Vegan and Vegetarian

Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato

Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato is a total game changer. The potatoes come out perfectly fluffy on the inside, with crispy skins, AND they cook much faster than in a traditional oven! Serve simply with butter and salt or try my favorite hot…

  • Serves 4
  • Prep 2 minutes
  • Cook 40 minutes
  • Total 42 minutes

Thanksgiving Recipes

Jump to the recipe
Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
An air fryer baked sweet potato topped with whipped cheese, chopped pecans, and a drizzle of hot honey sits on a plate. Nearby are bowls of whipped cheese, chopped pecans, and honey. Another plated sweet potato is partially visible.

If you are asking yourself “can you bake sweet potatoes in air fryer?”, the answer is YES, a hundred times yes! The air fryer was practically CREATED to bake sweet potatoes to perfection – the concentrated circulating heat crisps up the skins and turns the sweet flesh cloud-soft and caramel-delicious.

It is by far the best and fastest way to make baked sweet potatoes and I have lost count of the times I turn to a baked sweet potato filled with cottage cheese or chili for a quick lunch – so versatile, super tasty and healthy too!

A baked sweet potato in topped with two curls of butter and a sprinkle of black pepper, sits in an air fryer basket.

Here’s What You’ll Need

  1. Sweet potatoes – pick potatoes of similar size with firm skin and no soft spots. Orange-fleshed varieties such as Beauregard, Jewel and Garnet bake up moist and sweet—great for this recipe.
  2. A little oil – olive oil, avocado oil etc. to crisp up those skins!
  3. Salt – a pinch of sea salt flakes is a must.
  4. An air fryer! I am currently using (and loving) the Instant Vortex!
Three raw sweet potatoes surrounded by small bowls containing maple syrup, tahini, sour cream, milk, nuts, oil, salt with chili flakes, and ketchup, all arranged on a light countertop.

How to Make Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) to give the sweet potatoes a head start.
  2. Scrub the potatoes clean and dry them thoroughly. Pierce them with a fork a few times if you like. Brush with a oil and place in the air fryer basket in a single layer, spaced apart to allow the air to circulate.
Split image: Left side shows hands brushing oil on sweet potatoes with a blue brush; right side shows three oiled sweet potatoes placed in an air fryer basket, ready to cook.
  1. Bake for 30-40 minutes, depending on size, turning them over once. The sweet potatoes are baked to perfection when a knife can easily pierce the flesh all the way through with no resistance. You should also see some caramelization!
  2. Cool slightly and slice through the skin to expose the sweet soft flesh. Top simply with a little butter or oil and season – DELICIOUS!
Two images side by side: on the left, two whole sweet potatoes in an air fryer basket; on the right, a cooked sweet potato split open on a plate, revealing its orange interior.

Hot Honey Baked Sweet Potatoes

Now we have mastered the simple way to air fry sweet potatoes, can I suggest a pairing that’s sort deconstructed sweet potato casserole? Baked sweet potato with hot honey will become your new favorite Thanksgiving side dish!

Instead of loading sweet potatoes with sugar and marshmallows, we are going the viral hot honey route, with softly whipped tahini and goat’s cheese and a scattering of crunchy salty nuts. It hits every taste button and pairs beautifully with traditional Thanksgiving mains —turkey, glazed ham, roast chicken, you name it.

A baked sweet potato on a plate, topped with melting butter and herbs, with syrup being drizzled over it. A fork rests beside the potato on the plate.
  1. All you have to do is whisk soft goat’s cheese or cream cheese with a little tahini and heavy cream, heat up honey, sriracha, salt and red pepper flakes (or simply use Mike’s Hot Honey) and chop up some nuts.
  2. Top the baked sweet potatoes with the whipped goat’s cheese as soon as they are cool enough to handle, drizzle generously with hot honey and top with nuts for a sweet-salty-spicy side dish that has main dish energy! (<—- inspired by a NYT recipe).
Four images show steps of a recipe: whisking goat's cheese in a bowl; stirring hot honey sauce; a baked sweet potato topped with butter and sauce; the same potato with cheese, nuts, herbs, and a fork cutting into it.

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • Avoid overcrowding! Don’t fill up the air fryer basket to capacity – we need space to allow for the air to circulate evenly. If you are cooking for a crowd you may need to go the oven route or simply cook in batches of 3-4 depending on your air fryer model.
  • Leftovers and storage: Cool the sweet potatoes first, pop them in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer – 5-6 minutes at 350°F (175°C) should do it.
  • Want to speed things up? Blast the sweet potatoes in the microwave for 8-10 minutes then finish up in the air fryer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sweet potatoes take about 35-45 minutes to cook at 375°F (190°C) in the air fryer, which is less time than they take in the oven. The cooking time will also depend on the size of the potatoes and may vary slightly between air fryer models. Check at the 35 minute mark and add more time as needed.

Skip the foil wrap – it’s not necessary and the trapped heat may soften the skins.

Yes — especially when you keep the skins on and watch the toppings. There’s plenty of fiber, vitamins and nutrients in sweet potatoes, but they are a carb-rich vegetable so pair with healthy fats and protein for balance.

