Introducing the best way to achieve flawlessly roasted sweet potatoes! This baked sweet potato in the air fryer recipe uses the natural sugars in the sweet potato to caramelize them to perfection.
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As much as I love spending time in my kitchen, I also love how little time and effort using my air fryer requires. As a mom, time is so precious. Less time spent preparing meals means more time I can spend with my family!
I’m always on the hunt for recipes that I can try out with my favorite kitchen appliance. Air fryer recipes call for so much less energy and clean-up – without sacrificing taste. That’s a win-win in my book.
This baked sweet potato in the air fryer recipe checks all of my boxes: potatoes that are soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, and sweet. Plus, it’s so simple to make! Feel free to keep it vegan and eat it with just a bit of sea salt.
However you want to enjoy this dish, once you try an air fryer baked sweet potato, you’ll never go back to traditional roasting!
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- The best way to make healthy baked sweet potato in the air fryer.
- Topping suggestions for baked sweet potatoes, plus other air fried sweet potato recipes to try!
- Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about air fryer baked sweet potato.
If you love homemade roasted sweet potatoes as much as I do, you’re going to want to bookmark this recipe! Keep reading for the best tips and tricks for making sweet potato in the air fryer.
How to Make a Baked Sweet Potato in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.
While it heats, prepare your sweet potatoes by washing and scrubbing them. Dry them with a clean towel. Leave the skins on – they are edible and very healthy!
STEP TWO: Poke holes in each sweet potato using a fork. This step is essential! If you skip it, you could end up with some seriously burnt potatoes.
STEP THREE: Lightly coat the sweet potatoes with oil and salt. Place them in the air fryer and cook for 35-40 minutes. Remove the potatoes from the air fryer, slice, and serve.
The Best Toppings for Baked Sweet Potatoes
You can enjoy an air fryer sweet potato with a bit of salt and pepper (especially if you want to keep this recipe vegan), or you can add some melted butter. Try these toppings if you want to take your air fried yams up a notch:
- Sour cream and chives
- Blue cheese with walnuts and honey
- Brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter
- Toasted pecans, maple syrup, and butter
- Marshmallows, brown sugar, and cinnamon
- Yogurt sauce and veggies
Other Sweet Potato Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Dessert Fries
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
- Air Fryer Mexican Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries
This one isn’t an air fryer recipe, but so delicious I have to share our Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.
Do You Have to Soak Sweet Potatoes in Water Before Air Frying?
Unlike regular white potatoes, sweet potatoes contain a lot less starch. That means you aren’t required to soak them in water before you begin your air fry sweet potato recipe!
Just one more reason to love these healthy yams.
How Long to Cook Sweet Potatoes in an Air Fryer
Make sure that your air fryer is heated to 400 degrees F. Place your sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket.
Don’t forget to poke holes in each potato! Cook at 400 degrees F for 35-40 minutes.
When you notice bits of the sweet potato oozing out of the fork holes, your baked sweet potato in the air fryer is finished.
How to Store Leftover Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes
If you have any leftover air fryer baked sweet potatoes, place them in an airtight container, like a Ziplock bag or the like. They will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
Be aware: freezing leftover homemade air fryer sweet potato can alter the texture of the dish, so I don’t recommend it. This is one of those recipes that tastes great when it’s freshly made!
How to Reheat Baked Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer
If you want to meal prep a few air fried baked sweet potatoes, you can easily reheat them in your air fryer.
Simply preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F. Cut your roasted sweet potatoes in half if you haven’t yet. Place the sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook for 5-6 minutes, or until heated thoroughly. Easy peasy!
Why Do You Need to Poke Holes in Sweet Potatoes?
Poking holes allows the sweet potatoes to let off steam while cooking. As the sweet potato cooks, the inside builds up pressure from the steam.
If the sweet potato doesn’t have anywhere to vent that steam, it could explode or just taste and smell horrible.
It’s happened to me! I microwaved a whole sweet potato without poking it and it burned from the inside out. I kid you not.
It only takes about 15 seconds to prick each potato, so just spend the extra minute and do it.
Other Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love:
- Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer Artichokes
- Air Fryer Blooming Onion
- Air Fryer Baked Potato
- Sweet Potato Chips in the Air Fryer
- Diced Potatoes in the Air Fryer
- Roasted Air Fryer Carrots
- The Best Healthy Air Fryer Recipes
- Easy Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes to Make
Air Fryer Weight Watcher Points per serving: 1
Baked Sweet Potato in the Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 small sweet potatoes scrubbed and dried
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Using a fork, poke holes into the skin of the sweet potatoes.
- Coat sweet potato skins completely with oil and salt.
- Carefully place potatoes into the air fryer and cook for 35-40 minutes until a caramelization can be seen around the fork holes and sweet potato is easily pierced with a fork.
- Slice in half, let cool until just warm, then enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
Did you use the air fry icon or bake icon. I want to try it but really don’t know which icon to use. Thanks in advance
Hi JoAnn, all air fryer recipes on the site will use the air fryer button on your machine! This will create the 360 air circulation you need to crisp up the food evenly. Using the “bake” feature will turn your air fryer into more of a standard oven/toaster oven.
Great easy recipe. Mine turned out delicious as did my prime rib in the instant pot. Merry Christmas!
It was perfect! Thank you!
You are welcome! I’m so glad to hear it turned out perfectly for you.
Wonderful!