Description
These Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes offer a deliciously smoky, sweet, and spicy twist on a classic comfort dish. Loaded with crispy bacon, sharp smoked cheddar, a touch of maple syrup, and a kick of hot sauce, they make an ideal side or hearty appetizer. The sweet potatoes are first microwaved for quick softening, then stuffed with a flavorful bacon and cheese mixture before finishing in the oven for a melty, golden top.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
Filling
- 6 slices bacon
- 3 chopped green onions
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 1¼ cups shredded smoked cheddar cheese
Other
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Green onions, for topping
- Sour cream, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC) to prepare for the final bake of the stuffed sweet potatoes.
- Microwave Sweet Potatoes: Wash and pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork. Microwave on high for 10 minutes, then check tenderness by piercing with a knife. If resistance is felt, continue microwaving in 30-second intervals until fully soft.
- Cook Bacon: Cut bacon into ½-inch pieces and cook in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain on paper towels, reserving one tablespoon of bacon fat for flavor.
- Prepare Filling: Slice each sweet potato lengthwise and carefully scoop out the flesh into a bowl, leaving the skins intact to hold shape. Mix the sweet potato flesh with the cooked bacon, reserved bacon fat, chopped green onions, maple syrup, hot sauce, shredded cheese, salt, and black pepper.
- Stuff Potatoes: Spoon the filling mixture evenly back into the sweet potato skins. Place the stuffed potatoes on a baking sheet and sprinkle additional shredded cheese on top for extra melty goodness.
- Bake: Bake the stuffed sweet potatoes in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and top with extra chopped green onions and a dollop of sour cream before serving.
Notes
- Microwaving the sweet potatoes before baking significantly reduces cooking time.
- Use smoked cheddar for a deeper, smoky flavor that complements the bacon.
- Adjust hot sauce amount based on your preferred spice level.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven.
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and use smoked cheese and sautéed mushrooms or smoked paprika for smoky flavor.
