You only need 30 minutes and 3 ingredients (sweet potato, olive oil and salt) to make the best Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato that’s crispy on the outside with a perfectly soft center. This recipe is a cinch to make and it’s super versatile!
I’m always looking for ways to make weeknight dinners even easier without sacrificing flavor or nutrition. That’s when I reach for an air fryer recipe like my air fryer broccoli, air fryer sweet potato fries or these Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes. They’re super easy to make and pair really well with lots of main dishes.
You’ll Need Three Simple Ingredients
Sweet potatoes — Feel free to use any variety of whole sweet potatoes you prefer. I’m using orange sweet potatoes here, but white and purple sweet potatoes are just as delicious. After testing this recipe with different varieties, I’ve found that they all work beautifully. Just make sure to choose sweet potatoes that are similar in size so they cook evenly.
Olive oil — I’ve made this recipe with both olive oil and avocado oil, and either works perfectly. A little oil helps to crisp up the skin and adds richness to the potatoes.
Salt —I like using coarse sea salt for extra flavor and texture. It gives the sweet potatoes a slight crunch on the outside while enhancing their natural sweetness.
Note: I prefer to keep the skin on because it keeps the sweet potatoes moist while they cook and provides extra nutrients. If you don’t like the skin, I’d suggest removing it after the sweet potato cooks for the best texture.
How To Cook Sweet Potatoes In The Air Fryer
First: Wash the sweet potatoes. Pat them dry. Then, poke several holes in each one. This helps the steam to escape and prevents the potatoes from potentially bursting in the air fryer.
Second: Coat the sweet potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle on the sea salt.
Next: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F, if necessary. Place the sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket.
Finally: Air fry for 25-30 minutes, until they’re fork tender, flipping halfway through. When it’s done, remove them and let them set for a couple of minutes, then cut the top open and fluff the inside.
The Best Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato Toppings
Flavored butter: I love adding a pat of butter and sea salt. My savory garlic butter with fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, chives) is great for topping too.
Sweet topping: I love adding a little honey, maple syrup, candied pecans, brown sugar with cinnamon or even some roasted mini marshmallows on top. So good!
Veggies: I also love the contrast of cooked veggies like garlic butter mushrooms or wilted greens and fresh veggies like green onions and radishes on top.
Protein: A stuffed sweet potato with ground beef is the ultimate comfort food. You can also add chopped chicken breast or if you don’t eat meat, try it with tofu, sour cream, cheese, chickpeas and black beans.
Extras: These are the finishing touches and the options are endless! Think sour cream, feta cheese, avocado salsa and so on.
Spices: You can also season your air fryer baked sweet potato with black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder and paprika.
Serving Suggestions for Air Fryer sweet potatoes
Air fryer baked sweet potatoes are such an easy side dish to pair with your favorite protein. I love to serve it with air fryer salmon or air fryer chicken breasts for a healthy, hands-off meal.
Sweet potatoes make the perfect base for stuffing, like in this taco stuffed sweet potatoes recipe.
You can also scoop out the sweet potato flesh and turn it into sweet potato casserole, or make these tuna patties with sweet potato.
More Sweet Potato Recipes!
Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 1.5 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Wash and scrub the sweet potatoes thoroughly to remove any dirt. Pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Using a fork, poke several holes all over each sweet potato. This helps them cook evenly and prevents them from bursting. Rub the sweet potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle the coarse sea salt over the sweet potatoes.
- Set your air fryer to 400°F and preheat for about 3-5 minutes. Place the sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are not overcrowded; they should be in a single layer for even cooking.
- Air fry at 400°F for 25-30 minutes. Flip the sweet potatoes halfway through the cooking time to ensure even crispiness.
- After 20 minutes, check the sweet potatoes for tenderness by inserting a fork or knife into the center. If it slides in easily, they are done. If not, continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes and check again. Let them set for a couple of minutes, then cut the top open and fluff the inside.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Fantastic! Thanks for posting.
You’re very welcome!
My jaw dropped when I saw the sodium content. YIKES! Then I realized you were counting the tsp of added salt. These potatoes do not need any added salt. They are fantastic with a little butter & nothing else. For someone who used to shun sweet potatoes, I am in love with these air fryer ones. Thanks for the recipe.
So glad you loved the air fryer sweet potatoes! 😊 And yes, you’re right—totally optional to add salt. A little butter is all they need. Thanks for giving them a try! 💛🍠
Perfectly cooked sweet potatoes! Thanks for the recipe.
You’re very welcome! Happy you liked this recipe and thanks for stopping by 😉