Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato Recipe

This air fryer baked sweet potato recipe makes fluffy sweet potatoes that taste like they baked in the oven! It’s an easy, healthy side dish that’s great if you don’t feel like turning on the oven, or if you want to free up premium oven space while cooking Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

If you’re a fan of baked sweet potatoes, you’re going to love making them in the air fryer. They’re soft and fluffy inside, and you can customize them with any toppings you like. And if you like crispy skin, I share an easy trick for that!

Sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They have an earthy sweet, subtly nutty flavor. One of the things I love most about sweet potatoes is that they have a rich, almost creamy texture when they’re baked or air fried. Add a pat of butter and a sprinkle of salt, and it’s a great side dish for just about any main course.

I made these sweet potatoes along with my boneless turkey breast roast and stuffing in the air fryer!

Why This Recipe Works

• You can make any number of sweet potatoes you want depending on how many servings you need. Figure one medium-sized sweet potato per person.
• It doesn’t get any easier. If you’re looking for a no-fuss side dish, this one is great for weeknight dinners or holiday meals.
• Make them special by serving them with a variety of toppings. Take the work off your plate and let people customize their own potatoes.

Ingredients

How to Make This Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes Recipe

1. Use a fork or sharp pairing knife to poke a few holes in each sweet potato.
2. Wrap each sweet potato in foil.
3. Preheat an air fryer to 400F. Add the foil-wrapped sweet potatoes to the air fryer, and air fry for 40 minutes. Halfway through, rotate the sweet potatoes once (rotate the side that’s facing down and if you have multiple racks in your air fryer, also rotate the racks they’re on; this will help make sure they cook evenly). If you have other items that need to go in the air fryer at 350F, turn the air fryer down to 350F. Continue air frying the potatoes until done, up to 25 minutes more. If you don’t have other items to go in the air fryer, continue air frying the potatoes at 400F until they’re done. (See the Notes in the recipe card below regarding checking for doneness.)
4. OPTIONAL: Once the potatoes are fully cooked, wearing potholders, unwrap the potatoes, place each potato on top of its piece of foil, and air fry them a couple minutes more to crisp their skin.

Storage

Once they’re cooled, store air fryer sweet potatoes covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Variations

• Cinnamon and brown sugar – Go the sweet route with warm cinnamon and rich brown sugar.
• Maple butter – Salted butter for richness and slightly smoky sweet maple syrup are a great pairing. You can also add pecans or walnuts for crunch!
• Caramelized onion and bacon – Savory crispy bacon and sweet caramelized onion add a ton of savory flavor to sweet spuds.
• Herbed sour cream or Greek yogurt – Stir in your favorite minced fresh herbs (such as rosemary, thyme, marjoram, etc.) to sour cream or Greek yogurt. A little bit of fresh garlic and a generous pinch of salt takes the creamy sauce to the next level as a sweet potato topping!
• Cranberries and crumbled goat cheese – The combination of sweet/tart flavor and creamy texture is a lovely pairing, and makes this a festive holiday side dish. You can add a sprinkle of chives or pistachios if you want red and green flair.
• Breakfast – Make a couple extra potatoes for breakfast meal prep! Serve them topped with scrambled eggs, shredded or crumbled cheese, and diced avocado for a nutritious, satisfying breakfast any time of day.

Frequently Asked Questions