My seven-year-old wandered into the kitchen last Sunday morning while I was making regular hash browns. "Can we use the orange potatoes instead?" he asked, pointing to the sweet potatoes on the counter. That simple question changed our weekend breakfast routine forever. This sweet potato hash has become our go-to when we want something hearty but different from the usual morning fare.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This sweet potato hash turned our weekend mornings around completely. My seven-year-old, who usually picks at breakfast, cleans his plate when I make this. The sweet potatoes get these crispy, caramelized edges that taste almost like candy, but the inside stays soft and creamy. It's filling without being heavy - you know that satisfied feeling without wanting a nap afterward.
The best part is how forgiving this recipe is. If you overcook it a little, you get extra crispy bits. If you undercook it slightly, it's just more tender. Either way tastes great. I can prep everything the night before when the kitchen's already messy from dinner, then just dump it all in the skillet the next morning. Takes about 20 minutes start to finish, and only dirties one pan.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients for Sweet Potato Hash
- How To Make Sweet Potato Hash Step By Step
- Smart Swaps for Sweet Potato Hash
- Tasty Twists on Sweet Potato Hash
- Equipment For Sweet Potato Hash
- Storing Your Sweet Potato Hash
- hat to Serve With Sweet Potato Hash
- Top Tip
- How My Sister's Dish Became a Family Favorite
- FAQ
- Time to Fire Up That Skillet!
- Related
- Pairing
- sweet potato hash
Ingredients for Sweet Potato Hash
The Base:
- Sweet potatoes
- Yellow onion
- Bell pepper (any color)
- Garlic cloves
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
Flavor Boosters:
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Chili powder
- Fresh thyme
- Red pepper flakes
Optional Add-Ins:
- Bacon or sausage
- Fresh spinach
- Green onions
- Cheese
- Fried eggs on top
Basic Tools:
- Spatula
- Large cast iron skillet
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Sweet Potato Hash Step By Step
Prep Work:
- Wash and peel sweet potatoes
- Cut into small, even cubes
- Dice onion and bell pepper
- Mince garlic cloves
- Pat sweet potatoes completely dry
Start Cooking:
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat
- Add sweet potato cubes in single layer
- Don't stir for 4-5 minutes
- Let them get golden and crispy
Add Vegetables:
- Push sweet potatoes to one side
- Add onions and peppers to empty space
- Cook until onions start turning clear
- Add garlic for last minute
Season and Finish:
- Taste and adjust seasoning
- Sprinkle spices over everything
- Gently mix together
- Cook another 3-4 minutes
Smart Swaps for Sweet Potato Hash
Potato Options:
- Sweet potatoes → Regular potatoes
- Orange → White sweet potatoes
- Fresh → Frozen (thawed and dried)
Oil Choices:
- Olive oil → Coconut oil
- Regular → Avocado oil
- Standard → Butter
Spice Swaps:
- Paprika → Smoked paprika
- Cumin → Coriander
- Chili powder → Cayenne pepper
- Fresh herbs → Dried herbs
Add-In Alternatives:
- Bell peppers → Zucchini
- Yellow onion → Red onion
- Garlic → Garlic powder
For Special Diets:
- Whole30: Skip cheese, use compliant oil
- Keto: Add more oil and cheese
- Vegan: Skip bacon, add nutritional yeast
Tasty Twists on Sweet Potato Hash
Breakfast Style:
- Crack eggs on top
- Add crumbled bacon
- Sprinkle sharp cheddar
- Fresh chives for garnish
Mexican-Inspired:
- Black beans mixed in
- Diced jalapeños
- Pepper jack cheese
- Cilantro and lime
Mediterranean Twist:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Fresh oregano
- Drizzle of lemon juice
Fall Harvest:
- Diced apples
- Sage and rosemary
- Toasted pecans
- Maple syrup drizzle
Protein-Packed:
- Italian sausage
- Mushrooms
- Spinach wilted in
- Parmesan cheese
Equipment For Sweet Potato Hash
- Large cast iron skillet (or heavy pan)
- Sharp chef's knife
- Cutting board
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Storing Your Sweet Potato Hash
Short-Term Storage (2-3 days):
- Cool completely before storing
- Keep in covered container in fridge
- Reheat in skillet over medium heat
- Add a splash of oil if it seems dry
Freezer Storage (1 month):
- Cool completely first
- Portion into freezer bags
- Label with date
- Thaw overnight before reheating
Reheating Tips:
- Skillet works better than microwave
- Medium heat prevents burning
- Stir occasionally until heated through
- Don't expect same crispiness as fresh
Make-Ahead Strategy:
- Prep vegetables night before
- Store cut sweet potatoes in water
- Drain and dry well before cooking
- Cook fresh for best texture
hat to Serve With Sweet Potato Hash
This sweet potato hash works beautifully as the star of a weekend brunch spread. The natural sweetness pairs perfectly with salty bacon or breakfast sausage, while a fried egg on top turns it into a complete meal. For lighter accompaniments, try fresh avocado slices or a handful of baby spinach wilted right into the pan during the last minute of cooking. The hash is substantial enough to stand on its own, but buttered toast or warm biscuits help soak up any extra flavors from the skillet. My seven-year-old likes his with a glass of cold milk, while I prefer strong coffee to balance the sweetness.
