Have you ever considered using your air fryer to bake a sweet potato? No? Well, let’s change that! Today I am going to show you how easy it is to create a super soft and tasty baked sweet potato in an air fryer. Using an air fryer is going to save you time while giving you the same end result. Plus, we are going to top air fryer baked sweet potatoes with some cilantro lime butter to create a show-stopping side dish.
Air fryer sweet potatoes are perfect for following gluten-free and dairy-free lifestyles. And while butter is not paleo or Whole30 approved, a simple modification will keep you inside those parameters as well. For those of us who are following a low-carb eating plan, this one is a little higher than typically recommended, but you could easily offset the carbs earlier in the day leaving the room.
Using your air fryer is a great way to create sides that have all the crisp and crunch of deep-frying, without using all the oil. Try some of our other air fryer side dishes like air fryer broccoli, air fryer frozen sweet potato fries, air fryer frozen french fries.
Serve up your air fryer sweet potato with these air fryer chicken wings, amazing air fryer brats, or these keto baked pork chops.
A printable recipe card is at the bottom of the post
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Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
When I first got my air fryer I was bound and determined to see how much use I could get out of one kitchen product. I spent time online researching and time in my kitchen simply trying things out. It didn’t take me long to realize that my air fryer was super versatile and could create more than just traditional fried items. Baked items also did really well in the fryer and often cooked up in a lot less time.
And anything that saves me time is a win!
Since my air fryer handled a variety of baked items well I decided it was time to attempt a sweet potato. Not a typical food in our mostly low-carb home, the sweet potato is one of those carbier veggies we make an exception for simply because of the flavor and nutritional content.
The end result was this amazing cilantro-lime covered baked sweet potato using my air fryer.
Why This Recipe Works
- Super versatile, air fryer potatoes can be served with a variety of toppings including butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, broccoli, ham, and more.
- While a carb-loaded veggie, sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber, vitamins A and C, as well as manganese and potassium.
- Topped with cilantro lime butter, these potatoes are simple and tasty.
- Cooking sweet potatoes in the air fryer frees you up to focus on your main dish.
Ingredients for Sweet Potatoes in the Air Fryer
This may be one of the easiest recipes you will find anywhere. The main recipe contains just two ingredients!
A note about air fryers: While a large toaster oven style air fryer could cook 4 or more potatoes, a smaller basket style air fryer might hold only 2. Don’t overload your fryer!
- 2-4 sweet potatoes
- Olive oil for brushing
Cilantro Lime Butter (Optional)
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1-2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
Cooking Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer
Be sure to select sweet potatoes that are a similar size to get an even cooking time. We used ones that were about 12-13 oz each.
Before cooking, wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Using a fork, pierce each one several times to allow the heat to penetrate the meat of the potato.
Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
Brush the outside of your sweet potato with a little oil, such as avocado or olive oil. Adding the oil makes the skins crispier, but this is optional if you want to skip it.
Cook the sweet potatoes in the preheated air fryer 20 minutes, and then flip to the other side.
Continue cooking on the other side until you can easily piece through with a fork, which will take 20-25 more mins.
Times could vary based on your type of air fryer and the size of sweet potatoes you purchased.
That being said, if you’re wanting to cook air fryer FROZEN chicken wings, this is the method and cooking device to use!
How to Serve Baked Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
You can serve the air fryer sweet potatoes as 1 whole potato per person, or cut them each in half.
Split the potato open lengthwise, and “fluff” the inside of the potato with a fork.
Popular ways to serve an air fryer baked sweet potato is with butter, salt and pepper, sour cream, and herbs.
One of our favorite ways to serve sweet potatoes is with this tangy cilantro-lime butter. Here’s what you need:
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1-2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
Mix the ingredients together and serve a little on top of each potato or on the side.
Sprinkle with more cilantro if desired.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Recipe Tips
- Baked sweet potatoes will store in your fridge for several days. Use this air fryer sweet potato recipe as part of your meal-prep days.
- Be sure your sweet potatoes are roughly the same size to ensure even cooking.
- If following a Paleo or Whole30 eating plan, top your air fryer sweet potato with cilantro and lime only, omitting the butter.
- To reduce your carbohydrate count, consider eating only 1/2 of your air fryer sweet potato.
Other Air Fryer Side Dish Recipes You’ll Love
(typically include specifics like other soup recipes, other chicken recipes, etc)
- Air fryer frozen sweet potato fries
- Air fryer frozen french fries
- Air fryer broccoli
- Air fryer tater tots
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Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato with Cilantro Lime Butter
Air fryer sweet potatoes cook super fast, plus they turn out cream and delicious. Serve with butter or the optional cilantro lime butter.
Ingredients
- 2-4 sweet potatoes
- Olive oil for brushing
- Cilantro Lime Butter (Optional)
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1-2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Before cooking, wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Using a fork, pierce each one several times to allow the heat to penetrate the meat of the potato.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
- Brush the outside of your sweet potato with a little oil, such as avocado or olive oil. Adding the oil makes the skins crispier, but this is optional if you want to skip it.
- Cook the sweet potatoes in the preheated air fryer 20 minutes, and then flip to the other side.
- Continue cooking on the other side until you can easily piece through with a fork, which will take 20-25 more mins.
- Times could vary based on your type of air fryer and the size of sweet potatoes you purchased.
- Serve with butter, salt, and pepper OR cilantro lime butter.
CILANTRO LIME BUTTER
1/4 cup butter, softened
1-2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
Mix the ingredients together and serve a little on top of each potato or on the side.
Sprinkle with more cilantro if desired.
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