Description
This easy baked sweet potato recipe yields perfectly tender and flavorful sweet potatoes with a crispy skin. Baked at a high temperature for up to an hour, these sweet potatoes are a wholesome comfort food, delicious when topped with classic additions like brown sugar, sour cream, butter, and fresh chives.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
Toppings
- Brown sugar, to taste
- Sour cream, to taste
- Unsalted butter, to taste
- Chopped fresh chives, to taste
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 425°F (218°C) and let it fully preheat to ensure even cooking and a nicely browned skin on the sweet potatoes.
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Thoroughly scrub the sweet potatoes under cold running water using a vegetable brush to remove any dirt. Once clean, pat them completely dry with a clean kitchen towel to ensure crisp skin when baked.
- Pierce Skins: Using a fork, pierce several holes all over each sweet potato. This allows steam to escape during baking and prevents bursting.
- Arrange for Baking: Place the pierced sweet potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Space them apart so hot air circulates evenly around each potato.
- Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the center oven rack. Bake the sweet potatoes for 40 to 60 minutes, depending on their size. They are done when a knife inserted into the thickest part slides in easily and the flesh feels soft to the touch.
- Serve: Carefully remove the potatoes from the oven. Split each one lengthwise and fluff the inside with a fork. Add desired toppings such as brown sugar, sour cream, butter, chopped chives, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper before serving.
Notes
- Cooking time varies based on the size of the sweet potatoes; larger ones may need the full hour.
- Using parchment paper or foil on the baking sheet makes cleanup easier and prevents sticking.
- For sweeter potatoes, add a sprinkle of cinnamon along with brown sugar.
- You can prepare sweet potatoes in advance and reheat in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: baked sweet potato, easy sweet potato recipe, healthy side dish, oven baked sweet potatoes, gluten free side
