How to cook sweetpotatos in the air fryer

Sweetpotatoes are an air fryer’s best friend. There are countless ways to cook them, and using an air fryer gives you a crispy exterior and a perfectly tender interior every time. Not only is it a faster way to cook compared to a conventional oven, but it’s also healthier, as it uses far less oil to achieve that crunchy texture.

Whether you’re craving crispy fries, soft cubes, rounds, or a fluffy whole baked sweetpotato, the air fryer makes it easy.

One of the best things about using an air fryer for your sweetpotatoes is how it enhances their natural goodness. Unlike deep-frying, which can add significant calories and fat, air frying uses a fraction of the oil. This means your air-fried chips and cubes retain most of their vitamins and minerals, giving you a delicious and genuinely healthier alternative to conventional potato chips.
Sweetpotatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is crucial for healthy vision and a strong immune system. You also get a great dose of vitamin C, essential for skin health and boosting immunity. When you cook sweetpotatoes in the air fryer them, you get all these benefits along with satisfying flavour and texture.

The air fryer is a game-changer for baked sweetpotatoes, giving you a tender and fluffy side dish in a fraction of the time. While an oven might take an hour, your air fryer can get the job done in as little as 35 minutes. A key to success is to leave the skin on for a crispy exterior. To ensure the potato cooks evenly all the way through, be sure to poke holes in it with a fork before you start. Once cooked, the sweetpotato can be sliced open and topped with your favourite ingredients. Some of our favourite baked sweetpotato recipes are our salsa and guacamole stuffed sweetpotatoes and our vegetarian hot honey loaded sweetpotato. 

Wondering how long to cook sweetpotatos in air fryer? For a medium-sized potato, it usually takes 35-40 minutes at 190°C. Once cooked, slice it open and top with your favourite ingredients. 

Making crispy sweetpotato fries in the air fryer is a much healthier alternative to deep frying, as it uses far less oil. You’ll get to enjoy a delicious snack that has that perfect slight crisp on the outside with a tender, fluffy interior. 

If you are wondering how long to cook sweetpotato fries in the air fryer is to preheat the air fryer to 200°C, coat in salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. Then spray the tops of the fries with oil spray and air fry for 9-10 minutes before serving. For more details follow our step by step sweetpoato fries recipe. 

Diced sweetpotatoes is a great, no-fuss method for making a healthy side dish or a simple addition to a salad or bowl. Simply dice your sweetpotato into even cubes, season them however you like, and air fry for a perfectly tender texture.  Just set the air fryer to 180°C and cook for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket around the 6-minute mark. It’s one of the easiest ways to cook sweetpotato in the air fryer when you need a quick side dish.  

The skin contributes to essential minerals such as potassium (important for blood pressure regulation), manganese, and copper. 

Eating the whole sweetpotato, including its skin, provides a more complete nutritional package. It’s a simple yet powerful way to maximise the health benefits of this incredible vegetable, providing complex carbohydrates for sustained energy while being naturally low in fat and calories. Embrace the skin wherever you can! 

For a delicious snack, sweetpotato rounds are a fantastic option. Simply slice a sweetpotato into equal rounds, season them how you like, and air fry for about 15 minutes at 180°C. Be sure to flip them halfway through the cooking time. Our smashed sweetpotato rounds recipe is the perfect guide to follow if you’ve not made sweetpotato rounds before.  

The versatility of the air fryer extends beyond savoury dishes. It’s also useful for baking when a recipe calls for sweetpotato flesh. The air fryer can quickly cook a whole sweetpotato until it’s perfectly soft and tender, making it easy to scoop out the flesh you need for a variety of delicious bakes.  

If you’re not sure how long to cook sweetpotatoes in the air fryer for baking, just set it at 190°C for 35-40 minutes, then scoop out the flesh for your recipe.  

For recipes where you need a smooth, creamy texture to serve as a base, knowing how long to cook sweetpotato in air fryer is a great hack that will save you time. Our delicious sweetpotato air fryer brownies recipe is a great example, where a perfectly air-fried sweetpotato is the secret ingredient! 

Beyond the cooking methods, here are a few simple tips that can take your air-fried sweetpotatoes to the next level.  

Don’t get rid of the skin: The skin of a sweetpotato is not only edible but also full of great nutritional value, including plenty of fibre. When cooked in the air fryer, the skin gets crispy, adding some texture to your dish. 

Think beyond dinner: While air-fried sweetpotatoes are a perfect side for dinner, their versatility makes them a great addition to your morning routine. Try adding sweetpotato cubes to your breakfast, like with our sweetpotato savoury breakfast bowl. Or even our sweetpotato chia pudding recipe to speed up the cooking process.  

Always check timing: depending on size, you’ll want to know how long to cook sweetpotato in air fryer, small cubes need just 12–15 minutes, while whole potatoes take closer to 35-40 minutes. 

As you can see, the air fryer is a great tool for unlocking the full potential of a sweetpotato. Whether you’re wondering how to cook sweetpotato in air fryer for a fluffy baked potato, or exactly how long to cook sweetpotato fries in air fryer for that crispy finish, this method is fast, healthy, and easy. Its ability to create that perfect crispy exterior with a soft, tender interior, all while using less oil and a fraction of the time, makes it a true kitchen essential. Season to your liking and give your air fryer a try when you next cook sweetpotatoes. Your next favourite sweetpotato dish is only minutes away!