Pioneer Woman baked sweet potato is an easy 3-ingredient side dish made with olive oil and kosher salt, ready in just about an hour. That makes it a hands-off go-to for weeknight dinners, Thanksgiving sides or potluck tables, since the oven does the work after five minutes of prep.
Brushing each potato with oil is the step that gives you crispy, salty skin, because the fat helps the surface brown evenly. Without it the outside just dries out, so you lose the best part of eating a whole baked sweet potato.
Baking at 400 degrees for a full hour is hotter and longer than most sweet potato methods out there. That extra time caramelizes the natural sugars until the flesh turns almost custard-like inside, which is something a quick roast just can’t pull off.
Pioneer Woman Baked Sweet Potato
Course: Side DishCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings5
minutes1
hour165
kcalOil-rubbed sweet potatoes bake until the skin crisps and the inside turns creamy, then get split open for butter, bacon or any topping you like.
Ingredients
6 sweet potatoes, scrubbed and dried
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. kosher salt
Optional toppings: butter, chopped scallions or chives, cooked bacon and/or sour cream
Directions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400 degrees, then line a sheet tray with foil so cleanup is easy.
- Prep the potatoes: Prick each sweet potato 3 to 4 times with a fork, then place them in a single layer on the lined sheet tray.
- Season and oil: Brush each potato all over with olive oil, then sprinkle with kosher salt so the skin crisps up in the oven.
- Bake until tender: Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, until the skin is crispy and a paring knife slips easily into a potato. Once they’re done, let them cool for 5 minutes before splitting open and adding your favorite toppings.
FAQs
Can I use a different oil instead of olive oil?
Any neutral oil like avocado or vegetable oil works fine, since the job is to crisp the skin rather than add flavor. Melted butter also works, though it browns faster, so keep an eye on things during the last 15 minutes.
How long do baked sweet potatoes keep in the fridge?
They keep well in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge. When you reheat them, use a 350-degree oven for about 15 minutes, since the microwave makes the skin go soft and rubbery.
Can I bake sweet potatoes ahead of time and reheat them?
You can bake them up to 2 days ahead and store them whole in the fridge until you need them. Then reheat in a 350-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes before splitting them, so the skin gets a chance to crisp back up.
Do I need a sheet tray or can I bake them directly on the oven rack?
A foil-lined sheet tray catches the sugary liquid that sweet potatoes leak as they bake. Without one those drips burn onto the oven floor and create smoke, so the tray saves you a messy cleanup.
Why did my sweet potatoes come out dry inside?
The most common cause is choosing potatoes that are too large, since the outside overcooks before the center heats through. To fix that, pick potatoes around 8 to 10 ounces each and prick them with a fork so steam escapes evenly.
