Learn how to make perfectly tender sweet potatoes in an Instant Pot. The key to making them just right is using the correct pressure time for the size and shape of the sweet potatoes.
Long, skinny sweet potatoes require less time than shorter, fatter ones. Serve these delicious sweet potatoes with your favorite beef, pork, chicken, and fish recipe. You can also use them in sweet potato casserole, sweet potato cornbread, or sweet potato pie.
Why Cook Sweet Potatoes in an Instant Pot
- It is so much faster than in the oven. Oh, so fast.
- You will not heat the kitchen in the warm spring and summer months.
- They steam perfectly and are ideal for any baked or boiled sweet potato recipe. As a bonus, you can scoop the flesh out so easily and throw away the skins.
- You don’t use valuable oven space when cooking multiple dishes.
How Long Do I Cook Them
Measure the potato at its greatest width and follow these times.
- Small potatoes (2 inches or less): cook for 13 minutes
- Medium potatoes (2-3 inches) cook for 18 minutes
- Large potatoes (3 inches or more) cook for 25 minutes
How to Cook Sweet Potatoes in an Instant Pot
This is the summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
First, establish a cooking time by measuring the width of your sweet potato. Insert the rivet into your Instant Pot and add a cup of water. Wash and pierce the potatoes several times with the tines of a fork.
Place the potatoes on the rivet. Seal the Instant Pot and pressure cook on high pressure for the correct time for your size potatoes. Remember, it takes Instant Pots about 5-15 minutes to come to pressure. Let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure for 10 minutes before pressing the quick-release button and removing the lid.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- Pick sweet potatoes with a firm surface and smooth skin. Avoid sweet potatoes with cracks, soft spots, and blemishes.
- The sweet potatoes can touch each other and overlap, but I would not exceed four potatoes in a 6-quart Instant Pot.
- It takes an Instant Pot 5-15 minutes to come to pressure.
- Store leftover sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat at reduced power in the microwave.
Best Toppings For Sweet Potatoes
- Tomato salsa, peach salsa, or mango salsa
- Butter, salt, and freshly ground black pepper
- Pecans, walnuts, or pistachios
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar
- Mini-marshmallows, cinnamon, and pecans
- Greek yogurt, sour cream, or tzatziki
- Bacon and pickled jalapenos or pickled onions
Serving Suggestions
- Meat: roasted pork loin, ham steak, country-style ribs, and turkey burgers
- Vegetables: grilled vegetable salad, creamed spinach, and roasted onions
- Soup: Italian wedding soup, vegetable soup, beef noodle soup, and lemon chicken orzo soup
Sweet Potato Recipes
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 sweet potatoes of uniform size
- 1 cup cool water
- toppings: butter, salt, freshly ground black pepper, chopped nuts, brown sugar optional
Instructions
- Insert the rivet into a 6-quart or larger Instant Pot and add the water.
- Wash the potatoes. Pierce the potatoes several times with the tines of a fork.
- Place the potatoes on the rivet. Seal the Instant Pot and pressure cook on high pressure for the correct time for your size potatoes.
- Small potatoes (2 inches or less): cook for 13 minutesMedium potatoes (2-3 inches) cook for 18 minutesLarge potatoes (3 inches or more) cook for 25 minutes
- Let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure for 10 minutes before pressing the quick-release button and removing the lid.
Notes
- Pick sweet potatoes with a firm surface and smooth skin. Avoid sweet potatoes with cracks, soft spots, and blemishes.
- The sweet potatoes can touch each other and overlap, but I would not exceed four potatoes in a 6-quart Instant Pot.
- It takes an Instant Pot 5-15 minutes to come to pressure.
- Store leftover sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat at reduced power in the microwave.
Catalina
These cooked beautifully in the Instant Pot! I added a bit of cinnamon and butter after and they were better than any oven-baked version I’ve had!
Mahy
It’s been a while since I made sweet potatoes. Time to fix that. Thank you for sharing all your tips and tricks!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Mahy!
Maria
I love how much quicker these are than traditional baking. They also came out with the perfect texture.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Maria! I am glad that you liked them!
Beth
I love how much faster these cook in the Instant Pot, and they came out so perfectly.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Beth! We love them too!