If I’m being honest I’ll never turn down a side of sweet potatoes, and these Skillet Sweet Potatoes are the quick and easy way that I like cooking them during the week. They’re made with those classic warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, then cooked in one skillet on the stove for a super easy dinner side dish!
This recipe is honestly the way I make sweet potatoes 90% of the time. It’s just a simple way to get all the flavors of candied yams or a baked sweet potato, but in half the time! It's also the way my mom and grandma often cooked them when I was growing up. But instead of cutting the sweet potato in cubes, my grandma would keep them in thick rounds and cook them in a big skillet with LOTS of butter. They were so good!😊
Ingredients
Sweet potatoes adapt really well to different spices, but I’m keeping this recipe pretty traditional:
- Sweet Potatoes: I use 2 medium sweet potatoes for this recipe, but if you’re making this for a potluck or large family dinner you can easily double the recipe. Just make sure you use a big skillet!😉
- Sugar: I'm using a combination of white and brown sugar to help balance the sweetness of the sweet potatoes.
- Spices: Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract add the classic sweet potato flavor that I love.
- Butter: I use salted butter in most of my recipes, but if you have unsalted butter, just add a pinch more salt to the recipe.
- Water: The water helps cook the sweet potatoes and get them tender in a short amount of time.
How To Cook Stovetop Sweet Potatoes
Cooking sweet potatoes in a skillet is so quick & easy! Here’s an overview with step-by-step photos. The full measurements are listed in the recipe card below:
Step One: Start by prepping and chopping the sweet potatoes into small ½ inch cubes.
Step Two: Melt the butter in a skillet then add the white and brown sugar. Stir the sugar with the butter until it starts to melt.
Step Three: Now add the sweet potatoes, spices, and water. Gently stir to combine. Cover the skillet with a lid and let the sweet potatoes cook for 8 minutes. The steam helps soften the sweet potatoes.
Step Four: Finally, remove the lid and continue to cook the sweet potatoes for an additional 6-8 minutes, until they are tender and most of the liquid has cooked down. That's it...time to enjoy!
More Sweet Potato Recipes
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Skillet Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. sweet potatoes (about 2 medium potatoes)
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons white granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup water
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and chop the sweet potatoes into small ½-inch cubes (see my example above).
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Then add the white and brown sugar to the skillet. Stir with the melted butter until the sugar starts to melt.
- Now add the cubed sweet potatoes to the skillet along with the cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla. Then slowly pour in the water.
- Gently stir everything together, cover with a lid, and cook the sweet potatoes for 8 minutes. The water and steam will help soften the sweet potatoes.
- After 8 minutes remove the lid, stir the sweet potatoes, and continue to cook for 6-8 more minutes uncovered or until most of the water has evaporated, the sweet potatoes are tender, and the sugar starts to caramelize. Serve warm and enjoy!
Nutrition
Connie Meneese says
I love this recipe.sweet potatoes have lots of fiber
Marsha McDougal says
Yes! I love sweet potatoes! 🙂