• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Wholesome Made Easy
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Light
  • Low Carb
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Course » Side Dishes » Perfect Baked Sweet Potatoes

    Perfect Baked Sweet Potatoes

    January 20, 2021 by Valerie Brunmeier

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    A close up of a baked sweet potato split open and topped with butter with text overlay.
    Baked sweet potatoes topped with butter with text overlay.

    Baked Sweet Potatoes are a highly nutritious and versatile side dish that can easily be transformed into a complete meal. They are easy to prepare and dependably delicious!

    Three baked sweet potatoes topped with butter shot from over the top.

    Swapping regular baked potatoes for sweet potatoes is a delicious way to add interest and a ton of nutrition to your menu. They take some time in the oven but they are exceptionally simple to prepare and the payoff is big in both flavor and healthy benefits.

    Perfect Baked Sweet Potatoes are very tender with a fluffy interior and are super rich in flavor. Naturally sweet, they need very little to dress them up as a simple side dish. They also happen to make the perfect base for a wide variety of toppings that will make them a complete meal.

    A close up of a sweet potato topped with butter.

    Ingredients

    Sweet potatoes, olive oil, butter, salt and pepper with text overlay.
    • Sweet potatoes come in a variety of colors and sizes. I prefer orange or red-skinned sweet potatoes with a bright orange flesh. Look for sweet potatoes that are similar in size so they will need the same amount of time in the oven.
    • I like to coat my sweet potatoes in a little olive oil before baking. It adds some gloss and helps to crisp up the skin a bit, providing a little more structure to the thin skin. Unless you plan on eating the skin, the oil is for appearance only. Feel free to skip this step if you’d like.
    • A little butter, salt and pepper is all that’s needed to top a baked sweet potato. See below for more fun serving suggestions.

    How to Bake Sweet Potatoes

    Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to protect it from the sticky-sweet liquid that tends to seep out of the sweet potatoes while they bake. Parchment paper will keep your baking sheet clean and will help prevent the sweet potatoes from sticking to the metal pan.

    Sweet potatoes are poked with a fork and coated with oil.
    • Scrub the sweet potatoes until clean and dry them with paper towels. Place them on the prepared baking sheet and poke each sweet potato with a fork about 3 or 4 times per side.
    • Drizzle each sweet potato with 1 teaspoon olive oil, if using, and use your hands to rub the oil to coat all sides. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until tender all the way through when pierced with a toothpick (don’t use anything large like a knife to test them as it will allow them to start releasing more liquid).

    If preferred, you can skip the parchment paper and enclose the prepped sweet potatoes in foil before baking to contain the liquids.

    Allow the sweet potatoes to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing them open.

    Hands squeeze the ends of a sweet potato to open it up.

    Slice the sweet potatoes down the middle and use your hands (use paper towels if too hot) to squish the ends in and open it up.

    A fork breaks into a baked sweet potato.

    Sweet Potato Nutrition

    Sweet potatoes are a highly nutritious super food, packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are exceptionally high in beta-carotene which is converted to vitamin A when consumed and helps to support good vision and your immune system. Sweet potatoes are a delicious, nutrient-dense carb option.

    One sweet potato can contain up to 65% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C, another strong antioxidant and immunity booster.

    A fork lifts a bite of sweet potato.

    How to Serve Baked Sweet Potatoes

    • Baked Sweet Potatoes are a simple and versatile side dish option for a wide variety of meals. They pair deliciously with steak, chicken, or pork. Keep them simple with a little butter, salt and pepper or jazz things up with a drizzle of maple syrup and a pinch of crushed red pepper for a sweet and spicy kick. A sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar is a natural flavor combo.
    • Skip the bun and spoon my Cajun Sloppy Joe filling over the top for a complete meal.
    • Top them with a spoonful of the filling for my Turkey Tacos and your favorite taco toppings for a nutritious Mexican-inspired meal.
    • Stuff them with Shredded BBQ Chicken and garnish with diced red onion and cilantro.
    Three baked sweet potatoes topped with butter shot from over the top.

