How to Make Sweet Potato Tater Tots in the Oven

Sweet potato Tater Tots are a fun, healthy twist on the kid-friendly cafeteria classic. No deep-frying required!

Tater Tots are a key part of any school lunch. While the classic recipe made with russet potatoes or Yukon golds is pure nostalgia and beloved by kids everywhere, there’s a new tasty tot in town: sweet potato Tater Tots.

Subtly sweet, vibrant orange and packed with nutrition (like sweet potato fries), sweet potato Tater Tots are a great way to level up your everyday tot.

Unlike traditional tots, which are deep-fried, these Tater Tots with sweet potatoes are baked in the oven. Spritzed lightly with cooking spray (like air-fryer Tater Tots), they’re lower in calories and fat but still perfectly golden and crispy. And while regular spuds have their own nutritional benefits, sweet potato Tater Tots yield more fiber, calcium and a big boost of vitamin A. (Plus, they’re a starchy carb that people with diabetes can eat.)

How to Make Sweet Potato Tater Tots

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Ingredients

• 2 large sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• Cooking spray

Directions

Step 1: Bake the sweet potatoes

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Scrub the sweet potatoes (which are different than yams); pierce several times with a fork. Bake until tender, 50-60 minutes.

Don’t skip the scrub and wash step; that’s a major sweet potato cooking mistake.

Step 2: Peel and mash

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When cool enough to handle, peel and discard the potato skins. Place the pulp in a large bowl. Lightly mash with oil, cornstarch and seasonings.

Step 3: Shape the tots

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Shape 1 tablespoon of sweet potato mixture into 1-inch long cylinders. If you find the mixture to be sticky, coat your hands lightly with a bit of olive oil.

Roll the cylinders in panko, pressing gently to help adhere. Place on a greased baking sheet, then spray lightly with cooking spray.

Editor’s Tip: If you’re nervous about your tots sticking, line the baking sheets with a single layer of parchment paper.

Step 4: Cook until golden and crispy

Bake at 425° until golden brown and crisp, 30-40 minutes, turning once halfway through baking. Serve immediately!

Editor’s Tip: Want to make air-fryer sweet potato tots? You can! Simply preheat your air fryer to 400°. Then, working in batches, place a single layer of tots in a greased air fryer basket. Cook until lightly browned, about 4-5 minutes per side.

Tips for Making Sweet Potato Tater Tots

Can sweet potato Tater Tots be made ahead?

Yes! Follow the directions below for making frozen sweet potato tots if you would like to make them ahead. You can also store the unbaked tots in a single layer in a parchment-lined airtight container for up to 24 hours. Bake as directed.

Can you freeze sweet potato Tater Tots?

Freeze unbaked, shaped tots on waxed paper-lined baking sheets until firm. Transfer to resealable plastic freezer bags (or a reusable silicone bag) and then return to the freezer. To use, bake as directed until tots are crisp and beginning to brown.

What’s the best way to reheat sweet potato Tater Tots?

For best results, we recommend reheating baked sweet potato Tater Tots in a preheated 350° oven until they crisp back up. Don’t microwave leftover sweet potato tots, as they will become soggy.

I don’t have cornstarch. Can I use a substitute?

Cornstarch helps bind the Tater Tots together, so they retain their shape. If you don’t have cornstarch, experiment with swapping for an equal amount of all-purpose flour or rice flour. The taste and texture may end up slightly different, but they should still turn out crispy and taste terrific.

If your tots are not sticking together, continue to add additional flour, a teaspoon at a time, until the mixture holds its shape when formed into cylinders.

Sweet Potato Recipes to Satisfy Morning, Noon and Night

Taste of Home

Skillet Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Treat your sweet-salty tooth! Sweet potatoes dressed with buttery, herby, garlicky goodness make for a stunning, delicious side dish. —Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Sweet Potato Mini Cakes

Whenever I make these cute desserts, I think of my grandmother. She always used extra sweet potatoes from her garden in pies, breads and cakes and added black walnuts from her trees for good measure. —Joyce Larson, New Market, Iowa

Harissa Sweet Potato Fritters

I had leftover sweet potatoes and had to think up a new way to use them. We love spice, so I flavored these fun fritters with harissa, just enough for flavor but not too spicy. If you want more heat, you can always adjust the spice to please your taste buds. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

Sweet Potato and Turkey Couscous

We always have turkey and sweet potatoes left over after our big Thanksgiving feast. I combine them in this quick, easy and nutritious main dish that satisfies alongside a simple green salad. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

Cinnamon-Sugar Sweet Potato Pastries

We always have leftover mashed sweet potatoes after our Thanksgiving feast. I take what’s left to make an indulgent filling for sweet potato empanadas. Convenient crescent roll dough makes this recipe easy as pie. —Sarah Vasques, Milford, New Hampshire

