Baked Sweet Potato Nuggets Recipe (2024)

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Photos by Emily Caruso

When I was growing up, I was quite the Chicken McNugget aficionado. Other fast food restaurants had their versions of nuggets, but I liked the McDonald's version the best — probably because of the mild flavor. I'd dip half of them in ketchup and the other half in honey. Who came up with the idea to serve fried pieces of processed chicken with honey?! It kind of makes my teeth hurt to think about it now.

Because I love making meatless versions of foods I enjoyed before I stopped eating meat, I decided to tackle this childhood favorite — and tackle it with sweet potatoes. So no, these are not something you're going to eat and think, "Oh, these are just like the real thing!" But they do take the shape of the original and the dippability. (Dippability is not a word, but it should be.) The secret to forming nuggets with sweet potatoes is to let the mashed sweet potatoes chill in the fridge for a while before you start working with them. I've made several iterations of this recipe, trying to get the nuggets just right and this is the one that works the best — adding the egg to the sweet potatoes helps the nuggets keep their nuggety shape and not fall apart when you're eating them.


With cinnamon and maple syrup, these nuggets are just a little bit sweet and very kid-friendly. If you're not serving these to kids and you want a bolder flavor, I've also made these with sriracha and chipotle seasoning instead, and they tasted great.

Half the fun of serving nuggets is having a variety of sauces to dip them in — in this case, instead of honey and ketchup, I'd suggest a simple apple cider reduction for those of you with a sweet tooth and Cranberry Chipotle Ketchup for those of you who want to class things up with something a little fancier.

This December, we're republishing updated recipes from Oh My Veggies' first year. This post was originally published on March 18, 2011.

Recipe

Baked Sweet Potato Nuggets Recipe (3)

Baked Sweet Potato Nuggets

Serve these kid-friendly sweet potato nuggets with your favorite dipping sauces!

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Prep Time: 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 3 hours hours 50 minutes minutes

Course: Main Course, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Keyword: Baked Sweet Potato Nuggets, Sweet Potato Nuggets, vegetarian nuggets

Servings: 20 nuggets

Calories: 24kcal

Author: Oh My Veggies

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF.

  • Pierce the sweet potato in several places with a fork. Place it on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until it’s softened and just beginning to caramelize, 45-60 minutes. Cool potato completely.

  • Discard the skin and transfer the insides of the potato to a small bowl. Mash and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

  • After the refrigeration period, preheat the oven again to 400ºF.

  • Remove sweet potato from refrigerator. Stir in the cinnamon and maple syrup. Add salt to taste, if desired. Fold in the egg.

  • Pour the panko onto a small plate. Form nugget shapes with the sweet potato mixture (it will be wet, but don't worry, it will hold together!), coat the nuggets with panko, and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. If the nuggets are a little messy looking, you can press them into nice shapes on the baking sheet. Spray each side of the nuggets with an oil mister -- this is optional, but it helps the exterior get crispy and brown.

  • Bake the nuggets for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time, until they're golden brown and warmed through.

Notes

To make a sweet Apple Cider Dipping Sauce, boil 1 cup of refrigerated (not shelf-stable!) apple cider in a small saucepan over high heat until it's reduced by half. Combine 2 teaspoons of water and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch in a pinch bowl until no lumps remain, then whisk the mixture into the apple cider until thickened. Remove from heat and serve.

The prep time includes hands-off time baking the sweet potato and letting it chill in the refrigerator. To reduce this time, bake the sweet potato the day before and let the mashed sweet potato chill overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 24kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 26mgPotassium: 47mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1615IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg

Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!

« 56 Christmas co*cktails for Your Next Holiday Party

White Chocolate and Coconut Cookies »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Trisha says

    Sounds so yummy! I know I'd love this & I bet my kids will too 🙂

    Reply

  2. Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook says

    They look so good! Love sweet potatoes, so nuggets would be perfect.

    Reply

  3. kristen says

    I'm so trying this recipe out on my uber picky 17 month old!

    Reply

  4. kristen says

    I'm so trying this recipe out on my uber picky 17 month old!

    Reply

  5. kristen says

    I'm so trying this recipe out on my uber picky 17 month old!

    Reply

  6. screwbdoo says

    yum sweet potatos will definitely be trying this recipe. Ever tried sweet potato fries in the oven? NO deep frying and no oil but just like french fries.

    SOOOOOO good & GOOOD for ya

    Reply

  7. Nina says

    I wanted to like this, I really did. I've loved every other recipe that I've tried from this blog and I was determined to like this one too. But something about it just turned me off. The sauce was too bitter, even after I added some brown sugar, and the nuggets themselves just didn't turn out. They were almost TOO starchy and the texture really threw me off. The taste itself was just... strange. I really expected these to be better, but I will still continue to try other recipes from this blog!

    Reply

    • Kiersten says

      Thank you for your feedback. The sauce definitely shouldn't have been bitter, but I can totally see how the texture of the nuggets with the sweet potato & bulgur together might be an issue for some people. I'm actually working on a version of these for my book without the bulgur and I might update the recipe here too. I'm so sorry they didn't turn out for you!

      Reply

  8. Kelly @ Nosh and Nourish says

    I love these... and that cranberry chipotle ketchup?!?! YES PLEASE.

