How to Cook Sweet Potatoes {3 Easy Ways!}

Get all my tips on how to cook sweet potatoes. Hint: it’s so super easy!! Plus, I’ve included some of my favorite topping ideas.

How to Cook Sweet Potatoes

Did you know that a sweet potato isn’t even a potato? Yep, sweet potatoes are actually root vegetables in the same family as turnips and carrots (and not tubers like potatoes and yams).

And you know what else they are? Sweet potatoes are:

• Packed with vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, C, B12, and potassium
• High in fiber
• Low in calories — a medium-sized sweet potato has about 100 calories
• Super filling

Oh, and did I mention they’re easy to make?

Instructions on How to Cook Sweet Potatoes 3 Ways

My 3 favorite ways to make sweet potatoes are: baked in the oven, in the air fryer, and in the microwave.

Here’s what you need to do for each method.

IN THE OVEN: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Then poke them a few times with the tines of a fork. Place them on the baking sheet and roast until cooked through, about 45 minutes.

IN THE AIR FRYER: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes and then coat them potatoes in some olive oil or cooking oil of your choice. Place the sweet potatoes in the basket of the air fryer. And cook until cooked through and fork-tender, about 30-40 minutes (depending on the size of your sweet potato).

IN THE MICROWAVE: Wash and dry your sweet potatoes and then poke them with the tines of a fork several times. Place on a microwave-safe plate and then microwave for 6-8 minutes (depending on your sweet potato’s size).

See, so easy, right??

My Favorite Toppings:

Now let’s get to the fun part! How are you going to top them? Here are a few of my favorite flavor combinations. What’s yours? Make sure to let me know in the comments below!

GO TRADITIONAL: Add toppings like butter (or your favorite vegan butter), salt, and pepper. Maybe some chives, too.

SWEET FOR BREAKFAST: Sound weird? It’s actually so good. Add almond butter, bananas, and/or berries, a dash of chia seeds, and a drizzle of honey.

BBQ BOWL STYLE: Top with ingredients including cooked ground turkey, black beans, steamed or roasted broccoli, some avocado, and a drizzle of BBQ sauce.

MIDDLE-EASTERN INSPIRED: Add roasted chickpeas, shredded kale drizzled with lemon juice, tahini (or almond butter), and some creamy goat cheese

A Few More Recipe Tips:

USE ORGANIC: While conventional sweet potatoes are grown with fewer pesticides than potatoes, I would still recommend using organic sweet potatoes if possible. I used Bako organic sweet potatoes for this recipe (and just to let you know, they were gifted to me!).

STORAGE: You can store a cooked sweet potato in the refrigerator for up to. 3 days. To reheat, just microwave until heated through.

Love This Recipe? You might also like:

THE BEST-EVER BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
EASY ROASTED CARROT AND FENNEL SALAD
GRILLED SHRIMP SALAD WITH CORN AND AVOCADO

How to Cook Sweet Potatoes

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

• Author: Laura | Growing Up Cali
• Total Time: 10-60 minutes
• Yield: 1 sweet potato 1x
• Diet: Gluten Free

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Get all my tips on how to cook sweet potatoes. Hint: it’s so super easy!! Plus, I’ve included some of my favorite topping ideas!

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 sweet potato (you can cook multiple sweet potatoes at the same time in the oven or air fryer but if you use a microwave, cook one at a time)
• Olive oil and kosher salt — if baking in the oven or air fryer
• Preferred toppings

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

For the Oven: 

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Wash and dry the sweet potato and then poke it a few times with the tines of a fork.
2. Place on the baking sheet and roast until cooked through, about 45 minutes.
3. When cool enough to handle, slice and add your preferred toppings.

For the Air Fryer:

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Wash and dry the sweet potato and then coat it in some olive oil or cooking oil of your choice.
2. Place in the basket of the air fryer. And cook until cooked through and fork-tender, about 30-40 minutes (depending on the size of your sweet potato).
3. When cool enough to handle, slice and add your preferred toppings.

In the Microwave: 

1. Wash and dry your sweet potato and then poke it with the tines of a fork several times. Place on a microwave-safe plate and then microwave for 6-8 minutes (depending on your sweet potato’s size).
2.  When cool enough to handle, slice and add your preferred toppings.

Notes

STORAGE: You can store a cooked sweet potato in the refrigerator for up to. 3 days. To reheat, just microwave until heated through.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 6-45 minutes depending on method
• Category: Side, Main
• Cuisine: American