Description
Baked sweet potato skins filled with a savory, cheesy, fully-loaded filling — the perfect combination of crispy edges, creamy centers, and comforting flavor. This easy appetizer features a delicious blend of black beans, corn, and spices topped with melted cheddar cheese, offering a hearty vegetarian option that’s perfect for parties or game day.
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Filling
- 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup corn (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (or vegan cheese)
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream or vegan sour cream
- Cilantro
- Jalapeños
- Salsa
- Avocado
Instructions
- Preheat and Bake Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Pierce each sweet potato with a fork several times to allow steam to escape. Place them on a baking sheet and bake for 45–55 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
- Prepare Potato Skins: Once the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice them lengthwise. Carefully scoop out most of the potato flesh, leaving a thin layer inside the skins to maintain their shape.
- Crisp the Skins: Lightly brush the potato skins with olive oil and return them to the oven for 10 minutes. This will crisp up the edges perfectly.
- Make the Filling: In a bowl, mash the scooped sweet potato flesh with black beans, corn, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt. Mix in the sliced green onions, ensuring everything is well combined.
- Stuff and Top: Spoon the prepared filling back into the crispy sweet potato skins. Evenly sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese (or vegan cheese) on top of each filled skin.
- Bake to Melt: Place the stuffed skins back into the oven and bake for an additional 10–12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the filling is heated through.
- Serve with Toppings: Remove from oven and add your choice of optional toppings such as sour cream, cilantro, jalapeños, salsa, or avocado. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Make vegan by using dairy-free cheese and vegan sour cream.
- Add cooked crumbled bacon or vegan bacon for smoky flavor.
- Spice it up with hot sauce or chipotle peppers.
- Great make-ahead appetizer — reheat at 375°F until warm.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American / Tex-Mex Inspired
