Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato

Name: Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 medium sweet potatoes; 2 teaspoons olive oil (optional); 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt (optional)

By Brittany Mullins

Published Oct 31, 2023, Updated Nov 14, 2023

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Make the perfect air fryer sweet potato that results in a crisp skin and fluffy, soft center every time! Plus, it takes less than half the time it would take in the oven.

Did you know that you can make perfectly baked sweet potatoes in the air fryer in less than half the time it takes in the oven?! Well, you can!

This air fryer sweet potato recipe has quickly become my new favorite way to cook sweet potatoes. Not only does it cook up in just 30 minutes, but it results in sweet potatoes with a crispy skin and soft, creamy center every single time!

A whole sweet potato split in half with butter in the middle. The sweet potato is in an air fryer basket.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Less time than the oven: Baked sweet potatoes take only about 30 minutes in the air fryer versus 60-80 minutes in the oven.
Easy to make: All you really need are a couple of sweet potatoes and an air fryer!
Healthy: Sweet potatoes provide plenty of nutritional benefits. They are a great source of fiber, vitamins and minerals and they’re packed with antioxidants!
Versatile: There are endless options for serving these air fryer baked sweet potatoes. Serve them with your favorite protein, or simply enjoy them with a slice of butter.

Ingredients measured out to make Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato: sweet potatoes and coarse sea salt.

Ingredients Needed

sweet potato – this recipe called for two whole sweet potatoes, and that’s really all you need. When shopping for sweet potatoes, look for firm, unwrinkled skins. You can use any variety you like. I used Beauregard, but I also like Jewel or Garnet. All three of these varieties have an orange flesh, but feel free to use white or purple sweet potatoes if you prefer.
sea salt & olive oil – completely optional, but highly recommended to elevate the flavors. You can use any oil you have on hand and I suggest flaky sea salt like Maldon sea salt flakes for some added texture!

Four photos showing the steps to make Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato: poking holes in sweet potatoes with a fork, sprinkling with coarse sea salt, and then air frying in an air fryer basket.

How to Make Baked Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer

Prepare: Rinse and scrub the sweet potatoes well. Using a fork, poke holes inside each potato (4-8 holes depending on the size of the potato).

Season: Leave a bit of water on the potatoes from rinsing so the salt sticks, and sprinkle about ½ teaspoon of salt on each. If using, drizzle with olive oil. Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket.

Air Fry: Set the air fryer to 390°F and air fry for about 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender. Flip the potatoes over halfway through cooking.

Serve: Once cooked through, remove from the air fryer, cut open and top with your favorite toppings. See some topping ideas below!

Split open, air fried sweet potato on a plate with a slice of butter.

Topping Ideas

I love serving my baked sweet potato with butter and flaky sea salt, but feel free to get creative with your toppings! Here are some ideas:

Butter or vegan butter
Sour cream, Greek yogurt or vegan sour cream
Shredded cheddar cheese
Bacon or tempeh bacon
Green onions or chives
Fresh herbs
Vegetarian chili or turkey chili
Creamy vegan queso
Cinnamon, butter and coconut sugar or brown sugar

A fork with a small portion of sweet potato that has been air fried.

How to Serve

Alongside a protein – Serve your baked sweet potato as a side dish alongside your favorite protein for a full balanced meal! It would be delicious served with this air fryer chicken breast, maple turmeric chicken, air fryer salmon or crispy baked tofu.
In a bowl – Scoop out the sweet potato flesh and add it to a bowl meal like this buddha bowl, chicken protein bowl or roasted harvest bowl.
For breakfast – Add scrambled eggs and your favorite breakfast foods! I’d add breakfast sausage or bacon, shredded cheese, sliced avocado and hot sauce.
As a game day snack – Make an upgraded game day snack with these healthy sweet potato skins.
As a dessert – Make this dessert baked sweet potato and add your favorite sweet toppings like cinnamon, coconut butter, chocolate, candied pecans and a drizzle of maple syrup or honey.
Chili stuffed – Add a few scoops of chili to the center of the sweet potato. Top with traditional chili toppings and enjoy! Try this with my healthy turkey chili or my easy vegetarian chili.
Mexican stuffed – This mexicali stuffed sweet potato is loaded with black beans, bell pepper, salsa, mushrooms and topped with a zesty tahini dressing.
Sweet potato casserole – Make an individual sweet potato casserole by topping the sweet potato with mini marshmallows once cooked and sliced. Place the sweet potato back in the air fryer for a few more minutes to roast the marshmallows!

Two whole sweet potatoes with sea salt in an air fryer basket.

Recipe Tips

Sweet potato selection: Choose firm sweet potatoes with even, smooth skin and no soft spots or sprouting eyes. And make sure your sweet potatoes are the same size and shape to ensure that they’re both done baking at the same time.
Don’t skip poking holes: This allows steam to escape and prevents the potatoes from bursting during cooking.
Don’t crowd them: Don’t bake more than 2 sweet potatoes in the air fryer unless you have an air fryer that’s large enough. You don’t want your sweet potatoes touching or overlapping in the air fryer to ensure even cooking.
Adjust timing: The cook time is going to depend on the size and shape of your sweet potatoes, so adjust as needed. Fat sweet potatoes are going to need more time than long, thin ones.
Don’t wrap in foil: Wrapping sweet potatoes in aluminum foil steams the potatoes and makes the skin soggy and soft rather than crisp!
Want a crispier crust? Don’t skip adding the oil to the skin before baking!

Two whole air-fried sweet potatoes on a plate. The sweet potatoes are split open with a slice of butter inside.

Storing Leftovers

If you end up with any leftovers, place them in an airtight sealed container in the fridge for 4-5 days. To reheat them you can either air fry them at 350°F for about 5-10 minutes or you can use a microwave on a medium setting for 2-3 minutes.

FAQ’s

How long does it take for sweet potatoes to cook in the air fryer?

It takes about 30 minutes for a whole medium-sized sweet potato to cook in the air fryer at 390°F. This is less than half the time it takes to make a baked sweet potato in the oven.

What other appliances can I use if I don’t have an air fryer?

If you don’t have an air fryer I suggest following my recipe for easy baked sweet potatoes in the oven!

How do I adjust the cooking time for larger or smaller sweet potatoes?

For larger sweet potatoes, you might need to increase the cooking time, while smaller ones may require less time. It’s always a good idea to check for doneness by inserting a fork to see if it’s tender.

What’s healthier, sweet potato or regular baked potato?

Sweet potatoes are lower in calories and carbohydrates but higher in fiber, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C compared to regular potatoes. They also have a lower glycemic index which may be beneficial for blood sugar control.

Do I need to peel the sweet potatoes before air frying?

It’s not necessary to peel sweet potatoes before air frying. In fact, the skin provides additional nutrients and a nice texture when crisped up in the air fryer. However, if you prefer, you can peel them.

More Air Fryer Recipes

More Sweet Potato Recipes

Be sure to check out all of the sweet potato recipes as well as the full collection of air fryer recipes on EBF!

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5 from 3 votes