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    Home » Course » Side Dish

    Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato

    Published: Jul 16, 2021 · Modified: Nov 17, 2022 by Erin Carter · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    You will love this air fryer baked sweet potato recipe. These whole sweet potatoes are so easy to make and turn our perfectly cooked with a nice crispy skin and a tender sweet potato filling. It's so much faster to cook sweet potatoes in an air fryer than in the oven. You'll never want to bake a sweet potato any other way again.  

    A baked sweet potato topped with butter and fresh parsley.

    Why you will love this recipe:

    • Sweet potatoes turn out perfectly when baked in the air fryer!
    • With a nice crispy skin and light and fluffy inside, air fryer baked sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish.
    • Cooking a whole sweet potato in the air fryer is so quick and easy. You will love how much faster it is compared to baking sweet potatoes in the oven.
    • Sweet potatoes are full of flavour and are also a nice alternative to white potatoes if you are looking to change up your regular vegetable or side dish routine.
    • They can be dressed up or topped however you want. Whether you want a classic baked sweet potato topped with butter, or a sweeter version with cinnamon and brown sugar, there are so many options.
    • You can bake a sweet potato in any type of air fryer or air fryer oven including Ninja Foodi, Ninja Air Fryer, Ninja Foodi Grill, Instant Vortex, Cosori, Pampered Chef, Vortex, Breville, Phillips, Emeril, Cuisinart, and Chefman Air Fryers. 
    • This cooking method works for all types of sweet potatoes including Japanese sweet potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, Korean sweet potatoes and yams. 
    • Do you prefer sweet potato fries? Make these air fryer sweet potato fries instead!

    Taste and texture:

    When you air fry whole sweet potatoes they get the perfect roasted, crispy skin, yet soft and tender filling. You can add whatever seasonings you like to change up the flavour and make it your own.

    Key ingredients and substitutions:

    • 3-4 whole sweet potatoes - if you just want a single serving you could easily just use one whole sweet potato instead. You can use any type of sweet potato that you like including Japanese sweet potatoes and yams. 
    • Avocado oil or olive oil - to help get that perfectly crispy potato skin.
    • Toppings of your choice - I love to keep it simple with a little butter, salt and pepper but you can top these baked potatoes with whatever you like. 

    How to make:

    Step one:

    First, wash and dry the sweet potatoes and then poke holes in them with a knife or fork (this ensure they won't explode in the air fryer).

    Three whole sweet potatoes on a cutting board.

    Step two:

    Next, place the whole sweet potatoes in a bowl and coat them with the oil, salt and pepper.

    Three whole sweet potatoes in a bowl.

    Step three:

    Finally, place the sweet potatoes on the trays of your air fryer or in the basket, and bake at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes (the cooking time will depend on your air fryer and the size of your sweet potatoes).

    Three whole sweet potatoes on the rack of an air fryer oven.

    Chef's tips:

    • Use long and narrow sweet potatoes rather than shorter, fatter ones as they cook better in the air fryer.
    • Don't forget to poke holes in the sweet potatoes! If you don't they will explode when you cook them.
    • Every model of air fryer is different, so you may have to adjust the cooking times for this recipe.
    • Depending on the size of the sweet potatoes you have you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly.
    • This method of air fryer cooking would also work for cooking yams in your air fryer.
    • This method of baking sweet potatoes also works if you have a basket style air fryer.

    Variations and add ins:

    • You can use either avocado oil or olive oil for baking these sweet potatoes. 
    • Feel free to top these potatoes with anything you like. I've included a list of topping ideas below. 

    Topping ideas for baked sweet potatoes:

    • Butter, vegan butter, or coconut oil
    • Spices such as salt, pepper, cinnamon, chili spice or ground nutmeg
    • Brown sugar or coconut sugar
    • Sour cream or vegan sour cream
    • Bacon bits or chopped, cooked bacon

    How to serve:

    • These sweet potatoes can be eaten on their own as a snack. 
    • Turn them into a complete meal by turning them into a potato bun and serving them as Sloppy Joes. 
    • Pair them with any cooked meat such as steak, chicken or sausages. 
    • Pair them with cooked tofu or a veggie burger if you are vegan. 

    How to store:

    If you have any leftover baked sweet potatoes, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    How to reheat:

    To reheat a baked sweet potato in an air fryer, cook them for 3-5 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Nutrition info:

    Assuming you eat a whole sweet potato, this recipe has approximately 236 calories per serving with 46 grams of total carbohydrates, 7 grams of fiber, 39 grams net carbs, 4 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat.

    An air fryer baked sweet potato topped with butter and herbs on a plate.

    Frequently asked questions:

    Are air fried sweet potatoes healthy?

    Absolutely! Compared to frying sweet potatoes in oil like they are often done, baking them in the air fryer uses less oil making them lower in fat and calories. Sweet potatoes are also full of vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C, and potassium.

    What is the best temperature to cook sweet potatoes in an air fryer?

    After a few tries I found that cooking sweet potatoes at 390 degrees Fahrenheit leads to perfectly cooked sweet potatoes with a nice crispy skin and nice and tender inside. Just don't forget to poke holes in the sweet potato skin or they can explode all over your air fryer!

    Should sweet potatoes be soaked in water before air frying?

    There is no need to soak sweet potatoes before baking them in an air fryer. 

    How long does it takes to cook a sweet potato in an air fryer?

    It takes 35-40 minutes to cook a sweet potato in an air fryer at 390 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Do I need to preheat my air fryer?

    For this air fryer recipe you do not need to preheat your air fryer. If you do choose to preheat it, decrease the cooking time by a few minutes.

    Can I make this recipe with no oil?

    I do not recommend trying to make these baked potatoes with no oil. The skin doesn't turn out nearly as nice and crispy if you do.

    Other air fryer recipes you will love:

    • Onion Rings in Air Fryer
    • Air Fryer Potato Wedges
    • Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
    • Broccoli in Air Fryer 
    • Air Fryer Popcorn
    • Air Fryer French Fries 

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    An air fryer baked sweet potato, cut in half with butter on it.

    Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato

    You will love air fryer baked sweet potatoes! They turn out perfect with a nice crisp skin and tender inside. Plus they're so much easier than baking in the oven!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish, Vegetables
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 3 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 43 minutes
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 236kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 3 medium sweet potatoes
    • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
    • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (or more to taste)
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (or more to taste)

    Instructions

    • Wash and dry the sweet potatoes and then poke holes in them with a knife or fork.
    • Place the sweet potatoes in a bowl and coat them with the oil, salt and pepper.
    • Place the sweet potatoes on the trays of your air fryer and bake at 390F for 35-40 minutes (the cooking time will depend on your air fryer and the size of your sweet potatoes).

    Notes

    1. Use long and narrow sweet potatoes rather than shorter, fatter ones as they cook better in the air fryer.
    2. Don't forget to poke holes in the sweet potatoes! If you don't they can explode in your air fryer.
    3. This recipe would also work for yams.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 318mg | Potassium: 764mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 32064IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    More Healthy Side Dishes

    • Carrot and Turnip Soup
    • Paleo Curried Butternut Squash Soup
    • Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup
    • Turnip and Apple Casserole

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

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    Hi everyone! My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialities in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

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