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Cooking sweet potatoes doesn’t have to be a time-consuming process. With this Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes recipe, you’ll discover a quick and convenient method that turns this nutritious vegetable into a delightful dish.

Looking for more sweet potato recipes? Try our Mini Sweet Potato Pie, a small batch of Sweet Potato Fries, a Sweet Potato and Black Bean Salad, or our dreamy Mini Sweet Potato Casserole!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Effortless Cooking: Just set your Instant Pot and enjoy perfectly cooked sweet potatoes without the fuss.
  • Quick Preparation Time: Forget waiting for an hour or more in the oven; this recipe will have your sweet potatoes ready in a fraction of the time, making it a perfect option for busy evenings.
  • Consistent Results: The Instant Pot ensures that your sweet potatoes are cooked to the same tender perfection every time, taking the guesswork out of cooking.
  • Versatile Side Dish: These sweet potatoes can be transformed into a multitude of dishes or enjoyed on their own, fitting seamlessly into any meal plan.
  • Healthy Option: Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making this recipe a nutritious choice that doesn’t sacrifice flavor.
Two sweet potatoes in an instant pot.

Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes – An Easy Method

  1. Prepare the Sweet Potatoes: Wash and scrub the sweet potatoes thoroughly. Use a fork to poke holes into the sweet potatoes, allowing steam to penetrate for even cooking.
  2. Add Water: Pour 1 cup of water into the 3-quart Instant Pot. This will create the necessary steam for pressure cooking.
  3. Place the Sweet Potatoes: Position the sweet potatoes on the steaming trivet that accompanies the Instant Pot. The trivet ensures the sweet potatoes are not submerged in the water.
  4. Seal and Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and set it to cook on high pressure. Follow your appliance’s instructions for exact cooking times based on the size of your sweet potatoes.

This simple method provides a quick and efficient way to enjoy perfectly cooked sweet potatoes.

An instant pot closed with sweet potatoes inside.
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Cooking Time For Sweet Potatoes In The Instant Pot

The cooking time for sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot will vary based on their size. Here’s a helpful guide to ensure perfectly cooked sweet potatoes:

  • Medium-Sized Sweet Potatoes (8 to 10 ounces each): These typically require around 15 minutes of cooking time in the Instant Pot. This duration was found to be perfect for the medium-sized sweet potatoes used in our recipe.
  • Smaller Sweet Potatoes (4 to 6 ounces each): For these, reduce the cooking time to 12 minutes.

Keep in mind that it might take a few minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure, so plan accordingly. Adjusting the cooking time according to the size of the sweet potatoes will ensure a tender and delicious result. Experimenting with different sizes? Feel free to adjust the time as needed!

A forkful of a cooked sweet potato plated on a metal tray with a grey and orange cloth napkin.

Choosing The Right Size Instant Pot: A Guide

When it comes to picking the right Instant Pot size, consider the number of people you’ll be cooking for and your specific needs:

  • 3-Quart Instant Pot: Ideal for individuals, couples, or small households, the 3-quart Instant Pot is the perfect fit if you’re cooking for one or two people. Great for college students, single adults, or empty nesters, this compact model is equipped with most features found in larger versions. It’s also an excellent choice for small kitchens or for those who travel in an RV.
  • 6-Quart Instant Pot: If you’re someone who enjoys meal prepping or batch cooking, even if cooking mainly for yourself, the 6-quart size may be more suitable. It offers more capacity and flexibility for various cooking needs.

Keep your cooking habits and kitchen space in mind when choosing the size of your Instant Pot. Both options come with unique advantages tailored to different lifestyles and culinary requirements.

Serving Suggestions

Enhance your sweet potatoes with these delightful serving suggestions:

  • As a Side: Pair with baked chicken or a juicy steak.
  • Stuffed: Top with black beans, cheese, and salsa for a main dish.
  • Mashed: Add butter and cinnamon for a comforting mashed version.
  • In Salads: Cube and toss with greens and other roasted veggies.
  • In a Pie: Use in a mini sweet potato pie.

RELATED: Easy Dinner Ideas For One

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

For this easy Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes recipe, I use an Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-quart. For best results, use an Instant Pot of similar size.

If you would like additional information on the dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.

For examples of the dishes we use, please visit our Store page.


Your Cooking For One Source
Because you’re worth it

Small Batch Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
This Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes recipe might become your new favorite way to cook sweet potatoes. Two sweet potatoes that cook in minutes and are perfectly creamy and fluffy every single time.

Ingredients  

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup water
  • steamer trivet

Instructions 

  • Scrub skin of sweet potatoes with a brush until clean.
  • Add water to the Instant Pot.
  • Place the steaming trivet inside, and lay the potatoes on top.
  • Place the lid on and secure it. Turn the pressure release knob to a sealed position.
  • Use the manual mode and cook at high pressure for 15 minutes.
  • When pressure cooking is complete, use a natural release. (After the cooking time has completed, the Instant Pot will automatically turn to "Warm" mode and the pressure will slowly release naturally, this process takes about 10 minutes).
  • When this process has completed, remove the lid and remove the sweet potatoes from the Instant Pot.
  • Enjoy immediately. Leftovers can be safely stored in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to four days.

Notes

Serving Suggestions
Enhance your sweet potatoes with these delightful serving suggestions:
  • As a Side: Pair with baked chicken or a juicy steak.
  • Stuffed: Top with black beans, cheese, and salsa for a main dish.
  • Mashed: Add butter and cinnamon for a comforting mashed version.
  • In Salads: Cube and toss with greens and other roasted veggies.
  • In a Pie: Use in a mini sweet potato pie.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 112kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 131mg, Potassium: 762mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 32063IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 68mg, Iron: 1mg

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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I’m Joanie and I’m incredibly happy you’re here! Our aim is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes, education, and a supportive community that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul.

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4 Comments

  1. I just purchased my Instant Pot and this recipe is the second thing I’ve ever made in it. I have a 6 quart one and your recipe worked great even with one 1 sweet potato.

    1. It should work just fine. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with your pressure cooker and use the correct amount of liquid specified for your pressure cooker.