Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
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Published Oct 31, 2023, Updated Dec 20, 2024
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Make the perfect air fryer sweet potato that results in a crisp skin and fluffy, soft center every time! Plus, it takes less than half the time it would take in the oven.
Did you know that you can make perfectly baked sweet potatoes in the air fryer in less than half the time it takes in the oven?! Well, you can!
This air fryer sweet potato recipe has quickly become my new favorite way to cook sweet potatoes. Not only does it cook up in just 30 minutes, but it also gives you that ideal balance of crispy skin with a soft, creamy center. Top it with some chives, and my vegan sour cream (more ideas below) for an irresistible snack that’s perfect any time of day!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Less time than the oven: Baked sweet potatoes take only about 30 minutes in the air fryer versus 60-80 minutes in the oven.
- Easy to make: All you really need are a couple of sweet potatoes and an air fryer!
- Healthy: Sweet potatoes provide plenty of nutritional benefits. They are a great source of fiber, vitamins and minerals and they’re packed with antioxidants!
- Versatile: There are endless options for serving these air fryer baked sweet potatoes. Serve them with your favorite protein, or simply enjoy them with a slice of butter.
Ingredients Needed
- sweet potato – this recipe called for two whole sweet potatoes, and that’s really all you need. When shopping for sweet potatoes, look for firm, unwrinkled skins. You can use any variety you like. I used Beauregard, but I also like Jewel or Garnet. All three of these varieties have an orange flesh, but feel free to use white or purple sweet potatoes if you prefer.
- sea salt & olive oil – completely optional, but highly recommended to elevate the flavors. You can use any oil you have on hand and I suggest flaky sea salt like Maldon sea salt flakes for some added texture!
Topping Ideas
I love serving my baked sweet potato with butter and flaky sea salt, but feel free to get creative with your toppings! Here are some ideas:
- Cinnamon, butter and coconut sugar or brown sugar
- Butter or vegan butter
- Sour cream, Greek yogurt or vegan sour cream
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Bacon or tempeh bacon
- Green onions or chives
- Fresh herbs
- Vegetarian chili or turkey chili
- Creamy vegan queso
How to Make Baked Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer
Making sweet potatoes in the air fryer is so simple! After a quick rinse and some seasoning, your air fryer will do the rest of the work. In just about 30 minutes, you’ll have tender, flavorful sweet potatoes ready for your favorite toppings.
Step 1: Rinse and scrub the sweet potatoes, leaving them a bit damp so the salt sticks. Poke 4-8 holes in each potato with a fork, sprinkle with salt, and drizzle with olive oil.
Step 2: Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook at 390°F for about 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until fork-tender.
Brittany’s Tips
- Don’t skip poking holes: This allows steam to escape and prevents the potatoes from bursting during cooking.
- Don’t wrap in foil: Wrapping sweet potatoes in aluminum foil steams the potatoes and makes the skin soggy and soft rather than crisp!
- Want a crispier crust? Don’t skip adding the oil to the skin before baking!
How to Serve
- Alongside a protein – Serve your baked sweet potato as a side dish alongside your favorite protein for a full balanced meal! It would be delicious served with this air fryer chicken breast, maple turmeric chicken, air fryer salmon or crispy baked tofu.
- In a bowl – Scoop out the sweet potato flesh and add it to a bowl meal like this buddha bowl, chicken protein bowl or roasted harvest bowl.
- As a game day snack – Make an upgraded game day snack with these healthy sweet potato skins.
- As a dessert – Make this dessert baked sweet potato and add your favorite sweet toppings like cinnamon, coconut butter, chocolate, candied pecans and a drizzle of maple syrup or honey.
- Chili stuffed – Add a few scoops of chili to the center of the sweet potato. Top with traditional chili toppings and enjoy! Try this with my healthy turkey chili or my easy vegetarian chili.
- Mexican stuffed – This mexicali stuffed sweet potato is loaded with black beans, bell pepper, salsa, mushrooms and topped with a zesty tahini dressing.
- Sweet potato casserole – Make an individual sweet potato casserole by topping the sweet potato with mini marshmallows once cooked and sliced. Place the sweet potato back in the air fryer for a few more minutes to roast the marshmallows!
Storing Leftovers
If you end up with any leftovers, place them in an airtight sealed container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
To reheat them you can either air fry them at 350°F for about 5-10 minutes or you can use a microwave on a medium setting for 2-3 minutes.
FAQ’s
It takes about 30 minutes for a whole medium-sized sweet potato to cook in the air fryer at 390°F. This is less than half the time it takes to make a baked sweet potato in the oven.
If you don’t have an air fryer I suggest following my recipe for easy baked sweet potatoes in the oven!
For larger sweet potatoes, you might need to increase the cooking time, while smaller ones may require less time. It’s always a good idea to check for doneness by inserting a fork to see if it’s tender.
Sweet potatoes are lower in calories and carbohydrates but higher in fiber, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C compared to regular potatoes. They also have a lower glycemic index which may be beneficial for blood sugar control.
It’s not necessary to peel sweet potatoes before air frying. In fact, the skin provides additional nutrients and a nice texture when crisped up in the air fryer. However, if you prefer, you can peel them.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Air Fryer Potatoes
More Sweet Potato Recipes
- Sweet Potato Hummus
- Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Baked Oatmeal
- Mashed Sweet Potato
Be sure to check out all of the side dish recipes as well as the full collection of air fryer recipes on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 2 teaspoons olive oil, optional
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt, optional
Instructions
- Rinse and scrub sweet potatoes. Use a fork to poke holes in each potato. I like to do 4-8 holes, depending on how big the potato is.
- Leave a bit of water on the potatoes from rinsing so the salt sticks and rub about ½ teaspoon on each. Place potatoes in air fryer.
- Air fry at 390°F for about 30 minutes, or until fork tender. Flip the potatoes over about halfway through cooking. You’ll know they’re done when a knife easily slides through the flesh.
- Once cooked through, remove from the air fryer, cut open and top with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Saw this posted on your instagram and tried it right away! Love doing these in the air fryer because it’s so much easier and faster! Thank you for the awesome recipe!!
YUM! Glad you gave this one a try and it turned out fantastic for you, Alex. Thank you for your review & star rating, it means so much to me!