Canned Sweet Potatoes: One Can, Five Real Dinners

The Can Nobody Opens Until Thanksgiving

It's the day before Thanksgiving, which means canned sweet potatoes are having their annual moment in the spotlight. Then they vanish until next November. That's a shame, because a 15-ounce can of cut sweet potatoes is already cooked, naturally sweet, and costs about two dollars. Translation: it's a head start on dinner, no peeling, no 45-minute roast, no wrestling a rock-hard tuber with a dull knife.

Bonus: if you grabbed an extra can for the holiday spread, you can start this plan this weekend with whatever's left in the pantry.

Rinse and Dry, or Regret It

Here's the one move that decides everything: drain the can, rinse the sweet potatoes under cool water to wash off the syrup, then pat them dry with a clean towel. Syrup makes everything cloying and mushy. Dry sweet potatoes brown, crisp, and mash like a dream. Pick the can labeled "in water" or "no sugar added" if you can find it, but a good rinse rescues the syrup-packed kind too.

Five Dinners From One Can

1. Crispy Sweet Potato Tacos. Toss the dried chunks with 1 tablespoon oil, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Roast on a sheet pan at 425°F for 20 minutes, flipping once, until the edges are browned. Tuck into warm tortillas with black beans, lime, and a spoonful of salsa.

2. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili. Sauté half an onion in a pot, add 2 tablespoons chili powder, one can of diced tomatoes, one can of drained black beans, and the mashed sweet potatoes. Add 1 cup broth and simmer 20 minutes. The sweet potato thickens it and balances the heat.

3. Sweet Potato Gnocchi-Style Skillet. Mash the can with 1/2 cup ricotta, 1/2 cup flour, and a pinch of salt. Spoon small dollops into simmering salted water, and cook until they float, about 3 minutes. Finish in a skillet with butter, sage, and a splash of the pasta water.

4. Sweet Potato Fritters. Mash the potatoes with 1 egg, 1/3 cup flour, 2 sliced green onions, and salt. Pan-fry spoonfuls in 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat, 3 minutes per side. Serve with a fried egg or a dollop of yogurt and a green salad.

5. Creamy Sweet Potato Soup. Simmer the can with 2 cups broth, 1/2 teaspoon curry powder, and a diced onion for 15 minutes. Blend until smooth, then stir in 1/2 cup coconut milk or cream. Top with toasted seeds and crusty bread.

Grocery List

• 1 can (15 oz) cut sweet potatoes, packed in water if possible
• Chili powder, cumin, and curry powder
• Corn or flour tortillas
• 2 cans black beans
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• Ricotta and all-purpose flour
• Eggs and green onions
• Broth (chicken or vegetable)
• Coconut milk or cream
• Salsa, limes, and plain yogurt
• Onion, butter, and fresh sage

Bottom Line

One two-dollar can, five dinners that don't taste anything like a holiday side dish. Most take 30 minutes or less, and none need a peeler. Rinse it, dry it, and let the sweet potato do the heavy lifting. The marshmallows can stay on vacation.