white potato)
- Japanese sweet potatoes (red skin, dry, white flesh)
- Okinawa (gorgeous purple interior)
- Satsuma-Imo (have a creamy, starchy white interior)
Another perk is that sweetpotatoes fit into just about any diet – they are naturally gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, whole foods/paleo, Mediterranean, etc.
Uses for Sweetpotatoes
There are SO many recipes for sweetpotatoes in nearly any type of cuisine, from warming soups on chilly nights to frozen desserts and family favorites for summer cookouts.
We also use sweetpotatoes in several of our healthy meal prep snacks.
Whether you want a delicious side dish or sweetpotatoes shining as the main dish, the options are plentiful.
Here are some of my favorite out-of-the-box ways to use sweetpotatoes, many of which you can find recipes below.
- sweetpotato pasta
- sauces or pestos
- cookie dough
- sweetpotato and pumpkin soup
- oatmeal bites
- burgers
- meatballs
- baked oatmeal
- Cubed, fries or chips
- pizza crust
- smoothies
- popsicles
- cookies
- breakfast bars
- grain salads
- fruit salads
- quickbreads
- sweetpotato baby food
- breakfast hash
- egg casseroles
- waffles and pancakes
You’ll be amazed at the uses for sweetpotatoes, and what to pair them with (nearly anything!).
Check out our huge roundup of what to eat with sweetpotatoes for more ideas to pair with these sweetpotato dishes.
While it’s rare to find people who don’t like sweetpotatoes, they can also easily be replaced in recipes, and likewise, serve as a replacement in other recipes.
Butternut squash or canned pumpkin, for example, are great replacements for sweetpotatoes in many of these recipes if you prefer.
This butternut and beetroot salad is stellar with sweetpotatoes, too!
Reusing Leftover Sweetpotatoes
Many of these serve as easy recipes for leftover sweetpotatoes, as well.
Whether you mash them, or have already baked or cooked them, don’t let them go to waste!
These different recipes for sweetpotatoes emphasize their ability to conform to different textures, tastes and cuisines.
Enjoy a sweetpotato burrito with black beans or chorizo, or make sweetpotato fries in the air fryer.
Puree it into a spicy fall soup, or freeze it into a refreshing popsicle!
There is no best food to eat with a sweetpotato, because they pair nicely with so many foods and food groups!
Fruits, like blueberries, go really well with sweetpotatoes. And sweetpotato and kale or spinach are nice accompaniments as well.
Sweetpotatoes and greek yogurt are also a wonderful carbohydrate-protein match (like in a sweetpotato smoothie).
And for your sweet tooth, sweetpotato chocolate chip bread (a big version of sweet potato chocolate chip muffins) and even sweetpotato oatmeal cookies are wonderful.
Unique Sweetpotato Recipes
There are an abundance of unique sweetpotato recipes thanks to all of the properties listed above.
Here are 40+ of our favorites.
Unique Sweetpotato Recipes
Do you need uses for sweetpotatoes? These unique sweetpotato recipes show how versatile this pantry staple can be, such as including in nachos, smoothies, pizza crust, breads, muffins, pasta and more!
These Turkey Apple Burgers are the perfect combination of tasty and nutritious, filled with fruits and vegetables! They are ideal for throwing on the grill, enjoying al fresco, or for entertaining a crowd, and perfect for kids, toddlers and adults.
These thai red curry meatballs are great for meal prep and delicious for the whole family! They have a few unique ingredients that help add flavor and nutrition too.
Sweetpotato Oatmeal Cookies are an easy snack that also work great as healthy sweetpotato breakfast cookies. These vegan breakfast cookies are made with whole grain oats, flour, sweet potatoes, spices and maple syrup.
This spinach baby food recipe blends spinach, sweet potatoes, yogurt and peanut butter for a balanced and nutritious introduction for homemade baby food or baby led weaning. They can even be frozen as baby teething popsicles.
Frozen cookie dough bites made with sweetpotatoes, garbanzo beans, peanut butter and maple syrup are the best no bake cookie dough bites. Just take them out of the freezer and enjoy!
Baby waffles are a great first food for babies. These sweetpotato waffles for baby are free of added sugars and full of healthy ingredients for your little ones.
These creamy coconut popsicles are the perfect combination of summer, boasting tropical flavors of coconut and pina colada. Pineapple coconut popsicles are naturally sweetened with pineapples, coconut cream and sweet potato.
This goat cheese quinoa salad blends savory quinoa and goat cheese with sweet fruit and sweetpotatoes, topped with a smooth citrus honey dressing.
These sweetpotato and zucchini fritters are a tasty, vegetarian meal that adults and kids will love! Made with shredded zucchini, sweetpotato, chickpea flour, eggs and cheese, this easy zucchini sweetpotato recipe will become a family favorite.
This easy sweet potato casserole in the instant pot is the answer to your Thanksgiving dreams. Quick, easy and delicious, it's good for you with hands off prep and easy clean up!
This easy baby sweetpotato pancakes are nutrient-full and great to serve for baby led weaning at 6 months and beyond!
These gluten free sweetpotato apple muffins are a sweet snack for fall flavor, topped with a crispy oat topping.
These sweetpotato oat bars are made with staple pantry ingredients, low in sugar, and are great for an easy on-the-go snack, or even as a toddler breakfast bar!
