Roasted Sweet Potatoes - Love and Lemons (2024)

I make these roasted sweet potatoes nonstop from the first day of fall to the last day of spring! Enjoy them as a side dish or in tacos, bowls, and more.

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Who else loves roasted sweet potatoes?! I don’t know what it is about fall weather, but when the air gets cool and crisp at this time of year, I start cooking sweet potatoes like crazy. I bake them, I noodle them, I blend them into cozy sauces and toss them into soups. But most often, I roast them.

Why? First, roasted sweet potatoes are so darn easy to make! Just chop them up, toss them with some olive oil, salt, and pepper, and bake! The oven does most of the work for you. Second, they’re delicious. The salt and pepper accent the potatoes’ sweetness, creating a delectable sweet and savory flavor. I also love how the cubes puff up as they bake, becoming lightly crisp and caramelized on the outside and tender in the middle. And third, they’re just so versatile. You can toss them into salads, top them onto bowls, stuff them into tacos, and serve them as a side dish. Did I mention they’re pretty great straight off the sheet pan, too?

Below, you’ll find my simple method for how to roast sweet potatoes, as well as a host of suggestions for serving them. For the next few months, I’ll be making this roasted sweet potato recipe on repeat. I hope it becomes a standby in your kitchen, too!

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Roasted Sweet Potato Recipe Ingredients

You only need a handful of ingredients to make oven roasted sweet potatoes:

  • Sweet potatoes, of course! Look for ones that are firm, without any soft or damp spots.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – It adds a little richness and helps the potatoes soften and brown in the oven.
  • And salt and pepper – They contrast wonderfully with the potatoes’ natural sweetness, making the roasted sweet potatoes deliciously sweet and savory.

That’s it! If you like, you can toss the sweet potatoes with additional seasonings before or after they come out of the oven, like I do in this taco recipe. Chili powder, cumin, cayenne, smoked paprika, or the shawarma spice blend from this recipe would all be great choices.

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How to Roast Sweet Potatoes

There’s a reason I make oven roasted sweet potatoes so often: it’s super easy! Here’s what you need to do:

First, chop the potatoes. Do your best to cut all the pieces to a similar size so that they cook evenly in the oven. And if you don’t mind it, I definitely recommend leaving the sweet potato skin on. It’s full of nutrients, and it helps the cubes crisp up as they bake!

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Next, season them.Spread the cubed potatoes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle them with olive oil…

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…and season them with salt and pepper…

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And toss! Your goal is to coat the potatoes evenly in the oil, salt, and pepper.

Arrange the cubes on the baking sheet with a little space between each one. Don’t skip this step! If the potatoes are too crowded, they’ll steam in the oven, and they won’t get crisp and browned around the edges.

Finally, bake.Transfer the baking sheet to a 425° oven. Roast for about 25 minutes, until the potatoes are browning around the edges. The exact cooking time will vary depending on the size of your cubes and the freshness of your potatoes. Enjoy!

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Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Serving Suggestions

In the fall and winter, I make roasted sweet potatoes nonstop, but I never get bored with them. That’s because there areso manyways to use them! Here are a few of my favorites:

  • As a side dish. I especially love to serve roasted sweet potatoes with veggie burgers or black bean burgers, BBQ jackfruit sandwiches, chili, and tacos, but really, they’re great with just about anything.
  • In a grain bowl.Use them in this buddha bowl or this sweet potato quinoa bowl, or build your own bowl with the roasted sweet potatoes, a grain like farro, quinoa, or brown rice, a protein like baked tofu or lentils, and a punchy sauce. Cilantro lime dressing, chipotle sauce, chimichurri, and tahini sauce are some of my favorites. Round out your bowl with whatever veggies you like best!
  • In tacos or burritos. Stuff roasted sweet potatoes into a breakfast burrito, breakfast tacos, or these vibrant collard green wraps. They’re also fantastic in my Avocado Sweet Potato Tacos.
  • In a salad. Make your own salad with roasted sweet potatoes, greens, and a flavorful dressing like tahini dressing, homemade Italian dressing, or lemon vinaigrette, or try my Sweet Potato Salad or Farmhouse Farro Salad.
  • On avocado toast.With pickled red onions, pepitas, and a dash of adobo sauce? Yes, please!
  • For breakfast! A hidden layer of roasted sweet potatoes is what makes my mom’s Healthy Breakfast Casserole so darn good! I also love tossing them into mini frittata muffins or a regular frittata with fresh sage and feta cheese.

