How To Bake Sweet Potatoes
Learn How to Bake Sweet Potatoes in the oven perfectly each and every time! With fluffy, tender interiors and delightfully crisp skins, these make a delicious side dish or starting point for lots of easy, healthy meals. All you need are sweet potatoes and a bit of time.
I’ve loved baking sweet potatoes since my oldest son was a baby. Early on it was among the few vegetables he’d reliably eat. Plus, they are affordable and super easy to roast in the oven as long as you budget a bit of time.
Over time, I’ve also come to appreciate how versatile the baked sweet potato is. We most often enjoy these as a side dish with pats of butter and a sprinkle of sea salt, which is the definition of simple perfection if you ask me. The inside has a light, fluffy texture, while the skin is crisp and totally edible, if you like!
They can also be mashed for a delicious sweet potato casserole, and make a terrific jumping off point for tasty, nutritious lunches or dinners when stuffed with a protein or other vegetables.
Related: BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
How To Bake Sweet Potatoes in the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Grab a baking sheet large enough to hold all your potatoes. Line it with a piece of parchment paper for easy clean-up.
- Scrub the sweet potatoes under running water to remove any dirt. These are root vegetables and can still have visible dirt when you buy them at the store. Just scrub all that right off! Dry each potato with a clean kitchen or paper towel, then poke holes in 6-8 places with the tines of a fork. This allows a small amount of steam to release as they bake.
- Place sweet potatoes on the parchment-lined baking sheet and roast for 45-60 minutes, depending on how large the potatoes are.
- When done, they should be tender enough to pierce easily with a fork. The outsides should give when pressed lightly with tongs or with an oven mitt. If you see a few brown spots where natural sugars have bubbled out of the potatoes and started to caramelize in the oven, that’s another good sign that they’re done or close.
- Cool for about 5 minutes, then slice open with a sharp knife and serve as desired.
Pro Tip
When in doubt, err on the side of baking sweet potatoes for a few extra minutes! You want to be sure that they’re tender all the way through, and a few extra minutes will not hurt them at all.
Should you wrap sweet potatoes in foil for baking?
One key note is that I do not recommend wrapping sweet potatoes in aluminum foil for baking!
I did in the past — in fact if you browse around you can find photos of foil-wrapped sweet potatoes on other recipes on the site — and if you prefer this for any reason it does work. Foil-wrapped sweet potatoes still become tender and decadent on the inside, although the skin becomes slightly less crisp than when they are baked “au naturale.” The main reason I no longer personally use or recommend foil is for ecological reasons — why use multiple sheets of foil if it’s unnecessary? — plus kitchen simplicity.
FAQs
Can you roast open halves of sweet potatoes?
Yes! If you’re pressed for time, you can cut sweet potatoes in half lengthwise to roast more quickly. Place them cut side up on a baking sheet and roast for about 30 minutes at 425 degrees F. Brush the exposed tops lightly with olive oil or avocado oil to avoid the top becoming too dry. Add salt and black pepper when done and enjoy.
Are yams the same thing as sweet potatoes?
The terms “yams” and “sweet potatoes” are often used interchangeably in the United States, but they are actually very different vegetables. Most people are referring to what is actually a sweet potato — a vibrant root vegetable most commonly seen with smooth brownish-orange skin and an orange interior — when they use either term.
Read more about the differences and the history of both terms on Southern Living. And note that this recipe is designed and tested for sweet potatoes, specifically the most common variety, with bright orange flesh. It has not been tested for and will not necessarily work with the same cooking time and temperature for yams or purple, white, or red sweet potatoes.
Storage
Store baked sweet potatoes by allowing them to cool completely, then wrapping tightly in foil or placing in an airtight container. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and reheat in the microwave as needed.
More Ways to Enjoy
Have extra baked sweet potato? Purée it into a pasta sauce or smoothie, mix it into a breakfast hash with eggs and sausage or black beans and herbs, or just set an extra baked potato aside to stuff with leftover chicken, beans, or veggies for a quick and easy meal. The combination of the potato’s naturally sweet flavor with a savory filling is delicious!
These also make a delicious treat sprinkled with a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon. Like a healthy dessert!
Related Recipes
Looking for more sweet potato recipes? We love a great batch of baked sweet potato fries, sweet potato black bean tacos, or sweet potato black bean chili.
Need more easy side dish ideas? Roasted broccolini, roasted garlicky green beans, zucchini casserole, and roasted baby carrots are simple and always hit the spot.
If you try these Oven Baked Sweet Potatoes, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. I love hearing how recipes turn out in your kitchen, and it helps other readers, too.
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Easy Oven Baked Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 large sweet potatoes
Topping Ideas
- butter
- sea salt
- chives or green onion
- BBQ chicken
- kicked-up black beans
- cooked taco meat
- diced avocado or guacamole
- dollops of sour cream, Greek yogurt, or tzatziki sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.4 large sweet potatoes
- Scrub the sweet potatoes under running water to remove any dirt. Pat dry with a clean kitchen or paper towel, then poke each sweet potato 6-8 times with the tines of a fork.
- Place sweet potatoes on the baking sheet and roast for 45-60 minutes, depending on how large the potatoes are.
- When done, they should be tender enough to pierce easily with a fork, and the outsides should give when pressed lightly with tongs. Another good sign is a few brown spots where natural sugars have bubbled out of the potatoes and started to caramelize in the oven.
- Remove potatoes from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes, then cut open and serve as desired.
Notes
- Store baked sweet potatoes by allowing them to cool completely, then wrapping tightly in foil or placing in an air-tight container. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and reheat as needed.
- Nutrition estimate is based on sweet potatoes alone, exclusive of toppings.
