This Simple Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe is a healthy, versatile, and delicious option for any meal of the day. Loaded with wholesome ingredients like black beans, avocado, and a hint of spices, it’s both nutritious and satisfying.
Perfect as a hearty lunch, a light dinner, or even a snack, these stuffed sweet potatoes can be customized with your favorite toppings. Serve them with a side salad or enjoy as is for a complete meal!
Recipe for Stuffed Sweet Potato
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Aluminum foil (optional)
- Fork
- Small mixing bowl
- Knife and cutting board
- Spoon for scooping and topping
Ingredients
- 4 Whole Medium sweet potatoes
- 1 Cup Black beans (cooked or canned, drained and rinsed)
- 1 Whole Avocado (diced)
- ½ Cup Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ¼ Cup Red onion, finely chopped (finely chopped)
- 1 Tsp Olive oil
- 1 Tsp Ground cumin
- ½ Tsp Smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste (to taste)
- 2 Tbsp Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional) (chopped)
- 2 Tbsp Greek yogurt or sour cream (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly and pat them dry. Pierce each sweet potato several times with a fork to allow steam to escape during cooking.
- Bake Sweet Potatoes: Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet (lined with foil if preferred) and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
- Prepare Filling: While the sweet potatoes are baking, combine the black beans, diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Toss gently to combine.
- Slice and Stuff: Once the sweet potatoes are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly. Slice each one down the center lengthwise and gently fluff the flesh with a fork.
- Assemble: Divide the filling evenly among the sweet potatoes, stuffing each one generously.
- Add Toppings: Garnish with fresh cilantro and a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream if desired.
- Serve: Serve warm and enjoy your delicious stuffed sweet potatoes!
Notes
- Sweet Potato Size: Choose sweet potatoes that are roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- Filling Variations: Feel free to get creative with the filling! Add cooked quinoa, shredded chicken, or sautéed veggies for more variety.
- Make it Vegan: Replace Greek yogurt or sour cream with a dairy-free alternative, or skip it entirely.
- Crispier Skin: Rub the sweet potatoes with a little olive oil before baking for crispy skin.
Nutrition
How About Alternatives?
When making this Simple Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, there are plenty of ingredient alternatives you can use to customize the dish to suit your taste, dietary preferences, or what you have on hand.
Sweet potatoes are, of course, the star of the dish, but if you’d like to switch things up, try using baked russet potatoes or even large bell peppers as a base. Bell peppers, when hollowed out and roasted, provide a sweet and crunchy alternative that works beautifully with the same filling.
For the filling, black beans can be replaced with other protein-packed options like chickpeas, kidney beans, or lentils. If you want to add some extra richness, sautéed ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based meat crumbles are excellent additions. If you’re looking for a more Mediterranean vibe, swap out the black beans for hummus or crumbled feta cheese mixed with olives and cucumbers.
Avocado is a creamy and healthy component of the dish, but it’s not the only option. You can use guacamole, a dollop of tahini, or even a drizzle of olive oil mixed with lemon juice for a tangy alternative.
If you’d prefer something heartier, roasted or sautéed mushrooms are a fantastic substitute that adds a savory, umami flavor to the dish. For tomatoes, feel free to substitute sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers for a deeper, slightly smoky flavor.
The Bottom Line
The Simple Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe offers an incredibly flexible base for creativity and personalization.
By experimenting with alternative ingredients, you can tailor the dish to suit dietary needs, flavor preferences, or simply what’s available in your kitchen.
Each substitution brings a different layer of flavor and texture, ensuring that no two versions of this meal are exactly the same.