    Reply

  9. Becky | The Cookie Rookie says

    Your photos are so gorgeous! Can't wait to try this recipe 🙂

    Reply

  10. Ilene says

    What would you recommend in place of the eggs? I'm thinking these would be good with a smoky bag sauce.

    Reply

  11. Joanne says

    I DO have some leftover cranberry sauce in the fridge that is basically begging for these. BEGGING.

    Reply

  12. rachel says

    such a good idea! i love sweet tators!

    Reply

  13. Melissa says

    Oh my goodness, this look amazing! I absolutely have to try this!

    Reply

  14. Val - Life Of A Vegaholic says

    The photos are gorg! I've never seen anything like this before. I would have never thought of making sweet potato nuggets but I'm kind of intrigued! 🙂

    Reply

Something to say? Leave a comment.

Baked Sweet Potato Nuggets Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy.

Why don t sweet potatoes get crispy? ›

Soak them. I was always a little skeptical when I read this in recipes, but it's essential. Soaking the sweet potatoes removes excess starch, which allows them to crisp up easier. You will want to put them in cold water for at least 30 minutes, but the longer you can go, the better.

Why are my sweet potato fries soggy in the oven? ›

Instead of just piling more onto one baking pan, spread them out over two baking pans or cook them in batches. If they're all crammed into one pan, they'll steam instead of bake, and you'll end up with soggy fries.

Why are my sweet potato wedges not crispy? ›

Don't overcrowd the baking sheet!

This is an important one! If the baking sheet it too crowded, the sweet potatoes will not crisp.

Should sweet potatoes be soaked in water before baking? ›

TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: The main secrets to achieving that incredible crispy texture, is to soak the cut sweet potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes. This helps remove the starch from the sweet potatoes so they´re not limp & soggy.

How long to soak sweet potatoes in water before cooking? ›

Give them a cold water bath: Once your fries are chopped, toss them into a large bowl. Then cover the fries completely with cold water and let them soak for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight). This will help to rinse off the excess starch and help the potatoes crisp up beautifully in the oven.

What makes sweet potatoes taste better? ›

The longer and slower you cook a sweet potato, the more maltose is formed and the sweeter it will taste. So if you want a much less sweet potato try steaming it, or cut it into small pieces and roast on a higher heat.

Why does vinegar make potatoes crispy? ›

The acid in the vinegar can also help to slightly break down the surface of the potatoes, aiding in the development of a crispier texture during frying. Additionally, the vinegar can contribute to a golden-brown color on the exterior of the fries.

Do sweet potatoes get sweeter the longer you cook them? ›

So if you want a sweet, sweet potato, you have to cook it until it reaches 135–170°F (57–77°C). And you want to keep sweet potatoes in that range for as long as possible. That will maximize how sweet the potatoes taste.

Why do my sweet potatoes burn in the air fryer? ›

If you cut your sweet potato fries in uneven sizes (i.e., some much thinner than others), the smaller fries may start to burn while the thicker fries are still cooking. If all of the fries are burning, the temperature of your air fryer is too high or the fries have been cooking for too long.

Why are my sweet potato fries not crispy in air fryer? ›

Why do my air fryer sweet potato fries turn out soggy? A couple of reasons! It could be that the temperature of your fryer was too low, that you used too much oil, or that you crammed too many fries into one batch. Preheating before adding sweet potato fries to the air fryer also guarantees the crispiest results.

How do you keep sweet potatoes from getting soggy? ›

It's best to keep sweet potatoes in a cool, dry area that gets good ventilation, according to the U.S. Sweet Potato Council. You really shouldn't store sweet potatoes in the fridge if you plan to eat them within a month or so, as refrigeration can bring on an unpleasant taste and a hard center.

Can you eat sweet potato skin? ›

You can eat sweet potato skin. It's a good source of fiber, a nutrient that may help lower the risk of heart disease and keep you feeling full for longer periods of time. The next time you make a sweet potato dish, whether it's a roasted side dish or a hearty, cozy casserole, leave the peel on.

Why does soaking potatoes make them crispier? ›

These tips are completely doable, actually pretty much fail-proof. SOAK your potato chunks in cold water. This removes some of the starch and helps get them super duper crispy.

Is it OK to eat crunchy sweet potato? ›

Yes it is safe to eat uncooked sweet potato. Eating raw will not provide much nutritions because starch are mostly undgestable by humans.

Should sweet potatoes be soaked in water? ›

If they are fresh then there is no need for soaking them. If you soak them the water will be absorbed by the sweet potatoes as they are root part and will soften them faster while being roasted.

Why do chefs soak potatoes? ›

The reason is to prevent the potatoes exposure to air, which causes dehydration, oxidation, and discoloration. Immersing cut potatoes will also help rinse off excess starch.

How do you soak sweet potatoes to remove starch? ›

To remove excess starch, place cut sweet potatoes into cold water making sure the cut surfaces are submerged. This step is especially recommended for "kinton" (Japanese-style mashed sweet potato) and other lightly seasoned dishes where a delectable color is desired. Soaking time of about 5 minutes is sufficient.

Does soaking potatoes make them taste better? ›

Simply soaking your potatoes in a tangy salt pickling vinegar brine before roasting or frying them can make quite a difference. Marinating your potatoes is the best way to infuse them with flavor, deep into their center, instead of just sprinkling a spice mix on top or dipping them into a sauce.

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