Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes are a simple side dish to make that requires just sweet potatoes, water, and salt, and 10 minutes time to make.
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If you’re looking for an easy side dish to make in your Instant Pot, these cubed sweet potatoes could not be any easier. You can even cook them at the same time as your main dish (depending on what you’re cooking).
We often make whole sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot, but I have to say that these cubed potatoes are faster and easier, and just as good, if not better. They go with just about anything you’re making and are quite healthy. You can’t get any better than that.
Ingredients You Need
- Sweet Potatoes – this recipe uses sweet potatoes that are peeled. If you want to keep the skin on, make sure to wash and scrub the potatoes thoroughly because dirt can easily become lodged in the skin. You could also use yams for this recipe, if you want.
- Water – You’ll need the typical 1 cup of water (for a 6-quart) or 1 1/2 cups of water (for an 8-quart).
- Salt – Season your potatoes with salt once they’re cooked, to add some extra flavor. Adjust the amount used to fit your tastes. You could also use seasoned salt or your favorite salt blend instead.
Equipment Needed
- Instant Pot – I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Plus to make all of my recipes. If you’re using an 8-quart pot, you will need to adjust the amount of liquid accordingly, as it requires more than the 6 quart to build steam.
- Steamer basket with feet – It’s best to use a steamer basket that has feet on it so the foot inside is raised above the level of water in the pot. This is a great one that has a stackable tiered basket so you can cook two different things at once. I used this steamer basket that doesn’t have any feet on it, so I had to set it on the trivet to keep it out of the water.
Why Use An Instant Pot?
The Instant Pot is one of the most useful kitchen appliances you can buy, because it drastically cuts down on the cooking time for developing flavors in soups and stews, getting tough cuts of meat tender, and even baking a cheesecake. And there are many accessories that will help you get more out of your Instant Pot.
If you don’t have one yet, check out our guide on which one to buy. Also see our guide to How to Use an Instant Pot for more information.
- Don’t Have an Instant Pot Yet? This guide can help you choose the right one.
- See reviews and prices for Instant Pots on Amazon.
- Learn some great Instant Pot Tips & Tricks.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Instant Pot.
How To Cut Sweet Potatoes
Prepare the sweet potatoes by thoroughly washing and peeling them. You can leave the skins on if you want, it comes down to personal preference. The skins of sweet potatoes are edible and contain valuable nutrients.
With a sharp knife and cutting board, cut the sweet potatoes into large dice, making an effort to ensure they are as uniformly sized as possible. This step is crucial to ensure that they cook evenly in the Instant Pot. For optimal results, aim to cut the sweet potatoes into cubes that are approximately 1 inch in size.
How to Make Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes Cubed
Peel and cube the potatoes into 1” pieces. You can make them larger than this, if you like, but the cook time will vary based on the size of the cubes.
In order to make sure they cook in the allotted time, do a quick check to make sure you’re actually cutting 1″ pieces. If you’re making 1/2″ pieces, they will cook in half the time, and 1.5″ pieces will cook in twice the time. So this is very important.
Pour the water into the inner pot. Put the sweet potatoes into a steamer basket and set it into the Instant Pot. If your steamer basket does not have legs to elevate it out of the water, then place the trivet into the pot first, then the steamer basket. You don’t want the potatoes resting in water, or they will become mushy.
Lock on the lid and set the valve to sealing (if necessary on your model). Press the Manual or Pressure Cook button and set the time to 3 minutes on high pressure. It will take approximately 5-8 minutes to build up pressure.
When the cook time is up, release the pressure manually. Don’t let it sit for too long before releasing pressure or the potatoes might over cook. Open the lid and take out the steamer basket to cool outside of the pot.
How to Serve Sweet Potatoes
The joy of these cubed potatoes is that they can be used in many different ways. You can just cook them and eat them as is, or you can use them to make a mash, or to add to a salad or soup.
I like to serve them cubed on the side of chicken or pork chops. Add some seasoning to the potatoes and the meat and your dinner is ready. Simple but delicious.
