Here’s a detailed recipe for a Loaded Baked Sweet Potato—sweet, savory, and fully customizable:
Loaded Baked Sweet Potato
Servings: 2–4
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 45–60 min
Ingredients
- 2–4 medium sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the topping (choose your favorites):
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon bits or crumbled cooked bacon
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or your preferred cheese)
- 1/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- Butter (optional, for extra richness)
Optional veggie/healthy additions:
- Steamed broccoli or kale
- Sautéed mushrooms or onions
- Black beans or corn
Instructions
1. Preheat and prep
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Wash sweet potatoes thoroughly and pat dry.
- Rub them with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt.
2. Bake the sweet potatoes
- Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment.
- Bake for 45–60 minutes, turning once halfway through, until tender (a fork should pierce easily).
3. Prepare toppings
- While the potatoes bake, cook any bacon, sauté vegetables, or prep other toppings.
- Grate cheese and chop green onions.
4. Assemble the loaded sweet potatoes
- Remove potatoes from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Slice each potato lengthwise down the center.
- Gently fluff the inside with a fork.
- Optional: add a small pat of butter for extra creaminess.
- Sprinkle or spoon on your toppings: cheese, bacon, veggies, sour cream, green onions, and seasonings.
5. Melt cheese (optional)
- If you like the cheese melted, return the loaded potatoes to the oven for 5–7 minutes until cheese is bubbly.
6. Serve
- Sprinkle smoked paprika or extra herbs on top.
- Serve hot as a main dish or hearty side.
Tips for Success
- For extra sweetness, drizzle a little honey or maple syrup inside the potato before adding toppings.
- To make it vegetarian, skip bacon and use extra veggies, black beans, or chickpeas.
- You can also microwave sweet potatoes to save time: 5–8 minutes per potato, then add toppings.