What to Serve with Sweet Potatoes? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Sweet potatoes? Oh, they’re more than just a Thanksgiving staple. They’ve got flair, they’ve got taste, and they’ve got health benefits that could make an apple blush.

In our kitchen, we treat them like royalty. Pairing them with the right side dish? Now, that’s where the magic happens. We’ve tried, tested, and tasted (the best part, obviously). Now, we’re here to share the 7 best side dishes that make sweet potatoes scream “More, please!”

From our many dinner experiments, some combinations have made us go ‘Wow!’ while others were a learning curve (to put it nicely). Each suggestion comes from a place of love, a pinch of salt, and the truth that not all greens love being next to a sweet potato.

Ready to amp up your meal game? These combos won’t disappoint.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Sweet Potatoes?

With their mild, starchy, and sweet flavor, sweet potatoes are one of the most loved vegetables.

They can be used in both sweet and savory dishes, making them extremely versatile.

However, due to their delicate flavor, they can be overpowered by other ingredients.

That’s why serving side dishes with sweet potatoes is the perfect way to ensure their unique flavor shines through.

But for that, you need to pick the right side dishes.

Speaking of side dishes for sweet potatoes, less is more.

Be sure to focus on light dishes that complement the potatoes’ sweetness without overpowering them.

Additionally, you’ll want to consider what main dish you’ll be serving.

For example, if you’re preparing a Thanksgiving feast, you might want to consider dishes that will pair well with turkey as well as the sweet tubers.

What to Serve with Sweet Potatoes? 7 BEST Side Dishes

1 – Air-fryer Chicken Tenders

Need to make an irresistible side dish in an hour? Air-fried chicken tenders might be something to consider.

They are super healthy too. It is the perfect side dish for serving kids and adults.

Whether you want to place the chicken as an appetizer or alongside your main course, no one will complain.

We say air-fryer chicken because it’s the best way to eat healthy while indulging as much as you want.

Air-frying takes the littlest oil and creates a beautiful, crispy, and tender chicken.

Since sweet potatoes are loaded with carbs, you can balance them out with some proteins from the chicken and enjoy a filling meal.

2 – Pollo Asado

Another chicken dish that is guilty of stealing the show is Pollo Asado.

It is a Mexican and Cuban version of roasted or barbecued chicken.

What makes Pollo Asado stand out from other chicken dishes is its interesting and unique combination of flavors.

The marinade for this dish features a Mexican spice blend and fresh citrus juices that give it a refreshing taste.

It gets its vibrant red hue from the spice mixture, including achiote powder.

You can roast, grill, bake, or even slow-cook Pollo Asado.

Chicken breasts or thighs are the best portions for this side dish.

3 – Collard Greens with Black Eyed Peas

This “soul food” is a great vegetable-based side dish for serving with sweet potatoes.

The dish is commonly associated with New Year’s Day, and many believe it to bring good luck for the subsequent year.

Unless you or your guests are vegetarians, you can enhance the flavors by adding chopped bacon.

It does wonders for the dish.

Collard greens and black-eyed peas make a good combo for sweet potatoes.

They have a mild and flavorful taste that doesn’t overpower the potatoes.

Tip: Use canned black-eyed peas if you don’t have enough time to soak dry peas.

4 – Sloppy Joes

Serving sloppy joes with your sweet potatoes will not only make your guests happy but also add a beautiful contrast to your main dish.

It is an incredibly effortless dish to make, featuring a sweet & savory sauce.

You’ll only need about twenty minutes to cook it.

A sloppy joe is a type of sandwich containing ground beef, ketchup, onions, Worcestershire sauce, and various seasonings.

It originated in Cuba and became popular in the US around the 20th century.

Since there are many recipe variations for this side dish, you can pick a suitable one for your meal.

Better yet, create your own and impress everyone at the dinner table.

5 – Sweet Corn Fritters

Enjoy your sweet corn while you can.

Summer brings a lot of refreshing food items, and corn is one of them.

Fortunately, sweet corn fritters pair perfectly with sweet potatoes.

They are the two sweet dishes that do not compete with each other but instead combine beautifully.

You can spice it up by adding red pepper flakes or cayenne.

If you want to enhance the flavors, try garlic, black pepper, paprika, and parsley.

Sweet potatoes are mushy and soft.

Adding a contrasting element to the table, like corn, will make your meal multi-textured and exciting.

6 – Corned Beef

Who says you can think about making corned beef only when St.

Patrick’s Day is near? You can enjoy this delicious meat any time.

Corned beef gets its name from how the meat is treated using rock salt, aka salt “corns.

” Recipes featuring this item usually include the addition of spices and sugar.

You can find precooked corned beef in the market.

But if you choose to buy it raw, slow cooking is the best method to prepare it.

It takes a few hours to get that tender, juicy, flavorful meat.

7 – Vegan Falafel

Vegans certainly don’t have to worry about finding something to serve with sweet potatoes, as we have the best option.

Using pumpkin and nuts, you can bake a healthy vegan falafel for your next meal.

The crispy outer layer and the tender inside loaded with flavors will keep your guests reaching out for more and more.

A classic falafel is made using broad beans and chickpeas.

But you can use other ingredients, too, as long as they taste good.

Don’t forget to add a binder to your falafel mix before baking/frying to keep it from breaking apart.

Conclusion

Sweet potatoes have a mild flavor.

Therefore, coming up with a side dish becomes easy for both experienced and inexperienced cooks.

Before looking for other options, we recommend considering our favorite side dishes listed here.

They won’t disappoint you. This tuber is great with meat, veggies, and anything savory that you can think of.

So, try your hand at the ones you find the most enticing.