It’s funny to me that when I was a kid, my mother made candied yams for Thanksgiving every year and I hated them! Now, as an adult, they’re a favorite, proving how much your tastes can change. I make them my own way now, with this super easy air fryer candied yams recipe!
This classic southern side dish features cubed sweet potatoes with brown sugar, butter, and some warm spices (like cinnamon). Throw it all together, and then set it and forget it. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
The air fryer is the perfect choice here because it gets you tender yams, caramelized sauce, and it takes way less time compared to the oven. Plus, there’s no constant stirring like the stovetop method, which is always a win in my book!
You can adjust with various types of seasonings to your liking (and sometimes I even add rum for a little twist)! I also love that you can use canned yams, or fresh sweet potatoes, making it easy to adjust for what you have on hand or what your grocery store has available.
Ingredients List
1 pound sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 medium or 4 steamer-sized)
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ginger
½ tsp salt (or more to taste)
¼ cup dark brown sugar
4 Tbsp butter (salted)
Equipment Note: You’ll need an oven safe dish that fits in your air fryer’s basket or rack for this recipe. Good options include a loaf pan, casserole dish, small cast iron pan, cake pan, or anything similar.
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
You can use fresh sweet potatoes or canned. If you are using canned, I recommend the variety packed in water (not syrup) or it will throw off the sweetness. A 40-ounce can is about right for this
All seasonings are adjustable to taste. Cinnamon is the most traditional, but I like the little bit of ginger. Other good options are nutmeg, allspice, cloves, or pumpkin pie spice
You can use light brown sugar instead of dark – I just prefer the deeper flavor you get
If you want to add rum, use 1-2 Tbsp of dark or spiced rum. Note that not 100% of the alcohol is going to cook off this way, so don’t add it if you have kiddos!
Step By Step Preparation
Peel your sweet potatoes and cut them into about ¾” cubes (it doesn’t have to be exact). If using canned, drain the yams and cut them into chunks
Place the potato pieces into a greased casserole dish (or similar) that fits in your air fryer
Sprinkle the cinnamon, ginger, and salt over the potatoes, then spread the sugar on top, and then finish with the butter (I usually cut it into cubes and spread it out evenly)
Place the dish into the air fryer and cook for 15-20 minutes at 360°F, or until the sweet potatoes are soft and pierce easily with a fork (if you are using canned potatoes, reduce the time to 10 minutes to start)
Serve warm with your favorite entree!
What to Serve With Candied Yams
Roasted chicken
Pork chops
Turkey
Glazed ham
Salmon
Kale salad
Green salad
Green bean casserole
Collard greens
Brussels sprouts
Roasted beets
Cauliflower
Mashed potatoes
Corn casserole
Macaroni and cheese
Dressing or stuffing
Dinner rolls
Applesauce
Cranberry sauce
Whether you’re serving candied yams for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or as part of a regular meal, there are lots of great entrees and sides to serve with them.
Cooking times can vary but typically range between 10-20 minutes at 360°F (18s°C). It will vary depending not only on your air fryer, but also the size and shape of your yam pieces, and whether you use fresh or canned.
Just remember to check periodically and adjust based on desired tenderness.
Can I Make Candied Yams in Advance and Reheat Them in the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can prepare candied yams ahead, store them in an airtight container in the fridge, and reheat in the air fryer at a lower temperature to avoid burning the sugar topping.
Usually, 325°F for 3-5 minutes is sufficient for reheating purposes.
What’s the Best Way to Ensure the Yams Are Coated Evenly with the Candied Mixture?
Spread the seasonings, sugar, and butter evenly over the yam pieces. As it cooks, they will naturally be saturated in it.
Be sure to stir just before serving, to ensure that the syrup is evenly distributed.
How Can I Adjust the Sweetness of the Candied Yams?
You can control sweetness by altering the amount of sugar or using alternative sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.
Feel free to add more potatoes as well to adjust the overall ratio.
Can I Add Marshmallows to the Candied Yams in the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can add marshmallows in the final 3 minutes of cooking to melt and create a gooey topping if desired.
I recommend large marshmallows or even marshmallow paste to prevent them from blowing around in the air fryer, like the minis tend to do.
What is the Difference Between Candied Yams and Sweet Potatoes?
While the sauce is the same, yams are technically more starchy, less sweet, and drier than a sweet potato.
