Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes

My air fryer sweet potato recipe is perfect for easy comfort food. I can’t get over how the air fryer caramelizes the natural sugars for such a delicious but healthy side dish!

My Favorite Way to Make an Air Fryer Sweet Potato

I love playing around with my air fryer to try basically all foods inside of it and see how they cook. It didn’t take long to try out baked sweet potatoes to see how they air fry up, and so here is the air fryer sweet potato recipe that came from it!

I always used to roast my sweet potatoes in the oven, but I was curious how the air fryer would crisp up the skin. That crispy skin is why I always try to skip the microwave. It just tastes sweeter when roasted.

I was in shock because not only did the air fryer get the sweet potato skin crispier than just cooking it in the oven, but it also made the sweet potato fluffier and sweeter!

I could literally see the caramelization coming out of the holes – which is now my sign that those delicious sweet potatoes are done and ready to eat!

I make the meals in my house for obvious reasons (I do run a food blog!), but when these were on the table, I was still the one talking about how amazing these air fryer baked sweet potatoes came out. My husband Ben even called me out about how I was “singing my own recipe’s praises.”

Oh well, they tasted good and even he tells me now that we need to always make them in the air fryer. We’ve never roasted them in the oven since!

And, if you love a good air fryer potato recipe, try my recipes for air fryer sweet potato cubes, air fryer baby potatoes, red potatoes in the air fryer, air fryer sweet potato wedges, and diced potatoes in the air fryer.

Sweet Potato in the air Fryer Ingredients

• Sweet potatoes – I like to use small to medium-sized raw sweet potatoes as they air fry a little quicker
• Oil – Olive oil is my go-to, but avocado oil or canola oil will work too
• Salt – kosher, table, or a little sea salt works

How to Cook Sweet Potatoes 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 the air fryer to 400 degrees F.

STEP TWO: Poke holes in each of the sweet potatoes using a fork. This step is essential!

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.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Sweet Potato

• Let the air fryer fully preheat before adding the sweet potatoes. I find it lets the skin get just a little crispier!
• Wash and dry the sweet potatoes well. I use a clean towel to remove any excess moisture that could prevent the skin from getting crispy.
• Coat the potatoes well with oil and salt on all sides. The oil is what gets the skins extra crispy, so I’m always very thorough to make sure I don’t miss any spots!
• Air fry the sweet potatoes until they are tender and soft with a crispy skin. The holes will also show bits of caramelization around them.
• Don’t overcrowd the basket. The key to perfect sweet potatoes in the air fryer is giving the hot air room to circulate, so I always leave room between each potato with them in a single layer. Usually, if I need to cook more, I will cook in batches, but for baked potatoes, the oven works better with a large amount.

What to Serve With an Air Fry Sweet Potato

There’s something about chicken and sweet potato that I just love together! I pair air fryer sweet potatoes with air fryer chicken tenders, air fryer fried chicken, and whole chicken in the air fryer all the time.

I also think they go really well with air fryer pork loin, air fryer meatloaf, and air fryer sirloin steak along with a small bowl of soup or salad.

The Best Toppings for Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

When I want to keep things simple, I’ll eat my air fryer baked sweet potato with salt, pepper, and maybe some butter. It’s so good! My husband will usually add in some spices like chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder for a savory kick.

If I want to lean into its natural sweetness, simple brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter is always a winner. I also really love tossing on toasted pecans, maple syrup, and butter to the potatoes. And my kids’ absolute favorite version is when I add marshmallows, brown sugar, and cinnamon!

Air Fryer Sweet Potato FAQs

Why should I air fry a sweet potato?

I love using my air fryer to roast sweet potatoes because it’s faster and tastes better than using the oven or microwave! The skin turns out way more crispier, and the sweet potatoes retain more nutrients because of the shorter cooking time. Win-win!

How to store leftover air fryer baked sweet potatoes

I store leftover air fried sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for 3 to 5 days. They can also be wrapped in foil and then frozen inside a freezer bag for up to 6 months.

Do I need to soak sweet potatoes in water before air frying? 

Because sweet potatoes have less starch than regular potatoes, I don’t bother with soaking them. I just give them a good rinse, dry them well, and let the air fryer work its magic! This is especially true with baked sweet potatoes in the air fryer since the potato is cooked whole without any peeling.

How long to cook sweet potatoes in the air fryer

Once the air fryer is preheated to 400 degrees F, my sweet potatoes usually take 35-40 minutes of air frying. I know they’re ready when I can see the sweet potato caramelization oozing out of the fork holes and it’s super easy to pierce the potatoes with a fork.

How to reheat a baked sweet potato in the air fryer

The air fryer is my favorite way to reheat baked sweet potatoes! I preheat to 350 degrees F, cut the sweet potatoes in half if they aren’t already cut, then air fry the leftovers for 5-6 minutes until they’re heated all the way through.

Why do I need to poke holes in sweet potatoes?

I once microwaved a whole sweet potato without poking it, and, I kid you not, it burned from the inside out! I’ve never forgotten to poke holes again.

Using a fork to poke holes in the sweet potato creates vents for steam to escape as the potato cooks, which releases pressure. After my experience, I know how important this is, so I always take the extra minute to poke some holes!

What are the health benefits of sweet potatoes?

Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite healthy sides! They’re rich in vitamins A and C, as well as fiber and potassium, with a little protein. They’re also made up of complex carbohydrates, which are great for stabilizing blood sugar. They’re basically nutritional powerhouses!

What should I look for in a sweet potato at the store?

I look for sweet potatoes that are firm and don’t have cracks, bruises, or soft spots. The skin should be smooth and even. I also try to find sweet potatoes of similar size so they’ll cook at the same rate in the air fryer.

They may be called yams in stores, such as a Beauregard or garnet yams, but it’s the brownish redish sweet potatoes with the orange insides!

More Easy Air Fryer Side Dishes

• Air fryer asparagus
• Air fryer zucchini chips
• Air fryer sweet potato fries
• Air fryer corn on the cob
• Air fryer carrots
• Air fryer cornbread
• Air fryer garlic bread