Fried Sweet Potato Hash Recipe

Make this healthy sweet potato hash with runny eggs for a fast savory breakfast. Perfectly crispy potatoes fried up with runny salty eggs, plus options to add veggies and meat. Yum!

Once upon a time, there were leftover sweet potatoes from dinner in the fridge.

It was breakfast, I was hungry, and anything left over from dinner is totally appropriate for breakfast, right?

So, I scooped some sweet potatoes into a skillet to warm them up. For some unknown reason, I cracked an egg on top of the sweet potatoes.

The end.

The end?

Yes, the end, because it only took making this ONE TIME before I was hooked forever and ever. And I’m totally not exaggerating.

WHY MAKE FRIED SWEET POTATO HASH

Ever since that accidental science experiment a.k.a. breakfast, I’ve been hooked on fried sweet potatoes with runny eggs. I will try to put into words how amazing this dish is:

• Delicious. The potatoes are crispy, yet tender and sweet. And the egg is runny and savory on the inside, fried and salty on the outside.
• Quick. Use leftover sweet potatoes to whip this breakfast together super fast!
• Adaptable. You can use Baked Sweet Potatoes, Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges, mashed sweet potatoes, twice-baked sweet potatoes (we had those at Thanksgiving), Crash Hot Sweet Potatoes … it doesn’t matter if mashed or whole or diced or in wedges – just stick them in the pan with the fat and move on with the recipe. I promise you can’t go wrong here. If you don’t have leftover sweet potatoes, you can still totally make this sweet potato breakfast.
• Frugal. Sweet potatoes are a frugal favorite in the fall and winter, and they make for a satisfying breakfast.

Plus, you can make this a versatile sweet potato breakfast hash and add all sorts of yummy things to it! I’ve got plenty of ideas below.

SWEET POTATO HASH RECIPE INGREDIENTS

The most basic version of this fried sweet potato hash recipe calls for just a few simple ingredients:

That’s all you need to make one of the most amazing breakfast meals ever.

But you can add more to the hash sweet potatoes for even more flavor! Vegetables, meat, spices…

• Diced onions
• Red bell peppers (or yellow or orange) or a jalapeño pepper
• Sliced mushrooms
• Minced garlic
• Zucchini
• Green onions
• Kale
• Spinach
• Chopped bacon
• Crumbled sausage
• Chopped ham (if we have just a bit leftover from another meal, it’s perfect to add here)
• Shredded chicken
• White or golden potatoes (do a mix for a sweet potato and potato hash)
• Shredded cheddar cheese or crumbled blue cheese when serving
• Black beans
• Garlic powder
• Smoked paprika

HOW TO MAKE SWEET POTATO AND POTATO HASH

Making this delicious egg sweet potato breakfast is so easy!

Step 1. Melt the coconut oil (or olive oil) in a cast iron skillet or other heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat.

Step 2. When the oil is melted, add the raw diced sweet potato. Allow it to cook in a single layer for about 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until almost medium brown.

If using cooked sweet potato leftovers, add them to the hot oil and cook for 1-2 minutes until warm.

Step 3. When the sweet potatoes are almost medium brown (about halfway to as crispy as you’d like them), crack the eggs over the top. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover with a lid.

Step 4. Allow the eggs to cook undisturbed until the white is cooked through, anywhere from 2-5 minutes depending on your stove and how hot your pan is.

Step 5. Serve with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Note: If using, add raw veggies that take a little bit longer to cook, like onions, with the raw sweet potatoes at the beginning. Add softer veggies like mushrooms, or cooked meats, at the same time as you add the eggs, so everything is hot and ready at the same time. Make sure to use a large enough skillet!

SWEET POTATO HASH VARIATIONS

I won’t lie – I love the original simple fried sweet potatoes with runny eggs. But I also like experimenting with new recipes!

Try one of these combinations for a delicious meal:

• Tex Mex Sweet Potato Hash: Sweet potatoes, onions, ground turkey (or leftover Ground Beef Taco Meat), salsa, and eggs, garnished with fresh tomatoes and green onions. Add diced jalapeño pepper for an extra kick!
• Meat Lovers Sweet Potato Hash: Sweet potatoes, chopped bacon, diced ham, crumbled sausage, and eggs.
• Veggie Lovers Sweet Potato and Potato Hash: A mix of russet potatoes and sweet potatoes, with onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, garlic, spinach, and eggs, with sliced avocado served on the side.
• Sweet and Salty Sweet Potato Hash: Sweet potatoes, orange bell peppers, chopped ham, and eggs, topped with blue cheese and a few dried cranberries before serving. It sounds strange but it works!
• Sweet Potato Hash Breakfast Burrito: Make scrambled eggs instead of runny and plop a scoop of sweet potato hash with eggs into a tortilla for a simple breakfast burrito. Top with cheese and salsa and eat it on the go!

HASH SWEET POTATOES TIPS

Double it for two. You can easily double this recipe so you’re cooking for two or more. Sweet potatoes cook best when they’re in a single layer, so if you’re making a lot, you might want to break it up into a few different batches of potatoes and then add all of the sweet potatoes back into the pan when you cook the eggs.

Make ahead in bulk. If you’re making this for meal prep, fry up all of the potato and sweet potato hash the first day, and simply reheat a portion and do the eggs fresh each morning. Eggs don’t reheat well, and reheating the eggs would eliminate the runny yolk, which is the best part, so don’t do that!

Store extra sweet potato hash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Adjust the easy sweet potato hash recipe to fit your nutrition goals.

• Need more protein? Add meat. Try a lean protein like ground turkey or use fattier meat like bacon if you need both protein and fat to round out your daily macros. Combining carbs (like sweet potatoes) with protein also helps keep your blood sugar stable.
• Don’t forget the produce! Whether you add veggies to the hash itself or serve fresh fruit on the side, make sure your plate includes plenty of plants.
• Don’t be scared of carbohydrates! A medium-sized sweet potato contains about 27g of carbs, which fits perfectly fine into your daily needs. Sweet potatoes also contain complex carbohydrates, which your body digests more slowly than simple carbohydrates, creating more lasting energy.

YUMMY BEVERAGES TO SERVE WITH POTATO AND SWEET POTATO HASH

SWEET POTATO HASH FAQS

MORE DELICIOUS REAL FOOD BREAKFAST RECIPES