Air Fryer Hasselback Sweet Potatoes With Maple Syrup and Pecans
These air fryer hasselback sweet potatoes are roasted to perfection in about 20 minutes. Top them with sweet maple syrup and pecans for an elegant side dish.
2-3Mediumsweet potatoes (or 4-5 mini)around 1 pound total
1Tbspolive oil
1Tbspbutter or margarinemelted
2Tbspmaple syrup
1Tbspbrown sugar
½Tspcinnamon
½Tspsalt(divided)
½Tspchili powder(optional)
¼Cupchopped candied pecans
Instructions
Preheat the air fryer to 375°F
To cut hasselback sweet potatoes, place a wooden spoon on either side of the potato. Use a sharp knife to cut the potato downwards, stopping when you hit the wooden handle. Repeat in approximately ¼” thick slices across the whole potato
2-3 Medium sweet potatoes (or 4-5 mini)
Once the potatoes are cut, coat them with the olive oil and sprinkle with half the salt (try to get some in between the slices, but don’t force them or you’ll break them)
1 Tbsp olive oil, ½ Tsp salt
Place the sliced sweet potatoes into the preheated air fryer basket
Cook on the air fry setting for 20 minutes at 375°F (or 10-15 minutes for mini potatoes), or until the potatoes pierce easily with a fork (no need to flip them)
While the potatoes are cooking, combine the butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, chili powder, and remaining half the salt in a small bowl
1 Tbsp butter or margarine, 2 Tbsp maple syrup, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, ½ Tsp cinnamon, ½ Tsp chili powder
Once potatoes are cooked, use a spoon or brush to apply the maple mixture to the top and in between the slices of the sweet potato (if you want to reserve a small amount for drizzling after, feel free!)
Air fry for an additional 3-5 minutes, until the sauce begins to caramelize
Top with chopped pecans and serve!
¼ Cup chopped candied pecans
Notes
I actually like the mini sweet potatoes (when you can find them) for this because I find them easier to slice, but the big ones work fine too as you’ll see here. You can also use purple or white sweet potatoes or yams
You can swap olive oil for melted butter or another variety of oil if you’d like
The chili powder is optional, but I like to include it for just a kiss of heat among the sweet (it’s not spicy don’t worry). You could also use cayenne, chipotle powder, or similar
Feel free to add other warm seasonings if you’d like, such as ginger or nutmeg, or a touch of savory with parsley, chives, or thyme (about ½ tsp of any is fine)
I use homemade honey roasted pecans for the topping here, but any sweet or even Bourbon pecans work great
If your sweet potatoes are very curvy, cut a thin sliver off the bottom so that it’s flat. This will help stop it rolling around while cutting and cooking
When you’re applying the maple syrup mixture, if you’re having trouble getting it between cuts, you can use a fork to gently pry the layers apart a bit so you can get the brush in between, or drizzle some in with a spoon
I recommend a flat spatula to aid in removing the potatoes from the air fryer, as they’ll be soft and can fall apart easily
My sweet potatoes were a medium size and perfectly soft after 20 minutes in a Ninja air fryer. Your exact time may vary based on the size of your potatoes and your specific air fryer
Store leftover hasselback sweet potatoes in an airtight container or zippered bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freezing is not recommended
Reheat your sweet potato in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 350°F, or until warmed through (time will vary based on the size of the potato)
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only