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. Stacy says

    That looks and sounds really good!! But, and sorry if this sounds dumb, what is panko and bulgar?

  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. kristen says

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

    Reply

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Kelly @ Nosh and Nourish says

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

    Reply

  10. Becky | The Cookie Rookie says

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

    Reply

  11. Ilene says

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

    Reply

  12. Joanne says

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

    Reply

  13. rachel says

    such a good idea! i love sweet tators!

    Reply

  14. Melissa says

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

    Reply

  15. 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

What's the best temperature for baking sweet potatoes? ›

Preheat the oven to 425°F and place a piece of foil on a baking sheet. Use a fork to poke holes into the sweet potatoes, set them on the baking sheet, and roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until puffed up and soft inside when pierced with a fork.

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. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

Can diabetics eat sweet potatoes every day? ›

You can still eat sweet potatoes if you have diabetes, assures Huff. The fiber content in sweet potatoes, especially if you consume them with the skin on, can help reduce spikes in your blood sugar. Plus, how you cook your sweet potatoes can also help reduce the extent to which your blood sugar rises.

Why won't my sweet potato fries 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 wrap sweet potatoes in foil when baking? ›

Wrapping sweet potatoes in foil helps in a few ways. It prevents the exterior of the tuber from drying out and overheating too quickly, which would minimize enzymatic activity; it also results in a more evenly cooked texture.

How long to bake sweet potatoes at 375 without foil? ›

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Wash the potatoes and pat dry.
  3. Rub the potatoes with oil and sprinkle with salt.
  4. Place potatoes on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  5. Bake 45-60 minutes or until fork-tender.
  6. Remove baking sheet from the oven and serve.
Oct 11, 2023

Do you have to wash 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 best to boil sweet potatoes before baking? ›

Absolutely not. While many might choose to parboil the sweet potatoes before cooking for a shorter cooking time, we advise against it. Roasting sweet potatoes bring out their caramelized flavor yet leave the inside soft and custardy.

Should you pierce sweet potatoes before baking? ›

1) Always poke a few holes.

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!

Are bananas good for diabetes? ›

Though bananas are higher in carbs and sugars than some foods, they also contain fiber and resistant starch that slows down the digestion and release of sugar into your bloodstream. These qualities make bananas a healthy, go-to snack for people with diabetes.

Is peanut butter good for diabetics? ›

Peanut butter contains essential nutrients, and it can be part of a healthful diet when a person has diabetes. However, it is important to eat it in moderation, as it contains a lot of calories. People should also make sure their brand of peanut butter is not high in added sugar, salt, or fat.

Is pineapple good for diabetics? ›

The bottom line. If you have diabetes, you can eat pineapple in moderation and as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Choose fresh pineapple or canned pineapple without added sugar, and avoid any sugary syrup or rinse the syrup before eating.

Why do sweet potatoes burn in the oven? ›

Three-inch chunks of sweet potato will cook much slower than, say, one-inch cubes (the size called for in our recipe). At the same temperature, bigger pieces brown a lot more than smaller pieces and can burn before cooking through. The right size will help that potato fully bake.

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.

What is the temperature range for sweet potatoes? ›

Sweet potatoes are a warm-season, frost-sensitive crop that produces best when daily maximum air temperatures are between 85° and 95°F. Temperatures over 100°F are not harmful so long as the plants are adequately irrigated and temperatures drop to below 80°F at night, although growth may be slow above 100°F.

Is it better to bake potatoes on high or low temperature? ›

Use an Oven That's Hot (But Not Too Hot)

Potato baking temperatures range from 350˚ to 450˚F. The sweet spot seems to be at 400˚F, a temperature that cooks the potato all the way through and crisps the skin without singeing it.

Do 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!

What temperature do you cure sweet potatoes? ›

Curing the roots increases the post-harvest life of the sweet potato. To cure roots, hold them at 85 degrees F with 90 to 95 percent relative humidity (RH) for 4 to 7 days. After curing, reduce the storage temperature to 55 to 60 degrees F at 80 to 85 percent RH.

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