10 Easy Sweet Potato Ideas + Recipes

Fall is in the air and visions of mouthwatering dishes of apples, sweet potatoes and pumpkins are dancing in my head.

Even if it’s only wishful thinking on my part (I’m over this hot, humid weather we’ve had in SoCal), my mind quickly filled with orange yearnings when I came across a playing card-sized calendar of 52 Ways to Love Sweet Potatoes by the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission as I was sifting through the clutter on my desk.

Sweet potatoes make an awesome, healthy, nutritious quick dinner after a long day of work and after-school activities and, with this folding brochure full of ideas, I am compelled to share a few of the Sweet Potato Commission’s ideas, along a roundup of recipes from the She’s Cookin’ archives to propel you to begin thinking and eating more of these bright orange deliciously nutritious* powerhouse tubers that, unfortunately, are still often confused with and mislabeled as yams.

*Sweet potatoes are packed with beta carotene (thus the orange color) along with vitamins A and C, fiber, manganese, potassium, and antioxidants. 

Chai-Spiced Sweet Potato Bisque

1. Make homemade pizza with thinly sliced sweet potatoes instead of pepperoni.

2. Combine sweet potato purée with Greek yogurt and chipotles for a spicy and creamy side dish.

3. Make a vegetarian sandwich with roasted sweet potato rounds, goat cheese, fig butter and arugula on toasted bread.

4. Toss hot pasta with browned butter, garlicky greens and roasted sweet potato cubes. Sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts and blue cheese.

Sweet Potato, Pork and Apple Skillet Hash

5. In a casserole, combine sweet potato cubes, red quinoa, dried cherries, milk and maple syrup. Bake and top with toasted pecans. (Yummy, breakfast casserole!)

6. Sauté peppers, onions and sweet potato cubes for a Tex-Mex taco filling.

7. Combine shredded rotisserie chicken with black beans and scallions; spoon over a baked sweet potato.

8. Make roasted sweet potato wedges to accompany your favorite grilled meat, serve with a side of sautéed kale. (So easy!)

Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Poblano Chile Tacos

9. Combine roasted sweet potato rounds with sundried tomatoes, scallions, and toasted pumpkin seeds; toss with vinaigrette.

10. Toss sliced sweet potato, brussels sprouts and cauliflower in olive oil and salt; bake until tender. (perfect for Thanksgiving!)

 Gluten-free Sweet Potato Crostini

Stay tuned for more sweet potato goodness as I put my twist on some of these ideas. Have fun with the recipes pictured above (click on the name for full recipe). They’re all very simple, with readily available ingredients, for time-stretched home cooks.

The African Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Stew below has been super popular – it’s vegan, gluten free, and full of exotic flavors. It requires a little more time, but won’t disappoint!

 African Sweet Potato & Cauliflower Stew

Sweet Potato & Lentil Soup with Swiss Chard

So let’s start our sweet potato journey, maybe Fall will takes it cue from us 🙂