Learn how to cook a perfect air fryer sweet potato with crisp skin and fluffy insides! This easy recipe is quicker than baking sweet potatoes in the oven.
By popular request: air fryer sweet potatoes! I’ve gotten a lot of questions about how to cook a sweet potato in the air fryer, so today, I’m finally sharing my go-to air fryer sweet potato recipe.
It’s super simple. I use the same method that I do in my baked sweet potato recipe:
- Poke holes in the sweet potatoes
- Cook them (with no foil!) until puffed and fork-tender
I won’t say that one is better than the other—oven or air fryer. Both yield perfect baked sweet potatoes with lightly crisp, puffy skins and soft, flavorful insides.
But if you’re only cooking a few sweet potatoes, air frying them will save you time. The potatoes cook slightly faster in the air fryer. Even more importantly, you won’t have to wait 10+ minutes for it to preheat like you would with the oven.
Keep reading for my best recipe tips and serving suggestions. Then, find the complete air fryer sweet potato recipe with measurements at the bottom of this post!
How to Cook Baked Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer
You can find the complete recipe at the bottom of this post, for but now, here’s a quick overview of how it goes:
Start by prepping the sweet potatoes. Wash them well (no need to peel!) and poke them several times with a fork so that they can vent steam as they cook.
FAQ: What air fryer do you use?
I have the Our Place Wonder Oven, and I LOVE it! It requires zero preheating, and I think it’s the perfect size—small enough to fit on my countertop, but large enough to be usable. It’s super cute too!
Then, air fry the sweet potatoes. Place them in the basket and air fry at 400°F until you can easily pierce them with a fork, typically 40 to 55 minutes.
How Long to Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer
The exact cook time will depend on the size of your sweet potatoes. In my experience, a medium sweet potato typically takes 40 to 55 minutes to cook in the air fryer.
- If your sweet potatoes are fairly small, start checking them sooner, at around 35 minutes.
- If they’re on the larger side, they could take 50 minutes or more.
A note on yield: I call for 2 sweet potatoes here. You can cook more if you like, but the size of your air fryer will determine how many can fit in one batch.
All the sweet potatoes should fit in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Overcrowding the basket will increase the bake time, and the sweet potatoes won’t cook evenly. If you want to make a really large batch, I recommend using this oven baked sweet potato recipe instead.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Recipe Tips
- Don’t wrap them in foil. For some reason, there’s an idea out there that we should wrap baked sweet potatoes and baked potatoes in foil. I’m not sure where it came from, because foil is the enemy of crispy, puffy skin. DON’T wrap your potatoes up. Instead, pop them right in the air fryer after pricking them with a fork. The skins will puff up nicely while the middles get soft and fluffy.
- Season them well before serving. After air frying, the potatoes will be perfectly cooked…but unseasoned. For the best flavor, slice them open and season them generously with salt and pepper before you eat. A pat of butter or a drizzle of olive oil doesn’t hurt either! Find more serving suggestions below.
- You can make them ahead. These air fryer sweet potatoes keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave, or pop them back into a 350°F air fryer for a few minutes to lightly re-crisp the skin.
Serving Suggestions
These air fryer sweet potatoes are an easy, healthy side dish. To serve, cut the sweet potatoes open and top them with butter or olive oil and salt and pepper. For an extra pop of flavor, sprinkle them with one of these seasonings too:
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Ground cumin
- Fresh chives or scallions
Pair them with your favorite protein or a bowl of vegetarian chili.
You can also stuff these sweet potatoes and enjoy them as a main dish! Find four fun filling ideas in this stuffed sweet potatoes recipe.
Another fun idea: Make a breakfast sweet potato! Top it with a scoop of Greek yogurt, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a dusting of cinnamon.
How do you like to serve air fryer sweet potatoes? Let me know in the comments!
More Sweet Potato Recipes
If you love this air fryer sweet potato, try one of these sweet potato recipes next:
Want more air fryer recipes? Try my air fryer baked potato or air fryer French fries next!
Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
Equipment
- Our Place Wonder Oven Air Fryer (I love the size of this air fryer and it looks cute on my countertop!)
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Use a fork to poke holes in the sweet potatoes. Set them in the air fryer basket and air fry for 40 to 55 minutes, or until puffed up and soft inside when pierced with a fork.
- Slice open each potato, fluff the insides, and serve topped with salt, pepper, and desired toppings.
Is faster then the oven and makes it very nice and soft potato..
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Frances!