Sweet Potato/Yam

The Best Ways to Use Up Leftover Sweet Potato

With this many uses for extra sweet potatoes, it's easy to be sweet on your leftovers.

by:
October 13, 2021

Got leftover sweet potatoes in your fridge? Say you meal-prepped a few sweet potatoes and don't know what to do with the extras, or you’re in the days after the Thanksgiving rush and are living in Leftover Land. You're in luck—sweet potatoes are an excellent, flavor-packed base for dishes like pancakes, waffles, salads, soups, and of course, pie. That’s right, they’re more than welcome at any meal of the day, and we’re here to help you navigate the sweet, orange road ahead. 

We’ve compiled a stacked and loaded compendium of exciting ways to repurpose these delicious, satisfying, beloved root veggies. From the classic to the unexpected, and whether your sweet potatoes are mashed or baked or boiled or steamed, these leftover sweet potato recipes are sure to satisfy everyone at your table.

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Erinrae was left with some extra sweet potatoes the other night and took to the Hotline to ask for your best ideas for repurposing them. As always, you came through with a bunch of brilliant ideas, inspiring all of us to step up our "bestover" game:

For breakfast:

For lunch or dinner:

For dessert:

  • Deborah Madison's flan is an inventive, delicious recipe.
  • These Genius-grade sweet potato cookies are perfect for leftover steamed sweet potatoes.
  • Got leftover sweet potato pureé? Meet your favorite new brownies
  • A baked sweet potato is the secret to this beautiful rolled cake.

More Leftover Sweet Potato Recipes

What's your favorite use for leftover sweet potatoes? Tell us in the comments or join the conversation over on the Hotline!

First photo by James Ransom, second photo by Mark Weinberg, final photo by Linda Xiao

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Mei Chin

Written by: Mei Chin

Let's have dinner sometime. There will be champagne and ice cream for sure; everything else is up in the air.

12 Comments

Shortrib August 28, 2021
The quesadilla suggestion was delicious! Thanks.
 
HalfPint July 29, 2019
Leftover sweet potatoes are wonderful in shaved ice. I currently in love with Taiwanese shaved ice with taro, mochi balls, grass jelly, and sweet potatoes, doused with black sugar syrup and condensed milk. If MeetFresh (Taiwanese shaved ice/boba chain) wasn't so ludicrously packed ALL THE TIME, I would be in serious trouble ;)
 
isw July 29, 2019
Let the baked sweet potatoes sit overnight in the 'fridge. Then peel, slice about 1/4" thick crossways or at an angle, and sauté in butter until the edges get nicely caramelized.
 
Eric K. July 29, 2019
Delicious.
 
Fran G. August 13, 2017
Made 2 loaves last night. Great recipe for breakfast toast, french toast, etc. So easy to make. I just love this dough.
 
arcane54 July 10, 2016
Deborah Madison's sweet potato ginger muffins from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.
 
Phyllis February 19, 2015
I mash through a ricer then blend into soups or chili towards the end of cooking for texture and nutrition.
 
Burnt O. February 16, 2015
Sweet potato kimchi salad! Roast diced sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix chopped kimchi with mayo or Greek yogurt, scallions and some gochugaru powder.
 
Kenn February 15, 2015
Add puréed sweet potatoes to your pancake batter. Top your pancakes with a drizzle of honey and toasted pecans.
 
arcane54 February 14, 2015
Sweet potato ginger muffins from Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone! Candied and fresh ginger, just sweet enough and rich enough from the sweet potato (and a bit of butter, of course).
 
Millie |. February 14, 2015
I agree - adding it to oatmeal is delicious (so good as overnight oats!) and I love them in salads!
 
Maureen M. February 14, 2015
Sweet potato rolls! http://silverthyme.blogspot.com/search?q=sweet+potato