48 Easy and Delicious Recipes for Sweet Potato Lovers

Want a delicious way to get your beta-carotene today? We've got four dozen ideas.

Sweet Potato Buttermilk Pancakes
Photo: HEAMI LEE

Sweet potatoes aren't just an orange alternative to the regular white-fleshed spuds. Sure, you can make mashed sweet potatoes and even sweet potato fries, but these root vegetables are versatile and unique enough that they have their own genre of recipes you'd never dream of making with white potatoes, like sweet potato pie and sweet potato bread.

Sweet potatoes are perfect for chilly nights, when you're craving something comforting and warm. They make delicious Thanksgiving side dishes too, when they're roasted and baked in all forms of sweet potato casserole. Additionally, they can also be cooked quickly enough to serve on a weeknight dinner plate.

Family and guests will love whatever you make from our collection of the best sweet potato entree recipes. And don't worry, there are plenty of sweet potato side and snack recipes too. Each of these recipes was crafted to highlight what's so special about the potato—its natural sweetness, its creamy flesh, and its versatility. Whatever your reason for looking for a great new sweet potato recipe, these options are sure to offer something you'll enjoy making and eating.

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Black Bean Tostadas With Sweet Potato and Poblanos

Black Bean Tostadas With Sweet Potato and Poblanos on a Plate on a Table
Victor Protasio

This recipe for Black Bean Tostadas is about to be your go-to easy vegetarian main dish—it comes together in just 35 minutes and is packed with heart-healthy ingredients, like cabbage, black beans, sweet potatoes, peppers, and fresh herbs. Crema ties it all together, and if you want to add even more richness, finish it off with a crumble of cotija cheese.

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Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili Recipe With Sweet Potatoes

Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Chili With Sweet Potatoes, Beans, and Tomatoes Topped With Corn Chips in a Bowl
Con Poulos

When you can't add meat to your vegetarian chili, you can bulk it up with lots of veggies, like red onions, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes. To round it out, two different kinds of beans add interest and bulk so this sweet potato chili has staying power, whether it's a weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing main for your next tailgate.

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Zucchini and Black Bean-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Zucchini and Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Greg DuPree

Here, cooking sweet potatoes in the microwave cuts down on cook time, meaning you can have this fiber-packed meal on the table in just 20 minutes. While the potato is cooking, the black bean filling comes together on the stove. Just before serving, top each potato with white Cheddar cheese, and serve with a lime wedge. And be sure to save any leftovers—the veggie-bean mixture would be great tucked inside tacos or on top of nachos.

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Easiest Sweet Potato Pie

Easiest Sweet Potato Pie
Roland Bello

This easy sweet potato pie recipe requires just 15 minutes of hands-on work, in part because it calls for canned unsweetened sweet potato purée. The purée is then flavored with sugar, vanilla, and nutmeg. Once the pie is done, feel free to top each slice with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream.

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Vanilla Sweet Potato Cheesecake

Vanilla Sweet Potato Cheesecake Recipe
Victor Protasio

This tasty cheesecake boasts just-enough sweet potato, ample cream cheese, and a brown butter-based graham cracker crust. The result is a dessert that's nostalgic yet elevated, and the best part is that it only requires 20 minutes of hands-on work. If you're in a rush, simply microwave the sweet potato before scooping out the flesh and mashing it up.

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Molasses-and-Chile Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Spicy Molasses-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Caitlin Bensel

You might think that earthy molasses is a bit too strong for sweet potatoes that have a barely-there hint of sweetness, but pairing the thick, brown syrup with the kick of jalapeño and tang of stone-ground mustard opens up a world of flavor. The sweet potato wedges are just a crisp-tender canvas for their great flavors.

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Seeded Miso Sweet Potato Bread

Seeded Miso Sweet Potato Bread
Greg DuPree

If you're eager for a bread that does more for your body than provide carbs, you'll be delighted by this sweet potato bread. Gut-friendly miso is added to a mashed potato with antioxidant-rich pumpkin seeds, and the loaf bakes up to form a tender, flavorful bread that's dense but airy. You can use it as a dessert—a drizzle of honey would be welcome—or as a quick breakfast with a smear of nut butter or a dollop of whipped cream cheese.