Sweet Potato & Chipotle Casserole

Sweet potato marshmallow casserole is old-school. My sweet potatoes with a streusel topping is a blockbuster. Everyone who tries it gives it two thumbs up. —Diana Malach, Vancouver, Washington

Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Gorgonzola Spread

My husband first tried this recipe with plain potatoes. They were so yummy; we experimented with sweet potatoes. Dipped in Gorgonzola spread, they’re irresistible. —Kristen Minello, Macomb, Michigan

Roasted Sweet Potato & Chickpea Pitas

Here’s a hearty take on Mediterranean food, this time with sweet potatoes tucked inside. These unique pockets are delicious for lunch or dinner. —Beth Jacobson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Sweet Potatoes au Gratin

This rich, sweet potato casserole couldn’t be any easier to make—or more delicious to eat! —Patti Kirchhoff, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Smoky Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas

My hearty, delicious, nutrient-packed vegetarian dish is amazingly healthy. Everyone I’ve made it for has loved it—even carnivores! I always make two batches and freeze one. You’ll want to eat this every week! —Elizabeth Lindemann, Salem, Massachusetts

Spicy Sweet Potato Chips & Cilantro Dip

This irresistible combo could become your new signature snack food. Park the spicy baked chips next to a bowl of the cool, creamy dip and let the gang have at it. What a fantastic twist on traditional chips and dip! —Elizabeth Godecke, Chicago, Illinois

Classic Sweet Potato Pie

This simple but special deep-dish pie provides a down-home finish to hearty autumn meals. Pecans and pumpkin pie spices make this a comforting seasonal classic. —Paul Azzone, Shoreham, New York

Chipotle Sweet Potato Salad

I love the velvety taste and texture of sweet potatoes. A friend served sweet potatoes cooked with peppers and they tasted delicious together. I took those flavors and developed them into this creamy, smoky potato salad. —Carolyn Eskew, Dayton, Ohio

Blueberry Chops with Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes

A sweet and spicy combo is the perfect accent for meaty chops. With a fresh green veggie on the side, this is a hearty summer meal. It’s easy, yet impressive enough to serve to company. —Laura Davis, Chincoteague, Virginia

Sweet Potato and Egg Skillet

I try to incorporate nutritious sweet potatoes in my meals as often as possible, especially with breakfast. I created this recipe with the purpose of feeding my family a healthy, hearty breakfast—and it worked! —Jeanne Larson, Mission Viejo, California

Sweet Potato Frozen Yogurt Pops

Once I had my little girl I quickly became really creative in the kitchen, needing to have healthy foods on hand. These frozen treats turned out to be a favorite and are a staple in our home. —Jenn Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California

Sweet Potato Dutch Baby with Praline Syrup

This recipe reminds me of my favorite Dutch baby breakfast from when I was a child. It’s a perfect comfort dish morning or evening. —Angela Spengler, Niceville, Florida

Triple-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

My kids go for sweet potatoes stuffed with leftover turkey and dressing. We enjoy being in the kitchen together, each of us making our own potato boats. —Ane Burke, Bella Vista, Arkansas

Sweet Potato-Cranberry Doughnuts

I grew up near Idaho, which is famous for spudnuts, a doughnut made from mashed potatoes. I reworked a recipe using sweet potatoes and cranberries to come up with this variation. I like to serve them for dessert. —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California

Pork with Sweet Potatoes

With sweet potatoes, dried cranberries and apple slices, this colorful pork dish is especially popular during fall and winter. —Mary Relyea, Canastota, New York

Molly’s Sweet and Spicy Tzimmes Cake

My husband and I are always on the lookout for new ways to incorporate Jewish traditions into our interfaith home. Rich with apples, carrots and sweet potato, this sweet and spicy cake is perfect for Rosh Hashanah or any fall holiday. —Molly Haendler, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Southwest Hash with Adobo-Lime Crema

Adobo sauce adds so much extra flavor that you won’t even miss the smaller amounts of butter and egg yolks in this smoky hash. Here’s a tip: Add a splash of white vinegar to the poaching water right before you drop in the eggs. It helps keep them from separating as they cook. —Brooke Keller, Lexington, Kentucky

Sweet Potato Coconut Pie with Marshmallow Meringue

My grandmother’s sweet potato casserole contains coconut and marshmallows. I thought it would be even better as a pie. —Simone Bazos, Baltimore, Maryland

Turkey Sliders with Sweet Potato “Buns”

In this healthier take on sliders, I sandwich a burger between roasty slices of sweet potato. My wife took one bite and approved these tasty little guys. —Guy Martino, Charleston, South Carolina

