Learn how to bake a sweet potato for an easy side dish! Roasted in the oven, these are complete with butter and salt or stuffed with toppings for a complete meal. Plenty of topping ideas, tips, and more in the post. Leftovers are easily repurposed into a fresh new dish!
Scrub the outside of the potatoes with a clean dish sponge or scrubber to break away any dirt and debris on the skins. Dry well.
Place them on a lightly-greased, foil-lined baking sheet.
Bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes to an hour or until the skin has puffed up and you can easily pierce through the thickest part of the potato with a knife.
Notes
Expert tips:
Piercing the potato - This is not always necessary, so this is a matter of preference and optional.
Cooking time and temperature - Sweet potatoes can be cooked for a longer time at a higher temperature. I wouldn’t go above 425 or for longer than 1.5 hours.
Foil vs. parchment paper - Parchment paper is a great tool for baking but different versions have different temperature limits, so check the packaging for those details. I’ve used both versions and have not noticed a difference.