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Loaded Sweet Potatoes With Coconut and Kale

Loaded Sweet Potatoes With Coconut and Kale
Victor Protasio

Microwaving sweet potatoes is a handy way to speed up the cooking process. You can shave off about 30 minutes of your total time with this step, which helps this sweet potato dinner come together in just 30 minutes. Kale and chiles tenderize while the potatoes cook. Hints of citrus juice and ground allspice elevate the potatoes' natural sweetness and earthy notes.

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Baked Sweet Potatoes With Feta Butter

With this recipe for baked sweet potato with feta, tender sweet potatoes are topped with a savory feta and butter mixture and served alongside a colorful kale and cabbage salad.
Victor Protasio

Baked sweet potatoes are delicious in their own right, but when you pair them with a savory feta-and-butter mixture, you're gonna hit all the right flavor notes. The side of colorful kale and cabbage salad ties this easy sweet and savory meal together.

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Gnocchi and Sweet Potatoes With Hazelnuts

Gnocchi and Sweet Potatoes With Hazelnuts
Greg Dupree

If you don't have time to make your own sweet potato gnocchi, you can get the next best thing: pillowy gnocchi with creamy pieces of sweet potato and a sprinkling of crunchy chopped hazelnuts. This dish looks simple—it comes together in just 20 minutes—but it still manages to be quite impressive if you need something you can cook to feed a friend, neighbor, or colleague in a hurry.

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Rigatoni With Sweet Potato, Oregano, and Parmesan

Rigatoni With Sweet Potato, Oregano, and Parmesan
Antonis Achilleos

You might not think to pair pasta and sweet potatoes, but we promise this 20-minute meal doesn't disappoint. Here, baked sweet potato flesh joins rigatoni and sautéd oregano to create a flavorful meal. Top the pasta with Parmesan cheese and you're good to go.

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Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
Greg DuPree

One-dish dinners are a dream come true for busy cooks. You can cook everything you need for your meal—in this case, chicken leg quarters and sweet potato wedges—at the same time, and on the same dish. This saves you time, mess, and a whole lot of effort. This dish is quite simple, which is why it's so great for weeknights. You can change up the herbs (it calls for sage, but rosemary would be good too) and switch the greens from watercress to butter lettuce or anything you have on hand.

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Baked Sweet Potatoes

Baked Sweet Potatoes
Joy Skipper/Getty Images

Roasting sweet potatoes in the oven intensifies their natural sweetness. This classic baked sweet potato recipe renders perfectly cooked potatoes every time. You can eat them as is, right from the oven. Or, you can use this as a base for any number of toppings you might want to add.

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Mustardy Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple

Mustardy Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple
Roland Bello

Packed with protein and fiber, this hearty main course salad is a nutritional powerhouse. Combine the kale, roasted sweet potato, chopped apple, and almonds in a large bowl and drizzle with a tangy mustard vinaigrette. Once dressed, massage the kale with clean hands to make the salad more palatable.

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Cheesy Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes With Black Beans and Avocado

Cheesy Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes With Black Beans and Avocado
Victor Protasio

Once you've mastered the classic baked sweet potato recipe, you can take things one step further with a twice-baked option. Everything you love about a burrito is here: filling black beans, creamy avocado, and ooey-gooey Jack cheese. The sprinkle of crunchy pepitas (pumpkin seeds) is quite fun too, so kids and parents alike will enjoy every bite of this sweet potato recipe.

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Sweet Potato Buttermilk Pancakes

Sweet Potato Buttermilk Pancake
Heami Lee

Adding mashed sweet potatoes to pancake batter yields pancakes that are irresistibly fluffy, tender, and better-for-you. This batter also includes cinnamon, nutmeg, and maple syrup, which adds warming caramel and vanilla notes throughout. You'll also find buttermilk, which gives the pancakes a subtle tang.

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Farro Bowl With Sweet Potato and Pomegranate Vinaigrette

farro-bowl-recipe-1119din
Caitlin Bensel

This hearty grain bowl includes nutty farro, caramelized sweet potato, crisp fennel, and salty feta. The healthy, vegetarian meal comes together courtesy of a pomegranate vinaigrette that takes everything to the next level. Trust us, you'll love it!