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Honey-Maple Vinaigrette

This salad makes a beautiful presentation for the holidays with the bright colors of the sweet potatoes, cranberries and spinach. —Susan Bickta, Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Fried Sweet Potato Pies

With my dad being a farmer who grew them, sweet potatoes have graced our table for as long as I can recall. This recipe, however, resulted from an experiment for a church bake sale when we had excess pastry. People couldn’t get enough of these pies! —Marilyn Moseley, Toccoa, Georgia

Sweet Potato Stuffing

Mom likes to make sure there will be enough stuffing to satisfy our large family. For our holiday gatherings, she slow-cooks this tasty sweet potato dressing in addition to the traditional stuffing cooked inside the turkey. —Kelly Pollock, London, Ontario

Sweet Potato Crostini

For party time, I turn this sweet potato side dish into an appetizer by serving it on slices of a French baguette. — Steve Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin

Bacon-Wrapped Sweet Potato Bites

After making little bacon-wrapped sausages for years, I needed a change! I had an extra sweet potato and half a package of bacon on hand, so I put on my thinking cap and came up with this treat. —Kelly Williams, Forked River, New Jersey

Creamy Sweet Potatoes

I took my mother’s delicious sweet potato casserole and gave it a new twist by adding the tempting taste of orange—a fruit very abundant in our state. The flavors are wonderful together and make this dish a family favorite. —Norma Poole, Auburndale, Florida

Sweet Potato Biscuits with Honey Butter

We often think of sweet potatoes in a supporting role as a side dish, mashed, baked whole, cubed and roasted. Here’s another thought—why not give them a starring role for breakfast when made into biscuits? Served with cinnamon-honey butter, they’re all kinds of awesome. —Cathy Bell, Joplin, Missouri

Sweet Potato Wedges with Chili Mayo

Cajun spices bring the zing to roasted sweet potatoes—a side dish my family eats frequently. We dunk them in chili-spiced mayo. —Raymonde Bourgeois, Swastika, Ontario

Coconut-Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

What is it about sweet potatoes that unnerve some people? For those who firmly state they hate a yam because of the color or texture, the rich addition of coconut, bourbon and spices might just win them over. —Rebecca Anderson, Driftwood, Texas

Sweet Potato & Chickpea Salad

Take this colorful dish to the buffet at a family gathering, or enjoy it as a great meal all by itself. —Brenda Gleason, Hartland, Wisconsin

Sweet Potato & Marshmallow Swirl Cheesecake

I make a sweet potato souffle that I’ve always thought tastes like a dessert. I finally decided to use that idea for an actual dessert, and the result was a smooth, rich cheesecake.

Coconut-Pecan Sweet Potatoes

These delicious sweet potatoes cook effortlessly in the slow cooker so you can tend to other things. Coconut gives the classic a fresh twist. —Raquel Haggard, Edmond, Oklahoma

Southern Loaded Sweet Potatoes

For a taste of a southern classic, we make sweet potatoes stuffed with pulled pork and coleslaw and manage to sidestep the calorie overload. —Amy Burton, Cary, North Carolina

Creamy Sweet Potato and Veggie Soup

I tasted a delicious soup in a restaurant but couldn’t persuade the chef to share the recipe, so I began to experiment on my own. Finally, I came up with this blend, which is very close to what I tasted—maybe even better! —Audrey Nemeth, Mount Vernon, Maine

Black Bean-Sweet Potato Skillet

My fiancé loves sweet potatoes. By adding black beans, I came up with a nutritionally complete main dish. Its bright orange and black color makes it fun for Halloween. —April Strevell, Red Bank, New Jersey

Sweet Potato Tortellini with Hazelnut Sauce

Using wonton wrappers instead of fresh pasta dough makes homemade tortellini easy to prepare. For more formal dinners, this makes an impressive vegetarian entree. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida

Harvesttime Chicken with Couscous

Even on busy days, I can start this chicken in the slow cooker and still get to work on time. When I come home, I whip up a spinach salad and crescent rolls to round out the menu. —Heidi Rudolph, Oregon, Illinois

Sweet Potatoes with Cilantro Black Beans

As a vegan, I’m always looking for impressive dishes to share. Sweet potatoes loaded with beans and a touch of peanut butter are one of my mom’s favorites. —Kayla Capper, Ojai, California

Veggie Salmon Chowder

This salmon chowder recipe came about as a way to use up odds and ends in my fridge. I thought other readers might enjoy a soup that began as an experiment but became a mainstay for me. —Liv Vors, Peterborough, Ontario

Sweet Potato Chili Bake

I’m a vegetarian and wanted to develop some dishes that are a little heartier than traditional vegetarian fare. I created this recipe, and even my 1-year-old loves it! —Jillian Tournoux, Massillon, Ohio

