Forget cauliflower rice — try sweet potato rice (aka riced sweet potato) instead! This flavourful rice alternative is so easy to make and is ready in less than 30 minutes. It has such a delicious flavour and is naturally gluten free, dairy free and vegan.
If you ask me, side dishes like cilantro lime cauliflower rice, roasted carrots and parsnips with maple syrup and healthy stewed potatoes are the best part of a meal, which is why I can't wait for you to try the easy side dish recipe I am sharing with you today.
Table of Contents
Why you will love this recipe:
- The flavour! Sweet potato rice has way more flavour than white rice or cauliflower rice. It's naturally a little sweet and turns out so light and fluffy.
- It's quick and easy to make and is ready in just 30 minutes. You also don't need a rice cooker to make it - just like Spanish cauliflower rice with shrimp.
- This is a delicious side dish that can be used the same way you would use white rice.
- It's healthy and is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, paleo, and Whole30 compliant.
Ingredient notes:
For the full ingredient list and exact measurements refer to the recipe card later in this post.
Jump to the Recipe
- Sweet potatoes: you can use either sweet potatoes or yams to make this veggie rice. Any type of sweet potato will work including jewel, Garnet and Japanese sweet potatoes.
- Oil: I use coconut oil or avocado oil to cook the rice, but you can use any neutral oil that you like. Olive oil is also a great option and if you tolerate dairy you can use butter or ghee.
Recipe variations and add ins:
- Feel free to add other spices such as ground cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, or chili powder to give this dish a different flavour.
- You could easily add other ingredients such as corn or black beans to give this potato rice a different flavour.
- Turn it into sweet potato fried rice by adding other finely chopped vegetables such as broccoli, sweet bell peppers and carrots.
How to make sweet potato rice:
Step 1
First you will peal and chop your sweet potatoes.
Step 2
Then put the chopped sweet potato pieces into your food processor and pulse until you have rice sized pieces.
Step 3
Put the oil in a large pan on the stovetop on medium heat and let it melt. Once the oil is melted, add the riced sweet potato, salt and pepper to the pan and stir well to combine. Turn down the heat to low and cook for about 25 minutes, stirring every couple minutes to prevent the sweet potato from sticking to the pan. Then serve and enjoy!
Top tip:
If you don't have a food processor, you could grate the sweet potato on a cheese grater or use a ricer instead.
How to serve:
This riced sweet potato makes the perfect side dish and can also be used as the base for other dishes such as fried rice, rice bowls, burrito bowls, Buddha bowls, chicken rice bowls or stir fries. I love serving it with my healthy Sloppy Joes or gluten-free meatloaf.
Sweet potato rice FAQs:
Yes! The starch in sweet potatoes makes it similar to regular rice. Just don't overcook it, or it can become more like mashed sweet potatoes.
While this rice is lower in carbs compared to white rice, it is still not considered low carb or keto as it has 20 net carbs per serving.
Store any leftover potato rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Yes! You can freeze this rice in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
You can either pan fry it over medium high heat for about 5 minutes, until warm, or microwave it on high heat in 30 second intervals, until heated through
Other side dishes you will love:
Recipe
Sweet Potato Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peel and chopped
- 4 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Peel and chop the sweet potatoes.
- Put the chopped sweet potato pieces into your food processor and pulse until you have rice sized pieces.
- Put the coconut oil in a large pan on the stove on medium heat and let it melt. Once melted add the riced sweet potato, salt and pepper to the pan and stir well to combine. Turn down the heat and cook for ~25 minutes, stirring every couple minutes to prevent the sweet potato from sticking to the pan.
Notes
- You'll know the rice is done when it starts to caramelize
- Feel free to add other spices such as ground cinnamon, turmeric or ginger to give it a different flavour.
- Nutritional values are an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Meagan
Where has this been my whole life?? Absolutely delicious!!! Love how easy it is to customize. Easy to make. Whole food. Love it!!!
Erin Carter
I'm so glad you like it!
Ramya
Will be making this soon i never had sweet potato rice before this is perfect for me as i dont eat rice perfect for my after office meals sorry i took a break from commenting on your posts as busy with work will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya