Air Fryer Maple Pecan Sweet Potatoes

Crispy, crunchy and subtly sweet these Air Fryer Maple Pecan Sweet Potatoes are the perfect side dish. Air-fried to perfection and then tossed in a maple syrup butter, they are an irresistible combination of textures and flavors making them absolutely delicious.

Sweet potatoes on the menu are a sure sign that fall is in the air. Hearty, wholesome and versatile, sweet potatoes make a great addition to any meal.

These maple pecan sweet potatoes are air fried so they cook up quickly and turn out crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are then tossed in a rich maple butter along with crunchy pecans for the perfect blend of flavors and textures.

Since sweet potatoes last quite a while they are great to have on hand. With just a few other pantry staples, this air fryer pecans and sweet potatoes recipe comes together quickly and easily.

Sweet potatoes vs yams?

Sweet potatoes and yams are two different vegetables belonging to two different families of vegetables.

Sweet potatoes are a starchy root vegetable that can range in color from the common orange fleshed variety to the less common pale fleshed skin.

Sweeter and moisture than white potatoes, sweet potatoes can often be substituted for white potatoes in recipes. Sweet potatoes are great roasted, mashed or turned into fries.

Yams, on the other hand are a completely different vegetable. Yams grow much larger than sweet potatoes, are lighter in color and are much more starchy. Yams can also be mashed, fried or roasted though they are less sweet than sweet potatoes

Read about the longstanding confusion that exists between the two in this Healthline article.

Ingredients

• Sweet potato: You’ll need about 2 cups of sweet potatoes, cubed small. I peeled the sweet potato but you don’t have to.
• Oil spray: Use oil in a spray bottle to lightly douse the sweet potatoes so they crisp up on the outside.
• Butter: Salted or unsalted butter will both work to coat the sweet potatoes. If you use salted butter adjust the amount of added salt.
• Maple syrup: Maple syrup adds sweetness and helps caramelize the sweet potatoes. Use real maple syrup for the best flavor.
• Pecans: Chopped pecans add texture and a nice crunch to the sweet potatoes.
• Sea salt: Add sea salt to taste. If you don’t have sea salt any type of salt will work.
• Thyme: Fresh thyme adds a nice herbaceous flavor but you can use dried or substitute with whatever fresh herbs you have on hand.

How To Make Air Fryer Pecan Sweet Potatoes

First: Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into small cubes. Using a spray oil, lightly cover the sweet potatoes with oil before placing them in the air fryer. Make sure to use a sprayer, don’t pour oil over the sweet potatoes.

Second: Cook the sweet potatoes in the air fryer for about 20 minutes, turning halfway through. Remove from the air fryer and set aside.

Third: Melt the butter in a large skillet and then add in the maple syrup. Toss the pecans into the skillet, coat them with the maple butter and then add a pinch of sea salt.

Fourth: Stir the sweet potatoes into the skillet and coat them well with the maple butter.

Fifth: Remove the sweet potatoes from the skillet and place them on a serving dish garnished with fresh thyme.

Variations of maple sweet potatoes

Though these sweet potatoes taste great as they are, here are a few ways you can change them up:

• Cinnamon: Add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the maple syrup and butter combination for a sweeter dish. Feel free to use cinnamon with nutmeg, and/or allspice.
• Red chili flakes: Stir in as much red chili flakes as you can handle for a touch of heat.
• Cumin: Mix a teaspoon of cumin into the maple butter for more depth of flavor.
• Smoked paprika: For a touch of smokiness stir in smoked paprika.
• Nut-free: To make this recipe nut-free, use pumpkin seeds in place of the pecans.

Storage

Store uneaten sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer. Reheating in the microwave is possible but you won’t get a crispy exterior.

You can also freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

What to serve with maple pecan sweet potatoes?

These sweet potatoes make the perfect side dish as they come together quickly. Here are a few things to pair them with:

For a busy weeknight serve with this Herb Roasted Chicken or these Oven Baked Chicken Drumsticks. Start with a salad like this Brussel Sprout Kale Salad and serve with these Healthy Baked Cinnamon Apples for dessert.

For a festive Thanksgiving meal, pair the sweet potatoes with this Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, this Apple Sage Thanksgiving Stuffing, this Easy Green Bean Casserole along with these Chocolate Peppermint Cups for dessert.

Looking for more sweet potato recipes?