Top Tip
- Last month, my seven-year-old was helping me prep vegetables for this hash when he accidentally knocked over the spice jar. Instead of just paprika, we ended up with a mix of paprika, cumin, and a little cinnamon that spilled together. I was about to start over, but he convinced me to just go with it.
- That accidental cinnamon addition turned out to be perfect. Just a tiny pinch brings out the natural sweetness in the sweet potatoes without making the dish taste like dessert. It adds warmth that makes the whole kitchen smell like fall, even in the middle of summer. Now we add that little bit of cinnamon on purpose every time.
- Our other discovery came from pure laziness. One weekend morning I was too tired to dice everything perfectly, so I just roughly chopped the vegetables into bigger pieces. Those bigger chunks of sweet potato got even crispier on the outside while staying creamy inside. Sometimes the imperfect approach works better than trying to make everything look restaurant-perfect.
How My Sister's Dish Became a Family Favorite
My sister Sarah changed everything about breakfast when she served this sweet potato hash during a family visit three years ago. I'd always stuck to regular potatoes, but watching her transform simple sweet potato cubes into something magical with just a few seasonings opened my eyes to possibilities I'd never considered. After that first bite, Max declared it "way better than regular hash browns" and I knew I had to master her technique.
FAQ
What is the best seasoning for sweet potato hash?
Paprika, cumin, and a pinch of cinnamon work beautifully together. The paprika adds smokiness, cumin brings earthiness, and cinnamon enhances the natural sweetness without making it taste like dessert. Salt and black pepper are essential, with red pepper flakes for heat if desired.
How to make sweet potato flakes?
This question seems about dehydrated sweet potatoes rather than hash. For hash, we cube fresh sweet potatoes and cook them in a skillet. If you're looking for sweet potato flakes for other uses, you'd need to dehydrate cooked sweet potatoes separately.
How to make the perfect sweet potato mash?
While this recipe focuses on crispy hash, for mashing sweet potatoes, roast them whole until tender, then scoop out the flesh and mash with butter and seasonings. The roasting concentrates flavors better than boiling, which can make them watery.
How to make traditional potato hash?
Traditional potato hash uses regular potatoes cut into cubes, cooked with onions until crispy. The main difference from this sweet potato hash recipe is that regular potatoes need parboiling first or they won't cook through before burning. Sweet potatoes cook more evenly from raw.
Time to Fire Up That Skillet!
Now you have everything you need to make perfect sweet potato hash from the right cutting technique to our accidental cinnamon discovery. This recipe proves that some of the best breakfast foods come from simple ingredients and a willingness to experiment.
Ready for more weekend breakfast favorites? Try our Delicious Orange Cake Recipe that's been passed down through three generations. Craving something savory? Our Easy Peach Lemonade Recipe wraps up all your morning favorites in one handheld meal. For another potato dish, our The Best Corn Fritters Recipe delivers that perfect crispy-outside, fluffy-inside texture every time!
Share your sweet potato hash success! We love seeing your morning creations!
Rate this recipe and join our cooking family!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Sweet Potato Hash
sweet potato hash
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash, peel, dice, and dry vegetables
- Heat oil and crisp sweet potato cubes
- Add onions, peppers, and garlic to skillet
- Sprinkle spices and mix everything gently
- Cook until tender with crispy golden edges
Leave a Reply