These Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes are the best way to make baked sweet potatoes. They cook up tender and perfect in the Instant Pot every time in a fraction of the time your oven would, and with half the work!
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Perfect Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
This easy Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes recipe proves that the best appliance for baking sweet potatoes is the Instant Pot. It’s such a quick and easy way to make an otherwise time-consuming dish. And the result is soft and creamy baked sweet potatoes that taste better than ever!
Just like these Instant Pot Baked Potatoes, these can be seasoned after they’re baked. You only need the potatoes and some water to cook them up beautifully. How easy is that?
This healthy dish is a great option for paleo, vegan, grain-free and gluten-free eaters. It also works with the Whole30 diet. If baked sweet potatoes weren’t already one of your go-to lunch or side dish options, they will be now!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You don’t need much to cook sweet potatoes in the pressure cooker. Just water and potatoes! The rest of the ingredients are optional toppings that work with the dietary restrictions above.
- Sweet Potatoes: Scrubbed, rinsed and dried. I typically use 8-10 ounce potatoes for this recipe.
- Cold Water: One cup, to be exact.
- Salt & Pepper: To taste.
- Vegan Butter: Or ghee. Feel free to use grass-fed butter if you’re not vegan or dairy-free.
- Chopped Parsley: Or chives, to garnish!
How to Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot
If you’ve used your Instant Pot to cook before, you know the drill. Nevertheless, here’s a detailed explanation of how to make instant pot baked sweet potatoes.
- Pierce Potatoes: Pierce the potatoes all around with a fork.
- Assemble in Instant Pot: Place a metal trivet or a steamer basket inside the inner pot of a 6-quart pressure cooker. Add the water then place the potatoes on top of the trivet.
- Steam: Close the lid and seal. Push the valve to steam.
- Cook: Press the MANUAL or HIGH PRESSURE BUTTON and set the cook time for 15 minutes.
- Release Steam: Once the cook time is up, allow the steam to naturally release for 10-15 minutes before opening the pressure cooker and serving.
- Remove & Serve: Use tongs to remove the potatoes from the Instant Pot and then cut each one lengthwise to split. Serve with optional toppings.
Cooking Times by Size
The cooking times for this recipe vary depending on the size of your sweet potatoes. You can use any size of potatoes as long as you adjust accordingly!
- Small Potatoes: If your sweet potatoes are 6-8 ounces, you’ll want to cook them for 12 minutes and naturally release the steam for 10 minutes.
- Medium Potatoes: Cook 8-10 ounce sweet potatoes for 15 minutes, and release the steam for about 13 minutes.
- Large Potatoes: 10-12 ounce sweet potatoes should be cooked for 18 minutes. It will take the pressure cooker 7 to 10 minutes to come to pressure. Release the steam for 15 minutes if using large potatoes.
Tips for Success
Want some extra tips for making flawless baked sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot? Read on!
- Use Evenly Sized Potatoes: All of your sweet potatoes should be a similar size so they cook evenly. Make sure you use either all small potatoes, all medium potatoes or all large potatoes.
- Pierce Potatoes All Around: Just as if you were cooking them in the oven, you need to puncture your sweet potatoes with the prongs of a fork before pressure cooking.
- Use Trivet & One Cup of Water: No matter what size your potatoes are, they should be cooked with just one cup of cold water. Be sure to place the potatoes over a metal trivet or a steamer basket so they’re not touching the water.
- Do a Natural Release: Follow the natural release directions in the recipe rather than doing a quick release. If the steam leaves the Instant Pot too rapidly, your potatoes won’t finish cooking.
Topping Ideas and Serving Suggestions
There are so many yummy ways to serve baked sweet potatoes! Here are some ideas.
- Top with Vegan Cheese: These potatoes would taste amazing with some melty vegan cheddar on top.
- Top with White Beans & Kale: To make this recipe more of a main course, you could always top your sweet potatoes with beans and greens!
- Serve with Salad: This satisfying Winter Salad with Kale pairs perfectly with baked potatoes. I also like serving these sweet potatoes with a quick Strawberry Spinach Salad.
- Serve with Soup: A warm bowl of Minestrone Soup plus a tender baked sweet potato equals a deliciously healthy comfort food meal!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftover sweet potatoes will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days, if stored properly. Just place them in an airtight container once they’ve cooled completely, then refrigerate. Reheat leftover sweet potatoes in the microwave for 30-second intervals, until warm.
Can I Freeze Instant Pot Baked Sweet Potatoes?
Yes! These tasty Instant Pot sweet potatoes are also freezer friendly. Store them in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months after they’ve cooled completely. Don’t forget to thaw out frozen potatoes in the fridge before reheating them.
More easy sweet potato recipes you will love:
More Instant Pot recipes:
Easiest Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken with Garlic
These Instant Pot Baked Potatoes are the best way to make baked potatoes. They cook up tender and perfect in the Instant Pot every time in a fraction of the time your oven would, and with half the work! Freezer-friendly, vegan, Whole30 and easy to make ahead!
- 4 medium Russet potatoes 8-10 oz each; scrubbed, rinsed and dried
- 1 cup cold water
- coarse salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- vegan butter or ghee you can use grass-fed butter if not vegan/dairy-free
- fresh chopped parsley or chives
Pierce the potatoes all around with a fork.
Place a metal trivet or a steamer basket inside the inner pot of a 6-quart pressure cooker. Add the water.
Place the potatoes on top of the trivet. Close the lid and seal. Push the valve to steam.
Press the MANUAL or HIGH PRESSURE BUTTON and set the cook time for: 12 minutes for small (6 to 8 ounces) potatoes, 15 minutes for medium (8 to 10 ounces) potatoes, or 18 minutes for large (10 to 12 ounces) potatoes. It will take the pressure cooker 7 to 10 minutes to come to pressure.
Once the cook time is up, allow steam to naturally release for 10 minutes for small potatoes and 15 minutes for larger potatoes, before opening the pressure cooker and serving.
Use tongs to remove the potatoes from the air fryer and then cut each one lengthwise to split. Serve with optional toppings.
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