Baked Sweet Potatoes

These Baked Sweet Potatoes are absolutely perfect. Seasoned and baked until they have a crispy skin on the outside and are creamy and fluffy on the inside. This is the recipe you’ll go to again and again for Sweet Potato perfection. 

Around my house we love Sweet Potatoes. They are healthy, budget friendly and there are endless ways to prepare them. Sometimes I peel and dice them like when I make these Roasted Cinnamon Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes or these Maple Cinnamon Sugar Sweet Potatoes. Sometimes I slice them and make these Baked Sweet Potato Fries. Today though I’m going to show you how to make the Perfect Baked Sweet Potato. 

How to Bake Sweet Potatoes In the Oven: (scroll down for printable recipe card)

Ingredients:

• sweet potatoes
• olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste 
• butter for serving 

Special Equipment:

• baking sheet
• aluminum foil or parchment paper 
• fork
• tongs

Instructions: 

Step one: Begin by preheating the oven to 425°F while the oven is warming up line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, set aside. Then wash the sweet potatoes and then pat them dry.

Step two: Using a fork poke holes in 4-5 places in a random pattern all over the sweet potatoes. Poking holes in the potato creates vents to allow steam to release during the cooking process and prevents the potato from splitting open in the oven. 

Step three: Place the potatoes on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Brush or rub olive oil all around the outside of the sweet potatoes to coat them. Coating the outside of the potatoes in oil will crisp the outside 

Step four: Season the potatoes with salt and pepper. Then transfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes then with kitchen tongs (potatoes will be very hot) flip over and bake for another 30 minutes. Sweet potatoes are cooked through when a fork pierces the potato easily. 

Step five: Remove from the oven and let rest for five minutes. Slice down the middle and push in on the end to open the potatoes. Add butter, salt, pepper or other toppings. 

How do you know when a sweet potato is done baking?

Sweet potatoes are cooked through when a they are “fork tender” or when fork pierces the potato easily. Another way to know if the potato is baked through is to use a meat thermometer. When the internal temperature of 205-212°F in the thickest part of the potato   it is ready to come out of the oven. 

My Notes and Tips: 

• When you are selecting the sweet potatoes at the the grocery store select potatoes that are similar in size. This will help to ensure that the sweet potatoes cook all cook through at the same temperature and time.
• I recommend lining your baking sheet with foil for easier clean up and to protect your pan. Sweet Potatoes release natural sugar and water during the baking process. There is no cause for concern this is completely normal. However, this liquid can caramelize and be difficult to clean. Foil or even parchment paper will save you time and your manicure while doing the dishes. 

Variations and Substitutions: 

• You can use a tablespoon of vegetable oil or coconut oil in place of the olive oil in this recipe. 
• It is not necessary to coat the potatoes in oil. They will bake up nicely without the oil coating. The skin of the potato will not be as crispy but the inside will be still be soft and delicious. 

I hope you and your family will love this recipe as much as we do! If you do try this recipe please come back and leave a comment letting me know how much you liked it! 

Happy Cooking Y’all! 

Susanne