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

Ingredients

  • 1 large sweet potato about 20 ounces
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • ¾ cup panko more if needed

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? ›

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.

Why don t sweet potatoes get crispy? ›

The secret to crispy (instead of soggy) sweet potato fries is to spread them out in an even layer with enough room so that they don't touch. This is especially important if you're making a big batch of fries. Instead of just piling more onto one baking pan, spread them out over two baking pans or cook them in batches.

Is it better to bake sweet potatoes in foil or not? ›

The best temperature to bake a sweet potato is 375 degrees. Is it better to wrap sweet potatoes in foil when baking? It is not better to wrap sweet potatoes in foil when baking, especially if you like a crispy, caramelized skin.

Do sweet potatoes cook faster than baked potatoes? ›

Generally, diced sweet potatoes take 7 to 12 minutes; cubed sweet potatoes take 12 to 15 minutes; and whole potatoes take anywhere between 20 to 50 minutes, depending on size. You'll know the potatoes are done when they reach a fork-tender consistency, or when the flesh easily yields to the tip of a sharp knife.

Should you scrub sweet potatoes before baking? ›

Sweet potatoes grow in the ground, and skipping the cleaning step means dirt or grit can end up in your sweet potato casserole. Before cooking or cutting sweet potatoes, wash the skins and give them a scrub with a clean vegetable brush.

Is it better to peel sweet potatoes before or after boiling? ›

There is not much difference between boiling sweet potatoes with the skins on versus peeling them, but you will get a boost of fiber and potassium if you keep the skin on. The skin also adds a subtle texture to each bite. If you're looking for a smoother mash, peel the potatoes first before boiling.

Should you poke holes in sweet potatoes before baking? ›

Before baking, use a fork to prick each sweet potato several times. You don't need to jab the fork in deep. We're creating steam vents. Otherwise the pressure in the sweet potato could build up so high in the oven that it explodes—an unlikely possibility but one best avoided!

Is it better to bake a sweet potato in the oven or microwave? ›

Can You Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Microwave? Yes, you can! In fact, the shorter cook time will help the sweet potatoes retain more nutrients that are often lost in the long oven-baking process. It's not all that different than baking a sweet potato in the oven, except it's a whole lot faster.

Which sweet potato is best for baking? ›

Garnet Sweet Potato

Garnets have dusty brown maroon colored skin which happens to be the inspiration behind its name. Inside, the flesh is a brilliant golden orange. It is starchier and moister than other varieties and offers mild sweet flavor with savory earthiness. These are great for baking, casseroles, and mashing.

What is the healthiest way to eat a sweet potato? ›

The healthiest ways to prepare sweet potatoes are to steam or boil them. You can also bake, roast, or fry sweet potatoes, but you should take care to limit these preparation methods, which will cause the sugars to break down in different ways and often include extra recipe ingredients like oil, butter, or sugar.

What is the difference between sweet potatoes and yams? ›

Yams and sweet potatoes differ in flavor and appearance, and they are not related. Sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family, while yams belong to the lily family. Yams aren't as sweet as sweet potatoes, and they are starchier and drier. Their texture and flavor are more similar to potatoes or yuca.

Can you overcook sweet potatoes? ›

If you're boiling, make sure to cut your sweet potatoes into equally sized pieces so they cook at the same rate. (Another hot tip if you're boiling your sweet potatoes: Don't overcook them! They tend to absorb water, which could make the filling watery.)

Should I put sweet potatoes in water before baking? ›

No, you do not need to soak a sweet potato before cooking it. Generally, you soak potatoes in water if you're making fries, as it helps them turn out crispier while frying. Since this recipe is for roasted sweet potato cubes, soaking the potatoes beforehand is unnecessary.

Should you soak potatoes in salt or sugar water? ›

The best potatoes for French fries are soaked in a sugar solution before frying. The sugar solution has something to do with the carbohydrates and prevents the potatoes from soaking up a lot of grease, so they get crunchy.

Why do you need to soak potatoes before baking? ›

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes. Cold water is used because hot water would react with the starch activating it, making it harder to separate from the potatoes.

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