Brown Sugar Pecan Sweet Potatoes | Air Fryer Sweet Potato Recipe

Published Date: November 15, 2022
Last Updated: November 15, 2022

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Brown Sugar Pecan Sweet Potatoes are a delicious blend of sweet and savory. Use frozen diced sweet potatoes for a quick and easy weeknight side dish!

Why These Are A Great Weeknight Side Dish

  • Fast. Ready in under 15 minutes with the help of your air fryer.
  • Easy. Steam the sweet potatoes, pour them into a casserole dish, and cover with butter, brown sugar, and chopped pecans. Air fry until roasted to perfection.
  • Versatile. Switch up the flavors to keep this side dish exciting with some of my recommendations below.
  • Delicious. They’re sweet, nutty, and so good you’ll be digging in for a second helping.

Are They Sweet Potatoes Or Yams?

Is it a yam? Is it a sweet potato? Do you mean the terms aren’t interchangeable?

With my past in merchandising in a grocery store, I had to hear people ask where the yams were around Thanksgiving every year. I took everything I had not to correct them. They were busy, I was busy, and no one wants a lesson in root vegetables in the middle of the produce section.

Sweet potatoes and yams are NOT the same things. Sweet potatoes are generally smaller, have a more copper or orange colored skin, and are much sweeter when cooked. Yams grow very large, have tough brown skin, and are generally more starchy than sweet potatoes.

Let’s Talk Ingredients

  • Frozen Sweet Potatoes– I love to use frozen sweet potato steamer bags to make this dish even faster.
  • Brown Sugar– Just a sprinkle over the top to caramelize while the sweet potatoes are roasting.
  • Butter– Helps the sweet potatoes become crispy in the air fryer.
  • Chopped Pecans– Grab pre-chopped pecans for more of a time saver—they’re also cheaper than halved or whole pecans at the grocery store. Win-win!
  • Salt– Compliments the sweetness of brown sugar.
  • Pepper– Enhances the natural flavors of sweet potatoes.

Can You Use Fresh Sweet Potatoes?

Absolutely! If you have sweet potatoes in your pantry or you’re trying to utilize the cheaper prices of popular ingredients around the holidays, you can totally use fresh sweet potatoes, they will just take longer to cook.

Peel the sweet potatoes and dice them into small, bite-sized cubes. You will use the same steps provided below for roasting, but you will need to increase the cooking time to 14 minutes.

How To Make Brown Sugar Pecan Sweet Potatoes

Step 1: Steam the potatoes. Place the sweet potatoes in the microwave, with the steam side facing up. It will specify which side should be facing up on the package of frozen sweet potatoes.

Step 2: Place the sweet potatoes in the casserole dish. Make sure your casserole dish is oven safe and will fit in your air fryer basket with enough room around the sides to allow airflow.

Step 3: Dress up your potatoes. Melt your butter in the microwave and pour it over the top of your sweet potatoes. Next, sprinkle on the powdered sugar and chopped pecans.

Step 4: Air fry the sweet potatoes. Place the casserole dish in the air fryer and air fry for 8 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time.

Step 5: Garnish and serve. Garnish your brown sugar pecan sweet potatoes with more chopped pecans, serve, and enjoy!

Variations

  • Add Protein. When you’re dressing your brown sugar pecan sweet potatoes, add in some precooked bacon for a touch of protein and bacon flavor.
  • Bring the nostalgia. Make any meal feel like Thanksgiving by adding mini marshmallows. In the last 2 minutes of cooking time, sprinkle on some mini marshmallows and allow them to roast along with your sweet potatoes.
  • Skip the nuts. If you live with someone with a nut allergy, you can omit the pecans completely. The only thing missing will be the crunch of the pecans.
  • Add more sweetness. The sweet potatoes are naturally sweet, but if you want to add another element of decadence, drizzle a little maple syrup over them before tossing them in the air fryer.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes are extremely versatile and pair well with almost any protein. Many of us are no strangers to enjoying roasted sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving alongside turkey, but here are a few other ideas for proteins to pair them with as well:

  • Steak
  • Hamburgers
  • Chicken Thighs
  • Salmon

How Long Do They Last?

Brown Sugar Pecan Sweet Potatoes pair extremely well with so many things, so they’re a great option for meal prep. If you double the recipe to enjoy it later, you will not be disappointed. For the best bite, I would store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy them within 3-4 days of preparing them.

Can You Cook Them Ahead Of Time?

If you want to use these Brown Sugar Pecan Sweet Potatoes as part of your holiday dinner spread, you can prep them ahead of time to save you some time and stress the day of hosting family and friends.

To do this, I would suggest emptying the bags of frozen sweet potatoes into an airtight container and placing them in the refrigerator. In a separate container mix up a blend of brown sugar and chopped pecans. When it’s time to cook them, place the sweet potatoes in a casserole dish, and sprinkle on the brown sugar and pecan blend before popping them into the air fryer. Cook according to the time listed in the recipe below.

More Quick Recipes

If you love these Brown Sugar Pecan Sweet Potatoes as much as we do, make sure you share the recipe with your friends on social media so they can give them a try too!

Brown Sugar Pecan Sweet Potatoes | Air Fryer Sweet Potato Recipe

Brown Sugar Pecan Sweet Potatoes | Air Fryer Sweet Potato Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 16oz steamer bag cubed sweet potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup diced pecans
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • A pinch of black pepper

Instructions

    1. Place the sweet potatoes in the microwave, with the steam side facing up. It will specify which side should be facing up on the package of frozen sweet potatoes. Following the cooking instructions according to the brand you use. Generally, this takes around 3-4 minutes.
    2. Place the sweet potatoes in the casserole dish.
    3. Melt your butter in the microwave for 30 seconds and pour it over the top of your sweet potatoes. Next, sprinkle on the powdered sugar and chopped pecans.
    4. Place the casserole dish in the air fryer and air fry for 8 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time.
    5. Garnish your brown sugar pecan sweet potatoes with more chopped pecans, serve, and enjoy!

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I'm married to my high school sweetheart and we have three amazing sons.

I love carbs, cheese, and all things spicy and deep fried. There's nothing that makes me happier than a full kitchen table and a family with a full belly!


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