The easiest baked sweet potato recipe with minimal prep, resulting in a perfectly fluffy inside texture. Serve sweet with butter and a sprinkle of sugar, or savory with salt and pepper. Your taste buds are sure to be delighted and your mealtime stress-free!
When it comes to a delicious and nutritious side dish, baked sweet potatoes are a go-to option. They're not only easy to make but also packed with vitamins and minerals. This is a simple yet flavorful recipe for baked sweet potatoes that will become a staple in your kitchen.
Why Choose Baked Sweet Potatoes?
- Nutrient-Rich:Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, and various essential minerals.
- Easy and Quick: This recipe requires minimal effort and time, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Plus no need to dirty a baking sheet!
- Customizable: You can customize the seasonings to your liking. Try adding some rosemary, parsley, garlic powder, or cinnamon for a unique twist.
- Versatile: Baked sweet potatoes can be served as a side dish, a base for toppings like cheese and herbs, or even as a dessert with a dollop of yogurt and honey.
Ingredients
(Full printable recipe at end of this post)
Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients you'll need to make the perfect baked sweet potatoes:
Here's what you need:
- 4 medium-sized sweet potatoes (more or less, as needed)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Sea salt, to taste
- Pepper (optional)
While salt and pepper form the foundational seasoning for the skin, you have the flexibility to enhance the flavor with additional spices such as paprika, cumin, or chili powder.
Instructions
- Wash, scrub and dry the potatoes. With a fork, poke holes all around the skin.
- Brush the outside of the potatoes with olive oil. Sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper.
- Place potatoes in oven on top of layer of foil. (Do not preheat oven!)
- Set the oven temperature to 425°F and bake according to the size of the potatoes.
- Once timer is done, turn off oven and leave potatoes inside without opening the oven door for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Remove from oven, let cool for a few minutes, and then enjoy!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for the full detailed recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Side dish: The most popular way to serve baked sweet potatoes is as a vegetable side dish to many meals.
Entrée: We've taken it a step further by using sweet potatoes as a hearty foundation for pulled pork, creating a fully-loaded sweet potato meal! Or try our southwestern baked sweet potato!
Dessert: Consider roasting a sweet potato for a delightful dessert, enhancing its natural sweetness with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
Tips and Tricks
- How to select the best sweet potatoes: Choose potatoes that are uniform in size to ensure even baking.
- Best way to store potatoes before cooking: To store raw sweet potatoes properly, keep them in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place and avoid refrigeration, which can negatively affect their taste and texture.
- Alternative cooking method without an oven: If you do not have access to an oven, you can cook the sweet potato in a microwave, one potato at a time, by piercing it several times with a fork and microwaving on high for approximately 5-7 minutes until it's tender.
Storage
Store leftover baked sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They reheat well in the microwave, sliced open with a knife and flipping halfway.
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Photography by Lindsey Evers.
Recipe Card
Fluffy Baked Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 sweet potatoes , uniform sizes
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Sea salt , to taste (Morton fine sea salt is what we use)
Instructions
- Wash, scrub and dry potatoes. With a fork, prick holes all around the potatoes.
- Using a pastry brush, brush outside of potatoes with a thin layer of oil. Sprinkle all sides evenly with sea salt, to desired taste.
- Place a large sheet of foil directly on oven rack in center position of oven. Line potatoes evenly on top of foil. (DO NOT PREHEAT OVEN.)
- After placing potatoes in the oven, turn on oven to 425°F and bake the following times according to the size of the potatoes: For potatoes 2 to 3 inches in diameter, bake 45 minutes. For potatoes up to 4 inches in diameter, bake 1 hour. Larger than 4 inches in diameter, bake 1 hour 15 minutes.
- When the baking time is up, turn off the oven (DO NOT OPEN OVEN DOOR) and let potatoes stay in oven for at least 30 more minutes up to 1 hour.
- Remove from oven. When ready to serve, slice a vertical line on top of the potato and squeeze the ends together to open up the potato and fluff. Serve with desired toppings.
Notes
- Topping suggestions: brown sugar, butter, pecans
- This recipe is best when potatoes are all similar (uniform) sizes.
- Nutrition information is an estimate only, and is based on a medium sweet potato with no toppings. Will vary with size and toppings.
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