Homemade Sweet Potato Fritters are easy to make, flavorful, and delicious. They're pan-fried to perfection with a crisp crust on the outside and a soft bite on the inside. Plus, the flavor is unmatched — with a mixture of Parmesan cheese and chives for a savory, salty flavor that balances the sweetness of the sweet potatoes. Serve as an appy or pair with roasted meats, baked mac and cheese, or slow cooker ribs for a cozy, comforting meal any time of the year.
Is it worth the effort to make sweet potato fritters instead of an easier preparation, like baking or roasting? Absolutely! These crispy fritters have the crunchy texture of your favorite French fries or hash browns but with the sweetness of sweet potatoes and layers of flavor. Yet, they're still really simple to make, even on a busy weeknight. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, like garlic aioli, honey mustard, or even homemade BBQ sauce.
Why You'll Love These Sweet Potato Fritters
- Crispy on the outside. Unlike other recipes that use the air fryer or bake the fritters in the oven, this one pan-fries the fritters in hot oil to get that crispy bite on the outside. That texture really can't be imitated, and they're certainly worth the effort!
- Sweet and savory. It's easy to make your sweet potato recipes a little too sweet, but this easy recipe balances the natural sweetness with salty Parmesan cheese, chives, and a few pantry seasonings. The flavors work together to make the perfect side dish for any meal.
- Family-favorite. You'll get zero complaints when you serve a pile of these fritters to your friends and family. It's best to make a double batch...they'll want seconds!
Ingredient Notes
To make these delicious Sweet Potato Fritters, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- sweet potato - peeled and grated. You'll need to let the excess liquid drain out, so it helps to start this before you get any of your other supplies ready.
- Parmesan cheese - for a salty, umami flavor.
- all purpose flour - to absorb extra moisture and make a crisp crust.
- egg - to bind the fritters together.
- chives or green onions - finely chopped into small pieces.
- seasonings - season with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and ground black pepper.
- vegetable oil - for pan frying. Feel free to use any neutral oil that can tolerate high heat (avocado oil, refined coconut oil, etc).
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a box grater or food processor, colander, a large mixing bowl, a large skillet, a spoon or spatula, paper towels, and a plate.
How to Make the Best Sweet Potato Fritters
- Prep the sweet potato. Use a box grater or food processor to grate the sweet potato. Place the grated sweet potato in a colander over a large bowl or in the kitchen sink. Sprinkle the grated sweet potato evenly with a little bit of salt. Toss well to combine and let it sit for 10 minutes (Salt will draw out excess moisture inside the sweet potato).
- Squeeze liquid. Use your hands to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the sweet potato. Set aside in a large mixing bowl.
- Season. Add Parmesan cheese, flour, egg, chives, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly combined.
- Cook. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until sizzling hot, about 2 minutes. Place 2-3 tablespoonfuls of the sweet potato mixture in the skillet and gently flatten with the back of a spoon or spatula. You can probably fit 4-5 fritters in one skillet, depending on the size of your skillet. Cook until golden brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes, and flip over. Cook the other side until golden brown, another 2 minutes. Repeat in batches until the sweet potato mixture is used up.
- Rest. Let the sweet potato fritters cool on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Serve. Serve warm with a side of mayonnaise or garlic aioli for dipping.
Recipe Variations
- Adjust the seasonings. Garlic and paprika are pretty crowd-pleasing, but you can add a little heat with chili powder or cayenne pepper, add more aromatics with onion powder, or even add a little extra sweetness with a teaspoon or two of brown sugar.
- Mix sweet potatoes and white potatoes. For a fun two-toned mixture, combine shredded sweet potatoes and white potatoes. This will also minimize the sweetness of the fritters if you prefer a more savory option.
- Make them gluten-free. Use a gluten-free flour replacement to make these easy fritters celiac-friendly.
How to Serve
These Sweet Potato Fritters are delicious served on its own with spicy mayo or garlic aoili for dipping. It’s also great paired with a protein heavy entree such as:
- Classic Juicy Hamburgers
- Baked Chicken Drumsticks
- Ribeye Steak
- Creamy Salmon Pasta
- Cheeseburger Sliders
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Remove as much liquid as possible. Excess liquid will make the fritters pop in the hot oil and can make them soggy. Squeeze out as much as you can.
- Look for the signs. You can fry without a candy thermometer, but you'll want to look for the right signs. The oil should make a bubbling sound and if you add a drop of batter to the oil, it should start to bubble right away. Otherwise, it may be easier to use a thermometer and fry when the oil is between 350-375 F.
- Turn on the kitchen fan. Pan-frying usually releases quite a bit of heat and smoke. To prevent the smoke alarm from going off, open a kitchen window or turn on the range fan.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Store leftover fritters in an airtight container lined with paper towels to absorb extra oil.
How to Reheat
To get that crisp bite back, it's best to pop the fritters in the air fryer or oven at 400 F for 5-10 minutes. This will crisp up the outside while warming the inside.
How to Freeze
Arrange the cooled fritters in a single layer on a baking tray, then freeze solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months.
FAQ
There are two main culprits. First, you may not have removed enough liquid from the sweet potatoes. Be sure to wring them out as much as possible. Additionally, your frying oil may be too cold. The oil should be between 350-375 F, and it will make a bubbling sound as it reaches temperature.
After you go through the effort of frying, keep your fritters nice and crisp by allowing them to rest on a wire rack or a plate lined with paper towels. This will help wick away excess oil to keep the fritters crisp longer.
Yes! After frying, let the fritters cool on a wire rack, then freeze them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. After thawing, I recommend reheating the fritters in the air fryer or a hot oven to crisp them back up.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
- Sweet Potato Croquettes
- Sweet Potato Tater Tots
- Baked Sweet Potato
- Herb Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Rolls
- Baked Sweet Potato Wedges
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Recipe
Sweet Potato Fritters
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 7 fritters
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Homemade Sweet Potato Fritters are easy to make, flavorful, and delicious. They're pan-fried to perfection with a crisp crust on the outside and a soft bite on the inside. Plus, the flavor is unmatched — with a mixture of Parmesan cheese and chives for a savory, salty flavor that balances the sweetness of the sweet potatoes. Serve as an appy or pair with roasted meats, baked mac and cheese, or slow cooker ribs for a cozy, comforting meal any time of the year.
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and grated (about 2 cups)
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon chives or green onions, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for pan frying)
Instructions
- Use a box grater or food processor to grate the sweet potato. Place the grated sweet potato in a colander over a large bowl or in the kitchen sink. Sprinkle the grated sweet potato evenly with a little bit of salt. Toss well to combine and let it sit for 10 minutes (Salt will draw out excess moisture inside the sweet potato).
- Use your hands to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the sweet potato. Set aside in a large mixing bowl.
- Add Parmesan cheese, flour, egg, chives, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly combined.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until sizzling hot, about 2 minutes. Place 2-3 tablespoonfuls of the sweet potato mixture in the skillet and gently flatten with the back of a spoon or spatula. You can probably fit 4-5 fritters in one skillet, depending on the size of your skillet. Cook until golden brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes, and flip over. Cook the other side until golden brown, another 2 minutes. Repeat in batches until the sweet potato mixture is used up.
- Let the sweet potato fritters cool on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Serve warm with a side of mayonnaise or garlic aioli for dipping.
Notes
How to store: Store leftover fritters in an airtight container lined with paper towels to absorb extra oil.
How to reheat: To get that crisp bite back, it's best to pop the fritters in the air fryer or oven at 400 F for 5-10 minutes. This will crisp up the outside while warming the inside.
How to freeze: Arrange the cooled fritters in a single layer on a baking tray, then freeze solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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