I adore baked sweet potatoes but it took me a while to figure out the best way to cook them. I prefer baking them because they’re soft and tender and have the best flavor. They’re great for side dishes or lunch as sweet potatoes are high in protein and fiber as well as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B6. Sweet potatoes even contain iron and protein! They have no fat or cholesterol and a medium sized sweet potato only has about 120 calories. Now of course, you can add whatever toppings you like- it’s up to you how healthy you want to be! I love adding butter and some marshmallows. I think adding pecans is a great idea as well!
How to bake sweet potatoes
First, start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F. Scrub your sweet potatoes and cut off the ends. Place on a baking sheet lined with foil, parchment paper or teflon baking mats. I have always been a die-hard fan of parchment paper, but I recently tried teflon baking mats and LOVE them. They’re washable, everything is non-stick, yes, even this baked on sweet-potato mess, and they’re incredibly durable!
Bake the potatoes
Bake for about 45 minutes to an hour. I baked my 2 medium sized potatoes for 1 hour. Adjust the time if your potatoes are larger or smaller. If you’re unsure when they’re done, the inside should read 210 degrees. My digital kitchen thermometer is one of my favorite tools!
Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Cut a large “X” onto each potato and pull back the skin a bit. It will just peel away easily. Sprinkle with a little salt and dot with butter. Add about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of mini marshmallows to the top of each potato. Return to the oven to broil for 2-3 minutes, or until marshmallows are toasted a light golden brown.
Serve sweet potatoes after they’ve been able to cool down for about 5-10 minutes.
How long does it take to bake a sweet potato?
Sweet potatoes will bake for about 45 minutes to an hour in a 400 degree F oven. I baked my 2 medium sized potatoes for 1 hour. Adjust the time if your potatoes are larger or smaller. If you’re unsure when they’re done, the inside should read 210 degrees. My digital kitchen thermometer is one of my favorite tools! My potatoes were perfectly tender and had a fantastic roasted flavor.
Ingredients needed to bake sweet potatoes
- sweet potatoes
- butter
- mini marshmallows
- salt
Step-by-Step Directions on How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
-
Scrub your sweet potatoes and cut off the ends. Place on a baking sheet lined with foil, parchment paper or teflon baking mats.
- Bake for about 45 minutes to an hour. I baked my 2 medium sized potatoes for 1 hour. Adjust the time if your potatoes are larger or smaller. If you’re unsure when they’re done, the inside should read 210 degrees F.
- Cut a large “X” onto each potato and pull back the skin a bit. It will just peel away easily. Sprinkle with a little salt and dot with butter. Add about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of mini marshmallows to the top of each potato. Return to the oven to broil for 2-3 minutes, or until marshmallows are toasted a light golden brown.
- Serve sweet potatoes after they’ve been able to cool down for about 5-10 minutes.
How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 sweet potatoes
- 2 TBSP butter
- 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Scrub your sweet potatoes and cut off the ends. Place on a baking sheet lined with foil, parchment paper or teflon baking mats.
- Bake for about 45 minutes to an hour. I baked my 2 medium sized potatoes for 1 hour. Adjust the time if your potatoes are larger or smaller. If you're unsure when they're done, the inside should read 210 degrees F.
- Cut a large "X" onto each potato and pull back the skin a bit. It will just peel away easily. Sprinkle with a little salt and dot with butter. Add about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of mini marshmallows to the top of each potato. Return to the oven to broil for 2-3 minutes, or until marshmallows are toasted a light golden brown.
- Serve sweet potatoes after they've been able to cool down for about 5-10 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
📫 Save this recipe! Send it to your email! 📩
I consent to receiving emails from this site.
Are baked sweet potatoes healthy?
Yes, sweet potatoes are healthy! Sweet potatoes are high in protein and fiber as well as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B6. Sweet potatoes even contain iron and protein. They have no fat or cholesterol and a medium sized sweet potato only has about 120 calories. Now of course, you can add whatever toppings you like- it’s up to you how healthy you want to be! Healthy options are a small pat of butter, chopped pecans, a light dusting of cinnamon or cinnamon sugar and even vanilla greek yogurt.
Can you roast sweet potatoes without oil?
Yes, you can roast sweet potatoes without oil! As you can see from my simple recipe above, you don’t need any oil whatsoever to make these delicious baked sweet potatoes.
Can you freeze baked sweet potatoes?
Yes, you can freeze baked sweet potatoes. Just cool the sweet potatoes completely, then store in an airtight container. You can freeze sweet potatoes for 3-4 months this way. When you’re ready to eat, just thaw them on the countertop or using the defrost function on your microwave. Heat them fully in the microwave.
Potatoes make fantastic Side Dishes! Here are more for you to check out:
- Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes & Cranberries
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon Maple Butter Sauce
- Loaded Baked Potato Rounds
- Alfredo Twice Baked Potatoes
- Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
- Roasted Ranch Potatoes & Carrots
- Baked Potatoes with Broccoli & The BEST Cheese Sauce Ever
Baked Sweet Potato using the easiest method ever! Super simple, tried and true way that easily shows how to bake a sweet potato.
Leah says
Do you need to pierce the potato at all? And where should you look for oozing? From the cut ends or just all over? Thanks
Jessica Williams says
Leah- you don't need to pierce the potato- but you can if you want to. I just cut off the ends- what happens is the potato puffs up a bit and when it's fully cooled, this allows you to peel the skin off super easily! It will ooze from wherever you've cut it- so the ends… or from the piercings on the potato and the ends if you pierce it.
Faye says
It is so much easier to wash, wrap in foil, place in crock pot on low all day.
Haley says
This is my favorite side dish to eat during the holidays. It looks delicious!
Jessica says
It’s one of mine too Haley! 🙂
Judy Lanza says
why do you cut the ends off? I make these but leave it whole
Jessica says
It’s a way to ventilate the potato instead of piercing it all over. It seems to yield fluffier insides!