    Perfect Baked Sweet Potatoes

    Valerie Brunmeier
    Baked Sweet Potatoes are a highly nutritious and versatile side dish that can easily be transformed into a complete meal. They are easy to prepare and dependably delicious!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 50 mins
    Cooling Time 10 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 194 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 sweet potatoes red or orange skin with orange flesh
    • 4 teaspoons olive oil optional
    • butter salt, and pepper, as desired

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
    • Scrub the sweet potatoes until clean and dry them with paper towels. Place on the prepared baking sheet and poke with a fork about 3 or 4 times per side. Drizzle each sweet potato with about 1 teaspoon olive oil, if using. Use your hands to rub the oil and coat all sides of each sweet potato with the oil. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until tender all the way through when pierced with a toothpick (don't use anything large like a knife to test them as it will allow them to start releasing more liquid).
    • Remove from the oven and let them cool for about 10 minutes. Slice down the middle and use your hands (use paper towels if too hot) to squish the ends in and open up the potato.
    • Season with salt and pepper, to taste and top with a pat of butter, if desired.

    Notes

    Nutrition information was calculated for 1 sweet potato without toppings.
    If preferred, you can skip the parchment paper and enclose the prepped sweet potatoes in foil before baking.
    Serving Suggestions
    Baked Sweet Potatoes are a simple and versatile side dish option for a wide variety of meals. They pair deliciously with steak, chicken, or pork. Keep them simple with a little butter, salt and pepper or jazz things up with a drizzle of maple syrup and a pinch of crushed red pepper for a sweet and spicy kick. A sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar is a natural flavor combo.
    Skip the bun and spoon my Cajun Sloppy Joe filling over the top for a complete meal.
    Top them with a spoonful of the filling for my Turkey Tacos and your favorite taco toppings for a nutritious Mexican-inspired meal.
    Stuff them with Shredded BBQ Chicken and garnish with diced red onion and cilantro.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1potatoCalories: 194kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 124mgPotassium: 762mgFiber: 7gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 32063IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword baked sweet potatoes
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    All information provided regarding nutrition on this website is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Content related to nutrition is not medical advice nor is it intended to replace medical advice. The website is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, condition, illness, or injury. Before beginning any diet program, modifying your diet, or making changes to the diet of a child in your care, including following the nutrition information available on the website, you should seek advice from a licensed professional.

    Nutrition Information Disclaimer

    Related Posts

    • A closeup of a turkey taco with a bottle of hot sauce behind it.
      Turkey Tacos
    • close up of air fryer breakfast potatoes on gray plate.
      Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
    • Chili Lime Chicken Tacos
    • A sliced turkey meatloaf on a white platter.
      Turkey Couscous Meatloaf
    « Very Veggie Chili
    Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken »

    Thank you for sharing!

    35 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Email

    Filed Under: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Light, Nut-Free, Paleo, Side Dishes, Vegan Tagged With: Vegetables

    About Valerie Brunmeier

    Valerie, a long time food blogger and cookbook author, launched Wholesome Made Easy in June of 2020. Her true passion is sharing her experience as a working mom of four to help other busy home cooks create wholesome, delicious meals that take a lighter approach. Her recipes have been featured on Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, Country Living, Cosmopolitan, Buzzfeed, MSN, Shape Magazine and more.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome

    Hi! I’m Valerie Brunmeier, the founder of Wholesome Made Easy. If you are a home cook looking for inspiration to incorporate recipes with a lighter, healthier approach into your menu, you’re in the right place! Read more...

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    Email frequency

    Categories

    Quick and Easy

    Low Calorie Eats

    A hand holding a turkey burger in a bun with a toothpick.

    Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

    Wooden salad spoons in a bowl of blueberry beet salad.

    Blueberry Beet Salad

    A top down shot of Carrot Soup in a white bowl with fresh thyme.

    Carrot Soup

    An over the top shot of a skillet of gnocchi with white beans.

    Gnocchi with White Beans and Spinach

    Footer

    • Home
    • About
    • Recipe Index
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact
    Footer Logo Round

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    Email frequency
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Wholesome Made Easy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    Copyright © 2022 · Wholesome Made Easy · privacy policy · terms & conditions

    35 shares