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Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple Soup

Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple Soup
Ken Kochey

If you find yourself with a surplus of sweet potatoes, consider making this comforting soup, which calls for 3 pounds of the spuds. Here, sweet potatoes join forces with onion, celery, and an apple to create a simple soup that's perfect for those chilly fall nights. We love it with a side salad and a few pieces of dunkable, crusty bread.

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Cheesy Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Cheesy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Marcus Nilsson

These sweet potato wedges are topped with two varieties of gooey cheese, creating a balanced blend of sweet and savory. Plus, they cook in under 30 minutes, and require just four ingredients. They're so good, in fact, you may want to double the recipe—they'll likely be gobbled up that quickly.

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Italian Sweet-and-Sour Sweet Potatoes

Italian Sweet-and-Sour Sweet Potatoes
Roland Bello

Roasted potatoes come in many forms, and in all forms, they're delicious. Here, potato rounds are baked until done in a sauce of red wine vinegar and brown sugar, a sweet-sour combo that's quite unusual for the typical sweet potato recipe. This is a great option for holidays, but it would be delicious on a weeknight too. It only requires 10 minutes of prep time; the rest is hands-off.

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Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Larissa Veronesi/Getty Images

You can get a side of smashed sweet spuds in record time with the Instant Pot. This countertop appliance cooks the starchy root vegetables to soft in just 30 minutes. For the most flavor reward, don't mask the sweet potatoes in butter and cream. Add a bit of zest with orange juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Maple syrup elevates the natural sweetness.

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Sweet Potato and Apple Soup With Cheese and Walnuts

Sweet Potato and Apple Soup With Cheese and Walnuts
William Brinson

The lusciousness of a sweet potato, combined with tender onions, helps give this easy soup a delicious creaminess without a speck of cream. Nutmeg brings out the sweetness of the cooked sweet potato and apple, and a side of tangy blue cheese and crisp apples is the perfect pair for this classic fall meal.

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Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Caitlin Bensel

Need a bit more protein in your diet? Whip up these vegetarian chickpea-stuffed sweet potatoes topped with a dollop of seasoned yogurt. The chickpeas are flavored with a spicy cinnamon and cumin combo, as well as flat-leaf parsley and chives, but feel free to switch up the herbs if you wish. Basil, dill, and tarragon also work.

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Sweet Potato Puree With Maple

Sweet Potato Puree With Maple
Justin Bernhaut

Sweet potatoes taste best when you use a sweetener that has a depth of flavor, like honey, molasses, or maple syrup. Plain sugar, even brown sugar, works well, of course, but the earthy flavors of the potatoes really highlight the special flavors of these natural sweeteners. In the case of this puree, maple syrup stands in with a kick of additional flavor from ground nutmeg. The sour cream may seem unusual here—it's standard in white potato purees—but it adds richness and a creaminess you can only get with dairy.

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Parm-Butter Steak and Sweet Potato Fries

Parm-Butter Steak and Sweet Potato Fries
Caitlin Bensel

This easy steak dinner pairs juicy hanger steak with oven-roasted sweet potato wedges and sautéed spinach, resulting in a balanced meal that's ready in about 35 minutes. A delicious compound butter flavored with garlic, fresh black pepper, and Parmesan ties the whole feast together.

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Sautéed Chicken With Sweet Potatoes and Pears

Roasted Broccoli
David Prince

If you prefer chicken to steak, give this simple chicken dinner a try. Here, skinless, boneless chicken breasts are served with sweet potato and pear pieces that have been sautéed and tossed with red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and fresh tarragon leaves.

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Sweet Potato and Bean Burritos With Corn Salsa

Sweet Potato and Bean Burritos With Corn Salsa
Jennifer Causey

These burritos are stuffed with crisp-tender shoestring sweet potatoes, fresh tomato-corn salsa, beans, and, of course, plenty of cheese. Pro tip: Make sure all of the ingredients are thoroughly cooled before you roll them up to prevent the burritos from getting soggy. If you happen to have any leftovers, feel free to freeze 'em!

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Quinoa With Sweet Potatoes, Kale, and Pesto

Quinoa With Sweet Potatoes, Kale, and Pesto
Anna Williams

Vegetarian meals suffer from a bad reputation of not having much staying power, but this vegetarian sweet potato meal doesn't lack in protein. In fact, it packs a whopping 14 grams per serving thanks to the fiber-rich quinoa and cubed sweet potatoes. One cup of the slightly sweet spud has 2 grams of protein. Plus, all of the ingredients in this dish provide a bounty of vitamins and minerals.