These oven roasted sweetpotatoes and carrots are simple yet flavorful. In just 35 minutes, you'll have a vibrant, nutritious and flavorful side option for any meal.
This sweetpotato mug cake is ready in minutes and is a great single-serving dessert or snack. Made with a handful of healthy ingredients you probably have on hand, this microwavable mug cake is also gluten free and vegan.
Looking for an easy and quick dinner option? This air fryer sausage and veggies is ready in no time, but not short on flavor! You'll want to make it time and time again.
This Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pizza Crust is a wholesome, gluten free and vegan pizza crust alternative that you can decorate with your favorite options. As a plant based pizza crust, it's full of flavor, fiber, nutrients and antioxidants and makes for a great post run canvas for toppings of your choice.
These air fryer sweet potato wedges are incredibly easy and tasty to make - you'll never want to make them any other way!
Oven baked kabobs are great any time of year, whether you have a grill or not. With a tantalizing flavor blend of chicken, sweet potatoes, veggies and a lemon herb marinade, these easy kabobs in the oven are a must make.
This butter chicken rice bowl has a fun and delicious twist. The sweetpotatoes add so much flavor and nourishment, you won't be able to stop at one bowl!
Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Zucchini Muffins are a tasty, portable snack option for your little ones. These zucchini and sweet potato muffins are full of veggies and provide a dairy-free option for those who need it
These Sweet Potato Pretzel Bites look fancy but are an easy sweet potato appetizer recipe, great for any time of day. They provide a combination of sweet, savory and salty and are quite addicting!
Chocolate Chip Sweet Potato Bread is a healthy option for your sweet tooth! Made with sweet potatoes, whole wheat flour and oat flour, this bread is soft and fluffy and provides a healthy pre or post workout option.
Mix this easy sweet potato spaghetti with traditional pasta or enjoy these sweet potato zoodles on their own, with a creamy sweet potato pasta sauce!
This Healthy Sweet Potato Bread with Blueberries will quickly become your favorite holiday staple and will impress your guests. This sweet potato quick bread combines the flavors of fresh, fall sweet potatoes with wild blueberries to create a slightly tart yet sweet, moist, fluffy bread.
Pumpkin sweet potato soup combines the hearty, nourishing flavors of autumn in an easy 30 minute vegan instant pot recipe.
These customizable sweet potato black bean nachos are great as a weeknight dinner, vegetarian nachos recipe, or football food. Easy to make for groups and great for kids!
This bright hued sweet potato beet smoothie is the best post workout smoothie recipe. Made with mango, beets and sweet potatoes, it's antioxidant rich, and helps replenish and restore your muscles to expedite recovery.
Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese is the answer to your cheesy pasta dreams. A mixture of whole wheat pasta, mashed sweet potato, cheese and kale make this savory sweet potato pasta dish a real winner.
This Sweet Potato Kale Hash recipe is an easy way to add veggies to your breakfast. Full of flavor and nutrients, this vegan breakfast hash will be a morning favorite!
This Sweet Potato Oatmeal Bake with Blueberries is the perfect quick and nutritious breakfast option, great for your meal prep oatmeal needs. It’s ready in 30 minutes, great for crowds, and the perfect pre- workout snack!
These no bake 5 ingredient peanut butter energy bites are a great on-the-go snack. Made with oats, sweet potatoes, peanut butter, coconut and some spices, these sweet potato bites are everything you'd want in a healthy portable snack.
Sweet Potato Vegan Edible Cookie Dough is the perfect appetizer for your sweet tooth. This vegan cookie dough recipe is made with natural ingredients and goes perfectly with fruit, chocolate and graham crackers, making it one of the best healthy vegan desserts!
This Sweet Potato, Beet and Quinoa Breakfast Scramble is a perfect quick and savory breakfast option. It's ready in 20 minutes, full of nourishing veggies, can be made in bulk, and is great for those busy mornings!
This Sweet Potato Kale Pizza is a delicious and easy vegetarian pizza option that makes for a fun homemade pizza night!
This Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole is the perfect make-ahead breakfast or brunch option. Filled with protein, carbohydrates, and antioxidants, it's a quick and easy sweet potato egg bake and meal prep casserole.
This veggie sweet potato avocado breakfast pizza is filling with both complex carbohydrates and satiating protein. It's also bursting with flavor and a great way to start the day with veggies!
These Spinach Sweet Potato Tots are a fun way to offer nutrient dense toddler vegetable recipes to your little ones. Packed with iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and carbohydrates, this veggie tots recipe is great for meal prep and the side to any meal.
Bacon Wrapped Sweet Potatoes are an easy, family-friendly appetizer or snack that requires minimal ingredients and prep time. Just stick them in the oven or air fryer and you're done! Paired with a delicious and refreshing lime yogurt sauce, these are irresistible!
These easy ground turkey sweet potato burgers offer a delicious, flavorful twist on your original turkey burger. Sweet potato patties are chock full of antioxidants and can be made as a paleo turkey burger and gluten free turkey burger without the bun.
These Buttery Cheddar Smashed Sweet Potatoes only require 6 ingredients, and are the perfect mix of sweet and savory. A cheesy and buttery outside combines with a soft and sweet inside that will tantalize your tastebuds.
Sheet Pan Pork Chops and Sweet Potatoes is an easy sheet pan fall dinner made with delicious pork tenderloin with apples and sweet potatoes.
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