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Home » Sides » Spicy Sweet Potato Pancakes

Spicy Sweet Potato Pancakes

May 21, 2023 · by Valentina · 21 Comments

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These Spicy Sweet Potato Pancakes are gluten-free and loaded with sweet and savory flavors and a touch of heat. Crispy on the outside with tender bites of potato and melting cheese inside, this deliciousness takes less than 20 minutes to prep and they're absolutely incredible!

Small stack of sweet potato pancakes on parchment paper, with a sprig or oregano behind it.

Take one bite of these amazing sweet potato pancakes and you'll be obsessed! It'll likely become one of your favorite recipes.

With melting cheese and crispy bits of sweet potato in every bite, these subtly spicy pancakes are a fantastic side dish or vegetarian main course. And, you can make them bite-sized for an appetizer, too.

They contain no flour or baking soda, and as a result they have a rustic look, which I love.

The Ingredients

Ingredients for potato pancakes including onion, egg, olive oil, cheese, sweet potato and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
  • sweet potato - Orange sweet potatoes are best for this recipe. Choose those that are firm, smooth and free of sprouts.
  • onion - Try to get onions that are heavy for their size and without bruises.
  • Monterey Jack cheese - This goes into the recipe grated.
  • egg
  • chipotles in adobo sauce - Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce are jalapeño chiles that have been dried, smoked and packed in a sauce made of tomatoes and spices. They come in a can and you should be able to find it in any major grocery store.
  • garlic - Look for firm heads of garlic without any soft spots or green shoots, which are an indication it's old. (Raw garlic cloves should be firm without any dark spots.)
  • kosher salt - I cook with Kosher salt. I prefer it because of its larger flake size, it usually doesn't contain additives, and it does a great job enhancing the flavor of foods without making them taste salty. (If you use table salt, use half the amount.)
  • black pepper - Preferably freshly ground.

(See recipe card below for quantities.)

Substitutions and Variations

  • Monterey Jack. You can substitute this cheese with many different firm cheeses. To spice it up more, use Pepper Jack. You can also use Gruyère, Colby Jack, Mozzarella or white Cheddar. I wouldn't recommend Parmesan because the flavor is strong enough that less of the sweet potato flavor will shine through.
  • Chipotles in adobo sauce. Chipotles in adobo can be substituted with chili paste plus ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika. And if you don't want any heat, you can omit it all together -- though the spicy flavor is so delicious with the sweetness from the potatoes.
  • Garlic. If you want to skip the garlic, that's okay and the recipe will still be great. No need to substitute it with anything.
  • While this recipe is all about the sweet potatoes, you can totally change it up by using Russet potatoes. This will be more like a traditional potato pancake. However, unlike the sweet potatoes and like the onions, you will need to squeeze excess liquid from grated Russet potatoes.
  • Try omitting the chipotles and replacing it with 2 teaspoons of curry powder for a different flavor profile.
  • And if keeping it vegetarian isn't important to you, add crumbled cooked bacon when you mix all of the ingredients together. It's scrumptious!

Recipe Tips

  • Note that I do not peel the sweet potato. I don't peel it because once it's grated, the skin is barely noticeable, it holds a lot of nutrients and adds to the rustic vibe. If you want to peel the potato, feel free.
  • It's really important to remove as much liquid as possible from the onions after they're grated. You should squeeze them with your hands. The more liquid you can remove, the crispier the pancakes will be.
  • Be sure the pan is super hot when you add the pancake mixture. You should hear a sizzling sound when the "batter" hits the pan.
  • The sweet potato pancakes are far from deep fried, but you'll want to use a generous enough portion of oil that they'll flip easily.
  • I highly recommend a nonstick skillet and a firm, heat-resistant rubber spatula. However, a cast iron or another "stick" pan will work as long as you oil it really well and use a very firm metal spatula to flip them.
  • Unless you're super speedy, which there's no need to be, the sweet potato mixture might become more liquidy as you work. (Even though you've squeezed the liquid out of the onions, they'll continue to release more as they sit.) If this is the case, very gently squeeze each bundle before adding it to the pan.
  • Use a wire baking rack to let the pancakes cool and to let any excess oil drip off. Alternately, you can place them on a double layer of paper towels.

How to Make Them

- Use a food processor to grate the sweet potato and onion. Grate each one separately and then use your hands to squeeze as much liquid as possible out of the onions. Add both to a large mixing bowl.

Food processor bowl full of grated sweet potato.
Food processor bowl full of grated onion.

