My easy roasted sweet potatoes are tender on the inside, slightly crisp on the outside and well seasoned for a flavorful, versatile side dish you'll make again and again!
I'm of the opinion that any vegetable can taste amazing, especially when you cook it the right way. Getting sweet potatoes just right can be a struggle and if you want to know how to make perfectly roasted sweet potatoes, you're in the right spot! Let's get into the details.
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
Quick and Easy Prep - There's no peeling and no special tools required. Just grab a cutting board and knife plus a sheet pan and kitchen spoon and you're good to go.
Nutrient Dense - Sweet potatoes contain complex carbohydrates vitamins, minerals, and fiber for a nutrient rich side dish. Serve them with Juicy Chicken Breast or Broiled Lemon Pepper Shrimp and a Massaged Kale Salad for good measure!
Well Seasoned - How to season roasted sweet potatoes is personal but these sweet potatoes are nicely spiced with cinnamon, smoked paprika, garlic, and more and taste-test approved by adults and kids alike.
What does it taste like?
I chose this combination of spices to create sweet and smoky sweet potato bites without adding any sugar. The natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes is warmed up by cinnamon. Garlic adds savory flavor and a touch of sharpness. And the turmeric is earthy to help balance things out.
And if you enjoy this oven roasted sweet potato bites recipe, you'll love my Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries tossed in garlic herb butter or Smoky Baked Breakfast Potatoes!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Making oven-roasted sweet potatoes is easy and the ingredients are simple. Here's what to add to your grocery list.
Sweet Potatoes - Use Jewel or Garnet sweet potatoes in this recipe. Purple sweet potatoes can also work, just keep in mind that the texture will be slightly drier.
Spices give a sweet, smoky, savory flavor profile to this healthy sweet potato side dish. Use the best quality you can access and make sure your spices are fresh for the most robust flavor.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Oil - I typically reach for avocado oil for this recipe because it has a neutral taste and higher smoke point. But can also use olive oil or coconut oil, just keep in mind that the taste will be slightly different: coconut oil will add nuttiness and olive oil will add rich, slightly fruity flavor.
How to Make Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Side
Step One: Cut the sweet potato into chunks.
Step Two: Make sure each chunk is approximately the same size--about two inches.
Pro Tip: Do I have to skin sweet potatoes before roasting? Nope! I like to leave the skin on but it's truly up to your preference. Be sure to wash, gently scrub, and dry off the sweet potatoes if you opt to keep the skin. This is one of my favorite tips for how to roast sweet potatoes easily.
Step Three: Toss the sweet potato chunks in spices and oil until evenly coated.
Step Four: Spread the sweet potatoes out on a sheet pan to roast.
Pro Tip: Wondering how to keep sweet potatoes from getting too soft in the oven? Leave at least one inch of space between each piece on the pan. This allows the vegetables to release steam into the oven instead of onto each other, which softens the texture. I use this tip for making crisp sweet potato fries, too!
Step Five: Roast until sweet potatoes are golden and firm on the outside and tender on the inside.
Roasting vegetables is not only easy, it also deepens the flavor. Try my Crispy Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Lemon Calabaza Squash, or my Garlicky Roasted Bok Choy to get your greens in. You can even roast a whole cauliflower or a rainbow of roasted root veggies!
Frequently Asked Questions
Use avocado or grape seed oil for a neutral taste and higher smoke point. Or use coconut oil for a slightly nutty taste. Lastly, olive oil will add a rich, subtly fruity taste.
Whether you're making baked sweet potatoes or a pie, soaking or boiling is an unnecessary step you can skip. The added water can prevent the potatoes from properly caramelizing.
I typically make this recipe as part of weekly meal prepping and recommend storing refrigerated in an airtight container. Roasted potatoes will keep for about eight days this way.
Yes. Freezing sweet potatoes cubes is as easy as letting them cool, transferring to an airtight container or bag, then to the freezer. They can freeze for up to six months before the texture and taste starts to be impacted. Thaw frozen sweet potato pieces in the refrigerator overnight and eat them within two days.
Are sweet potatoes good for PCOS?
Short answer, yes! You'll find sweet potatoes in many PCOS friendly recipes because they provide complex carbohydrates, fiber, and many other nutrients. This is great for blood sugar balance and incorporating cinnamon also helps.
And seasoning sweet potatoes with turmeric in this recipe lends an anti-inflammatory assist that is unlocked with the presence of black pepper and fat from avocado oil. I make these roasted sweet potatoes with no sugar, which has been helpful in getting my hormones balanced.
More Favorite Sweet Potato Recipes
Now you're all set to make sheet pan sweet potatoes for dinner tonight. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this easy side dish for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Spiced Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- 1 knife
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes about one pound total weight
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or oil of your choosing
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground turmeric
- sea salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a full sheet pan with nonstick oil spray and set aside.
- Cut sweet potatoes into two-inch cubes.
- Transfer cut sweet potato pieces to a bowl and drizzle avocado oil over top.
- Add cinnamon, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, turmeric, sea salt, and black pepper to bowl. Toss sweet potatoes until evenly coated in oil and spices.
- Spread sweet potatoes onto prepared sheet pan, leaving at least one inch of space between each piece.
- Transfer pan to oven and roast sweet potatoes for about 27 minutes or until fork tender. The flesh of the sweet potatoes should be slightly caramelized and golden brown.
Tope O. says
I've been looking for a good way to elevate my typical sweet potatoes. This recipe was exactly what I was looking for! I always enjoy the spin you put on some of my faves. Awesome job on this one.👏🏿👏🏿
Jazz says
Thank you, Tope! So glad you enjoyed.