Our sweet potato home fries are a nutritious, extra flavorful take on the classic breakfast side. The bright orange spuds replace the more usual russet or Yukon potatoes, but you’ll still find the typical onion and bell pepper here, plus some jalapeño and smoked paprika for a subtle, smoky kick. Roasting the chopped sweet potatoes in the oven cuts down on hands-on cooking time (you’ll add them to the skillet with the remaining ingredients at the very end). Serve these tasty home fries with your favorite eggs for a delicious, vibrant start to the day—ketchup optional.

All About Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are technically a type of root vegetable as they grow from the storage root of the plant and are members of the morning glory family. They’re often referred to as yams, and even though they share an elongated shape and can be similarly boiled or roasted, they are not the same as yams. Yams are less sweet and much starchier than their orange-hued lookalikes.

Sweet potatoes are incredibly nutritious, with just one potato containing 100 percent of your daily value of vitamin A and 20 percent of your daily value of vitamin C. They’re high in dietary fiber, making you feel fuller for longer.

Equipment Needed for Sweet-Potato Home Fries

Cutting board: A sturdy cutting board will make prepping the sweet potatoes, onions, and peppers easier and safer. To keep it steady while you work, dampen a kitchen towel or a couple of paper towels, set it on your counter, and place the cutting board on top.

Chef’s knife: Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut the sweet potatoes into bite-sized pieces and prep the other vegetables. Using a sharp knife is much safer than a dull one, which can slip as you’re using it, especially when cutting extremely firm items like sweet potatoes.

Baking sheet: You’ll need a rimmed baking sheet to roast the sweet potatoes. We don’t recommend using a cookie sheet here if you can avoid it; the rimmed edges of a baking sheet will help keep the sweet potatoes contained, especially when it’s time to flip them halfway through roasting.

Large skillet: A large skillet is used to cook the onions and peppers in step 3. You can use a non-stick, stainless steel, or cast-iron skillet with equally good results.