You should probably go ahead and click “Add to Favorites” now. Sweet Potato Hash with Bacon and Apples is a brinner-worthy meal that you’d want all to yourself if it wasn’t so filling. Between the sweet, earthy potatoes, tangy apples, and mild peppers you’re getting a healthy (literally and figuratively) dose of nutrients. Add smoky bacon (and even a runny egg) for protein and flavor to this grain-free, Whole30 dish, and like I said: “favorite.”
Jump to:
As a person who is responsible for meals for both a family and a blog, I dedicate a fair amount of time, energy, and resources to creating family-friendly recipes. But this one is going out to all you grown-ass adults out there – regardless of age, relationship status, or the presence of children – who need a moment of grownup comfort.
This hash is for those of you who had to convert your kitchen tables into home offices and need a Tuesday morning pick-me-up once the caffeine has worn off. It’s for those of you who used to stay out late, sleep in late, and miss going to brunch at 2pm. It’s for those of you who gave the kids PB&J for dinner hours ago and won’t even think about your own until it’s midnight.
It’s for those of you with time on your hands to splurge and savor, and it’s for those of you who need to whip something up in 30 minutes between online class schedules.
Eat it off a plate at a dining room table while you and your partner pretend to have date nights again; eat it out of a bowl, curled up on your couch with Netflix; heck, eat it right out of the skillet, off a spatula while leaning against your (cooled) stove. If your jaw is currently wired shut, put it in a blender with a fifth of bourbon and slurp it up!
I don’t care how you eat it; I just want you to eat it. Eat it for yourself. Enjoy it for yourself. And let it serve as a reminder that there are some really nice things about being a grown-ass adult.
Why This Recipe Is So Good (And Good For You!)
Hello healthy. Sweet potato hash is one of those recipes that just keeps on giving – it’s a side! It’s a meal! It’s great for meal prep! It does your taxes!
Ok, it doesn’t do taxes. But it is also very nutritious and ticks most of the dietary boxes: Whole30, paleo, gluten free, grain free and dairy free.
Sweet Potatoes are literal nutritional gold. Extremely rich in potassium, fiber, beta carotene (which converts to Vitamin A), and Vitamin C, they are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates (i.e. the good kind). In short, they’re energy-packed immune system-boosters that also promote gut health. (source)
And if that’s not enough Vitamin A or C for you, then let me introduce you to bell peppers, because they’re also loaded with both. Apples are no slouches either – consider them for all your broad-spectrum antioxidant needs, cause they’ve got a solid dose of practically all of ’em.
But the real magic here happens when you combine all three produce powerhouses and get a quarter of your daily recommended fiber in just one serving of this hash.
Add bacon and a possible (*definite*) fried egg on top, and you’re set for a protein-packed, eat-the-rainbow, lick-the-plate experience.
Recipe Ingredients
- Bacon: treat yourself. Use thick cut. And if you want a real splurge, try this.
- Sweet Potato: scrub ’em and leave the skins on for taste, texture, and nutrition.
- Onion: use sweet onion for this recipe, but we won’t come after you if yellow is all you have.
- Apples: recommend Fuji or Gala for a bright, crisp taste that falls in between sweet and tart.
- Bell Pepper: make sure they’re firm, so they hold up to cooking.
- Garlic: jarred or fresh, but make it minced.
- Salt and Pepper: season to taste, so feel free to grind your own.
- Parsley: use fresh and garnish to taste.
How to Make Sweet Potato Hash with Bacon and Apples
- Dice the sweet potatoes, combine with a bit of water and microwave to par-cook them. (This makes the rest of the cooking process move along faster, and ensures the potatoes are cooked through on the inside, so they won’t burn on the outside once in the skillet.)
- Crisp up the bacon, then remove with a slotted spoon.
- Add the onions and sweet potatoes to the bacon fat and sauté until the onions soften.
- Add the apples and bell peppers and cook until the peppers are soft.
- Return the bacon to the skillet, toss, and season with salt, pepper, and chopped parsley.
Tips for Making This Recipe Perfectly
- Use thick cut bacon. Regular sliced bacon is fine and tastes delicious, but for supreme bacon-y bites, reach for the thick-cut.
- Use Whole30 compliant bacon as needed – that’s no sugar, no nitrates/nitrites, and pastured-raised when possible.
- Leave the potato skins on. They lend a crisper texture to the sautéed potatoes. Another thing? They’re super duper good for you. The skins are high in fiber and rich in antioxidants (hey beta-carotene!). If you’re looking offset the carb load and natural sugars in sweet potatoes, keeping the skins on is a great compromise (source).
- Keep those apple skins too. Same deal y’all. Apple peels are both nutritious and packed with fiber (source).
How to Serve Sweet Potato Hash
- Top it with a fried egg and call it breakfast.
- Top it with a poached egg and call it dinner.
- Serve as a side dish with…practically anything. It’s a great addition to a brunch spread, or with a simple dinner main like soup or grilled protein.
Make It Your Way
- Want a vegan or vegetarian version? Just omit the bacon and start the potatoes and onions in a splash of olive or avocado oil.
- Substitute sausage for bacon. Simply remove from casings, crumble, cook and proceed as directed.
- Make it spicy! Sweet and spice and everything nice, amirite? Add a diced jalapeno pepper with the garlic or top with a squeeze of sriracha.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
- Maple Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Vegan Sweet Potato Hash
- Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
- Steak Bites with Sweet Potatoes and Peppers
- Black Bean Bowls with Sweet Potatoes and Quinoa
Did you make this Sweet Potato Hash with Bacon and Apple? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.
While you’re at it, let’s be friends – follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for the latest and greatest.
Recipe
Sweet Potato Hash with Bacon and Apple
Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin RecipeRecommended Equipment
- Microwave safe bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet potatoes, diced into 1" cubes
- 4 slices thick cut bacon, chopped into 1" pieces
- 1 sweet onion, diced to ½"
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium apple, diced to ½"
- 1 red bell pepper, diced to ½"
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced to ½"
- ½ tsp sea or kosher salt, or to taste
- ½ tsp cracked black pepper, or to taste
- Fresh parsley, to taste
Instructions
- Combine diced sweet potatoes and one cup water in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave 3 minutes. Drain in a colander, and shake to release residual water droplets.
- Place bacon into a 12” skillet over medium high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fat renders and the bacon is crisp, 7-8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Add sweet potatoes to the rendered bacon fat, toss to coat in the fat, then spread into a single layer. Saute 5-6 minutes, stirring every 1-2 minutes, until the edges start to brown.
- Add onions and garlic. Saute 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add bell pepper and apples. Saute 3-4 minutes more, stirring frequently, until bell peppers are softened but still retain a bite. Sweet potatoes should now be cooked through and onions should be translucent.
- Season with salt, pepper, and parsley. Serve immediately.
[…] Sweet Potato Hash with Bacon and Apples […]