Try this baked sweet potato recipe for wonderfully creamy, tender sweet potatoes every time! Baked sweet potatoes are so easy to make. They’re my go-to if I need a sweet-and-salty nutritious side dish on the table fast, and they are so delicious topped with nothing more than a pat of butter, salt, and pepper.
You can also serve these perfect baked sweet potatoes as a main dish if you stuff them! I like filling mine with sauteed vegetables or meat like shredded chicken or pulled pork, and a dollop of sour cream. For more easy sweet potato recipes, try my baked sweet potato fries, Instant Pot sweet potatoes, and roasted sweet potatoes.
Ingredients
Sweet potatoes — I used 4 medium sweet potatoes. But feel free to bake more, depending on how many servings you would like!
Optional toppings — a simple topping of salt, ground black pepper, butter, chives, and plain yogurt turn this baked sweet potato recipe into a delicious side. Check out more topping and serving ideas below!
How To Bake Sweet Potatoes
1. Scrub the potatoes and pat them dry with a paper towel.
2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Place the cleaned sweet potatoes on the prepared baking sheet. Use a fork to prick each potato all over 5 to 6 times.
3. Roast them at 425°F for 45-60 minutes, depending on the size of the sweet potato, until they are tender when pressed with your fingers or a knife inserts easily into the thickest part of the potato.
4. Make a lengthwise cut across the top of each potato to open it up, and add your choice of toppings or fillings.
Topping And Serving Suggestions
- A simple topping of salt, pepper, butter, and green onions or chives is ideal for a quick, savory, baked sweet potato side dish.
- For richness, top with a dollop of plain yogurt or sour cream.
- Serve them with roasted chicken, air fryer pork chops, or air fryer steak.
- Crumble crispy bacon top and sprinkle with blue cheese and sliced green onions.
- Top each baked sweet potato with honey butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a sweeter side dish. You could also swap the honey butter for regular butter and sprinkle with a little brown sugar or drizzle with maple syrup or honey for sweetness.
- Turn the baked sweet potatoes into a main dish by stuffing them with pulled pork or carnitas. You can also add Instant Pot black beans, cilantro, sauteed bell peppers, and sour cream for a Mexican-inspired dinner.
How To Store Baked Sweet Potatoes
Once completely cooled to room temperature, place the baked sweet potatoes in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze them. Wrap each baked sweet potato in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place in a freezer bag for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and unwrap them before reheating them.
Ways To Use Baked Sweet Potatoes
While a baked sweet potato makes a perfect side dish, there are lots of ways to use a cooked sweet potato! The recipes below call for mashed cooked sweet potatoes. Simply scoop out the flesh, mash it, and follow the recipes as written!
- Sweet potato casserole
- Sweet potato biscuits
- Sweet potato gnocchi
- Sweet potato pie
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Puree the flesh and use it in place of pumpkin puree in fall baking recipes like, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies and pumpkin scones.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- Use similar-sized potatoes. This will ensure they all cook evenly and in the same amount of time.
- Line the baking sheet for easy cleanup. Sweet potatoes release a lot of juicy caramelized sugar while baking, which can make a sticky mess if your baking sheet is not lined.
- Prick each sweet potato before baking: Use a fork to poke holes all over the potatoes to create steam vents. Otherwise, you run the risk of steam building up in the potatoes, which can cause them to explode, making a big mess in the oven.
- If you want to eat the sweet potato skins: Rub the sweet potatoes with a little olive oil so you end up with crispy skin.
- For a fluffy interior, after cutting the lengthwise slit across the top of the potato, press the two pointed ends towards one another to open up the top. Fluff the insides with a fork before adding toppings.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you do not need to wrap the sweet potatoes in foil. Wrapping them will trap steam, so the skins get very soggy and wet instead of crispy. You also miss out on some of that amazing caramelized flavor if the sweet potato steams in foil.
Sweet potatoes contain a lot more natural sugars than regular potatoes, so one of the best signs is to look for the caramelized juices to bubble through the fork holes in the skin. The skin should also appear wrinkled. That’s when you know it’s a good time to start checking the potato for doneness. To check, carefully press the sweet potatoes with your finger (they will be very hot, so please be careful!) or the back of a spoon. A perfectly baked sweet potato will feel very tender and soft.
Alternatively, insert a fork or knife into the flesh. If it slides in easily, the baked sweet potato is done. Sweet potatoes will have the deepest, sweetest flavor when roasted until they are very soft and tender, so if they feel firm or resist at all, keep baking them.
My 2 favorite ways to reheat a leftover baked sweet potato are the oven or air fryer. To reheat in the oven, place them on a foil-lined baking sheet and pop in the oven at 350°F until warmed through (about 10 minutes or so). To use the air fryer, preheat it to 350°F and warm up for about 5 minutes.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this baked sweet potato recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Baked Sweet Potato Recipe
Equipment
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment paper or foil
Ingredients
- 4 sweet potatoes (2¼ pounds/1.2kg)
Optional toppings:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Butter
- Chives
- Yogurt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Scrub the potatoes well and pat them dry. Place them on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet, and prick all over, 5 to 6 times each, with a fork.
- Roast for 45 to 60 minutes until tender when pressed with your fingers or a fork or knife inserts easily into the flesh.
- Make a lengthwise cut across the top of each potato to open it up and finish with your choice of toppings.
Notes
- Use similar-sized potatoes. This will ensure they all cook evenly and in the same amount of time.
- Line the baking sheet for easy cleanup. Sweet potatoes release a lot of juicy caramelized sugar while baking, which can make a sticky mess if your baking sheet is not lined.
- Prick each sweet potato before baking: Use a fork to poke holes all over the potatoes to create steam vents. Otherwise, you run the risk of steam building up in the potatoes, which can cause them to explode, making a big mess in the oven.
- If you want to eat the sweet potato skins: Rub the sweet potatoes with a little olive oil so you end up with crispy skin.
- For a fluffy interior, after cutting the lengthwise slit across the top of the potato, press the two pointed ends towards one another to open up the top. Fluff the insides with a fork before adding toppings.
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