Looking for an easy vegetarian dinner idea? Try Tempeh Loaded Sweet Potatoes (with just 7 ingredients!), a satisfying recipe the whole family will love.

Baking dish with four loaded sweet potatoes.

I've been having a little love affair with sweet potatoes lately. Everything from breakfast to dinner and snacks. There's no bad time of day to eat them, especially during the fall and winter months.

My all-time favorite is loaded sweet potatoes.

They're super easy to make, are great for leftovers and prepping in advance, and only require a few simple ingredients. Most importantly, they also just taste really, really good.

You can load a sweet potato millions of different ways. Stuff with taco filling, crispy chickpeas, or coconut curry.

My personal choice when I'm looking for something really easy and comforting is this BBQ tempeh and vegetable mix. It's a tasty and convenient weeknight dinner.

Horizontal image of loaded sweet potatoes in grey baking dish.

How to Make BBQ Tempeh Loaded Sweet Potatoes

There only seven ingredients, so it's probably no big surprise this recipe is simple. The basic steps are:

Roast the sweet potatoes
Sauté the BBQ tempeh filling
Load them up and serve

Start by roasting whole sweet potatoes in the oven until they're tender. Then use a knife to split them open—slice about three-quarters of the way through so the bottom stays intact.

While the sweet potatoes are baking, prepare then BBQ tempeh filling in a skillet on the stovetop. Start by sautéeing the vegetables—onion, corn, and broccoli.

Once the veggies are cooked, stir in the crumbled tempeh and BBQ sauce. Cook for a few minutes so the flavors have a chance to meld together, and then remove the skillet from the heat.

The final step is assembling the loaded sweet potatoes.

To assemble, take the roasted sweet potatoes out of the oven. Use a fork to mash them up slightly and create more space for the filling to go inside.

Spoon the BBQ tempeh mixture into the center of each sweet potato and that's it.

See? Isn't this meal so easy?

Potatoes on wood plate with bowl of chives and green onions.

Will this recipe work with other types of potatoes?

Feel free to swap in russet potatoes if you're not a fan of the sweet variety. Smaller varieties (like red or Yukon gold) also work, but you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on the size. Look for potatoes that are large enough to be opened up and stuffed.

What is tempeh? Can I use something else instead?

Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans. It's a great source of plant-based protein and I'm also personally a big fan of the taste and texture. You can usually find tempeh near the tofu in the refrigerated section.

If you don't want to use tempeh (or can't find it in your area), try substituting black beans, tofu, or red lentils.

Loaded sweet potatoes in grey baking dish with chives and yogurt.

What type of BBQ sauce do you recommend?

Any type of BBQ sauce works for this recipe, so feel free to use up whatever is in your fridge right now. I like hot BBQ sauces since they add a little spice. You could always stir in a little cayenne pepper if yours is mild.

If you want to make your own, try this recipe for Homemade BBQ Sauce.

Can you make this recipe ahead of time? What's the best way to store loaded sweet potatoes?

In addition to being a simple recipe to cook, you can also make these loaded sweet potatoes in advance. Just store them in an airtight container in the fridge and they'll be good for up to one week.

Stuffed sweet potatoes on wood plate with small bowl of chives and green onion.

📖 Recipe