25 Sweet Potato Vegan Recipes {Oil-Free}

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Sweet potatoes are such a healthy and versatile root vegetable. They are easily stored and can be eaten at any time of the day. Whether you plan to make them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack, we’ve got you covered with these 25 amazing Vegan Sweet Potato Recipes with everything from soup and muffins to pancakes and chili!

sweet potato photo vegan photo collage

Many people think of sweet potatoes as a fall vegetable, but my family eats them all year round because they are easily accessible, inexpensive, easy to store, healthy, and absolutely delicious. It’s kind of like squash which we also eat all year round for the very same reasons.

What’s not to love about sweet potatoes? They can be baked, made in an Instant Pot, steamed, boiled, and made into just about any dish you can imagine. I even love to cook them in my air-fryer for a nice and crispy baked potato.

sweet potatoes being diced on wood cutting board

Sweet potato benefits

This sweet starchy root vegetable is a powerhouse of nutrition that is loaded with fiber, beta carotene, and lots of other phytonutrients and antioxidants. Many people are surprised to learn that there are 4 grams of protein in only 1 cup of sweet potatoes.

Some studies are showing that an antioxidant found in sweet potatoes actually helps fight cancer by slowing the growth of certain types of cancer cells.

white bowl filled with rice, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds, cilantro, and sauce with chopsticks

Best cooking methods

There are many different options for cooking sweet potatoes, but my personal favorite is the low-and-slow method in my oven. With any method that you use, always wash the potatoes first.

  • Baking Method– Wrap them in parchment paper and foil, and bake them in the oven at 400°F for about an hour.
  • Instant Pot- Poke a few holes in the potatoes, add 1 cup water to the pot, add the trivet to the Instant Pot, and arrange the potatoes on the trivet. Lock down the lid and set the valve to SEAL. Cook on HIGH for 15 minutes and then allow for a natural release for 10 minutes. Carefully, adjust the valve to VENT to release any additional steam. Instant Pot Recipes are just so easy.
  • Crock Pot- When I need to make a lot of sweet potatoes, this is the method I use. There’s no need to wrap them. Simply place the clean potatoes in a crockpot or slow cooker, add about 1/2 cup water, and cook on low for approximately 3-4 hours. Or, cook on high for 1.5 hours. Crock Pot Recipes just make things easier with their low and slow method of cooking.
  • Boil- Place whole clean potatoes in a boiling pot of water and allow to cook uncovered for approximately 30 minutes. If preferred, the potatoes can be peeled and diced before cooking. By dicing, the cooking time can be reduced by about 5-10 minutes.
  • Steam- Place a steaming basket in a large stockpot and add enough water to reach about 1″ below the basket. Add the whole potatoes and bring to a boil. Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to medium. Allow to cook for approximately 30 minutes or until tender.
  • Air Fryer- Use a fork or knife to poke a few holes in the sweet potatoes. Place them in the air fryer and cook at 400°F for approximately 45 minutes, depending on the size of your potatoes. Did I mention how much I like to make these other Air Fryer Recipes in my air fryer?
sliced sweet potatoes on baking pan

Types of sweet potatoes

There are many types of sweet potatoes each having a little different shade. By far, the one most used in my kitchen has bright orange flesh and cooks up sweet and fluffy.

We also love to bake Okinawan Purple Sweet Potatoes that we find in our local Asian markets. They are very distinct and pair well with other Asian dishes like my Peanut Vegetable Stir-Fry.

purple potato sliced in half in a basket with other potatoes

25 Sweet Potato Vegan Recipes {Oil-Free}

If you have a few sweet potatoes in your cupboard right now, what are you waiting for? Pull those beauties out and get to cooking with some of these fabulous sweet potato vegan recipes that are completely oil-free! Click on each of the photos, recipe titles, or 'Get the Recipe' buttons to see full recipes with ingredients, measurements, instructions, and a print button.

About Terri Edwards

Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy.  I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…

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