However, the term is often used interchangeably, and most often, sweet potatoes are used in candied yam recipes.
Why Are My Candied Yams Runny?
Candied yams should be slightly runny, but if yours are extremely runny, it indicates the presence of too much moisture.
Do not cook covered, as that can trap steam. Feel free to cook for a few more minutes to try and evaporate excess liquid, or you can add a cornstarch slurry in a pinch if it’s very bad.
Recipe Pro Tips
You can alternatively thin slice your sweet potatoes (about ⅛” thick) and reduce the cooking time to 10-15 minutes. If you have a mandolin slicer, it will make it much easier!
I do not preheat my air fryer for this recipe. My candied yams were perfectly soft and cooked after 20 minutes total in a Ninja air fryer. However, your exact time will vary based on the size of your potato pieces, and your specific air fryer
Despite the sugar in this recipe, I do not find it to be overly sweet. If you like a really sweet candied yam, consider upping the sugar amount as desired, up to double (but it’s always easier to add than remove)!
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftover candied yams in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
To reheat, microwave for 30-60 seconds on high, or place back in an oven-safe dish in the air fryer and heat for 3-5 minutes at 325°F, or until warmed through
These easy air fryer candied yams are such an easy side dish to throw together. They’re perfect for fall, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas!
The sweet sugar, savory butter, and warm cinnamon come together to make the perfect sauce for your roasted potatoes. Plus, the air fryer makes it so simple to get the ideal caramelization level with little fuss.
Depending on how you choose to cut your sweet potatoes or yams (or even use canned), this side needs only 10-20 minutes to cook! Plus, it keeps the oven free for other, larger dishes during the holidays. How convenient is that!
Air Fryer Candied Yams (Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes)
These simple air fryer candied yams have just 6 ingredients and need 20 minutes or less to cook up perfectly. They’re a great side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or anytime!
Casserole dish (or similar dish that fits in your air fryer)
Ingredients
1Poundsweet potatoes or yams(about 2 medium or 4 steamer-sized)
1Tspcinnamon
½Tspginger
½Tspsalt(or more to taste)
¼Cupdark brown sugar
4Tbspbutter (salted)
Instructions
Peel your sweet potatoes and cut them into about ¾” cubes (it doesn’t have to be exact). If using canned, drain the yams and cut them into chunks
1 Pound sweet potatoes or yams
Place the potato pieces into a greased casserole dish (or similar) that fits in your air fryer
Sprinkle the cinnamon, ginger, and salt over the potatoes, then spread the sugar on top, and then finish with the butter (I usually cut it into cubes and spread it out evenly)
1 Tsp cinnamon, ½ Tsp ginger, ½ Tsp salt, ¼ Cup dark brown sugar, 4 Tbsp butter (salted)
Place the dish into the air fryer and cook for 15-20 minutes at 360°F, or until the sweet potatoes are soft and pierce easily with a fork (if you are using canned potatoes, reduce the time to 10 minutes to start)
Serve warm with your favorite entree!
Notes
You can use fresh sweet potatoes or canned. If you are using canned, I recommend the variety packed in water (not syrup) or it will throw off the sweetness. A 40-ounce can is about right for this
All seasonings are adjustable to taste. Cinnamon is the most traditional, but I like the little bit of ginger. Other good options are nutmeg, allspice, cloves, or pumpkin pie spice
You can use light brown sugar instead of dark – I just prefer the deeper flavor you get
If you want to add rum, use 1-2 Tbsp of dark or spiced rum. Note that not 100% of the alcohol is going to cook off this way, so don’t add it if you have kids!
You can alternatively thin slice your sweet potatoes (about ⅛” thick) and reduce the cooking time to 10-15 minutes. If you have a mandolin slicer, it will make it much easier!
I do not preheat my air fryer for this recipe. My candied yams were perfectly soft and cooked after 20 minutes total in a Ninja air fryer. However, your exact time will vary based on the size of your potato pieces, and your specific air fryer
Despite the sugar in this recipe, I do not find it to be overly sweet. If you like a really sweet candied yam, consider upping the sugar amount as desired, up to double (but it’s always easier to add than remove)!
Store leftover candied yams in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
To reheat, microwave for 30-60 seconds on high, or place back in an oven-safe dish in the air fryer and heat for 3-5 minutes at 325°F, or until warmed through
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, size of potatoes, any swaps or additions, and actual quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
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I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
