1-Getting Started: Gather Your Tools and Ingredients Begin by collecting all your ingredients and tools to make the process smooth. This step ensures you have everything on hand, reducing any interruptions. For sweet potato baked egg cups, you’ll need a muffin tin, grater, and mixing bowl to start off right.

2-First Step: Preheat the Oven Set your oven to 375°F to get it ready for baking. This temperature works well for creating a crispy outer layer on the sweet potato mixture. While the oven heats, prepare your muffin tin by spraying it with oil spray to prevent sticking.

3-Second Step: Mix the Sweet Potato Base In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/2 cups of peeled and grated sweet potatoes with 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon onion powder, and 1 ounce finely grated Pecorino cheese (reserving 2 teaspoons). Stir everything together until evenly mixed, which helps distribute flavors and binds the ingredients. This mixture forms the foundation of your sweet potato baked egg cups, providing structure and taste.

4-Third Step: Form the Cups in the Muffin Tin Divide the sweet potato mixture into six equal portions and press each one into the muffin cups to create wells. Make sure there are no gaps for the eggs to hold properly. Lightly spray the inside of these wells with olive oil spray to add extra non-stick protection and enhance crispiness.

5-Fourth Step: Initial Baking Bake the muffin tin in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. This partial baking sets the sweet potato base and makes it sturdy enough for the eggs. After this time, remove the tin and gently press the bottoms of the cups to reinforce their shape.

6-Fifth Step: Add the Eggs Crack one egg into each of the six cups, being careful not to overflow. For dietary adaptations, you could use egg whites here for a lower-cholesterol version. This step introduces the protein element and creates the signature egg cup texture.

7-Sixth Step: Final Baking Return the tin to the oven and bake for an additional 12 minutes for runny yolks or 14 minutes for firmer ones. Keep an eye on them to match your preference, as overcooking can dry out the eggs. This totals about 20 minutes of cooking time, making it ideal for quick meals.

8-Final Step: Cool and Serve Let the cups sit for one minute after removing from the oven, then carefully remove them with an offset spatula. Sprinkle with the reserved 2 teaspoons of Pecorino cheese and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm for the best flavor, and consider pairing with fresh fruit for a complete meal. The total preparation time is 35 minutes, perfect for busy schedules.