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Roast Chicken With Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas

Roast Chicken With Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas
Sang An

Dinner in three easy steps: Pile ingredients on sheet pan. Roast. Eat. Potatoes tenderize, chicken cooks, and chickpeas turn crispy in the oven. A drizzle of pesto brings everything together for a dinner that only requires 20 minutes of hands-on time.

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Steak Fajitas With Sweet Potato and Poblano

Steak Fajitas With Sweet Potato and Poblano
Sang An

These fajitas are stuffed to the brim with sweet potato and poblano pieces, skirt steak, and sliced onions, but they take just 25 minutes to make. First, you'll sauté the sweet potato, onion, and poblano while the steak broils. Then, you'll combine sour cream and chipotle chilis in adobo to create a flavorful topping, and assemble your fajitas.

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Vanilla Sweet Potatoes

Vanilla Sweet Potatoes
Jim Franco

If you think sweet potatoes can only serve as a lunch or dinner, behold a sweet potato recipe that works beautifully as a dessert. Once potato wedges are cooked to tender in the oven, you will drizzle them with a spiced maple syrup. The potatoes will wick up the syrup, leaving you with a special and not at all common dessert you can proudly serve.

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Chili-Glazed Pork With Sweet Potato Hash

Chili-Glazed Pork With Sweet Potato Hash
Con Poulos

A hearty hash is a wonderful way to cook a variety of vegetables—in this case, sweet potatoes, shallots, and baby spinach—in a skillet until tender and crispy. A simple hash is good with any type of protein, but we really like it with this spicy-sweet glaze on pork tenderloin. Everything balances nicely, which lets the sweet potato hash be a special treat even on a weeknight.

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Sweet Potato Casserole With Coconut

Sweet Potato Casserole With Coconut
Chris Court

If your family is fans of sweet potato casserole and always game to try something a bit different, delight them with this version of the classic holiday side dish. Shredded coconut, pecans, and brown sugar on top are decadent additions to the Thanksgiving staple. Get your scoop first, there likely won't be any leftovers.

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Slow Cooker BBQ Sweet Potato Bakers

Slow-Cooker BBQ Sweet Potato Bakers
Max Kelly

Dust off your trusty slow cooker and use it to whip up these baked potatoes. Each slow-baked spud is topped with rotisserie chicken—a real time saver—Cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce, and sour cream. What's not to love?

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Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie
qSang An

There are two camps of holiday dessert fans: Those who can't imagine a Thanksgiving meal without pumpkin pie, and those who've not yet tried sweet potato pie. Once they do, they'll be converted. Prepare this easy sweet potato pie recipe in place of pumpkin pie. Some people may not even notice the difference with a dollop of whipped cream or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

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Smoky Turkey Chili

Smoky Turkey Chili Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

Feed a crowd with this smoky chili that draws inspiration from Mexican ingredients like tomatillos, poblano peppers, and even a pinch of cinnamon. You'll also find a mix of beans, corn, and sweet potato, which round out this healthy yet comforting recipe. If you've got leftovers, just stash them in the freezer and defrost them before the next game day.

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Sweet Potato Latkes With Brie Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar

Sweet Potato Latkes with Brie
Heath Goldman

Fried potato latkes are never a bad idea, whether it's Hanukkah or a random Tuesday in April. These sweet potato pancakes, however, are special because of their use of sweet potatoes and the decadent addition of creamy brie cheese. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar is a sharp contrast to the latkes, but the combination of flavors makes for a delicious meal or side dish.

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Vegetarian Tacos With Sweet Potatoes and Corn

veggie-tacos-1219mis
Jen Causey

Sure, tacos with beef, chicken, or fish taste delicious, but they aren't an option for vegetarians. This recipe features a satiating, meat-free filling made with a zesty vegetable and tofu mixture that includes sweet potatoes, corn, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese.

