Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

Wondering how to cook Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot? This easy recipe shows you how to make the perfect creamy sweet potatoes in half of the time it takes to bake or roast them.

Easy Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

Lately, sweet potatoes have been my jam. I think I’ve had them twice a week for like a month. I’ve made them in a variety of ways to change up the flavor profile. I’ve stuffed them (black bean stuffed sweet potatoes, anybody?). Spiralized them. Chopped them and put them in a filling. You name it, I’ve done it. As we head into the “fall season” I know all the rage will be sweet potatoes. It is every year, they are a great fall vegetable. 

One of my biggest pet peeves about sweet potatoes, though, is the cooking process. They take forever to make in the oven. So, usually my go-to cooking methods are either the microwave or the instant pot. They’re a lot faster and I get a consistent result each time, which is key! Today, we’ll be using the instant pot, and you’re going to love how easy this recipe for creamy, tender sweet potatoes is. Let’s get into it!

Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Sweet Potato Recipe

There are so many reasons to fall in love with this cooking method for sweet potatoes. Here are just a few!

• Easy. Just add a steaming rack, water, and the sweet potatoes to your instant pot. Then, turn it on. That’s it!
• Fast. Your instant pot will cook the sweet potatoes faster than if you were to cook them in the oven.
• Perfect results every time. Every time you cook sweet potatoes with this method, they’ll come out perfectly tender and ready for your favorite toppings.

What You’ll Need

The ingredients list for today is REAL simple. There are only 2 things to round up (for exact amounts, check out the recipe card below!).

• Sweet potatoes – No need to chop them up, just place them into the instant pot whole! Try to use potatoes that are about the same size so that everything cooks evenly.
• Water – Cool/room temperature water works just fine.

How to Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot

The first step to this process is to rinse and scrub the sweet potatoes, then pierce them with a fork or knife. After all, you always wanna start with clean produce.

Then follow these simple steps to make perfectly cooked instant pot sweet potatoes:

• Prep your tools. Place the instant pot steaming rack on the bottom of the instant pot, then add 1 cup of cold water.
• Add the sweet potatoes. Place your whole sweet potatoes on the rack, layering them if they don’t all fit in a single layer. Close the lid and set the steam release valve to be closed. Next, set the instant pot to pressure cooker mode.
• Cook. Pressure cook them on HIGH based on their size. (See more info on this below.)
• Do a natural release. Once time is up, do a 10 minute Natural Release.
• Serve. Add your favorite sweet potato toppings and dig in!

How Long Does It Take to Cook a Sweet Potato in the Instant Pot?

The amount of time it will take to cook a sweet potato will depend upon its size. Sweet potatoes come in a variety of sizes, so it makes sense that with those varying sizes there will also be varied cook times. Here is a quick guide:

• Small (2 inches or less wide) – 18 minutes + a 10 minute natural pressure release
• Medium (2-3 inches wide) – 25 minutes + a 10 minute natural pressure release
• Large/XL Long (3-4 inches wide) – 35 minutes + a 10 minute natural pressure release

Keep in mind that regular potatoes have a different cooking time in the instant pot because they don’t have the same density as sweet potatoes.

Tips for Success

The process is ridiculously easy, as you can see, but I have a few more tips for you anyway!

• Get the same size sweet potatoes. This will ensure that all the sweet potatoes are done at the same time.
• Pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork or knife before cooking. The holes will allow the steam to cook the sweet potatoes thoroughly.
• Allow at least 10 minutes for a natural release. This really aids the process of fully cooking the fluffy sweet potatoes because of the extra steaming!
• How many sweet potatoes can I cook at once? I have had success with 4-6 sweet potatoes at a time. This will partially depend on how large your instant pot is, however.
• The potatoes don’t need to be in one layer. You can just pile them into your instant pot as shown in the photo above.

What Goes With Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes?

Now that you have this base recipe, you can add anything you want to these sweet potatoes. These are great for meal prep – cook them earlier in the week and then top them with whatever you want throughout the week!

Here are some of my favorite ways to eat sweet potatoes:

• With butter: Top your potatoes with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, or with butter and a pinch of salt.
• With Tex-Mex toppings: I love serving my sweet potatoes with sour cream, melty shredded cheese, or with salsa and guacamole.
• Stuffed: You can also use your instant pot sweet potatoes to make stuffed potatoes! I highly recommend trying bbq chicken stuffed sweet potatoes with broccoli slaw, chipotle beef barbacoa stuffed sweet potatoes, or stuffed Tex-Mex sweet potatoes.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

Got some leftover sweet potatoes? Here’s how to save them for another time.

• To store. Keep your leftover instant pot sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
• To reheat. I recommend using the microwave or the oven (preheat to 350F, then bake until warmed through).

Can I Freeze These Sweet Potatoes?

Sure! Once the sweet potatoes have cooled completely, keep them in an airtight container and freeze them for 2-3 months. Remember to thaw them overnight in the fridge before you enjoy them again.

More Potato Recipes

Looking for more easy potato side dishes and meals? Check out these ones!

• Grilled Sweet Potato Salad
• Creamy Instant Pot Potato Soup
• Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Streusel
• The Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Crispy Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes

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