Easiest Microwave Sweet Potato Recipe (2024)

Published: Jan 23, 2020 / Modified: Mar 6, 2020 by Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN / This post may contain affiliate links / Leave a Comment

Looking for the best way to cook a sweet potato fast? Follow this easy microwave sweet potato recipe to have perfectly baked taters ready in less than 10 minutes.

One of the biggest barriers to eating more vegetables (and healthy food in general) is not knowing how to prepare them…or not having the tools to do so. Time can also be a limiting factor, of course!

That’s why I’m so excited to share my new favorite cooking hack – making a baked sweet potato in the microwave. This foolproof method is incredibly fast, which means no more excuses not to try delicious, nutritious sweet potatoes!

I think it’s even safe to say that learning this trick can transform how you spend your time in the kitchen. Need an easy side dish for dinner? Make a sweet potato.

Want to make a recipe that calls for cooked sweet potatoes but don’t have an hour to prep them (who does!)? Ding ding ding. Microwave sweet potatoes to the rescue!

How Long to Microwave a Sweet Potato

Depending on the size of your sweet potato, and how many you plan to cook at once, microwave sweet potatoes can take anywhere from 5 to 8 minutes broken up into shorter timer intervals.

Important Steps For Making Sweet Potatoes in the Microwave

1. Scrub the sweet potatoes clean, then use a fork to poke holes in the skin. I usually pierce them 5-7 times at different parts of the skin. Do not skip this step! It’s super important to let steam escape during cooking.
2. Place the sweet potato(es) on a microwave-safe plate and cook for 5 minutes total on high. Cook for 2 minutes, 30 seconds to start, flip the potato over, then put it back in for 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Slice it open, and you’ll find delicious, creamy flesh inside!

I recommend cooking 1 sweet potato at a time, since they cook more evenly that way. But you can cook 2 at once. It will just take longer.

The sweet potato is finished cooking when the skin is soft and sinks in a bit when you touch it. If it’s not soft after 5 minutes, put it back in the microwave for 30-second intervals until it’s cooked through.

Some of you may wonder if microwave sweet potatoes are still healthy for you. The short answer is yes! Details below.

Does microwaving sweet potatoes destroy nutrients?

Since sweet potatoes are exposed to heat for a shorter time in the microwave than when they’re cooked in the oven, they may actually retain more nutrients.

In fact, some studies show that vegetables cooked in the microwave retain more of their water-soluble nutrients, such as vitamin C, than when they’re boiled.

For more information on this topic, check out my post on steamed veggies.

Can you eat the skin of a sweet potato?

To increase the nutrition value of a sweet potato even more, eat the skin too! It’s completely edible and loaded with fiber.

Sweet Potato Recipes

Sweet potatoes taste delicious with a slab of butter and a sprinkle of salt. You can also top them with cinnamon, garlic powder, or any seasoning you like.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes that call for cooked sweet potatoes:

• Silver Dollar Sweet Potato Protein Pancakes
• Spiced Sweet Potato Latte
• Sweet Potato Blueberry Flax Muffins
• Sweet Potato Skins with Barbecue Beans
• Oatmeal Raisin Sweet Potato Cookies
• Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burgers

I’d love to hear how you like this recipe! Rate/review using the stars on the recipe card or in the comments, and follow the Veg World on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Looking for something totally different? Browse the recipe library.

📖 Recipe

Enjoy this easy cooking tip!

Lizzie