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Sweet Potatoes With Pecans and Parmesan

Sweet Potatoes With Pecans and Parmesan
Gentl & Hyers

The nutty, salty combination of pecans and Parmesan stands in stark contrast to the faint sweetness of sweet potatoes. On its face, it might not seem like a combination you'd like, but once you see how well the trio of flavors work together in this sweet potato casserole recipe, you'll be convinced there's a beautiful balance in sweet, salty, and just a bit nutty.

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Roasted Sweet Potato and Bulgur Salad

Roasted Sweet Potato and Bulgur Salad
Charles Masters

This simple salad has something for everyone—roasted sweet potatoes, hearty bulgur, peppery watercress, salty feta, crunchy pistachios, and pungent onion. You'll start by tossing the sweet potatoes with cumin and roasting them, then you'll cook the bulgur and whisk it with a touch of vinegar and olive oil. Once the whole grain is done, you'll assemble the salad and chow down!

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Sweet Potato Risotto

Sweet Potato Risotto
Kan Kanbayashi

No meat? No problem. This filling risotto combines sweet potatoes and rice for a veggie-filed version of the classic rice dish. If all you know of risotto is that you have to constantly stir, don't fret. There is stirring involved, but this sweet potato recipe won't require a constant vigilant eye. The whole thing is ready in 40 minutes, but is impressive enough to serve when you have friends over.

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Sweet Potato and Gruyère Turnovers

sweet potato and Gruyère turnovers
Hans Gissinger

Fill flaky crusts with silky, wilted Swiss chard, tender sweet potato, and softened onions. Bake with sharp Gruyère cheese for a fun, hand-held dinner that's especially satisfying on chilly fall nights. To complete this meal, serve with a green side salad and a hardy grain, like quinoa or barley.

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Sugar-Crusted Sweet Potato Biscuits

Martha White®
Martha White®

Everyone loves a biscuit, and these baked goods are no exception. They're made with flour, brown sugar, milk, sour cream, and mashed cooked sweet potato, and yield treats that are fluffy, rich, and slightly sweet. Eat 'em solo or top them with butter and jam.

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Maple Sweet Potatoes With Spicy Pecan Praline

Maple Sweet Potatoes With Spicy Pecan Praline Recipe
Victor Protasio

If you can't decide between sweet and savory, give this recipe a whirl. Sweet potato wedges are coated with a pepper-infused, buttery maple glaze, and then showered with cayenne- and lime-flecked candied pecans. While this dish is a no-brainer for Thanksgiving, it also works as an elegant dinner party side.

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Smoky Sweet Potato Burgers

Smoky-Sweet Potato Burgers Recipe
Alison Miksch

Sure, you can buy pre-made veggie burgers at the grocery store, but meat-free patties are also surprisingly easy to make yourself. In this recipe, you'll combine sweet potato, beans, oats, and chia to create the base, and toss in a bit of chipotle chili to add a ton of smoky flavor. Feel free to make these easy burgers ahead of time and stash 'em in the freezer for nights when you can't figure out what you want for dinner.

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Spiced Sweet Potato Soup With Pistachio Dukkah

Spiced Sweet Potato Soup With Pistachio-Seed Topping
Alison Miksch

This thick and creamy soup is made with a pound of sweet potato, but you can also prepare it with a sweet potato and carrot combo if you don't have enough of the tuber on hand. The pistachio-seed topping is a riff on dukkah, a Middle Eastern nut, seed, and spice blend, and is perfect for those craving a little more texture in a pureed soup. We guarantee this simple yet flavorful soup will be a winter favorite.

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Sweet Potato and Flatbread

Sweet Potato and Flat Bread
Christopher Baker

Whether as an appetizer or a main dish (served with a side salad), this flatbread is a simple way to satisfy your pizza cravings while also sneaking in veggies. Instead of mozzarella, this dish uses brie for an ultra-creamy topping. It's actually quite easy­—everything cooks at once in the oven—so this could easily become your go-to option for game nights, book clubs, or anytime you need a simple but impressive option.

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Sweet Potato-and-Kale Tortilla Soup

Sweet Potato-and-Kale Tortilla Soup
Alison Miksch

This perfectly spiced tortilla soup is made with nourishing sweet potato and kale, which are joined by crispy corn tortilla strips that bring the crunch. Keep this meal vegetarian or stir in shredded rotisserie chicken for added protein, and garnish the whole thing with radishes, avocado, and cilantro.

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