If you want to mash the cubed potatoes once they’re cooked, I’d suggest cooking them for 5 minutes to make sure they are mushy enough to mash. In 3 minutes, they will still have some bite to them and retain their shape, so won’t be prime for mashing.
Substitutions & Variations
- Seasonings: Experiment with spices and seasonings like garlic salt, Cajun seasoning, Montreal seasoning, etc.
- International: Take these sweet potato cubes international and sprinkle them with curry powder or with our homemade taco seasoning.
- Sweet: Turn the sweet potato cubes into a sweet treat by tossing them in brown sugar or maple syrup, or sprinkling with cinnamon sugar, or nutmeg.
How To Store and Reheat
These cubed sweet potatoes work wonderfully for meal prepping. Cooked sweet potatoes can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For freezing, simply seal the sweet potatoes in an airtight Ziplock bag, ensuring all the air is pressed out. Store them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
When you are ready to reheat them simply place them in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Once thawed, they can be reheated in the microwave for a quick and enjoyable meal.
Tips
- To cube the sweet potatoes, it is best to use a sharp knife. Sweet potatoes can be difficult to cut, so be careful.
- Serve the sweet potatoes fresh, as they can become discolored and mushy quickly.
- Adjust the cooking time to make the sweet potato cubes more or less soft – depending on your preference.
- 3 minutes for 1″ cubes produces a soft potato with a little bit of bite and structure remaining. For really soft, squishy potatoes, cook for 5 minutes.
- You can cook more or less potatoes using the same cook time and amount of water.
Questions About the Recipe
How can I make the sweet potato cubes in the oven?
To roast them in the oven, follow the same steps as for the air fryer, but place the cubed sweet potatoes into an oven that has been preheated at 425°F. Bake them for 30 minutes, shaking the baking pan halfway through.
Can I use frozen sweet potato chunks in this recipe?
Absolutely. The steps are the same for frozen and fresh sweet potato cubes. You might need to adjust the cook time depending on how done you want them to be. It’s difficult to get it precisely right, just the way you want them, but you can usually cook them once and determine what the ideal cook time is for you.
Are sweet potatoes and yams the same?
Sweet potatoes and yams are often confused with each other, but they are actually two different types of root vegetables. Both are good sources of fiber.
Sweet potatoes typically have a tapered ends, smooth skin, and come in various colors ranging from white and yellow to orange and purple. On the other hand, yams have rough, scaly skin, and are usually cylindrical in shape with a starchy, white flesh.
Main Dishes to Serve This With
This is a great side dish to serve with just about any main dish protein. I like to serve it with chicken and pork. Here are a few options to enjoy:
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Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes (Cubed)
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Equipment
- Steamer basket
Ingredients
- 4 sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Peel and cube the potatoes into 1” pieces. You can make them larger than this, if you like, but the cook time will vary based on the size of the cubes.
- Pour the water into the inner pot. Put the sweet potatoes into a steamer basket and set it into the Instant Pot. If your steamer basket does not have legs to elevate it out of the water, place the trivet into the pot first. You don't want the potatoes resting in water, or they will become mushy.
- Lock on the lid and set the valve to sealing. Press the Manual or Pressure Cook button and set the time to 3 minutes on high pressure. It will take approximately 5-8 minutes to build up pressure.
- When the cook time is up, release the pressure manually. Don’t let it sit for too long before releasing pressure or the potatoes might over cook. Open the lid and take out the steamer basket to cool outside of the pot.
Notes
- 3 minutes for 1″ cubes produces a soft potato with a little bit of bite and structure remaining. For really soft, squishy potatoes, cook for 5 minutes.
- You can cook more or less potatoes using the same cook time and amount of water.
Nutrition
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Laura is a passionate home cook and the owner of A Pressure Cooker Kitchen. She is dedicated to helping people create delicious Instant Pot meals with ease. Laura is an expert at developing recipes that can be prepared quickly and easily using a pressure cooker.