TikTok has been steering kitchen trends for a while, but this one stands out for how little it asks of you. A video featuring American teacher Courtney Cook Bales eating a whole baked sweet potato, skin and all, stuffed with nothing but cheese, took off at lightning speed. The clip has racked up close to 10 million views, and it has inspired plenty of people to stop scrolling and actually try it.
What makes the idea so appealing is the almost comical simplicity. There’s no sauce to simmer, no filling to mix, and no long ingredient list to shop for. It’s basically a warm sweet potato and a few slices of cheese, assembled at the exact moment when both are at their best. The result feels comforting, quick, and surprisingly satisfying for something that looks almost too plain to be a trend.
In the original approach, the sweet potato is cooked slowly, either in an air fryer or in the oven at 150°C, for about an hour to an hour and 20 minutes, until it’s completely soft. After that, it’s left to sit in the turned off oven for another hour or two so it stays warm without being scorching hot. Once it’s at that gentle heat, you open it up and tuck in slices of cheese. The cheese softens and melts slightly, but it doesn’t disappear into a puddle.
@courtneylcook Monday: complete. #teachersoftiktok #mukbang #cheesestuffedsweetpotato #butterkase #foodtok ♬ original sound – Courtney Cook
Of course, TikTok rarely leaves a recipe untouched. Many people bake the sweet potato at a higher temperature, around 190°C, to speed things up and make the skin more delicious. A little olive oil and a pinch of salt can help the outside crisp up and taste more like something you’d want to eat, not just tolerate. The key detail stays the same though, add the cheese when the sweet potato is warm, not blazing hot, so it turns creamy instead of fully liquid.
The flavor logic is the real reason this works. Sweet potatoes bring a natural sweetness and a soft, almost buttery texture, while cheese adds saltiness, richness, and depth. With so few ingredients, both elements get to stand out, which is why it tastes more complete than you’d expect. The choice of cheese also changes the whole mood, from mild and mellow to nuttier or even a bit sharp.
If you want a simple finishing touch, many people swear by freshly ground black pepper. It cuts through the sweetness and makes the cheese taste even more savory without adding any extra effort.
Would you try this two ingredient sweet potato and cheese combo, and what cheese would you pick for your version? Share your thoughts in the comments.
