Baked Sweet Potato is everything you could want in a side dish: nutritious and healthy, takes almost no effort to make, and always tastes amazing! Served hot, the soft, naturally sweet interior requires no more than butter, salt, and pepper to bring out its delicious flavor (but you can add whatever toppings you like!).
These baked sweet potatoes are ready for the table in about an hour (whether you bake them or thrown them on the grill), so you’ll have plenty of time to work on the rest of the meal while you’re waiting. Because they’re soft — so soft they’re practically mashed — they’re an ideal side to serve to young kids and adults alike!
Why You'll Love this Baked Sweet Potato Recipe
- Best flavor and texture. Baking sweet potatoes accentuates their natural sweetness and creates a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Get creative by experimenting with various toppings or keep it classic with butter and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
- Easy to make. These baked sweet potatoes don’t require any special skills — just poke them with a fork, arrange them on a baking sheet, and bake! The hardest part is waiting for them to cool down before digging in.
- Only five minutes of active prep. These healthy baked sweet potatoes take only five minutes of your time to prepare before baking, so you can spend the remainder of the time preparing the main dish or other sides. It’s a low-effort side that you’ll want to make over and over.
- Healthy side for any meal. These simple sweet potatoes work well with tons of different dishes, so you can reach for this recipe any time you want a healthy, no-nonsense, delicious side that diners of all ages will love. Sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse, loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as folate, potassium, and vitamin C.
Ingredient Notes
To make this delicious Baked Sweet Potato, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- sweet potatoes - choose sweet potatoes that are all roughly the same size for even cooking. Make sure to thoroughly scrub and dry them before cooking!
- butter - sour cream or your preferred sweet potato topping will also work. You can also keep the recipe vegan by substituting with a vegan butter or leaving it out.
- salt and pepper
You will also need a fork and baking sheet.
How to Make the Best Baked Sweet Potato
- Prick. Place potatoes on a lined baking sheet and poke a fork into them to make a few vents.
- Bake. Bake in a 400F preheated oven for 50-55 minutes until they are completely soft inside, and fork tender. If you can insert a fork easily into the flesh, then it is fork tender.
- Cut. Let cool for 10 minutes and cut the skin with scissors.
- Serve. Top with butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
How to Make a Baked Sweet Potato on the Grill
Once the potatoes have been pricked with a fork. Wrap them in aluminum foil and place on the grill under indirect heat. Grill for 40-50 minutes until fork tender.
Recipe Variations
We kept our baked sweet potato simple with a classic combination of butter, salt, and pepper. But there are so many ways to customize it using your favorite toppings like butter, sour cream, chives, bacon, or cheese. Some of our favorite recipe variations are:
- Make it cheesy. Sprinkle grated Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese over your baked sweet potato. You can even pop the potatoes back into the oven to help the cheese melt.
- Spice it up. Kick up the heat by generously adding a sprinkle of chili powder or a dash of hot sauce to the baked sweet potato after cooking. Pair it with a dollop of cool sour cream or tangy salsa to balance the spiciness.
- Mediterranean style. Top your sweet potato with a dollop of creamy Tzatziki Sauce, chopped fresh herbs like dill or parsley, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Add bacon. Top your baked potato with crispy crumbled bacon, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. This combination of flavors is so good.
- Keep it classic. Add a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese, and chopped green onions for a classic baked potato flavor.
How to Serve
A Baked Sweet Potato goes well with just about any dish. Pork, chicken, beef, fish, steamed or roasted vegetables, salads, and pastas are all perfect companions for these versatile baked sweet potatoes.
Some of our favorite dishes to serve with baked sweet potatoes are:
- Grilled meats. Try Balsamic Chicken Kabobs, Ribeye Steak, or Dijon Garlic Lamb Chops.
- Salad. Try Mediterranean Couscous Salad, Caesar Salad, or Sweet Kale Salad.
- Vegetables. Try Balsamic Roasted Broccoli, Vegan Stuffed Peppers, or Roasted Eggplant.
- Pasta. Try Shrimp Alfredo, Creamy Tomato Pasta, or Spaghetti Bolognese.
- Chili or stews. Try Vegetarian Chili, Lentil Stew, or Slow Cooker Beef Chili.
- Seafood. Try Salmon Burgers, Garlic Butter Shrimp, or Seared Scallops.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Ensure even cooking. To yield baked potatoes that are consistent in texture, choose ones of similar size to ensure even cooking time.
- Wash the sweet potatoes well. The biggest key to making these baked sweet potatoes (or any potatoes, really) is in the washing. Use your hands or a vegetable brush to scrub the skin under running water and then dry them completely with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel before you get started.
- Pierce the skin. Before baking, use a fork or knife to pierce the skin of the potatoes a few times. This allows steam to escape and prevents the potatoes from bursting.
- Wrap in foil (optional). For a softer skin, you can wrap the potatoes in foil before baking. This helps to retain moisture and create a steaming effect.
- Fluff the flesh. Once baked, use a fork to fluff the potato flesh, creating a light and fluffy texture.
- Make a topping bar. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to topping sweet potatoes, so you can cater to everyone’s tastes by offering a variety of toppings. We suggest butter here, but some people may prefer a drizzle of honey and red pepper flakes or a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese, and green onions.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Place the cooled baked sweet potatoes in a single layer in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and refrigerate for up to 5 days. You can also wrap them individually in plastic cling wrap.
How to Reheat
Reheat in the oven at 350℉ for 15 minutes or in the air fryer for 10 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave on a covered, microwave-safe dish on high power for 2-3 minutes until warm.
How to Freeze
Wrap each baked sweet potato in aluminum foil and place them in a sealed freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
- Baked Sweet Potato Wedges
- Herb Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Thai Sweet Potato Yellow Curry
- Sweet Potato Croquettes
- Mashed Sweet Potato
- Sweet Potato Soup
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Recipe
Baked Sweet Potato
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 baked potatoes
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Baked Sweet Potato is everything you could want in a side dish: nutritious and healthy, takes almost no effort to, and always tastes amazing! Served hot, the soft, naturally sweet interior requires no more than butter, salt, and pepper to bring out its delicious flavor (but you can add whatever toppings you like!).
Ingredients
- 4 medium sweet potatoes, rinsed and pat dried
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided (for serving)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Poke a fork into the sweet potatoes to make a few vents.
- Place on a lined baking sheet and bake for 50-55 minutes until they are completely soft inside, and fork tender. If you can insert a fork easily into the flesh, then it is fork tender.
- Let cool for 10 minutes and cut the skin with scissors.
- Top with butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
How to cook on the grill: Once the potatoes have been pricked with a fork. Wrap them in aluminum foil and place on the grill under indirect heat. Grill for 40-50 minutes until fork tender.
How to store: Place the cooled baked sweet potatoes in a single layer in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and refrigerate for up to 5 days. You can also wrap them individually in plastic cling wrap.
How to reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350℉ for 15 minutes or in the air fryer for 10 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave on a covered, microwave-safe dish on high power for 2-3 minutes until warm.
How to freeze: Wrap each baked sweet potato in aluminum foil and place them in a sealed freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
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