Description
This Easy Skillet Sweet Potatoes recipe is a quick and flavorful way to prepare sweet potatoes with a delicious sautéed onion and garlic mixture. Perfect as a side dish, it combines tender sweet potato cubes cooked in olive or avocado oil, seasoned simply with salt and pepper, and garnished with fresh green onions and cilantro for a fresh finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 1 ½ pounds sweet potatoes
Cooking Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons oil (olive or avocado)
- ½ onion (sweet or white, finely diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt (to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
Garnish
- 3 tablespoons green onions (finely chopped)
- 3 tablespoons cilantro (finely chopped)
Instructions
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Peel the sweet potatoes using a vegetable peeler and discard the skins. Cut the potatoes into ½ to 1-inch cubes, aiming for approximately 5 cups of cubed sweet potatoes. Smaller cubes will cook faster.
- Sauté the Potatoes: Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the cubed sweet potatoes and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring once halfway to promote even cooking and prevent sticking.
- Add the Onion and Garlic: Push the sweet potatoes to one side of the skillet. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil and the finely diced onion. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the onion becomes translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant.
- Season and Cook Through: Sprinkle the salt and black pepper over the sweet potato mixture, then stir to combine the onions and garlic evenly. Cover the skillet with a lid and continue cooking for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and sprinkle the finely chopped green onions and cilantro over the sweet potatoes. Give a gentle stir to distribute the herbs and serve warm for a tasty side dish.
Notes
- Sweet potatoes cook faster when cut into smaller cubes, so adjust size according to desired cooking time.
- Use a large skillet to ensure even cooking and avoid overcrowding, which can cause steaming instead of sautéing.
- Olive or avocado oil are preferred for their flavor and health benefits, but any neutral oil can be used.
- Covering the skillet helps the sweet potatoes cook through evenly and more quickly.
- Fresh herbs like cilantro and green onions add brightness and freshness to the dish.
