Wondering how to bake a sweet potato perfectly every time? This is the best and easiest method!
Save the Recipe!
The worst thing is an undercooked or dry sweet potato. Sinking your fork into a beautifully tender, soft, creamy, and flavorful baked sweet potato is only a few steps away. This super easy trick is a game changer in the sweet potato world! Served with just butter, Easy Roasted Garlic, or your favorite seasonings, these baked sweet potatoes will be your new favorite side dish.
How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
Here’s the easiest method to bake a sweet potatoes. Full instructions in the recipe card; this is just an outline!
- Wash.
Scrub and dry potatoes.
- Poke.
Place on a baking sheet, and poke 3 times with a fork.
- Bake.
Bake 50-60 minutes at 425℉, and check doneness with a fork. If fork glides through easily, it’s done.
Toppings and Serving Suggestions
Serve baked sweet potatoes with your favorite toppings and seasonings:
- Butter: how could you beat it? A pat of butter, salt and pepper…that’s it!
- Honey, maple syrup or brown sugar: Drizzle honey, maple syrup, or a pinch of brown sugar over the baked sweet potato and sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg for a sweet treat. Toast some pecans for an added crunch!
- Smoked paprika, cayenne, cumin, curry powder, or Cajun seasoning: dust the sweet potato with your favorite seasoning!
- Garlic and rosemary: Roast Garlic and sprinkle with fresh rosemary and a drizzle of olive oil for a fragrant and savory twist.
If you’re serving sweet potatoes as a side dish, here are some simple protein main dishes to serve them with:
- Chicken: Grilled Chicken Breasts or Grilled Chicken Thighs with your favorite herbs and spices for a simple and healthy protein. Also try as a side with Honey Mustard Chicken!
- Salmon: Lemon Garlic Salmon or Blackened Salmon are great with sweet potatoes.
- Pulled Pork: slow-cooked pulled pork is a flavorful and satisfying option to serve with sweet potatoes. Or even try Air Fryer Pork Chops or Grilled Pork Tenderloin!
- Ground turkey or beef: brown ground turkey or beef in a skillet with onions, garlic, and your preferred seasonings. It can be used as a filling for stuffed sweet potatoes.
- Black beans: a simple can of black beans, seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and garlic, can be a quick and protein-rich topping for sweet potatoes.
Storing Baked Sweet Potatoes
Make ahead: bake sweet potatoes up to 3-5 days in advance. Store baked sweet potatoes in the fridge, whole or sliced. Cover once cooled completely.
Freezing: to freeze, wrap them individually in plastic wrap or foil, and place them in resealable freezer bag or airtight container for 6-8 months.
Reheating: To reheat in the microwave, place the baked sweet potato on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a microwave-safe paper towel to trap steam. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, checking the sweet potato’s doneness after each interval (will likely take 2-4 minutes to reheat completely). To reheat in the oven, bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until hot.
My Pro Tip
Tips and Tricks
Select sweet potatoes of similar size to ensure uniform baking. This particular recipe works best for medium-sized sweet potatoes.
Adjust the baking time based on the sweet potato size: 40-50 minutes for small ones and 60-70 minutes for larger ones instead of the listed time for medium potatoes.
FAQs
I do not recommend wrapping sweet potatoes in foil. Baking sweet potatoes without foil yields a tender, moist, caramelized result every time! You can use foil to line your baking sheet for less cleanup if preferred.
Yes, you can microwave them in a pinch, but keep in mind the texture will be starchier, less creamy and caramelized. Simply wash the medium potatoes, pat them dry, poke them, and place one potato at a time on a microwave-safe plate for 6-8 minutes.
Bake at 425℉ for 50-60 minutes depending on the size of the potato.
More Potato Recipes You’ll Love!
Snacks & Side Dishes
Pommes Anna (Potatoes Anna)
Snacks & Side Dishes
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes (With Bacon & Apples)
Snacks & Side Dishes
Colcannon Potatoes (Delicious Irish Mashed Potatoes)
Snacks & Side Dishes
Roasted Garlic Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Snacks & Side Dishes
Lyonnaise Potatoes
Snacks & Side Dishes
Crispy Hasselback Potatoes
If you’ve tried this How to Bake Sweet Potatoes recipe or any other recipe on my website, please let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you are here!
How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- Medium sweet potatoes
- Seasonings of choice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425℉. Scrub potatoes to remove any dirt, and pat them dry.
- Place them on a baking sheet, and poke each potato with a fork 3 times.
- Bake sweet potatoes for 50-60 minutes. Check for doneness by piercing the thickest part of each potato with a fork. If the fork easily glides through the flesh, the potato is soft and tender! Slice open, season if desired, and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Pick similar-sized medium sweet potatoes for even baking.
- If sweet potatoes are small, bake for 40-50 minutes. If they’re large, bake for 60-70 minutes.
- Seasoning and serving ideas listed in the blog post above!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Amazing recipe. Thank you for this!
Aw so happy to hear! Thanks so much for letting me know 🙂
Grace