Air Fryer Sweet Potato Tots
These homemade sweet potato tots are lightly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and seasoned to perfection for a delicious snack or side dish!
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 130kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet potatoes
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs plus more as needed
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 1-inch cubes.
- Place the sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for about 12–15 minutes, or until fork-tender.
- Drain the sweet potatoes well and let them sit in the colander for a few minutes to allow any excess moisture to evaporate.
- Transfer the sweet potatoes to a medium bowl and mash until smooth. Let cool for about 10 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F.
- Add the Panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt and black pepper to the mashed sweet potatoes. Stir until well combined.
- Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes so the breadcrumbs can absorb some of the moisture.
- Check the consistency. The mixture should be soft but firm enough to shape. If it is too sticky, add additional Panko 1 tablespoon at a time until it holds together.
- Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture at a time and gently shape it into a small tot-sized cylinder.
- Lightly spray the tots on all sides with cooking spray.
- Arrange the tots in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving some space between them. Work in batches if necessary.
- Air fry for 6–7 minutes, then carefully turn the tots over.
- Continue air frying for another 5–7 minutes, or until the outsides are golden brown and lightly crisp.
- Let the tots cool for 2–3 minutes before removing them from the basket. Serve warm with ketchup, ranch or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Make ahead and freeze: These sweet potato tots are great for making ahead of time! Just prepare, shape, and freeze them until you’re ready to pop them in the air fryer.
- Don’t overcook the sweet potatoes: Be careful not to overboil your potatoes and cook them just until you can pierce with a fork, but they are still firm. This makes it easier to shape the potatoes and ensure that they’ll hold their shape while cooking.
- Keep them uniform: Try to make your tots as close to the same size as possible. They don’t have to be perfect, but keeping them uniform helps them cook evenly and crisp up at the same time.
- Air fryers can vary: Every air fryer cooks slightly differently, so cooking times may vary depending on the model you have. Keep an eye on the tots toward the end of cooking to make sure they get crispy without burning.
- Arrange in a single layer: For the crispiest results, place the tots in a single layer with a little bit of space between each one. This lets the hot air circulate and crisp up the outside. You may need to cook your potatoes in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding the basket.
Nutrition
Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 408mg | Potassium: 409mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 16211IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg