Love all things sweet potato? Try my air fryer sweet potato fries, stuffed sweet potatoes, sweet potato pancakes, and sweet potato muffins next. Sweet potatoes are a go-to side dish in my house, and as much as we love air frying them, I dare say the microwave is even more convenient. With minimal prep time, you’ll have tender, perfectly cooked sweet potatoes that are light, fluffy, and easily paired with anything (just ask a certain family member who loves it with marshmallows and honey. Don’t ask).
Why I love this recipe
Works as a side or a meal. Serve it as is with a little butter and salt, or top it with all sorts of toppings! I’ll be sure to list some of my favorites below. Ready in less than 5 minutes. That’s the beauty of microwaving vegetables (hello, microwave baked potato!). No oil needed. You get all the fiber, vitamins, and minerals but with none of the excess calories or fat. Great texture. The skin is crisp and hides a warm, fluffy center. Makes great leftovers. As you can imagine, they’re easy to reheat in the microwave.
Ingredients needed
Sweet potatoes. You can use any potato of your choosing, but note that the bigger they are, the longer they’ll take to cook. Pick potatoes that are firm with little to no wrinkles. Toppings/fillings. Don’t be afraid to experiment. To keep them simple, I mostly use salt, black pepper, and butter. For a sweet version, I use cinnamon sugar. For an all-in-one meal, fill them with ground meat, shredded cheese, beans, and sour cream. I’ll include a few options in the variations section.
How to microwave sweet potatoes
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Arman’s recipe tips
Peel the potato if desired. It’s totally up to you. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t! I find without skin yields slightly less tender potatoes (I’d describe it as waxy).. Microwave them one at a time if the potatoes are quite large. Check at the 5-minute mark. The cooking time will vary depending on how large the potatoes are. Smaller potatoes may cook in 5 minutes, but if yours is still firm, continue microwaving in one-minute intervals, checking between each. Oil the skin. While optional, I find brushing olive oil on the skin helps it become more tender.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 -4 days.
Mexican. Fill with taco meat, black beans, salsa, sliced avocado, and sour cream. Sweet. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Maple. Top with butter, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Peanut butter. Drizzle with peanut butter (or almond butter).
To freeze: Place cooked and cooled sweet potatoes in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. Reheating: Microwave leftovers in 30-second increments until warm or heat them in a preheated oven or air fryer.
Frequently asked questions
More ways to cook sweet potatoes
Air fryer baked sweet potato Grilled sweet potatoes Roasted root vegetables
I often end up with more sweet potatoes than I need. When this happens, I dice them up to use in vegan chili. Alternatively, mash them until smooth and use them in baking sweet potato blondies, sweet potato muffins, or savory pancakes.
