Three Ways to Cook North Carolina Sweetpotatoes
North Carolina sweetpotatoes aren’t just nutritious and delicious – they’re one of the most versatile vegetables around. From baking to slow cooking and pressure cooking, there are plenty of ways to whip up sweet and savory sweetpotato recipes.
Read on for three of our favorite ways to cook North Carolina sweetpotatoes:
BAKING
Baking may seem basic, but it’s anything but. It’s actually one of the most simple and delicious ways to savor the orange superfood. The perfect meal prep hack for busy weeks, it’s as easy as popping a few spuds in the oven for 45 minutes to enjoy now or later. Insider tip: Start your sweetpotatoes in a cool oven (turn the oven on after placing the sweetpotatoes inside), resist the urge to open the oven door during baking and leave them in the oven while it cools down for crispy skin.
Add butter and a dash of salt to the finished product to create a classic like the Simple Baked Sweetpotato. Or, take that tater up a notch with a Healthy Loaded Baked Sweetpotato. Topped with black beans, pumpkin seeds, chopped chives and chili powder, this tasty take has all the flavor without the added calories.
Serve up a sweet side dish like Baked Sweetpotato Fries for the perfect complement to any entree – as an added bonus, you can achieve crispy goodness without the greasy mess of deep frying. You can even use the bake function on your air fryer if oven space is at a premium. Talk about a guilt-free treat! Satisfy your sweet tooth by using baked North Carolina sweetpotatoes to create these Easy Cinnamon Rolls, the perfect comfort food.
CROCK POT
Cook your North Carolina sweetpotatoes low and slow all day in a crock pot (or slow cooker) to ensure you’re greeted at the door with the aroma of a perfectly cooked meal wafting through your entire house. When cooked slowly, sweetpotatoes release their natural sweetness and soak up the flavors of the other ingredients to create the perfect dish to warm you up on a chilly winter day.
The perfect one-dish wonder for a busy weeknight, whip up our Crockpot Pork and Sweetpotatoes in only four steps. Season your pork roast and North Carolina sweetpotatoes with brown sugar, cayenne, black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder for an easy and flavorful meal. Or, set your clocks to island time with this Caribbean Sweetpotato Crockpot Stew. Just add sweetpotatoes, chicken breast, chorizo, onion, tomatoes and garbanzo beans and season with the flavors of the island – paprika, thyme, allspice and cumin – to create this savory stew.
Caribbean Crock Pot Stew
INSTANT POT
Instant Pots continue to be all the rage – and for good reason! A great way to whip up a quick meal, cook your North Carolina sweetpotatoes in a fraction of the time with an Instant Pot. For a tender and creamy classic sweetpotato, it’s as simple as adding a cup of water to the pot along with your sweetpotatoes and sealing. When ready, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes before manually releasing the remaining pressure. Voila! You have perfect sweetpotatoes that can be eaten simply with butter and a dash of salt or incorporated into one of your favorite recipes.
No matter how you choose to cook the orange superfood, you’re sure to discover why the North Carolina sweetpotato is our favorite vegetable. For more inspiration, check out all our sweet recipes!