How to Bake Sweet Potatoes

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 and how to flavor and re-purpose your oven baked sweet potatoes!

Best Baked Sweet Potato Recipe

This is hands down the best oven baked sweet potatoes 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. Keep reading to learn all things sweet taters!

What do sweet potatoes taste like?

Sweet potatoes are a starchy vegetable that have the same texture as a normal white potato but are much sweeter in taste. Hence, the name.

Are baked sweet potatoes healthy for you?

Baked sweet potatoes are packed with complex carbs and fiber making them a healthy addition to any meal. Sweet potatoes are naturally gluten-free, vegan, and paleo-friendly. They’re sweet in flavor and the kids will love them!

Sweet Potato Nutrition Stats

Per 1 cup, cubed: 114 calories, 27g carbs, 0g fat, 4g fiber, 6g sugar, and 2g protein

Back-to-Basics Sweet Potato Tutorials

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

How to Bake Sweet Potatoes (step by step)

Are you wondering: How do I bake a sweet potato? In this section, we’ll give you the down-low of how to get perfect baked sweet potatoes every time!

Step 1: Wash & Poke

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 will prevent the potato from exploding in the oven…no one wants that!

Do I have to poke holes in my sweet potatoes? We’ve tested this both ways, and while we’ve never had a potato explode…better safe than sorry!

Step 2: Prep

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.

Step 3: Roast

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.

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

Flavor Variations

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:

• Butter + salt + pepper
• Almond butter + maple syrup + ground cinnamon
• Beef chili + shredded cheese
• Greek yogurt + chives

What to do with Your Baked Sweet Potato

We’ve given you ideas for how to eat your sweet potatoes fresh out of the oven, but did you know there is so much more you can do with them –> casseroles, dessert recipes, burgers, hummus, etc. Get ready to have your mind blown!

How to make Sweet Potato Puree from Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Got leftover sweet potato? Make sweet potato puree! Here’s a quick tutorial on how to do so:

1. After you’ve roasted your sweet potatoes, let them cool for 20-30 minutes.
2. Then, slice them in half and scoop out the flesh.
3. Place the flesh in a food processor and process on high for 60 seconds. You may need to add a little water to smooth things out depending on how moist your sweet potatoes are.

Storage

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

Can I freeze baked sweet potatoes?

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.