Garlic Head

  • Fun & Healthy Plant-Based Recipes
  • Garlic Head Accessibility Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe for Free Recipes
  • Work With Me
  • About Garlic Head
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Vegan Summer Recipes
  • High Protein Vegan Meals
  • Budget Dinners
  • Recipe Index
  • Dog-Friendly
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Vegan Summer Recipes
  • High Protein Vegan Meals
  • Budget Dinners
  • Recipe Index
  • Dog-Friendly
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Summer

Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

Published: Jan 28, 2020 · Modified: Nov 3, 2024 by Emily · 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This is the easiest recipe for Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes. It's my go-to easy method that includes some weeknight dinner recipe ideas! This simple technique insures perfectly cooked potatoes every time. No oven required!

one purple and one orange sweet potato with tahini butter
Jump to:
  • Benefits of Cooking Sweet Potatoe in the Instant Pot
  • How to Cook Purple Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot
  • Instant Pot Sweet Potato Cook Times
  • How to Serve Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
  • Other Sweet Potato Recipes to Try
  • How To Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot

Benefits of Cooking Sweet Potatoe in the Instant Pot

Today is a big day - my first Instant Pot recipe post!

I was not sure how frequently I'd use an Instant Pot, but after receiving one as a gift it's been a fun way to mix up some traditional cooking I do. Namely, I use it to reduce hands-on time in recipes.

While it does not necessarily take less time from start to finish, the Instant Pot (or any kind of pressure cooker) relieves the need to monitor my items while cooking them. So far, I've been able to whip up simple steel-cut oats and perfectly stringy spaghetti squash. I even wrote on Instagram my experience making apple crisp.

Today we're focusing on perfectly moist, fluffy sweet potatoes, no oven required!

By simply adding the potatoes and some water to my Instant Pot, I can set it and forget it.

six sweet potato halves on a white dish cooked in the instant pot

How to Cook Purple Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot

This method will work with any potato. For variety's sake, I am using purple, white, and orange yam varieties.

The most important key when determining cook time is the width of your potato at the thickest section.

Instant Pot Sweet Potato Cook Times

  • Under 2 inches in width: 15 minute cook time
  • 2-3 inches width: 23  minute cook time
  • Larger than 3 inches in width: 30-minute cook time

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

If your potatoes are larger than 4 inches in the middle (!) I recommend slicing them into more manageable sizes to ensure they cook through.

After adding 1 cup of water to the base of the pot, you simply place your potatoes on the trivet, set the timer, and let them do their thing!

purple instant pot sweet potato with tahini butter on balack plate

How to Serve Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes are perfect for meal prep, since they are easily made in a large batch at the beginning of the week.

I have only tested this recipe using multiple potatoes at a time, so I'm not sure how it would turn out with just one.

To keep things simple, I often will just eat them plain with an easy sauce or cooked protein. Here are some of my favorites recipes and uses:

  • Tahini butter (used in these photos!)
  • Refried black beans + burrito toppings
  • Avocado slices + tahini + hemp seeds
  • Almond butter + berries (especially on purple sweet potatoes)
purple sweet potato on black plate with salt and tahini butter

Other Sweet Potato Recipes to Try

  • food processor with an overhead shot of whipped purple sweet potatoes
    Whipped Sweet Potatoes
  • tray of grilled sweet potato salad with crispy farro and yogurt dressing in two bowls
    Grilled Sweet Potato Salad
  • overhead shot of sweet potato rose in a pie dish next to a blue spoon rest
    Maple Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes

How do you like to prepare them? Let me know in the comments below! Please be sure to leave a rating if you give this recipe for instant pot purple sweet potatoes a try!

black plate with two instant pot purple sweet potatoes next to a fork

How To Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot

How To Cook Sweet Potatoes in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker: my go-to easy method + some weeknight dinner recipe ideas! This simple technique insures perfectly cooked potatoes every time. No oven required!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes mins
Cook Time 28 minutes mins
Servings 3 potatoes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 sweet potatoes of relatively similar size scrubbed clean
  • 1 cup water
  • Toppings of choice to serve

Instructions
 

  • Place the metal trivet in the Instant Pot and add your 3 cleaned sweet potatoes and 1 cup water. Lock lid onto pot and place release handle into "sealing" position.
  • If your potatoes are under 2 inches in width, place pot on "high pressure" for a 15 minute cook time.If your potatoes are 2-3 inches wide, cook for 23 minutes on high pressure. If your potatoes are larger than 3 inches wide, cook for 30 minutes on high pressure. The pot will preheat and then begin cooking. Be sure not to touch the top of the pot during this process.
  • When cook time is over, let your pot naturally release for 10 minutes. Release valve carefully after 10 minutes and let rest of steam out, if there is some remaining. Carefully remove the potatoes with tongs and store in the fridge for 4 days
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
How To Cook Sweet Potatoes in an Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker - my go-to method + some recipe ideas! This simple technique insures perfectly cooked potatoes every time. No oven required! #sweetpotato #potato #instantpot #pressurecooker #weeknightdinner #healthy #prep #mealprep #quick #fastdinner #purplesweetpotato #yam

More Summer

  • cashew parm being poured on a bowl of pasta
    4-Ingredient Cashew "Parmesan"
  • close up of whipped ricotta tomato toast on a plate
    Whipped Ricotta Tomato Toast
  • banana split overnight oats next to fresh fruit
    Banana Split Overnight Oats
  • hands grabbing a slice of peach zucchini pizza
    Zucchini Peach Pizza

Comments

  1. Nancy W. says

    February 06, 2024 at 11:13 pm

    5 stars
    Made purple potatoes in the IP for the first time – they came out absolutely perfect! Thank you SO much for this guide! I’ve wanted to eat more purple potatoes for the nutritional value, but they were always a little dry. InstantPot to the rescue!!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 12, 2024 at 6:09 pm

      Thank you for this kind review, Nancy! I am so glad this worked for you! - Emily

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Hi, I'm Emily! I have been a plant-based food blogger since 2017. Garlic Head is a recipe website for anyone who wants to easily, affordably, and sustainably incorporate more vegetables into their diet. I am a lifelong vegetarian and 10+ year vegan.

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • side view of a bowl of frozen yogurt peanut butter dog treats
    Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats
  • glass jar of homemade dog treats on a tray with a spoon of peanut butter
    3-Ingredient Dog Treats
  • black try with chewy homemade sour patch kids candy on top
    3-Ingredient Sour Patch Kids Recipe
  • hand grabbing a slice of fig jam bianca pizza on a wooden table
    Fig Jam Pizza Bianca
  • glass pitcher of carrot turmeric ginger juice being poured into a glass
    Carrot Ginger Turmeric Juice
  • overhead shot of a bowl of vegan beet carrot ginger soup with cilantro and sesame
    Beet Carrot Ginger Soup

Vegan Summer Recipes

  • close up of vegan salted pistachio latte
    Salted Pistachio Latte
  • overhead view of flower shortbread cookies on a marble tray
    Flower Shortbread Cookies
  • pitcher of strawberry basil garden party coctails
    The Garden Party
  • a whole head of garlic on a stone board next to some basil leave
    Recipes for Garlic Lovers
  • bowl of turmeric cauliflower and peas on a table
    Turmeric Cauliflower & Peas
  • overhead shot of herby quinoa salad with tahini dressing
    Herby Quinoa Salad with Go-To Tahini Dressing
See more Summer →

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

Resources

  • Get the free newsletter

Contact

  • Follow On Instagram
  • Work With Me

Copyright © 2025 Garlic Head, LLC