You can – cool completely, wrap them tightly in foil, place in freezer bags and freeze for 4-6 months. You can also freeze the flesh without the skins – simply scoop it out and mash in a little lemon juice to prevent oxidation (do not add milk or butter). Transfer to freezer bags, squeeze out the air and store flat.

More Sweet Potato Recipes You’ll Love!

You might also like my Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes.

A baked sweet potato topped with a pat of butter sits in the basket of an air fryer against a green background.

Recipe

Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato

Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato is a total game changer. The potatoes come out perfectly fluffy on the inside, with crispy skins, AND they cook much faster than in a traditional oven! Serve simply with butter and salt or try my favorite hot honey goat’s cheese combo.

  • Serves 4
  • Prep 2 minutes
  • Cook 40 minutes
  • Total 42 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 medium sweet potatoes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (or avocado etc.)
  • salt and pepper (to season)
  • butter ((optional))

Serving suggestion (Hot Honey & Goat's Cheese)

  • ¼ cup (85g) honey (or maple syrup)
  • 3 tsp sriracha (, or to taste)
  • ⅓ tsp red pepper flakes (, or pul biber)
  • 4 tbsp soft goats cheese (or cream cheese)
  • ⅓ cup (80ml) heavy cream ((= double cream))
  • 1 tbsp tahini ((optional))
  • pinch salt (to taste)
  • ½ cup (70g) salted nuts (, roughly chopped)
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme

Method

Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

  1. 1

    Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) to give the sweet potatoes a head start.

  2. 2

    Scrub the potatoes clean and dry them thoroughly. You can pierce them with a fork a few times or not. Brush with a little oil and place in the air fryer basket in a single layer, spaced apart to allow the air to circulate.

  3. 3

    Bake for 30-40 minutes, depending on their size, turning them over once or twice. The sweet potatoes are cooked when a knife can easily pierce the flesh all the way through with no resistance. You will also see some caramelization.

  4. 4

    Cool slightly then slice through the skin to expose the sweet soft flesh. Top with a little butter or oil and season with sea salt flakes – DELICIOUS!

Hot Honey Baked Sweet Potatoes

  1. 5

    Heat the honey, sriracha, pinch of salt and red pepper flakes in a saucepan over medium heat bubbling and slightly reduced (or simply use Mike’s Hot Honey). Set aside.

  2. 6

    Whisk the goat’s cheese or cream cheese with the tahini, cream and salt until it holds peaks.

  3. 7

    Top the sweet potatoes with the whipped goat’s cheese as soon as they are cool enough to handle, drizzle generously with hot honey and finish with the nuts and thyme for a sweet-salty-spicy combo that’s crazy delicious!

Notes

Avoid overcrowding! Don’t fill up the air fryer basket to capacity – we need space to allow for the air to circulate evenly. If you are cooking for a crowd you may need to go the oven route or simply air fry them in batches of 3-4 depending on your air fryer model. Leftovers and storage: Cool the sweet potatoes first, pop them in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer – 5-6 minutes at 350°F (175°C) should do it. Freezing instructions: Cool completely, wrap them tightly in foil, place in freezer bags and freeze for 4-6 months. You can also freeze the flesh without the skins – simply scoop it out and mash in a little lemon juice to prevent oxidation (do not add milk or butter). Transfer to freezer bags, squeeze out the air and store flat. Want to speed things up? Blast the sweet potatoes in the microwave for 8-10 minutes then finish up in the air fryer.

Equipment

  • Instant Vortex Digital Air Fryer
  • Cordless Hand Mixer
  • Salt and Pepper Grinders
  • Pul Biber
  • Mike's Hot Honey

Nutrition

  • Calories551 kcal
  • Carbohydrates69 g
  • Protein13 g
  • Fat27 g
  • Saturated Fat9 g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat5 g
  • Monounsaturated Fat11 g
  • Cholesterol29 mg
  • Sodium349 mg
  • Potassium965 mg
  • Fiber9 g
  • Sugar28 g
  • Vitamin A32579 IU
  • Vitamin C9 mg
  • Calcium128 mg
  • Iron2 mg

Questions

How long do I air fry sweet potatoes?

Sweet potatoes take about 35-45 minutes to cook at 375°F (190°C) in the air fryer, which is less time than they take in the oven. The cooking time will also depend on the size of the potatoes and may vary slightly between air fryer models. Check at the 35 minute mark and add more time as needed.

Should I wrap sweet potatoes in foil before baking?

Skip the foil wrap – it’s not necessary and the trapped heat may soften the skins.

Are baked sweet potatoes healthy?

Yes — especially when you keep the skins on and watch the toppings. There’s plenty of fiber, vitamins and nutrients in sweet potatoes, but they are a carb-rich vegetable so pair with healthy fats and protein for balance.

Can you freeze baked sweet potatoes?

You can – cool completely, wrap them tightly in foil, place in freezer bags and freeze for 4-6 months. You can also freeze the flesh without the skins – simply scoop it out and mash in a little lemon juice to prevent oxidation (do not add milk or butter). Transfer to freezer bags, squeeze out the air and store flat.

Keep cooking

Eight more recipes

Eight more recipes from the rest of the kitchen.