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Oven baked sweet potatoes are one of those ultimate easy, healthy side dishes that everyone should have in their arsenal. This baked sweet potato recipe is my go-to. It tastes amazing, my kids love them, and it’s more nutritious than regular white potatoes.
If you’re looking for the easiest method, cooking sweet potatoes in the oven is even simpler and requires less hands-on time than making mashed sweet potatoes or air fryer sweet potatoes. The oven creates a fluffy texture and crispy skin, all with ingredients you have on hand!
Why You’ll Love This Baked Sweet Potato Recipe
- Sweet and savory flavor
- Fluffy, creamy interior + crispy exterior
- Quick prep in just 5 minutes
- Basic pantry ingredients
- Easy to cook and use in other meals, or for meal prep
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for sweet potatoes in the oven, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Sweet Potatoes – Choose unblemished, heavy potatoes with roughly the same size, so they cook at the same rate. You can also make this recipe using yams, which will be similar to an oven baked sweet potato but sweeter.
- Oil – I usually use olive oil or avocado oil, but any neutral cooking oil works.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper – For lightly seasoning the skin as it bakes, plus more for the inside after baking. Garlic powder also makes a nice addition.
- Optional Toppings – Including butter, flaky sea salt, green onions, and cooked bacon (I usually use leftover oven baked bacon or air fryer bacon!).
How To Bake Sweet Potatoes In The Oven
This section shows how to bake a sweet potato, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Prep. Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Rinse and scrub any dirt off the skin, then dry thoroughly. (It’s important for them to be very dry, so that the skin gets nice and crispy.)
- Pierce. Poke holes all over each potato with a fork or knife, and place on the baking sheet.
- Season. Rub oil into the skins and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook. Bake sweet potatoes in the oven until tender, flipping over halfway through baking.
- Season and top. Remove baked sweet potatoes and let them rest for 5 minutes. Cut open each potato, season, and add toppings as desired.
What Temp To Bake Sweet Potatoes?
It’s best to bake sweet potatoes at relatively high temperatures, either 400 or 425 degrees F. I prefer 425 degrees F, because they cook slightly faster and the skin crisps up more.
How Long To Bake Sweet Potatoes?
Most baked sweet potato recipes need 40-50 minutes in the oven for medium sweet potatoes, or 50-60 minutes for large ones. Keep in mind that the time to bake a sweet potato will vary depending on its size.
TIP: Use a fork to test for doneness.
They are ready when a fork inserted into the thickest part of the potato goes in easily without resistance.
Recipe Variations
- Change Seasonings – Instead of plain salt and pepper, add bolder taste with taco seasoning mix, ranch seasoning, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, or a spoonful of compound butter (after cooking).
- Try Other Sweet Potatoes – I used sweet potatoes with orange flesh, but white or purple varieties work just as well with this method. Yams, too!
- Flavor With Other Oils – Use another cooking fat to change the flavor, such as unrefined coconut oil (or butter flavored coconut oil), leftover bacon grease, or ghee.
- Add More Toppings – In addition to the toppings above, try sour cream, a sprinkle of blue cheese, chopped nuts, chives, a drizzle of maple syrup (or sugar-free maple syrup).
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers wrapped in plastic or foil (or in an airtight container) in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
- Meal prep: Prepare the baked sweet potatoes recipe, let it cool, and store in the fridge until ready to reheat or use in recipes.
- Reheat: Use a microwave, air fryer, or warm oven to reheat a leftover baked sweet potato.
- Freeze: Wrap tightly and freeze whole cooked potatoes in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag for up to 4 months.
What To Serve With Baked Sweet Potatoes
The light flavor makes these so easy to customize and pair with other recipes! Try these serving ideas:
- Sauces & Dips – Homemade guacamole, Crock Pot queso dip, ranch crack dip, and sugar-free BBQ sauce make yummy toppings beyond the conventional ones.
- Shredded Meat – Scoop chipotle beef barbacoa, slow cooker pulled pork, or Instant Pot shredded chicken on these potatoes.
- Steak – Instead of the traditional white potatoes, serve your sirloin steak, ribeye, or filet mignon with sweet potatoes.
- Soups & Stews – Prep a sweet potato baked and serve with pork stew, broccoli cheese soup, or vegetable soup.
- Hearty Salads – Dice the potatoes and add to a kale crunch salad, spinach bacon salad, or pear salad. They also make a good swap in winter salad or butternut squash salad.
More Root Vegetable Recipes
These roasted sides pair well with almost anything!
Baked Sweet Potatoes in the Oven
Baked Sweet Potato In The Oven (Easy!)
An oven baked sweet potato recipe just needs oil, salt & pepper! Learn how to bake sweet potatoes with perfect fluffy insides and crispy skin.
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Basic Baked Sweet Potatoes:
Optional Toppings For Serving:
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
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Place the potatoes onto the prepared baking sheet. Use a fork or knife to pierce small holes all over the potatoes (about 4-5 spots per potato is enough).
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Drizzle the olive oil over the sweet potatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Massage the oil and seasoning into the skin.
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Bake sweet potatoes in the oven for 40-50 minutes for medium sweet potatoes, or 50-60 minutes for large sweet potatoes, flipping carefully with tongs about halfway through.
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Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Make a cut in the middle of each baked sweet potato, then top with butter, more salt (I love using flaky sea salt here!) and pepper to taste, and other toppings as desired.
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 medium baked sweet potato
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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7 Comments
Marcia Davis
0What about the high number of carbs? An entire day’s worth?
When I eat sweet potatoes, my blood sugar stays elevated.
Please address the high carbs in a keto recipe.
Thanks.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Marcia, This recipe is not suitable for a keto lifestyle.
Marcia Davis
0I’m surprised it’s on your site. I thought the site was Keto, Low Carb.
Thanks for the quick response.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Marcia, I create easy healthy recipes, as well as keto recipes.
Kara
0I topped mine with toasted almonds for some crunch, my husband and kids used honey butter on theirs. Everyone was happy!
Journa Liz Ramirez
0Wow! This recipe is so amazing! It’s easy to make and so delicious. Thanks, Maya, for this highly recommended recipe.
Doreen T
0The best way to make sweet potatoes! I topped ourrs with butter and chopped bacon. AMAZING!