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!
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.
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.
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: They are ready when a fork inserted into the thickest part of the potato goes in easily without resistance.
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! Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it!
