Recipes › Sides

Easy Baked Sweet Potato Recipe

By Samira Kazan

updated November 12, 2024

Baked sweet potato topped with thyme and pepper - 1

Baked sweet potato topped with butter - 2

Baked sweet potato topped with butter and thyme - 3

Learn how to make baked sweet potato in the oven—with tender, fluffy results every time! These baked sweet potatoes are a delicious, filling, and nutritious side or main!

Baked sweet potatoes with one of them open and topped with thyme. - 6

Fall is the perfect time to get cozy and enjoy comforting and nutritious dishes like roasted butternut squash soup , slow cooker beef stew , or these tender and fluffy baked sweet potatoes.

The method of making baked sweet potatoes is straightforward, and all you need is a sweet potato. This is the perfect meal for busy weekdays: serve it on its own with butter and fresh herbs, or mix your favorite topping for dinner that’s low-effort but high impact. You can also enjoy them as a side dish to oven-baked salmon , beef and broccoli , or your favorite main.

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How to bake sweet potatoes
Watch the video tutorial
Baked sweet potato variations and toppings
Top tips
Ways to use leftovers baked sweet potatoes
Easy Baked Sweet Potato Recipe Recipe

How to bake sweet potatoes

Preheat the oven : Preheat the oven to 475ºF/240ºC.

Prepare and poke: Scrub the sweet potato well to remove any dirt. Be careful – you don’t want to remove any of the skin. Then, dry them well. Excess moisture on the skin will affect the overall crispiness of a sweet potato in the oven.

Then, using a fork, poke holes in the sweet potato. This allows steam to escape as the potato cooks and ensures a fluffy, tender inside. It’s also going to stop your sweet potatoes from exploding in the oven!

Bake: Place the sweet potatoes on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet or in an oven-safe dish. For an even more elevated baked sweet potato recipe, rub a little olive oil or coconut oil on the outside of the potato – this is going to give it wonderfully crispy skin but is completely optional.

Bake in the middle of the oven for 40-60 minutes, until tender. The size of your sweet potato will determine how long to cook it.

Steps for preparing sweet potatoes for baking. - 7

Check for doneness: When your sweet potatoes are cooked through, they’ll start releasing caramelized juices, have slightly wrinkled skin, and can be easily pierced by a knife or fork. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before slicing open and enjoying.

Watch the video tutorial

Baked sweet potato variations and toppings

You can customize your baked sweet potatoes your way – that might be the best thing about them! Here are some of my favorites:

Keep it simple: A pat of butter with salt, black pepper, herbs (fresh thyme, green onion, parsley, chives, rosemary, etc.), or your favorite spices (cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, etc.)
Make it sweeter: Butter, cinnamon, and sugar will add to the potatoes’ natural sweet flavor.
Keep it classy: Add a couple of spoonfuls of thick sour cream and sprinkle with fresh chopped chives.
Make it cheesy: Sprinkle with cheese that’s perfect for melting – think cheddar, mozzarella , or vegan cheddar cheese .
Make it a side: Serve it with beef chili , vegan chili , or your favorite protein. Then top it with guacamole , chipotle sauce , or tzatziki .

Baked sweet potato with some butter and thyme. - 8

Top tips

Don’t Skip The Poking Step: With the heat of the oven, potatoes are liable to explode if you don’t give them somewhere to release their steam.
Skip The Foil: While aluminum foil can help cook a baked potato, it won’t give you crispy skin – and isn’t going to reduce your cooking time. Skip the foil for these baked sweet potatoes and let the oven do all the work.
Bake On High: The high heat will give you a fluffy inside and a super crispy outside – a lower heat will make the outside soft.
Use Same Size Potatoes: This will ensure your baked sweet potatoes cook at the same time and prevent overcooking.

Ways to use leftovers baked sweet potatoes

Easy Sweet PotatoCasserole Recipe
Easy Mashed SweetPotatoes
Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
2-Ingredient SweetPotato Flatbread

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 3 sweet potatoes medium, even-sized; or as many as needded

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 475ºF/240ºC.
Scrub the sweet potatoes well to remove any dirt, then rinse. Dry them well.
Poke a few holes in the sweet potatoes with a fork.
Place the sweet potatoes on a parchment-covered baking sheet or in an oven-safe dish.
Bake in the middle of the oven at 475ºF/240ºC for 40-60 minutes, until tender. The exact time will vary depending on the size of your potatoes. When the sweet potatoes are cooked through, they’ll start releasing caramelized juices, have slightly wrinkled skin, and can be easily pierced by a knife or fork.
Once ready, remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before slicing the baked sweet potato open and enjoying.

Video

Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.