Chipotle Sweet Potatoes

Chipotle sweet potatoes are so delicious with their sweet soft centers and roasted, crisp outer edges.  We love having them in healthy grain bowls, vegan tacos, burrito bowls, and hearty salads.  Chipotle spice adds a smoky note and enhances the naturally sweet flavors of sweet potato creating a perfect combination of savory and sweet.   

There are only 3 spices in this tasty root vegetable rub with the highlight being the chipotle seasonings.  Chipotle peppers and specifically, the chipotle powder we use here gives a rich and smoky flavor that is delightful on sweet potatoes.

Seasonings –

• chipotle powder
• ground cumin
• garlic powder
• salt and pepper

Note:  Smoked paprika is the best substitute for chipotle powder.  It can be substituted 1:1.

Chipotle falls somewhere between medium to hot on the spicy Richter scale (cayenne pepper for example is much hotter/spicier than chipotle). 

Sweet potatoes are not only scrumptious but are also a nutritious root vegetable. 

Nutritional benefits:

Roasted sweet potatoes have…

• • vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants including vitamin C and beta carotene
  • healthy fibers – aiding with digestion and keeping us satiated and full
  • lower-fat (roasting vs. frying)

For a fun twist, look for purple sweet potatoes!

Purple sweet potatoes are a specialty item – if you come across them be sure to grab some.  They add a really fun pop of color and an interesting twist to dishes.  The purple varieties of potatoes cook in roughly the same amount of time and can be easily substituted in this recipe.  There are two types of purple sweet potatoes that are easily confused – Stokes and Ube.  Ube purple sweet potatoes have darker, brownish skin whereas Stoke purple sweet potatoes have a more purple hue to their skins.

Speaking of potato skins, for this recipe, I leave the skins on.  As with many fruits and vegetables, there are extra vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber in the skin.  Choosing not to peel the potato skins makes this dish even more nutritious and cuts down a process step.

Making chipotle roasted sweet potatoes is a snap.  The hardest part is chopping raw sweet potatoes.  To save time, chop in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until it’s time to roast them up.

Steps for preparing baked potato chunks:

• Chop sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch chunks
• Toss sweet potatoes with olive oil and spices in a bowl until well coated
• Arrange evenly on a lined sheet pan
• Bake for 15 minutes in a hot, 400-degree F oven until edges are crispy and centers are soft (test with a fork)
• Serve as a side dish or in a healthy grain or vegan taco

This post was originally posted last year.  Since then we have added an air fryer to our kitchen appliance mix.  In this recipe revision, I include steps for making chipotle sweet potatoes in the air fryer.  Using an air fryer saves about 5 to 10 minutes.   Other than that the results are very similar to cooking in a standard oven for this type of potato chunk.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy chipotle sweet potatoes is as a base for vegan tacos! 

We use a fresh, light avocado aioli sauce (avocado, lemon juice, garlic, and salt) and shredded cabbage garnished with fresh cilantro tucked into corn tortillas.  Yum!  The combination is so good.  I don’t miss the meat at all.  Teens love this lunch or dinner option.  Add s a side of shredded chicken for the carnivores in your family and everyone will be happy on taco night.

If you love sweet potatoes and squash as much as we do, try Vegan Butternut Squash Dip and this delicious Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

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