Italian Sausage Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 07/9/21
Italian Sausage Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg 

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 50 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 8
Yield: 8 stuffed sweet potatoes

These Italian sausage-stuffed sweet potatoes are the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Sweet potatoes are baked until tender, then filled with a blend of sausage and vegetables. We top it off with cheese and serve it up browned and bubbly.

This recipe is not only great for dinner, but you can reheat leftovers for a quick lunch the next day. It's a great alternative to pizza or pasta with just as much flavor, and you can even make it vegetarian by using vegan sausage.

Ingredients

  • 4 medium sweet potatoes

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 3/4 pound hot Italian sausage

  • 1 cup chopped red bell pepper

  • 1/2 cup chopped onion

  • 2 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 cup Italian cheese blend

  • Flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat oven to 425 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.

    Italian Sausage Stuffed Sweet Potato ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg 

  2. Scrub the sweet potatoes thoroughly, dry, and prick each one in several places with a fork to allow the steam to escape. Rub olive oil all over each potato. Arrange the potatoes on the foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until they are fork-tender.

    Sweet potatoes on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg 

  3. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble the sausage into the skillet and cook until the sausage begins to brown.

    Sausage in a skillet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg 

  4. Add the red pepper, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt to the skillet. Stir and cook until the vegetables are soft.

    Sausage and vegetables in a skillet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg 

  5. Place the Italian sausage and vegetable mixture in a large bowl.

    Sausage and vegetable stuffing mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg 

  6. Cut each baked sweet potato in half and scoop out most of the inside, leaving the potato skin shell fully intact.

    Baked sweet potatoes on a cutting board with the inside scooped out

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg 

  7. Add the scooped sweet potato to the bowl with the Italian sausage and vegetables. Stir to combine.

    Sweet potato added to the Italian sausage mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg 

  8. Spoon the sweet potato and sausage mixture back into baked potato skins.

    Italian Sausage Stuffed Sweet Potatoes ready to be baked

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg 

  9. Top with cheese and return to the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese is browned on top and potato skins start to crisp.

    Italian Sausage Stuffed Sweet Potatoes toped with cheese

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg 

  10. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.

    Italian Sausage Stuffed Sweet Potatoes on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni & Eric Kleinberg 

Do You Wash Sweet Potatoes Before Baking?

Yes, always wash produce before cooking and eating. Potatoes often have residual dirt from the soil that should be washed off.

What Are Good Toppings for Sweet Potatoes?

Sweet potatoes can be topped in all the same and delicious ways you might top other baked potatoes. Since sweet potatoes have that signature sweet flavor, they also pair well with spicy flavors (like hot Italian sausage) to balance out the sweetness.

Is It Better To Boil or Bake Sweet Potatoes?

If you want a crispy potato skin, try baking sweet potatoes. If you want to mash them, peel, cube, and boil the potatoes.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
275 Calories
17g Fat
17g Carbs
13g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 275
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 38mg 13%
Sodium 517mg 22%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 13g
Vitamin C 42mg 209%
Calcium 132mg 10%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 472mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)