Updated on May 1st, 2024
Notably, sweet potatoes are also really adaptable. And roasting them whole in the oven is arguably the simplest way to cook them, and they will serve as the ideal base for a variety of toppings. I actually like them packed with barbeque chicken or as a sloppy joe without the bun.
Moreover, the reason my weeknight go-to is a baked sweet potato is that they are quite simple to create because your oven performs the majority of the work.
You may do whatever you want while they bake. You know – just finish up the rest of your supper, wrap up the day’s work, or spend time with family or friends. Then remove them from the oven, top them as desired, and have a delicious baked sweet potato meal.
Read on as this article highlights how to cook baked sweet potatoes – paying attention to the estimated cooking time it’ll take.
Sweet Potato Nutrition Facts
Tips on How to Cook Baked Sweet Potatoes
With these tips and tricks, you can learn how to bake sweet potatoes to perfection.
Clean the sweet potatoes up – A grainy texture is the worst way to spoil a sweet potato dish. Lightly scrub the skins to remove any dirt or soil.
Prepare your baking sheet by lining it with foil – While baking, sweet potatoes tend to become a touch fluid, and the juices might caramelize, making cleanup a pain. You will find that cleaning up is made easier by lining the baking sheet first.
Drill holes – When baking ordinary or sweet potatoes, the pricking technique is always used—the holes aid in minimizing baking time and ensure the potatoes don’t burst by creating steam vents.
Bake until the potatoes are soft – How do you know when they’re already well-cooked? You will need to insert a fork into the potato’s thickest portion, and it’s safe to say you have finished cooking if there is no resistance.
Make sure they are dry – Many recipes recommend rubbing the sweet potatoes with olive oil after pricking, but we don’t think it’s important unless you plan to eat the potato skin on! Oil will assist the skin in crisp up and generating a more delectable flavor during the baking process.
How to Cook Baked Sweet Potatoes – If you enjoy sweet potatoes, you must prepare them properly! My puffy puffs have caramelized edges and crunchy skin. I have highlighted a guide on how I make them:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and use parchment paper or aluminum foil to line a rimmed baking sheet.
- Poke holes in the sweet potatoes with a fork and place them on the baking sheet.
- Roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the skin has swelled up and a fork pierces them easily.
You may not need to foil wrap them. The sweet potato meat will continue to cook, but the skin will be extremely wet and nearly slimy. Place each baked potato on the baking sheet naked to achieve exquisite, puffed-up crispy skin and caramelization on the exterior!
You can also roast sweet potato halves for 30 minutes if you’re in a rush. Cut the potatoes lengthwise in half, massage with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and cook cut-side up until gently browned and soft.
Side dishes to serve with baked sweet potatoes – I know a perfectly cooked sweet potato with butter, salt, pepper, and chives is delicious, but baked sweet potato recipes don’t have to stop there.
I like to stuff one with a rich veggie filling and a delicious sauce to make it a complete dinner. You can pair your oven-baked sweet potatoes with your favorite protein or vegetarian chili if you’re serving them as a side dish.
Stick to butter, Greek yogurt, or sour cream as a topping, or add a dab of tahini sauce, tzatziki, chipotle sauce, pesto, guacamole, or a dollop of cilantro lime dressing.
Storing the baked sweet potatoes – Sweet potatoes are an excellent meal prep side dish to have on hand during the week. You can keep the potatoes in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days in an airtight container.
Baked sweet potatoes can be frozen for up to 4-6 months if sealed in an airtight container. Moreover, sweet potatoes can be reheated in a 275°F oven for 15-20 minutes or by cutting them in half and cooking them in the microwave.
How Long to Cook Baked Sweet Potatoes
You should bake entire sweet potatoes for 45-60 minutes at 400 degrees. Notably, cooking time for larger sweet potatoes is closer to an hour, while cooking time for tiny sweet potatoes is as low as 40 minutes.
If you have other dishes in the oven at the same time, you can cook them anywhere from 350 degrees to 450 degrees. Just make sure the cooking time is adjusted accordingly.
| Preparation Time | Cook Time | Total Time |
| 10 minutes | 50 minutes | 1 hour |
To test whether the potato is soft inside, you can simply pierce it with a fork. You can also use an instant-read thermometer to monitor the inside temperature if you wish to be more accurate. When they’re done, the thickest section of the potato should be between 205 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
PrintPerfect Baked Sweet Potato Recipe (4 Servings)
Ingredients
- 4 sweet potatoes (scrubbed clean)
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Then go ahead and prick sweet potatoes all over with a fork on a baking sheet coated with aluminum foil.
- Bake the potatoes for about 45 to 50 minutes in the oven until soft.
- Then allow it to cool before cutting the tops open with a knife and adding a pat of butter.
- Before serving, you can season with salt and pepper.
You can, however, try to microwave your sweet potato if you’re really rushing and have no time. Although the recipe results will not be ideal, you will still have properly cooked potatoes on the table in minutes.
