Sweet Potato Hash Browns

This simple sweet potato hash browns recipe is made with grated sweet potatoes and then fried in butter for a crispy texture. It’s an easy way to cook hash browns that’s a real crowd-pleaser!

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated May 11, 2022
Elise Bauer
Sweet Potato Hash Browns
Elise Bauer

So, do you want to know the secret to truly amazing, mind blowing, crazy good hash browns?

Make them with sweet potatoes! (And butter.)

Why Sweet Potato Hash Browns Are the Best

I love potato hash browns as well as anyone, but oh my gosh. Sweet potato hash browns? WOW. And so simple. Grating the sweet potatoes will save you a trip to the gym (use the large holes of a box grater), but after that, all you have to do is fry them in a bit of butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Simple Ingredients for Hash Browns: Butter, Salt, and Pepper

Nothing more. Just grated sweet potatoes, butter, salt and pepper. Skip the salt if you are using salted butter.

Because I'm sure someone will ask, no, I don't recommend using a fat other than butter (unless it's ghee). If you must sub it, then you must, but it really will not taste the same.

Serve with a side of fried eggs.

By the way, if you've never made sweet potato fries before, and you do following this recipe, and it changes your life for the better as I fully expect it will, you can make a donation to me at ..... Just kidding! I don't take donations. But, if you still feel you want to do something, you can make a small donation (any amount) to Food Literacy Center, a Sacramento-based non-profit that inspires kids to eat their vegetables!

Sweet potato hash with fried egg
Elise Bauer

Troubleshooting Tips

There is no binder in this recipe, so the sweet potato hash browns won't be as tidy as potato hash browns. To keep them from being messy and loose, follow these tips.

  • Make the hash browns small enough so you can easily flip them with your spatula.
  • Fry them until they have a nice brown crust on the outside and are fully cooked on the inside. They'll flip more easily that way.

How to Store and Reheat Hash Browns for Later

Allow the hash browns to completely cool and store them in a single layer in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

To reheat, melt butter in the same skillet you originally cooked them and warm on each side for 2 to 3 minutes, or until heated through. Or try using an air fryer.

More Breakfast Potato Recipes to Try!

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Sweet Potato Hash Browns

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces sweet potato (about half a large sweet potato), peeled and grated through the large grates of a box grater

  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided

  • Salt

  • Pepper

Method

  1. Melt the butter:

    Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a cast iron pan on medium high heat. (If you don't have a cast iron pan, use a thick-bottomed skillet.) Note that you want the heat high enough so that the butter bubbles, but not so high that it browns or burns before you put the sweet potato in the pan.

  2. Add the grated sweet potatoes, salt, and pepper:

    Working in batches if necessary (use 2 tablespoons of butter per batch), scoop large spoonfuls of grated sweet potatoes into the pan forming small mounds. Gently press to spread the mounds out a bit. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. (If using salted butter you may be able to skip the salt.)

    sweet-potato-hash-browns-method-600-1
    Elise Bauer
    sweet-potato-hash-browns-method-600-2
    Elise Bauer
  3. Cook the hash browns:

    Cook undisturbed until they are nicely browned on one side, about 4 to 5 minutes, then carefully turn them over with a metal spatula to brown on the other side, 4 to 5 minutes more.

  4. Keep the hash browns warm until serving:

    When done, place on a cookie sheet in a warmed oven to keep warm until ready to eat. Serve with fried eggs and bacon!

Sweet Potato Hash Browns
Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
153 Calories
12g Fat
12g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 153
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 15%
Saturated Fat 7g 37%
Cholesterol 31mg 10%
Sodium 257mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 11mg 56%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 275mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.