Love stuffed vegetables? Try my stuffed eggplant, stuffed zucchini boats, and stuffed tomatoes next. How do we elevate our basic baked sweet potato? Stuff them with tons of goodies and turn them into a complete meal! Inspired by my classic stuffed potatoes, this stuffed sweet potato recipe is an absolute winner. It can transform a typical side dish into the main course. I found that it’s such an easy way to get my family to get more veggies in their diet, and when you add some fun ingredients like guacamole and sour cream, who can resist?
Why I love this recipe
Southwest-inspired. Sure, you can use many flavor combos, but my favorite is a Southwestern-inspired filling mixture made from beans, tomatoes, jalapenos, and lime juice. Don’t fret though; I’ve included SIX family favorites too. Easy to make ahead. I love to batch-bake a ton of sweet potatoes on the weekend and then whip these stuffed ones up on busy weeknights. It comes together in under 10 minutes! A vegetarian/vegan main or side. A stuffed sweet potato is a fabulous way to enjoy a meat-free meal once or twice a week. It’s so hearty and filling that you won’t miss the meat!
Ingredients needed
Sweet potatoes. Use medium to large-sized sweet potatoes so they don’t take more than 1 hour to bake. Also, look for wider potatoes instead of thinner ones, as these will be so much easier to stuff. Olive oil. To brush over the potato skins. Red kidney beans. I like to add beans or legumes to the potatoes as they add extra protein and fiber, which keeps you full. If you don’t like kidney beans, use black beans, pinto beans, or chickpeas as a substitute. Cooked lentils would also be delicious! Cherry tomatoes. Or use any type of diced tomato you like. Red onion. Is raw red onion too tart or strongly flavored for your taste? Soak the diced onion in cold water for 10 minutes before stirring it into the filling. Garlic. I’m a garlic snob, and I always use the fresh kind, but jarred or bottled garlic works just fine. Jalapeno pepper. This gives the stuffing a subtle heat. If you don’t like spicy food, remove the seeds and veins from the pepper or omit it entirely. Salt and black pepper. To taste. Chili pepper. For a smoky, slightly spicy flavor. Again, you can omit it if you aren’t a fan of spice! Lime juice. To brighten up the filling. Again, I’m partial to fresh lime, but bottled lime juice is fine. No lime? Use lemon instead. Guacamole. Creamy avocado meets smokey sweet potato? Yes, please! Either mash your own avocado with citrus, salt, and pepper or buy a pre-made tub from your local grocery store. Sour cream. Optional, but seriously, what pairs better with guac?
How to make stuffed 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
Wash the potatoes. You’re eating the whole potato, skin and all, which is why it’s so important to scrub the outsides really well before baking (seriously, trust me from personal experience!). Pierce with a fork. Piercing the outside of the potatoes with a fork allows steam to release and makes the flesh much fluffier. Pre-cook the potatoes. If you want to make my air fryer baked sweet potato or microwave sweet potato, all you’ll need to do then is stuff them and bake them (and it takes less than HALF the time!). To open the baked potatoes, make a slit on the top of each one after baking. Carefully open it up by inserting two forks into the slit and pulling them away from each other until you see the soft orange flesh.
Storage instructions
To store: Store the leftover potatoes and filling in separate airtight containers in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. Anything goes when it comes to the fillings for baked sweet potatoes! Check out these ideas when you need some inspiration:
Make it cheesy. If you don’t need this recipe to be vegan, top the potatoes with shredded cheese or slices of fresh mozzarella. Place them under the broiler for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Meat lovers. Are there meat lovers in the room? Stuff the potatoes with taco meat, carnitas, beef barbacoa, or shredded chicken instead. Even my vegan sofritas are fantastic here! Mexican-inspired sweet potatoes. I sometimes add salsa and sour cream to this recipe to give it more of a Mexican twist. Oh, and also add corn kernels! Buffalo chicken. My favorite combo when I have leftover chicken breasts on hand! I shred it, mix it with buffalo sauce, then top the potatoes with shredded cheese or blue cheese crumbles, spicy mayo, finely chopped celery, and green onions. Add grains. You can add cooked rice, bulgur, or quinoa to the stuffing to turn this into a meal.
To freeze: Place the cooked and cooled potatoes in a ziplock bag or freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight. To reheat: Quickly reheat the potatoes and filling together or separately in the microwave or a 350ºF oven until heated through.
Frequently asked questions
What to serve with this dish
You can literally pair a stuffed sweet potato with anything, but our favorites are salads. Here are some fun ones to try with it:
Green goddess salad Jennifer Aniston salad Chicken salad with grapes Wedge salad
Originally published September 2023, updated and republished October 2024
