Description

This recipe for Perfectly Baked Sweet Potato delivers tender, flavorful sweet potatoes with a crisp skin. Using simple ingredients like olive oil, salt, and butter, and baking at a high temperature ensures a deliciously soft interior and a lightly crisp exterior, perfect as a healthy side dish or a base for your favorite toppings.

Ingredients

Scale

Sweet Potatoes

4 large sweet potatoes (red-skinned)

Seasoning and Toppings

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or vegetable oil, coconut oil, or bacon grease)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven: Set your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius) to prepare for baking the sweet potatoes evenly at a high temperature.
Prepare the sweet potatoes: Wash, scrub, and dry the sweet potatoes thoroughly to remove any dirt and ensure the skins crisp up nicely during baking. Place them on a foil-lined baking sheet for easy cleanup.
Oil and season: Rub the sweet potatoes all over with the olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt, ensuring the entire skin is coated for maximum flavor and crispiness.
Prick the potatoes: Use a fork to prick the sweet potatoes several times all over. This allows steam to escape during baking and prevents bursting.
Bake the sweet potatoes: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of your sweet potatoes. Begin checking for doneness at 45 minutes by inserting a fork; the potatoes should be tender when pierced.
Cool and open: Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and let them cool slightly for about 5 minutes so they are safe to handle. Then, split the tops open carefully with a knife and gently squeeze to open the flesh.
Serve: Add a pat of unsalted butter into the opened sweet potatoes and season with additional salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste before serving. Enjoy warm as a delicious side dish or base for additional toppings.

Notes

Choose sweet potatoes of similar size to ensure even cooking.
Baking times will vary based on potato size; larger potatoes need closer to 60 minutes of baking.
Use foil on the baking sheet to catch drips and simplify cleanup.
Additional toppings like cinnamon, brown sugar, or savory herbs can be added after baking for variety.
Sweet potatoes are best served fresh but can be refrigerated and reheated gently.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: baked sweet potato, easy side dish, healthy sweet potato, gluten free, oven baked sweet potato