These Air Fryer Blooming Sweet Potatoes are a delightful and impressive side dish for a special occasion or a weeknight dinner. These delicious baked sweet potatoes cook up in minutes in the air fryer with a crispy outer that pairs perfectly with the fluffy, soft inside.
What is a Blooming Sweet Potato?
Blooming sweet potatoes are simply sweet potatoes that have been sliced in a way that allows them to "bloom" in the air fryer. This not only makes for a beautiful presentation but also gives the sweet potato slices more surface area to crisp up in the air fryer.
I love this simple method for air frying a sweet potato. The slicing technique that I used to make this sweet baked potato adds a dramatic flair while my kids absolutely love the crispy edges, crunchy topping, and creamy interior all in one bite. The length of the slices impacts how much crispness each piece has, and I love how I can add extra seasonings between the slices. Please also try these visually appealing Air Fryer Blooming Baked Potatoes.
Ingredients
These blooming potatoes are made with simple ingredients and are ready in minutes, making them an excellent snack for any occasion. Enjoy these air fryer blooming sweet potatoes with your favorite dipping sauces or try something new like Homemade Chipotle mayo or Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce. The ingredients for this recipe are pretty straightforward; for the most part, you may already have them all without an added trip to the grocery store!
- Sweet Potatoes
- Butter, melted
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Dry rosemary
- Dry thyme
- Garlic powder
- Green onions
How to Cut Potato in the Blooming Shape
To cut Bloomin' sweet potato, start by placing it on a cutting board. Then, use a sharp knife to make thin slices along the potato, then across the potato, careful not to cut all the way through. Aim to make the squares (potato petals) approximately 5-7 mm in size (0.197-0.276 inches).
Pro tip: In order to help the sweet potatoes cook evenly, you can cut off a little bit at the bottom to help it sit flat. Then use chopsticks or wooden skewers to hold it in place before making your slits to stop you from cutting through the entire thing.
Directions
- Start by washing and scrubbing your sweet potatoes, then pat them dry.
- Slice them crosswise and lengthwise into thin slices. Be careful not to cut all the way through. The potato petals must still be attached to the base of the potato. (Picture 1).
- Place the potatoes in the microwave, and microwave on high (depending on the size of the sweet potatoes) for 5-7 minutes until soft.
- In a small bowl combine melted butter with seasoning and herbs. (Picture 2).
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (195°C).
- Remove potatoes from the microwave and generously brush them with olive oil or melted butter mixture, ensuring that the inside of the potato cracks are fully coated too. (Picture 3).
- Finally, place the potatoes in the air fryer and cook on airfry setting for 10-12 minutes, or until they are tender and golden brown with crispy skin. I use Ninja Foodi XL 6in1.
- The Blooming potatoes are ready to be served. Sprinkle with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Can I Bake the Blooming Potato in the Oven?
Yes! If an air fryer isn’t an option, you can still get that crispy skin and tender insides and make them in the oven instead. Simply preheat your oven to 400 degrees and follow the rest of the instructions. You will bake the sweet potatoes in the oven for approximately 20 minutes (after they were microwaved). If you don’t have a microwave, bake or roast the sweet potatoes for 45 minutes to an hour (depending on their size).
Seasoning Variations
Absolutely! The great thing about this recipe is it’s incredibly versatile. If you’re not a fan of rosemary, thyme, or garlic, you can switch up the spices to any combination you like.
Make a sweet version by using cinnamon and brown sugar instead! I love this combination of a BBQ + Coffee and Garlic spice blend, Za’tar blends, Montreal Steak Seasoning, or Slap Ya Mama Cajun seasoning. If you like sauces, try using different dressings like ranch or poppyseed or even jazzing it up with a chimichurri or pesto sauce.
Make it a Meal
You can serve the Blooming Sweet Potato alongside any protein that you wish. As an alternative, you can transform this blooming potato into a main dish by making it the base of your plate.
- Add a heaping scoop of chili and a dollop of sour cream with chives.
- Top with shredded rotisserie chicken, bacon pieces, and a drizzle of ranch dressing.
- Add pulled pork, shredded cheese, and a drizzle of your favorite BBQ sauce.
- Top with spicy mango salsa.
Air Fryer Healthy Veggies
Air Fryer Blooming Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 Sweet Potatoes medium size
- 3 Tabelspoons Butter melted
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Dry rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon Dry thyme
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon Green onions for topping
Instructions
- Start by washing and scrubbing your sweet potatoes, then pat them dry.Slice them crosswise and lengthwise into thin slices. Be careful not to cut all the way through. The potato petals must still be attached to the base of the potato.
- Place the potatoes in the microwave, and microwave on high (depending on the size of the sweet potatoes) for 5-7 minutes until soft.
- In a small bowl combine melted butter with seasoning and herbs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (195°C).
- Remove potatoes from the microwave and generously brush them with olive oil or melted butter mixture, ensuring that the inside of the potato cracks are fully coated too.
- Place the potatoes in the air fryer and cook on airfry setting for 10-12 minutes, or until they are tender and golden brown with crispy skin. I use Ninja Foodi XL 6in1.
- The Blooming potatoes are ready to be served. Sprinkle with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
With so many different ways to enjoy these Air Fryer Blooming Sweet Potatoes, which way are you going to eat them first? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
Kerry
I’m going to try this with white sweet potatoes. But I think the dessert sweet potato would be amazing as well.
Irina
Thank you. Please let me know how they turn out