These air fryer Japanese sweet potatoes are an easy, flavorful side or light dinner that fits perfectly into busy nights.
They use simple ingredients and cook quickly, so you can get food on the table with minimal prep and cleanup. Whether you're pairing them with protein or eating them on their own, they make a healthy, satisfying addition to weeknight meals.
For easier dinner ideas, you can check out our air fryer dinners category.
Why You'll Love These Air Fryer Japanese Sweet Potatoes
With a similar sweetness to their orange-skinned cousins, purple Japanese potatoes are lighter and fluffier, particularly when cooked in the air fryer.
The purple skin turns crisp in the air fryer, while the pale, creamy flesh stays fluffy and light. Their subtly sweet, chestnut-like flavor pairs well with savory dishes.
These air fryer Japanese sweet potatoes are easy to make and require very little hands-on time. Once they're cooking, you're free to make the rest of your meal or take a short break.
Ingredients
You only need a few basic ingredients to make this recipe.
- Japanese sweet potatoes
- Olive oil
**Find the full ingredient list and recipe instructions in the recipe card below.**
How to cook Japanese sweet potato in air fryer
Wash and pat dry the potatoes. Use a fork to poke a few holes, then rub with olive oil.
Place the Japanese potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook at 400ºF for 45 minutes or until fork-tender.
How long to cook Japanese sweet potato in the air fryer
Depending on the size of your potato, it will take around 45 minutes to cook baked Japanese sweet potato in the air fryer.
Check to see if your potato is done by using a fork to check that it's tender. If it's not quite ready, leave it in a little longer.
What to eat with Japanese sweet potato
Japanese sweet potatoes work well as a side for many main dishes.
These sweet potatoes pair well with other quick meals like air fryer honey garlic chicken, air fryer steak bites, air fryer turkey bacon, air fryer chicken breast, air fryer bone-in pork chops, and your favorite veggies for a satisfying meal that the whole family will love. Try some of our air fryer vegetables like;
How to store Japanese potato
You should store Japanese sweet potatoes in a cool (but not refrigerated), dark, and well-ventilated space away from heat sources when raw. Don't store them in plastic bags.
Once cooked, store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and the freezer for up to 2 months.
I like to cook more than I need to have them on hand as a quick meal.
How to reheat Japanese sweet potatoes
There are a few ways that you can reheat air fryer purple sweet potato:
In the air fryer (recommended): You can reheat purple potatoes in the air fryer from room temperature or frozen, and you'll get a lovely crispy skin and tender insides. Heat the air fryer to 350°F, and heat them for 10-15 minutes (this will be more like 20 minutes if frozen).
In the microwave: The microwave is the quickest way to reheat your potatoes, but there is a risk of them drying out. To avoid this, wrap them in a damp paper towel, and heat them on high for 1 minute. Then, check to see if they are hot through, and if not, continue to heat them in 10-second increments. If they are frozen, thaw them using the defrost setting first.
In the oven: To reheat in the oven, preheat the oven to 400°F and then put the potatoes in for 10-15 minutes. You will need to defrost them first if they are frozen.
Where to buy Japanese sweet potatoes
You can buy them in most grocery stores, especially Asian grocery stores or big national stores like Whole Foods and Costco.
They are also known as:
- Murasaki sweet potato
- Kotobuki
- Purple sweet potato
- Oriental sweet potatoes
- Japanese yams
- Ipomoea batatas (this is the botanical classification so that it may appear on the label)
FAQ's
You can buy them in most grocery stores, especially Asian grocery stores or big national stores like Whole Foods and Costco.
They are also known as:
Murasaki sweet potato
Kotobuki
Purple sweet potato
Oriental sweet potatoes
Japanese yams
Ipomoea batatas (this is the botanical classification so that it may appear on the label)
When shopping for this kind of potato, be sure to choose a potato that has smooth skin and feels heavy when you hold them.
As they get older, they lose density, so they become lighter.
Potatoes with sticky liquid coming out are perfectly ripe, so snap them up!
The color is the most noticeable difference between Japanese sweet potatoes and the more common varieties. The Japanese variety has purple skin, and the flesh is creamy rather than orange.
Japanese sweet potatoes are much sweeter and have a slightly nutty flavor in terms of taste.
They are! These sweet potatoes are a great source of dietary fiber and carbohydrates (around 95% of the calories in Japanese sweet potatoes are carbohydrates), so they're a good energy source.
They're also a good source of Vitamin A, potassium, iron, and copper.
Tools used to make the recipe.
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More Air Fryer Potatoes recipes you'll love
- Air fryer Whole Sweet potatoes
- Cubed sweet potatoes in air fryer
- Air Fryer baby potatoes
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes In Air Fryer Recipe
- Sausage and Potatoes Air Fryer Recipe
- Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes Recipe
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Easy Japanese Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipe
Learn how to cook the perfect Japanese sweet potato in air fryer for a healthy side that goes well with almost any main dish.
Ingredients
- 2 medium Japanese sweet potatoes
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry the purple sweet potatoes; using a fork poke some holes in the purple sweet potatoes and rub with olive oil.
- Place the Japanese sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket and air fry to 400ºF for 45 minutes or until the Japanese sweet potatoes are fork-tender. Remove from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Store leftover in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Reheat in the air fryer to 350ºF for 10-15 minutes
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 122Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 41mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 4gSugar: 7gProtein: 2g
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on products used. When the recipe list salt to taste the amount of salt is not calculated, only the sodium in the other ingredients is calculated.
