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    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Easy Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

    Modified: Aug 8, 2025 · Published: May 30, 2016 by Sharon Rigsby · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe
    Three twice-baked-sweet potatoes on a white serving platter, garnished with sprigs of thyme.

    Easy Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes are irresistibly soft, fluffy, and savory baked sweet potatoes, combined with shallots, thyme, butter, and delicious Fontina cheese. They are a perfect Thanksgiving side dish or great to serve anytime.

    Easy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes ready for Thanksgiving

    It seems like most sweet potato recipes add additional sweetness to an already sweet dish. But this recipe, unlike most other sweet potato dishes, is savory and the result is pure deliciousness.

    Twice-baked sweet potatoes, like this quick and easy recipe for Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes, are a perfect side dish to accompany pretty much any entrée. As a bonus, they can be made up to 24 hours ahead of time and just popped in the oven when it’s time to eat.

    This savory recipe, which was adapted from an Ina Garten recipe, is entirely different from any other sweet potato dish that I have ever had, and I know you will love it

    How to make Easy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

    Let me show you how easy they are to make.

    1. First, gather your ingredients, which include: sweet potatoes, butter, shallots, fresh thyme, kosher salt and pepper, egg, and Fontina cheese.
    Easy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes ingredients
    1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
    2. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
    3. Scrub the potatoes and place them on the pan. Using a knife cut a few slits in the top to allow the steam to escape.
    4. Bake the potatoes for about 50 minutes. Using a potholder, squeeze one of the potatoes to see if they are soft. If they are, remove from the oven, if not, bake for an additional 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
    5. Meanwhile, heat 1-½ tablespoon of butter in a small sauté pan over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook for about 4 minutes, or until they are tender. Add the minced thyme and cook for another minute. Remove from the heat and set aside.
    6. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in half lengthwise. Very carefully, using a teaspoon, scoop out some of the warm potato flesh into a medium-size bowl. Be sure to leave about a ½ inch layer of sweet potato next to the skin.
    7. Sprinkle kosher salt and pepper on the insides of the potatoes.
    8. Add the remaining softened butter to the potato mixture and mash with a fork or a potato masher.
    9. Add the shallots, egg, cheese, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper and mix well.
    Adding the cheese to Easy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
    1. Spoon the mixture into the sweet potato shells and top each with a sprig of fresh thyme. (If you are making this dish ahead, at this point cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.)
    Easy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes ready for the oven
    1. Bake the potatoes uncovered for 20-30 minutes, or until they are puffed and lightly browned. Serve hot. Enjoy!
    Delicious and savory Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

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    Easy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

    Easy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

    Sharon Rigsby
    Easy Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes are irresistibly soft, fluffy, and savory baked sweet potatoes, combined with shallots, thyme, butter, and Fontina cheese.
    4.34 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Southern
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 227 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 medium sweet potatoes
    • 5-½ tablespoon unsalted butter at room temperature, divided
    • ½ cup shallots finely minced
    • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves minced, plus 6 sprigs of fresh thyme for garnish
    • kosher salt and black pepper
    • 1 extra-large egg lightly beaten
    • 4 ounces Fontina Cheese cut into small cubes (buy 6 ounces with the rind)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
    • Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil for easy clean up.
    • Scrub the potatoes and place them on the pan. Using a knife cut a few slits in the top to allow the steam to escape.
    • Bake the potatoes for about 50 minutes. Using a potholder, squeeze one of the potatoes to see if they are soft. If they are, remove from the oven, if not, bake for an additional 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
    • Meanwhile, heat 1-½ tablespoon of butter in a small sauté pan over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook for about 4 minutes, or until they are tender. Add the minced thyme and cook for another minute. Remove from the heat and set aside.
    • When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in half lengthwise. Very carefully, using a teaspoon, scoop out some of the warm potato into a medium size bowl. Be sure to leave about a ½ inch layer of sweet potato next to the skin.
    • Sprinkle kosher salt and pepper on the insides of the potatoes.
    • Add the remaining softened butter to the potato mixture and mash with a fork or a potato masher.
    • Add the shallots, egg, cheese, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper and mix well.
    • Spoon the mixture into the sweet potato shells and top each with a sprig of fresh thyme. (If you are making this dish ahead, at this point cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.)
    • Bake the potatoes uncovered for 20-30 minutes, or until they are puffed and lightly browned. Serve hot. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Nutrition

    Calories: 227kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 8gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 159mgPotassium: 297mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 10000IUVitamin C: 3.3mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 0.9mg
    Loved this recipe? Leave a rating & review!Click the stars ⭐️ below to let me know what you think or leave a comment. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you!

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    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, content creator, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

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