Healthy Baked Sweet Potatoes

These Baked Sweet Potatoes are sweet, light, tender, and crispy. The options after they come out of the oven hot and ready are unlimited. It's one of the simplest sweet potato recipes out there.

Here are some finger-licking dishes to serve with your sweet potatoes: Crispy Southern Fried Chicken, Parmesan Crusted Chicken (Air-Fryer), Southern Fried Fish, Jamaican Oxtails, Lamb Meatballs, and Southern Sweet Tea.  

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• Key Ingredients
• How to Make Baked Sweet Potatoes
• Pro Recipe Substitutions, Tips & Tricks
• FAQs
• More Baked Sweet Potato Recipes
• Before You Begin
• 📖 Recipe

I love sweet potatoes! I love them in multiple ways, like my coconut mashed sweet potatoes or buttered mashed sweet potatoes. I also love them in some not-so-healthy ways.

One of the best things about baked sweet potatoes is that they’re so easy to make. Simply preheat your oven, add your sweet potatoes, roast until tender and bubbling brown, and season with your favorite seasonings.

That’s it! In just a few simple steps, you’ve got a healthy and delicious side dish or meal that everyone is sure to love.

When you bake sweet potatoes, they transform from humble tubers into something far more special. The natural starches convert to sugar in the sweet potatoes which helps them caramelize and make the potatoes crispy on the outside while keeping their interior creamy and creating a wonderfully complex flavor that is both earthy and sweet.

The great thing about oven-baked sweet potatoes is that they’re so versatile. You can enjoy them as a side dish or use them as the main ingredient in a healthy and hearty meal. And there are endless ways to season them, so you can always find a new favorite way to enjoy them. Whether you like them savory or sweet, I’ve got a recipe for you!

If you’ve been looking for an easy and healthy way to enjoy sweet potatoes, look no further than these baked sweet potatoes! They’re simple to make, full of flavor, and so versatile.

Whether you enjoy them as a side dish or use them as the main event in a healthy and hearty meal, we know you’re going to love them!

Key Ingredients

If you're going to bake sweet potatoes to perfection, you need to buy the right sweet potato.

Sweet Potato

Avoid buying sweet potatoes that have long strings hanging from them. This is a sign that the sweet potato is not fresh but old. I learned this from my elders while shopping and making groceries as a kid.

Kosher Salt

I like to use kosher salt for two reasons. The first reason is that it has no additives. The second reason is that the flakes are larger, so it's easier to control the amount of salt you're using.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a must when it comes to sweet potatoes. It gives the sweet potato a beautiful flavor and aroma.

Thyme

Thyme is a perfect herb to use with sweet potatoes. It has a light and lemony flavor that compliments the sweetness of the sweet potato.

How to Make Baked Sweet Potatoes

Oven baked sweet potatoes are possibly one of the simplest things you'll ever bake in the oven; let me show you how to whip them up.

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Wash your sweet potatoes under cold running water. Then pierce evenly with a fork. This will help the sweet potato steam and allow the natural sugars to come out.

Step 2: Place them in the oven on a baking sheet and bake sweet potatoes for 1 hour until soft and tender. A great sign that they're done will be the amazing sweet potato scent.

Step 3: Slice them lengthwise to release the steam, then season them with salt, cinnamon and thyme and serve the baked sweet potato hot. That's all that's required for a perfect baked sweet potato.

Pro Recipe Substitutions, Tips & Tricks

If you're going to serve the perfect baked sweet potato. There aren't many tips and tricks for making them, but there are some key things to keep in mind.

• Preheat your oven, this will make sure that your oven is properly heated when adding your sweet potatoes.
• Sometimes when I don't feel like waiting for the oven to preheat, I'll add my sweet potatoes to a cold oven and increase my cooking time by 15 minutes. The trick with this is that the potatoes begin to cook as the oven temperature rises.
• I like to bake my sweet potato directly on the oven rack, I find this makes the skin even crispier. Don't forget to place a baking sheet on the rack under them to catch the dripping sugar.
• Eat the skin! When you oven-bake sweet potatoes, the skin is crispy and full of nutrients and fiber. It's also where most of the flavor is.
• If you're not a fan of sweet potatoes, you can always substitute with Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes. They'll still be packed with flavor and just as delicious!
• You don't need to rub your potatoes with olive oil before baking. I find this to be an unnecessary step.
• If you find your sweet potato is not too sweet, add 1 teaspoon of brown sugar to boost the flavor.
• Don't skip piercing your potatoes, this helps the natural sugars come out and allows the sweet potato to steam.
• If you want extra crispy sweet potatoes, you can always cut them into smaller pieces. Smaller pieces = more surface area = more crunch.
• Scoop out the flesh and save for a whipped sweet potato or for a sweet potato pie.
• Short on time? Cook your sweet potato in the microwave for 16 minutes, flipping over halfway for a quick baked sweet potato.

FAQs

Here are the questions top questions readers have about baking sweet potatoes.

How long do sweet potatoes take to bake?

Depending on the size, sweet potatoes usually take around 1-1.5 hours to bake properly. You'll know they're ready when they're soft to the touch all over.

Should sweet potatoes be boiled before roasting?

You do not need to boil your potatoes before roasting them. Simply wash them well and pierce with a fork before baking.

What is the healthiest way to cook sweet potatoes?

The healthiest way to cook sweet potatoes is by baking them in the oven. This cooking method takes a bit longer, but it's worth it because slow and even cooking preserves nutrients and flavor in sweet potatoes.

Do you cut sweet potatoes before baking?

No, there is no need to cut sweet potatoes before baking them. Baking them whole is perfect.

Is it better to boil a sweet potato or bake it?

This all depends on how you'll serve them. The best way to cook sweet potatoes is by baking them in the oven. Bake sweet potatoes flavor is superior compared to boiled sweet potatoes. Boiled sweet potatoes are great when you're short on time.

Do you need to wrap sweet potatoes in foil before baking?

There is no need to wrap sweet potatoes in foil before baking them. The only reason you would wrap them in foil is to keep the sugars from dripping out, but I do find wrapping them in foil to take about 20 minutes longer.

Can I bake sweet potatoes ahead of time?

Yes! Baked sweet potatoes will stay good in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave before serving.

What can you put on a sweet potato that is healthy?

You can quickly take your oven-roasted sweet potatoes from healthy to unhealthy fast. My favorite way to keep them healthy is by adding one tablespoon of unsalted butter, kosher salt, cinnamon, and fresh thyme.

Some good healthy toppings for sweet potatoes include: grilled chicken, black beans, salsa, avocado, Greek yogurt, or plain yogurt. Try my bbq chicken baked potato recipe.

More Baked Sweet Potato Recipes

If you're looking for other ways to jazz up your baked sweet potato recipe, look no further than the recipes below:

• Sweet Potato Cornbread
• Sweet Potato Pancakes
• Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls
• Sweet Potato Pie
• Sweet Potato Pecan Ice Cream
• Sweet Potato Waffles

Before You Begin

Here are the steps I take to get organized, and they might be useful to you as well.

Step 1: Get all ingredients on the counter.

Step 2: Wash your sweet potatoes under cold water and rub with your hands or with a fingernail brush to remove any dirt.

Step 3: Follow the recipe and get ready for the best baked sweet potatoes you’ve ever enjoyed.

Baked sweet potatoes are a tasty side dish that can be enjoyed with many different toppings. I've provided some tips on how to bake sweet potatoes perfectly, as well as some ideas for healthy toppings. Whether you're looking for a new side dish to add to your rotation or you want some ideas for healthy Thanksgiving recipes, baked sweet potatoes are the perfect solution!

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