Apple & Sweet Potato Quinoa

When feeding three hungry boys, I rely on quick, filling and tasty meals. The guys aren’t big quinoa fans, but the sweet potatoes and apples won them over. —Cheryl Beadle, Plymouth, Michigan

Brown Sugar-Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Our family cherishes a tradition of sweet potatoes with apples and raisins. If I suggest something different, they say “Oh NO, Beema, that’s part of the love.” —Judy Batson, Tampa, Florida

Sweet Potato & Bean Quesadillas

Sweet potatoes and black beans roll up together for a quesadilla that’s easy, fast, fun and delicious. —Brittany Hubbard, St. Paul, Minnesota

Favorite Mashed Sweet Potatoes

My family begs me to make mashed sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love this recipe because it can be made a day ahead and warmed up before the big meal. —Senja Merrill, Sandy, Utah

Roasted Autumn Vegetable Soup

Roasting sweet potatoes, carrots and parsnips brings out their best features. Blend them, and you have a warm, healthy soup for a cool fall night. —Stephanie Flaming, Woodland, California

Sweet Potato Tartlets

My family can’t resist sweet potatoes when they’re mashed, placed in crunchy phyllo shells and topped with marshmallows. The bite-size tarts are fun to eat, too! —Marla Clark, Moriarty, New Mexico

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Tender sweet potatoes are tossed with crunchy nuts and chewy dried cherries for a burst of flavors and textures. —Fran Fehling, Staten Island, New York

Sweet Potato Fries with Blue Cheese

I used to avoid sweet potatoes as a child, mostly because they came out of a can. When I heard of the many health benefits, I began trying fresh sweet potatoes with my husband. Now we enjoy fries topped with cinnamon sugar or cayenne pepper. We’ve also discovered how awesome they are with blue cheese. —Katrina Krumm, Apple Valley, Minnesota

West African Chicken Stew

I really love African flavors, but you don’t really encounter them much in the U.S. Here the combination of native African ingredients, all of which can be found in the States, transports you to a new culinary place. —Michael Cohen, Los Angeles, California

Roasted Potatoes with Garlic Butter

A platter of golden and orange potatoes can serve double duty as your dinner centerpiece. —Elizabeth Kelley, Chicago, Illinois

My Underground Vegetable Salad

Oven-roasting root vegetables is a delicious way to get the most out of these earthy treats, bringing out their subtle sweetness. Serving them over endive with a homemade vinaigrette is just a bonus! —Peter Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas

Creamy Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

I like to make these twice-baked sweet potatoes because they can be prepared ahead of time. With the addition of cream cheese, they are very creamy and not overly sweet. It is so easy to increase the quantity to any number. —Linda Call, Falun, Kansas

Orange-Glazed Pork with Sweet Potatoes

When it’s chilly outside, I like to roast pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes, apples and an orange. The sweetness and spices make any evening cozy. —Danielle Boyles, Sparta, Wisconsin

Sweet Potato Cranberry Cake

Plan on extra sweet potatoes for your holiday feast so you can make this next-day cake! The recipe uses delicious items you probably already have in your pantry (especially at Christmastime), like dried cranberries, coconut and chocolate chips. The secret ingredient, however, is a bit of chili powder. —Amie Valpone, New York, New York

Sweet Potato & Carrot Casserole

This tangy and sweet casserole is full of flavor. We’ve served it at many celebrations over the years, and it’s always been a big hit! —Gloria Mezikofsky, Wakefield, Massachusetts

Sweet Potato Soup

Ginger and peanut butter give this dazzling orange soup a really unique flavor. It has a mild, not spicy, taste with an Asian flair. —Hilda Fallas, Bothell, Washington

Sweet Potato Cinnamon Bread

My family loves quick breads. This one is moist and spicy. If you don’t have mini loaf pans it works just as well in regular size pans. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania

Sweet Potato & Caramelized Onion Shells

Gorgonzola cheese and sweet potatoes add a fun and flavorful twist to classic stuffed shells. Delicious with a sprinkle of Parmesan, the pasta can be topped with leftover gravy, too. —Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island

Roasted Sweet Potato & Prosciutto Salad

I still think there’s no better combo than sweet potatoes with pork, or prosciutto in this case. I’m a retired physician and am glad that sweet potatoes are being given their due as nutritional powerhouses. —Helen Conwell, Portland, Oregon

Cranberry-Walnut Sweet Potatoes

If you ask me, the best part of a holiday dinner is the sweet potatoes! You can make the sauce up to a day ahead—just leave out the walnuts until you’re ready to serve. —Mary Wilhelm, Sparta, Wisconsin

Caribbean Potato Soup

My bright and hearty soup features an unusual blend of ingredients, including okra, kale and black-eyed peas. No kale on hand? Use spinach instead. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

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