The method of making baked sweet potatoes is straightforward, and all you need is a sweet potato. This is the perfect meal for busy weekdays: serve it on its own with butter and fresh herbs, or mix your favorite topping for dinner that’s low-effort but high impact. You can also enjoy them as a side dish to oven-baked salmon, beef and broccoli, or your favorite main. Prepare and poke: Scrub the sweet potato well to remove any dirt. Be careful – you don’t want to remove any of the skin. Then, dry them well. Excess moisture on the skin will affect the overall crispiness of a sweet potato in the oven. Then, using a fork, poke holes in the sweet potato. This allows steam to escape as the potato cooks and ensures a fluffy, tender inside. It’s also going to stop your sweet potatoes from exploding in the oven! Bake in the middle of the oven for 40-60 minutes, until tender. The size of your sweet potato will determine how long to cook it.
Keep it simple: A pat of butter with salt, black pepper, herbs (fresh thyme, green onion, parsley, chives, rosemary, etc.), or your favorite spices (cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, etc.) Make it sweeter: Butter, cinnamon, and sugar will add to the potatoes’ natural sweet flavor. Keep it classy: Add a couple of spoonfuls of thick sour cream and sprinkle with fresh chopped chives. Make it cheesy: Sprinkle with cheese that’s perfect for melting – think cheddar, mozzarella, or vegan cheddar cheese. Make it a side: Serve it with beef chili, vegan chili, or your favorite protein. Then top it with guacamole, chipotle sauce, or tzatziki.