- Add the cheese, egg, chipotles in adobo sauce, garlic, salt and a few turns of freshly ground black pepper to the gated sweet potatoes and drained onion. Mix thoroughly.

Cream-colored ceramic bowl with everything ready to mix for sweet potato pancakes including grated onion, sweet potato, grated cheese, garlic and egg.
Cream-colored ceramic bowl with a wooden spoon and grated sweet potato mixture.

- Generously coat a large nonstick skillet with olive oil. Place the skillet over medium-high heat and once it's very hot, shape the sweet potato mixture into approximately ¼ cup-sized bundles, placing them in the hot skillet as you go. There should be at least an inch or so between them. Gently press each one with a flat-bottomed spatula to flatten them slightly, and turn the heat down to medium-low. Cook until they are golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.

- Repeat this a few times until you've used up the mixture.

Shaped grated sweet potato pancakes in saute pan.
Golden crispy grated sweet potato pancakes in skillet.

- Let them cool and drain a bit on a baking rack for a few minutes and then serve.

20 crispy, browned sweet potato pancakes on wire baking rack.

Serving Suggestions

An appetizer, a side dish, a main course, these spicy sweet potato pancakes with can be whatever you want them to be!

If you make the pancakes about half the size (about 2 tablespoons), or even smaller, they're adorable bite-sized hors d'oeuvres. They're flavorful enough that any sort of dipping sauce isn't necessary.

As a side dish, they're excellent alongside pork, chicken and steak. Here are a few ideas:

  • Rosemary Pork Chops
  • Simple Honey-Lemon Roasted Chicken
  • Apple Cranberry Chicken Salad
  • Spicy Sriracha Burgers

And finally as a vegetarian main course, a bright and refreshing salad is an ideal accompaniment. I love them with Little Gem Salad Avocado Salad and Fried Lemon Caesar Salad.

Spicy sweet potato pancakes are also fun to serve for breakfast with fried eggs.

Other Delicious Sweet Potato Recipes

  • Rosemary Baked Sweet Potato Slices
  • Basil-Bacon Baked Sweet Potatoes
  • Easy Ginger Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Sweet Potato Skillet Chicken

Can you make them ahead?

  • Sweet potato pancakes are best when they're eaten soon after they come out of the pan.
  • Of course, you should save leftovers! Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and reheat them on a foil-lined baking sheet in a 400℉ oven for 10 minutes.
  • They're still super tasty when made ahead -- they're even good cold! -- but they lose their crispiness.
Sweet potato pancakes on wire cooling rack.

I hope you love them!

And if you happen to celebrate Chanukah, how fun would it be to serve sweet potato latkes?

Small stack of sweet potato pancakes on parchment paper, with a sprig or oregano behind it.

Spicy Potato Pancakes Recipe

Valentina K. Wein
These Sweet Potato Pancakes are gluten-free and loaded with sweet and savory flavors and a touch of heat. Crispy on the outside with tender bites of potato and melting cheese inside, this deliciousness takes less than 20 minutes to prep and they're absolutely incredible!
Makes 20 small pancakes
Serving size - 4 to 5 pancakes
5 from 6 votes
Print
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 333 kcal

Equipment

  • food processor
  • 12-inch nonstick skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 (approx. 1-pound) sweet potato, washed, dried and grated (you should have 5 cups)
  • 1 pound yellow onion, grated (once grated and well drained, you should have about 1 cup)
  • ¾ cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon chipotles in adobo sauce
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • a few turns freshly ground black pepper
  • 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
  • olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Grate potato and onion. Use a food processor with the grater attachment to grate the sweet potato and onion. Grate each one separately and then use your hands to squeeze as much liquid as possible out of the onions. Add both to a large mixing bowl.
  • Combine all of the ingredients. Add the cheese, egg, chipotles in adobo sauce, garlic, salt and a few turns of freshly ground black pepper to the grated sweet potatoes and drained onion. Mix thoroughly.
  • Sauté the pancakes. Generously coat a large nonstick skillet with olive oil and place it over medium-high heat. Once the pan is very hot, shape the potato mixture into approximately ¼ cup -sized bundles, placing them in the hot pan as you go. There should be a sizzling sound when they hit the pan, and at least an inch or so between them. Gently press each one with a flat-bottomed spatula to flatten them and turn the heat to medium. Cook until they are golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
  • Cool and serve. Let them cool and drain a bit on a baking rack for a few minutes and then serve.

