These Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes are cooked whole with no pricking. They’re an easy, healthy side dish.
Why Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes?
It used to take at least an hour of baking in the oven to get a sweet potato cooked through, but the Instant Pot makes it so much faster. It’s honestly so convenient and I’ll never go back to using my oven to make delicious, healthy sweet potatoes that are perfectly cooked.
With the Instant Pot, you:
- don’t have to prick the sweet potatoes to get them to cook evenly through
- don’t have to pre-heat your oven and heat up your kitchen
- can walk away and do other things while the Instant Pot does its magic
If you don’t have an Instant Pot and are ready to buy one, may I suggest the 6-quart Duo model that I have? I love it and it sells for less than $100 on Amazon.
How to Make Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
You aren’t going to believe how easy this is. To make gloriously soft sweet potatoes with a silky-smooth flesh, all you have to do it:
- Wash and pat dry your sweet potatoes
- Place them on a trivet inside the Instant Pot
- Add one cup of water
- Lock on the lid and set the time
Questions about making sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot
What size of Instant Pot should I use to cook sweet potatoes?
I recommend a 3-quart, 6-quart, or 8-quart. It really just depends on how many you want to cook.
How many sweet potatoes can I cook in the Instant Pot?
A 3-quart Instant Pot will fit up to 3 medium sweet potatoes, a 6-quart Instant Pot will fit up to 5 or 6 medium sweet potatoes and an 8-quart Instant Pot will fit up to 10 or more medium sweet potatoes.
How long does it take to cook a sweet potato in the Instant Pot?
Small sweet potato – 18 minutes
Medium sweet potato (most common size) – 22 minutes
Large sweet potato – 27 minutes
How do you serve cooked sweet potatoes?
The options are endless! Sweet potatoes can just be cut down the middle and served with some butter, ghee, or coconut oil. They also go great with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
You can also use them as a base for toppings like cooked beans or ground meat.
Can I freeze cooked sweet potatoes?
Yes, but I like to remove them from the skin and just freeze the flesh.
Can I eat the skin of cooked sweet potatoes?
Yes, but I recommend buying organic sweet potatoes if you want to eat the skin. Also, be sure to scrub them really well before cooking them.
Can I make mashed sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot?
Yes! But, I recommend peeling them and chopping them before cooking them. See my easy Instant Pot mashed sweet potato recipe for the details.
What else can I make in the Instant Pot?
So many things! I have just what you need with my FREE Instant Pot Clean Eating e-book! Yay!
Download my FREE Clean Eating Instant Pot recipes e-book!
Plus, here are some other easy Instant Pot veggie recipes you might like:
Instant Pot Whole Sweet Potatoes
Instant Pot Whole Red Potatoes
Here’s the printable recipe for easy Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes:
Print
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes (Cooked Whole, No Pricking!)
Prep Time: 5 minutes- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
Yield: 6
Category: Side dish
Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
Cuisine: paleo, vegan, real food, healthy
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Here’s how to make sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot.
Ingredients
- 6 medium sweet potatoes, whole
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Wash the sweet potatoes, using a sponge or brush to scrape off any pieces of dirt. Pat dry with a clean towel.
- Place the trivet into the bottom of the Instant Pot. Add the water.
- Arrange the sweet potato on the trivet.
- Lock on the lid and set the cooking time to 22 minutes, making sure the pressure valve is set to “sealing.”
- When the cooking time is complete, let the pressure come down naturally for 5 minutes, and then quick release the remaining pressure.
- Remove the lid and use tongs to transfer the cooked sweet potatoes to a serving plate.
- Use immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Notes
Note: cooking times can vary based on the size of your sweet potato. Medium is the most common size. The small ones fit in the palm of your hand and the large ones are huge.
Small sweet potato (18 minutes)
Medium sweet potato (22 minutes)
Large sweet potato (27 minutes)
Be sure to pin this easy Instant Pot Sweet Potato recipe to save it for later!
READ NEXT: HOW TO MAKE EASY MASHED SWEET POTATOES!
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Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
I make this recipe at least once a week!
★★★★★
CAROL says
I’m confused. The recipe calls for medium potatoes and says to cook for 18 minutes. But later on you say that medium potatoes cook for 22 minutes I’m small for 18 minutes.. Which should it be? Thank you.
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Sorry, Carol! The time for medium potatoes is 22 minutes. I will adjust the recipe. 🙂
Lori says
OHHHH!! I’m new to the Instant Pot world and can’t wait to try this!! Baking sweet potatoes normally takes for-EVER!
Krista Price says
Is there anything the Instant Pot can’t do?! I usually cook sweet potatoes in the microwave when I’m in a hurry. I’ve never even thought to cook them in my pressure cook! Brilliant! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
★★★★★
Denise says
I love my Instant Pot, and love finding all the recipes & food that can be cooked with it even more!
★★★★★
Jacque Hastert says
I can’t wait to make these in the IP. Making them in the oven takes forever, I can wait the 22 minutes 😉
★★★★★
Veena Azmanov says
I love Sweet Potatoes very much and often make this at home. The instant Pot could make my life easier too.
Veena Azmanov says
I love sweet potatoes and often make them for family. This Instant Pot would make life easier and simple to try many recipes.
Veena Azmanov says
Love Sweet Potatoes and often make it for family. Lovely idea to the Instant pot to make life easier.
Dannii says
We have been making potatoes in the instant pot and it’s just so easy!
★★★★★
Morgan Eisenberg says
I get so excited every time I find something new to do with the pressure cooker. I will NOT missing poking fork holes in sweet potatoes..
★★★★★
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Ha ha, YES Morgan! 🙂
Edyta says
Wow, I would have never thought about making whole sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot. I’m loving it!
★★★★★
Emmeline says
This looks like a great recipe! I don’t have an instant pot yet so I’ll have to continue cooking mine in the oven for now, but I’ll save this for when I get one.
★★★★★
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
I have been wanting to buy an instant pot for so long. This is such a great way to cook sweet potatoes!
★★★★★
Analida Braeger says
Horray for sweet potatoes. It’s like natures candy, as a carb. But oh so versatile. Never knew I could make these in the instant pot. Thanks for sharing!
Kiki Johnson says
I always disliked how the juices leak out of baked sweet potatoes when I prick them with a fork – so hard to clean and the whole kitchen smells burnt! This method NEEDS to be tried asap! Love the look of your potatoes! Thanks for sharing this hack!
Sharon says
I didn’t know that making sweet potatoes in the instant pot could be so easy! Perfect for making a large batch since I love eating them for lunch during the week.
★★★★★
Tammy says
Sadly I don’t have an instant pot but this is awesome! So crazy easy!
Amanda Mason says
I always have to double wrap my sweet potatoes in aluminum foil or they drip and then my oven gets all smokey! I’m so going to use this recipe!!! So glad I found it and it looks so easy!
★★★★★
Daniela says
Love cooking sweet potatoes! Thanks for sharing how you make yours :).
Natalie says
I’ve just bought instant pot and I can’t wait to make this. It sounds so easy and potato does look tender and flavorful. Saving this recipe. Thanks for sharing.