Baked Sweet Potato Recipe
A Baked Sweet Potato is a classic side dish that’s so easy to make yet so versatile. Learn how to bake sweet potatoes in the oven that are perfectly fluffy and creamy in the center.
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From our popular Creamy Sweet Potato Soup to Sweet Potato Casserole for Thanksgiving, we love sweet potatoes in our family. With their fluffy-creamy texture and sweet and savory flavor profile, it’s no wonder everyone loves sweet potatoes (including our kids). We especially enjoy them in the cold months – it’s such a comforting and nutritious root vegetable.
Baked Sweet Potatoes
This roasted sweet potato recipe will surely become your go-to side for so many reasons. Here’s why you will love this recipe:
- Easy to Make – The prep takes just 5 minutes and your oven does the rest.
- Versatile – The potato may be enjoyed as a side with Steak, Baked Chicken Breast, Pork Tenderloin, and so many different dishes, or enjoyed as a meal if loaded with sweet or savory toppings (see topping ideas below).
- Healthy – There are so many health benefits to sweet potatoes, and you definitely want to incorporate this vegetable into your diet. Sweet potatoes are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber as you can see in the nutrition label below.
How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
- Clean Potatoes – Since the sweet potato is a root vegetable grown underground, you want to thoroughly clean it. Rice and scrub the skin of the potato and pat dry.
- Poke Holes – Once cleaned, poke holes in the potato with a fork. This allows any excess moisture to be released as the potatoes are baked at high a temperature.
- Bake – Add sweet potatoes onto your parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheet and cook until the thickest part of the potato is tender.
How Long to Bake a Sweet Potato
Just like any other roasting method, the baking time will vary depending on the oven itself (all ovens are different), the size of the potato, and the cooking temperature. Here’s a general guide for a medium/large potato and bake until the potato easily pierces in the center:
- At 375°F – Bake for 60-75 minutes
- At 400°F – Bake for 45-60 minutes
- At 425°F – Bake for 40-50 minutes
Pro Tip: You can bake a sweet potato in the Air Fryer or in an Instant Pot if you want them done even faster, just prep potatoes the same way and follow our tutorial for Air Fryer Baked Potatoes or Instant Pot Baked Potatoes, adjusting the timing for the size of the sweet potato.
Topping Ideas
A baked sweet potato may be enjoyed plain with some butter, or you can get as creative as you’d like. Here are some of our favorite toppings:
- Honey Butter
- Candied Walnuts
- Mini marshmallows
- Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
- Butter – melt a generous pat over the potato
- Chives, or green onions
- Beef Chili
Common Questions
Wrapping in foil is not necessary for this recipe. The skin is a natural barrier that will keep the center from drying out. It’s also easier to check for doneness if you don’t have to unwrap them.
While yams and sweet potatoes are sometimes labeled interchangeably in US grocery stores, they are actually quite different. Sweet potatoes have a reddish or orange exterior while yams have a brown exterior, can grow significantly larger and are rarely available in American grocery stores.
You’ll know a sweet potato is done baking when you pierce a knife into the thickest part of the potato without resistance.
Sweet potatoes should be poked several times through the skin before baking to allow the steam to escape. Otherwise, a sweet potato can explode in the oven.
Serve With
Roasted sweet potatoes are so versatile and may be enjoyed in so many different ways!
- Side Dish – Enjoy as a side dish to your favorite entrees like Meatloaf or even Teriyaki Salmon.
- In Salad – Add to a salad like our popular Roasted Sweet Potato Salad.
- As a meal – Top with Mississippi Roast or our Pulled Pork as a meal.
- Meal planning – The roasted potatoes are great for meal planning and may be enjoyed whole or diced once roasted.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Sweet Potato and Egg Skillet
Baked Sweet Potato Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 medium/large sweet potatoes, (2 pounds potatoes)
- unsalted butter, optional for topping
- chopped chives, optional for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easier cleanup.
- Thoroughly rinse and scrub the potatoes then pat dry with a towel and poke holes all over with a fork.
- Set potatoes on the prepared baking sheet leaving some space between potatoes and bake for 45 minutes, or until easily pierced with a knife or fork.
- Cool for five minutes before cutting open and adding butter and chives, or your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Valentina Ablaev
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
I’m a butter & honey fan for my sweet pots‼️🥰💥🇺🇸
Keep inspiring us my dear Natasha with your incredible & tasteful recipes!!
You make all your dishes look so easy 🙂
Thank you so much, Jacqueline! I’m so glad you are enjoying the recipes.
Once again, another recipe that knocks it out of the park. Huge fan of this site and all of its contributors! Thank you for your continued inspiration!
Thanks so much, Steve! I appreciate the love and support. It means so much to me.
How would I do it with brown sugar an pecons that how I do a big pan like to try this then add mini marshmallows
I have not tested this to provide exact instructions. I think they would work great with those additions. Let us know how they turn out if you experiment.
you are my favorite web site for cooking i tried 3 or4 others but you are the best
Thank you Bob, we appreciate your support!
Hi, We love sweet potatoes . I usually do a double cook in the microwave, or a little less depending on the size. Lots of butter with a little cinnamon, or butter and honey.
These baked sweet potatoes were the best, you don’t even need to add any toppings to eat them.
Thank you for the feedback and review. I’m glad you loved them.
Sweet potatoes are mine & my hubby’s favorite!!We love this recipe!! The potatoes are sweet & so creamy inside!
So glad you loved them! 🙂
So easy and tasty! We like ours sprinkled with a little cinnamon sugar.
Sounds delicious! 🙂