Best Baked Sweet Potato Recipe (How To Bake Sweet Potatoes)

A perfectly Baked Sweet Potato is easier than you think! Learn how to bake sweet potatoes quickly and easily with my foolproof method! This baked sweet potato recipe delivers every time – fluffy on the inside with a delightfully crispy skin, these baked sweet potatoes make the perfect side dish for every occasion. Go sweet or savory – your choice!

Looking for more tasty sweet potato recipes? Make sure to try my Sweet Potato Wedges, Sweet Potato Casserole and Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes!

Baked Sweet Potato Recipe

If there ever was a perfect side dish to any and every meal, the baked sweet potato would have to be it. Unlike a traditional baked potato, the sweet potato has the option of going sweet or savory (more on that below), packs a ton of vitamins and nutrition and is arguably the most kid-friendly vegetable on the planet.

Baked Sweet Potatoes are one of those simple recipes that never go out of style. With just a handful of ingredients and very little prep, they turn into a cozy, dependable side dish that works for nearly any meal. Whether you’re serving them with a weeknight dinner or adding them to a holiday spread, they fit right in.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These Baked Sweet Potatoes are a go-to recipe of mine for good reason. They’re easy to make, incredibly versatile and always delicious. Once you try them, you’ll find yourself coming back to this method again and again. Here’s why you’ll love them as much as we do:

• Minimal ingredients: Just sweet potatoes, olive oil and salt are all you need.
• Hands-off: The oven does most of the work while you focus on the rest of the meal.
• Versatile: Enjoy them sweet, savory, or fully loaded. These Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes are especially delicious!
• Reliable: Crispy on the outside with a tender, melt-in-your-mouth inside, these easy baked potatoes are perfect every single time.

How To Bake Sweet Potatoes

This easy baked sweet potato recipe focuses on letting the natural flavor of sweet potatoes shine. A light coating of olive oil and salt enhances their sweetness while the oven does the rest of the work. The result is a tender, fork-soft sweet potato that’s ready to be topped exactly how you like it.

Whether you take them the savory route with a sprinkle of salt and pepper and a slice of butter OR go the sweet route and top them with a little brown sugar and cinnamon AND of course a little butter, you really can’t go wrong.

Let’s take a quick look at how to make this recipe for pecan pie bark and as always, you can find the full printable recipe card at the end of this post.

1. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes and then use a fork to poke holes all over the potato. Drying is super important because we want the skin to crisp up nicely during baking. Can you eat sweet potato skin? YES! And it’s super good for you. Can dogs eat sweet potato skin? YES! So even if you don’t finish your potato, you can give the leftovers to your pup, if that’s your kind of thing. I do 4 fork pricks up one side, flip the sweet potato over and do it again.
2. Drizzle the sweet potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt or kosher salt.
3. Rub the olive oil and salt all over the sweet potato making sure the entire surface is covered with oil and seasoned properly. (I don’t use pepper on the outside of my potato because if my sweet tooth kicks in and I decided to cover and smother the sweet potatoes with brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon, I’m in a pickle.)
4. Bake the potatoes on baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil to avoid the clean up. Sweet potatoes make a MESS. No joke. See the pictures below if you doubt me. Serve and enjoy!

Storage Information

We make extra sweet potatoes every time because they are great the next day added to salads plus our beagle loves them. Storage is straight forward and simple:

• Make Ahead: Baked Sweet Potatoes can be made ahead of time, which makes them great for meal prep. See below on how to store once baked.
• Refrigerator: Store cooled sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: They can also be frozen once fully cooled. Wrap them individually and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Variations To Try

This basic baked sweet potato recipe is a great starting point for endless variations.

• Add butter, brown sugar, or cinnamon for a classic sweet version.
• Top with sour cream, cheese, and/or herbs for a savory side.
• Turn them into a main dish by adding protein like shredded chicken or beans.
• Sprinkle with spices like paprika, cumin, or chili powder before baking.

How Can You Tell When a Baked Sweet Potato Is Done?

Sweet potatoes cannot keep a secret. When they’re done, you’ll know. They start to ooze out their sweet caramelized juice, wrinkle up a bit, and if you want to for sure make sure, just stab one with a fork or knife. The knife should slide in easily when a sweet potato is fully cooked.

How Long To Bake Sweet Potatoes?

How long do you bake sweet potatoes? I like to bake my sweet potatoes at 400°F for about 45 minutes. The range tends to be between 40 minutes and one hour depending on the size of the sweet potato. It really depends on two factors:

• the size of your sweet potato
• and oven temperature

I really do try to make sure all of my potatoes are roughly the same size and shape when making oven baked sweet potatoes. This means they will all get done at the same time and we can eat dinner together – winning!

How To Bake Sweet Potatoes In Foil

There is only one distinct difference between this baked sweet potato recipe with and without foil – the skin.

The skin tends to not crisp up when it’s wrapped in foil. The rest of the process remains the same though. Just wrap the sweet potatoes in foil before placing in the oven. You will still want to use a baking sheet because the juices tend to find their way out of the foil.

Can I Make A Baked Sweet Potato In the Microwave?

Absolutely! You won’t get that crispy, flavorful skin like you do with baking but you’ll still end up with irresistible soft and tender sweet potato. Here’s how:

1. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes.
2. Pierce several times with a fork.
3. Wrap in a damp paper towel.
4. Microwave on high for 5 to 10 minutes on a microwave safe plate (flip potatoes halfway through).

Trish’s Tips

• Choose sweet potatoes that are roughly the same size and shape so cooking time will be the same.
• Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy clean up.
• Let potatoes cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
• Baked sweet potato calories? Around 120 to 150 calories depending on the size. So feel free to load these babies UP!
• Going savory? Top your baked sweet potato with butter, salt and pepper or sour cream and chives.
• Sweet tooth? Top with butter, brown sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a lovely sweet version.

What To Serve with a Baked Sweet Potato

1. Braised Chicken Thighs
2. Harissa Chicken
3. Grilled Ribeye Steak
4. Honey Garlic Pork Chops
5. Mac and Cheese

Originally published November 7, 2019.