NOTES

Nutritional information is only an estimate.

NUTRITION

Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 864mg | Potassium: 768mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 23861IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 243mg | Iron: 2mg
Keywords best potato sides, sweet potato sides
Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. angiesrecipes

    May 22, 2023 at 3:45 am

    They sound and look absolutely delicious! Love the crispy top and edges.
    angiesrecipes

    Reply
    • Ben | Havocinthekitchen

      June 05, 2023 at 4:27 pm

      5 stars
      So good!
      I love sweet potatoe pancakes and fritters, but I don't think I've ever added cheese - silly me 🙂 Great crispy exterior and colour!

      Reply
    • Valentina

      June 07, 2023 at 5:44 pm

      Thanks, Angie! Yes, those edges are the best part. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  2. Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!

    May 23, 2023 at 6:30 am

    These pancakes look delicious! My grandma used to make potato pancakes for us when we were kids, but these go several levels beyond that. I love the idea of adding cheese to them.

    Reply
    • Valentina

      June 07, 2023 at 5:45 pm

      Thanks, Jeff. My grandma (and mom) used to make potato pancakes, too. I hope they'd approved of the "mixing it up." Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  3. Velva- Evening With A Sandwich

    May 23, 2023 at 8:13 am

    Valentina, I would be a huge fan of the sweet potato pancakes. Immediately when I saw this recipe, I thought this would be delicious served up with a bit of sour cream, and applesauce on the side. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Velva

    Reply
    • Valentina

      June 07, 2023 at 5:46 pm

      Yes to the sour cream and applesauce! Thanks so much for checking it out, Velva. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  4. Raymund

    May 23, 2023 at 4:04 pm

    5 stars
    The idea of using sweet potatoes as the base for these pancakes is fantastic. They offer a natural sweetness and a delightful texture when grated. The addition of grated onion, Monterey Jack cheese, and chipotles in adobo sauce adds layers of flavor and complexity to the dish. I can imagine the crispy exterior and the tender, cheesy interior creating a wonderful contrast. Yum!

    Reply
    • Valentina

      June 07, 2023 at 5:48 pm

      Thanks so much, Raymund. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  5. Healthy World Cuisine

    May 24, 2023 at 11:32 am

    5 stars
    Love a little kick of adobe spice with the natural sweet potatoes. Super crispy too!

    Reply
    • Valentina

      June 07, 2023 at 5:48 pm

      Thanks so much. Yes, the "kick" is everything! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  6. Eha

    May 24, 2023 at 6:17 pm

    5 stars
    I do eat a fair amount of sweet potatoes but do not think I have ever made them into pancakes! Very much like yours! Shall copy soones! Just love the amount of onion!! No trouble hand-grating . . . part of the daily exercise requirements 🙂 !!!

    Reply
    • Valentina

      June 07, 2023 at 5:49 pm

      Hi Eha! Thanks so much. The onion is essential -- I'm happy you approve of the generous amount. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  7. Mimi Rippee

    May 25, 2023 at 4:40 am

    I love these! I especially love the southwestern flair. This is where I really enjoy my non=stick pans.

    Reply
    • Valentina

      June 07, 2023 at 5:52 pm

      Yes, me too! There are certain things I save my non-stick pans for and this is one of them. Thanks for checking out this recipe, Mimi. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  8. sherry

    May 25, 2023 at 11:01 pm

    i would love to try these! they look and sound so good. What a fab idea to use sweet potato.

    Reply
  9. David Scott Allen

    May 26, 2023 at 5:43 am

    We had a very different kind of sweet potato pancake in Morocco — I love it, and cannot wait to try yours! (Theirs was puréed.)

    Reply
    • Valentina

      June 07, 2023 at 6:12 pm

      Thanks, David. I'd bet a Moroccan potato pancake is delicious! Maybe you'll share it one day of C&L? 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  10. Ben | Havocinthekitchen

    June 05, 2023 at 4:27 pm

    5 stars
    So good!
    I love sweet potatoe pancakes and fritters, but I don't think I've ever added cheese - silly me 🙂 Great crispy exterior and colour!

    Reply
    • Valentina

      June 07, 2023 at 6:13 pm

      Hi Ben. Thanks so much. I love them with and without the cheese, but adding it to mix things up is fun. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  11. 2pots2cook

    March 05, 2025 at 2:31 am

    5 stars
    This is great! I start my 40 days fasting today and every recipe without flour is perfect for me! Thank you so much!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

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