Loaded Sweet Potato Skins Recipe: Flavorful and Simple!

Discover the ultimate loaded sweet potato skins recipe, packed with flavor. This easy-to-make dish will become your new favorite!

Looking for a satisfying, flavor-packed recipe that’s equal parts comforting and nourishing? These Loaded Sweet Potato Skins check all the boxes. They’re hearty, gluten-free, and completely plant-based—perfect for meatless Mondays, easy weeknight dinners, or even a fun Labor Day side dish.

The star of the show? A homemade BBQ-inspired sauce made with pantry staples like tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, and maple syrup. It brings just the right balance of sweet, smoky, and tangy to the filling, which gets a boost of plant-based protein from pinto beans and a veggie kick from sautéed spinach and red onion.

Make a big batch for the week ahead or serve them fresh out of the oven. These reheat beautifully and are a great make-ahead option. Bonus: any leftover sauce is delicious when drizzled on grilled chicken, shrimp, or roasted veggies.

Is this Loaded Sweet Potato Skins recipe good for meal prep?

Yes! This recipe is a great one to prep ahead.

Start by roasting the sweet potatoes until they’re perfectly tender. While they’re in the oven, whip up the BBQ sauce by blending balsamic vinegar, water, tomato paste, maple syrup, Dijon, tamari, and a few simple spices. Then sauté the onion, beans, and spinach until soft and flavorful. Once everything’s prepped, store it in the fridge until you're ready to assemble.

On meal day, simply reheat the potatoes at 350°F for about 15 minutes. Cut them in half, scoop out the centers (leaving a little bit behind to keep the skins sturdy), and mash the filling with BBQ sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir in the sautéed veggies and beans, then spoon the mixture back into the skins. That’s it: hearty, flavorful, and ready to enjoy!

What's the nutrition like for these Loaded Sweet Potato Skins?

These sweet potato skins are as nourishing as they are delicious! Here's some of the specifics:

Sweet Potatoes (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Copper)

Possibly the most nutrient dense affordable food, sweet potatoes have a special protein that may fight cancer. Furthermore, sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins including 400% of your daily vitamin A needs!

Red Onion (Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Antioxidants, Folate, Potassium)

Onions in general are super healthy as they're full of antioxidants, B vitamins and potassium. Red onions in particular contain anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid believed to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Spinach (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folic Acid, Calcium, Iron)

Spinach is great for your eye health and may help prevent inflammation. Due to its high fiber content, it's also great for digestion. Plant compounds in spinach may also help prevent and slow the growth of certain cancers.

Balsamic Vinegar

Made from grape juice, balsamic vinegar contains antioxidants that may help lower cholesterol. It also contains probiotics that are good for healthy digestion.

Pinto Beans

Pinto beans are great for digestion, due to their high fiber content. They're also quite high in antioxidants. Pinto beans provide substantial amounts of protein, in addition to carbohydrates. Studies show that these beans are beneficial for your heart as well.

Mustard (Selenium, Magnesium, Manganese)

Related to cruciferous vegetables, the mustard plant is an excellent source of antioxidatns. The seeds, which are used to make the mustard condiment, contain selenium, magnesium and manganese. Studies show that mustard may help fight inflammation and fight against some bacterial infections.

Tamari

Tamari imparts all of the wonderful umami flavor of soy sauce, without the gluten. While most soy sauce in the US is made with wheat, tamari is generally wheat and gluten free, though you should of course look for the gluten free label to be sure if you have an intolerance!

Tomato Paste (Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin K, Folate, Lycopene)

Tomatoes are an excellent source of the antioxidant, lycopene. Lycopene is believed to be the reason that tomatoes are linked to lower rates of certain types of cancers. Eating tomatoes along with a source of fat significantly increases how much lycopene your body absorbs.

Maple Syrup (Manganese, Zinc)

1/3 cup of pure maple syrup contains 165% of the recommended dietary intake for manganese and 28% for zinc. It also has a lower glycemic index than table sugar, reducing blood sugar spikes.

FAQs

Are there any substitutions I can make in this Loaded Sweet Potato Skin recipe?

Yes! If you don't prefer pinto beans, try using black beans which go so well with the sweet potato's flavor. The maple syrup can be swapped for honey if you've got that on hand, and the tamari can be swapped with soy sauce as long as you aren't gluten-sensitive.

How can I make this Loaded Sweet Potato Skins recipe more protein-rich?

There are plenty of options for added protein with this recipe. Shredded chicken is my favorite, but ground beef or ground pork would be delicious, too! For a vegetarian option, try adding some crispy diced tofu.

Do you have any more sweet potato filling ideas?

Sure! For a Southwest twist, top your potatoes with ground beef or black beans, sautéed onions, cheese, and your favorite salsa. Prefer Mediterranean flavors? Try shredded chicken or chickpeas with cherry tomatoes, basil, olives, and topped with hummus or tahini. Want to keep it simple? Just add shredded chicken and a flavorful sauce like pesto, BBQ, or chili sauce. The possibilities are endless!

I want more recipes like these Loaded Sweet Potato Skins!