Fool-Proof Baked Sweet Potato Recipe

Baked sweet potatoes are a delicious addition to any meal. In this post, we’ll teach you how to bake sweet potatoes in 3 easy steps + how to season and re-purpose your oven baked sweet potatoes.

Confession: in college, when I was on a super tight budget, I would bake a bunch of sweet potatoes at the beginning of the week and serve them with cottage cheese on top of my lunches. That might sound boring to you, but hot sweet potato + cold cottage cheese is actually rather satisfying!

Best Baked Sweet Potato Recipe

This is hands down the best oven baked sweet potato recipe on the internet! Why? They come out tender and perfectly cooked every time! Plus, we’re keeping things basic with olive oil, salt, and pepper so that you can flavor your sweet potatoes however your heart desires.

All you need to do is poke a couple holes in your potatoes, rub them with olive oil, and season with salt, and pepper. Then, bake them at a high heat around 425ºF until fork tender 🙌🏻

What kind of sweet potato should I use in this recipe?

There are many different variations of sweet potatoes. Red sweet potatoes, purple, white etc. Any kind will work for this recipe, just make sure that they’re all around the same size so that they bake evenly.

Sweet Potatoes vs. Yams

Wondering what the difference is between a sweet potato and a yam? Though they look similar, yams have tougher skin (similar to tree bark) and starchier flesh (similar to a white potato).

Here is a great article on the difference.

How to Bake Sweet Potatoes (step by step)

Even though this baked sweet potato recipe is super simple, we’re breaking things down for you below!

Step 1: Wash & Poke Sweet Potatoes

First things first. Give your sweet potatoes a nice scrub under warm water. This will remove any dirt and residue. They do come from the land, after all.

Then, use a fork to poke around 6-8 holes in each potato. This helps infuse the potato with olive oil and spices and with cooking circulation.

Do I have to poke holes in my sweet potatoes? 

Most people say to poke holes in your potatoes so they don’t explode in the oven, but we’ve tested this both ways and have never had a potato explode.

Do note that if you’re planning to cook your sweet potatoes in the microwave, the holes DO prevent them from exploding.

Step 2: season sweet potatoes

Next, make sure that your potatoes are dry, and then rub each sweet potato with olive oil (any kind of oil works). Then, generously season with salt and pepper.

The olive oil is going to get the skin nice and crispy while keeping the flesh tender and perfect.

Note: if you’re planning to make sweet potato puree, no need to season with salt and pepper.

Flavor Variations

If you’re looking to get a bit fancy with the flavors of your sweet potatoes, you can absolutely season them with more spices. Try any of the following:

• Garlic powder
• paprika
• ground cinnamon

Do I need aluminum foil?

You’re more than welcome to wrap your potatoes with aluminum foil. This will help steam them and cook them a bit faster (great for pureeing). But, if you’re looking for that crispy skin, we recommend not using foil.

Step 3: Roast Potatoes in Oven

We like to roast our whole sweet potatoes at a higher heat so that they come out super tender on the inside with crispy skin on the outside.

Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet, making sure they are spaced out and not touching. Then, roast sweet potatoes at 425ºF for 45-60 minutes (or longer). You know your potatoes are done when you can easily pierce them with a fork in the thickest part of the potato.

So, how long to bake sweet potatoes?

Bake sweet potatoes at 425ºF for 45-60 minutes.

And there you have it, the most perfect baked sweet potato on the internet!

Topping Ideas

Now that your baked taters are out of the oven, it’s time to eat! You can always eat them plain, but you can also jazz them up with different flavor variations. Try the following:

• Cottage cheese
• Butter + salt + pepper
• Almond butter + maple syrup + ground cinnamon
• Beef chili recipe + shredded cheese
• Greek yogurt + chives
• Taco meat + salsa
• Brown sugar + pecans
• Mini marshmallows

Storage

Let sweet potatoes cool completely. Then, transfer them into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

Freezer Instructions

To freeze baked sweet potato, let it cool completely. Then, tightly wrap it in tin foil and place it in a freezer-safe gallon-size bag for up to 3 months.

More Ways to Cook Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are an excellent, versatile veggie to roast, puree, bake with, add to bowls, the list goes on! Check out some of our back-to-basics sweet potato tutorials.