You only need 5 ingredients to make these simple roasted sweet potatoes!
Deliciously seasoned and perfectly caramelized, these baked sweet potatoes are a healthy side that goes with so many meals.
This recipe was originally published in 2014 and continues to be a family and reader favorite!
Need a healthy side dish to go with almost any meal! You’re in the right place.
These easy roasted sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish for so many meals. They are easy-to-make and so versatile. You won’t be able to stop making them!
Table of Contents
If you like this recipe you also might like these recipes for gluten-free sweet potato casserole, roasted potatoes and brussel sprouts, arugula pear salad and best potato salad.
How to Roast Sweet Potatoes
When picking out sweet potatoes I like to select the variety that is orange on the inside. These are often called jewel or garnet sweet potatoes or yams.
Sometimes the grocery store labels the long, red-skinned sweet potatoes as yams – but they are actually just one of the many kinds of sweet potatoes. For perfect roasted sweet potatoes, look for sweet potatoes that feel firm and have unwrinkled flesh.
The basic recipe for both of these sweet potatoes is the same.
- Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into the desired shape. You can leave the sweet potato skin on if you like, but I prefer peeled.
- Toss with some kind of fat, spices and salt
- Roast at 400F on a sheet pan for about 30 minutes until fork tender. Cooking time will vary based on how large your sweet potato chunks are.
For Even Cooking
Try to chop or slice the sweet potato pieces the same size so they bake evenly.
VIDEO: How to Make Roasted Sweet Potatoes
How to Season Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Over the years I’ve narrowed down my 2 favorite ways to make sweet potatoes – Cinnamon Coconut Sugar Sweet Potatoes and Chili-Cumin Sweet Potatoes.
You can use any oil you like to roast these. My personal preference is coconut oil for the cinnamon sweet potatoes and grapeseed oil or avocado oil for a savory side.
Cinnamon Coconut Sugar Sweet Potatoes – Roasted sweet potatoes always taste delicious with just a touch of sweetness (to enhance the natural sweetness!) and cinnamon. I love cutting sweet potatoes into medallion shapes when I’m this sweet version. Something about the medallion shape makes them magically extra delicious. You can use coconut sugar or brown sugar!
These sweet potatoes are delicious alongside turkey, roast chicken or even Thanksgiving dinner.
Chili Cumin Sweet Potatoes – Sweet potato cubes taste amazing with savory spices. I like adding chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and kosher salt for a delicious smoky, garlicky flavor. You can also cut them into longer pieces for sweet potato fries.
These savory sweet potatoes are delicious with bacon and a fried egg for breakfast, alongside salmon, black beans or in meal-prep lunch bowls.
Recipe Tip
It’s helpful to use a sturdy baking sheet for roasting vegetables. Do you best to spread the sweet potatoes into a single layer on the baking sheet for even cooking.
Storage/Make-Ahead
STORAGE: The baked sweet potato cubes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply warm in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
MAKE-AHEAD: Unlike russet potatoes, sweet potatoes can peeled and cut in advance. Sweet potatoes won’t oxidize and turn brown like other potatoes. If you’re just peeling them a few hours ahead, you can keep them covered at room temperature. If you’re prepping them a day in advance, place the raw, cut sweet potatoes in a bowl of water and cover. Store in the fridge to keep them fresh.
Recipe FAQs
Any oil you like to cook with will work for this sweet potato recipe! For best results, use an oil with a higher smoke point like avocado oil, grapeseed oil or coconut oil.
Olive oil will also work but don’t use your best extra virgin olive oil since the potatoes will be in the oven for quite awhile.
I also like to use ghee (clarified butter) as it give the sweet potatoes delicious flavor but has a higher smoke point than butter.
Yes! Unlike russet potatoes, sweet potatoes do not turn brown when exposed to air. If you’re just peeling them a few hours ahead, you can keep them covered at room temperature. If you’re prepping them a day in advance, place the raw, cut sweet potatoes in a bowl of water and cover. Store in the fridge to keep them fresh.
These roasted sweet potatoes will certainly have some caramelized delicious edges, but they won’t be as crisp as russet potatoes. Sweet potatoes have a higher sugar/starch content than regular potatoes. They should be soft, custardy and caramelized rather than crispy.
Tips for Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Look for sweet potatoes that feel firm and have unwrinkled flesh.
- Chop the sweet potatoes in roughly the same size so they bake evenly.
- Toss with some kind of fat, salt and spices.
- Bake on a sturdy baking sheet
- Enjoy with so many different meals!
MORE FAVORITE SIDE DISHES
I hope you enjoy these sweet potatoes as much as we do! They make a great addition to so many meals. If you try this sweet potatoes recipe be sure to leave me a comment/rating below!
Easy, Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Video
Ingredients
Cinnamon Coconut Sugar Sweet Potatoes:
- 2-3 lbs sweet potatoes sliced into medallions
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Chili-Cumin Sweet Potatoes:
- 2-3 lbs sweet potatoes cut into chunks
- 2 tablespoons ghee or avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut the sweet potatoes into the desired shape.
- Place the slices in a mound on a baking baking sheet, pour over remaining ingredients then mix every thing together with your hands to evenly coat the slices. Spread the sweet potatoes into an even, single layer.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are fork tender. Enjoy!
Notes
- I highly recommend the jewel or garnet variety of yam.
- Look for sweet potatoes that feel firm and have unwrinkled flesh.
- Chop the sweet potatoes in roughly the same size so they bake evenly.
- Toss with some kind of fat, salt and spices.
- Bake on a sturdy baking sheet
- Enjoy with so many different meals!
OMGGGGGGGGGG…They were to die for…
I’m glad you enjoyed them!
Have you ever tried this recipe leaving the skin on? My family like the skin of the sweet potato.
I personally wouldn’t like that in a sweet potato casserole but I don’t see why that wouldn’t work.
Can the yams be peeled and cut the day before and baked the next day?
Yes! Unlike russet potatoes, sweet potatoes (especially garnet yams) do not turn brown or lose texture on exposure to air. If you’re just peeling them a few hours ahead, you can keep them at room temperature. If you’re prepping them a day in advance, place the raw, cut sweet potatoes in a bowl of water — covered — in the fridge to keep them fresh.
If you put them in a bowl of cold water and put them in the fridge they won’t turn brown. I rinse them again before I bake them
We devoured the chili cumin roasted sweet potatoes! Delish!!!
So glad you enjoyed them! 🙂
Lovely and tender. I mixed white yams with a sweet potato for colour and threw in some toasted pecans. Yum!
I’m glad you enjoyed them! The addition of pecans sounds delicious.
Thank u!