How do you like to eat roasted sweet potatoes? Let me know in the comments!

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More Favorite Roasted Veggies

If you love this recipe, try roasting one of these veggies next:

  • Acorn Squash
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Butternut Squash
  • Cauliflower
  • Potatoes
  • Radishes
  • Spaghetti Squash
  • Tomatoes

Roasted Sweet Potatoes - Love and Lemons (10)

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

rate this recipe:

4.80 from 10 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Serves 6 to 8

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Learn how to roast sweet potatoes perfectly every time! They're nicely browned and caramelized on the outside and tender in the middle. A perfect side dish or addition to bowls, tacos, and more!

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

  • Toss the sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread evenly onto the baking sheets. Roast for 25 minutes or until the edges are browned.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes - Love and Lemons (2024)

FAQs

Why are my roasted sweet potatoes not crispy? ›

I've found that sweet potatoes really need space for a truly roasted, crisped-edge result. Aim for about one inch of space between pieces. This leads to good, dry, hot airflow that will let the potato pieces' moisture evaporate while letting them dry and crisp up more.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

What makes sweet potatoes taste better? ›

14 Ways To Add More Flavor To Sweet Potatoes
  1. Slather with cinnamon butter. Siims/Getty Images. ...
  2. Drizzle with tahini. ...
  3. Roast with savory chili sauce. ...
  4. Sprinkle on some good ol' salt and pepper. ...
  5. Pan fry with ginger and orange. ...
  6. Rub with garlic and rosemary. ...
  7. Dip in honey mustard. ...
  8. Sweeten with brown sugar and pecans.
Feb 17, 2023

Why do sweet potatoes go black when roasting? ›

One of the phenols, called chlorogenic acid, is the culprit that makes sweet potatoes, and sometimes, regular potatoes darken when they're cooked. The chlorogenic acid combines with iron ions in the potato and oxygen absorbed from the atmosphere and cooking water, creating the dark pigment.

How do you keep roast potatoes crispy? ›

If you want to make this roast potatoes day before recipe and keep the potatoes crispy, ensure you put them in hot oil before baking them. This will help the potatoes stay crispy. If you're preparing roast potatoes in advance and find they have gone soggy in the fridge.

Why do you put oil on sweet potatoes before baking? ›

If I'm planning to, I rub the sweet potatoes in a small amount of olive oil before baking to crisp them up and add extra flavor. After baking, let the potatoes cool slightly, split the tops open, and dot with butter that will melt from the residual heat. Season with a little salt and pepper, and you're ready to go.

How do you make Patti Labelle sweet potatoes? ›

Boil the sweet potatoes in a large stockpot until soft, about 25 minutes; drain. When cool enough to handle, peel the potatoes and transfer them to a large bowl. While the potatoes are still warm, add the butter, cream, agave, cinnamon and salt, and mash until smooth. Sprinkle with the orange zest.

Why are my roasted sweet potatoes mushy? ›

Typically when you roast sweet potatoes, they end up mushy, not crispy. That's because the high sugar content and moisture in the potato creates a softer result. In this case, they get their crispiness not by deep frying, but by sprinkling a secret ingredient over and baking them!

Why do I feel better after eating sweet potato? ›

Along with anti-inflammatory properties, sweet potatoes have plenty of gut-friendly fiber, especially if you eat the skin. They are a mixture of soluble fiber, which can lower cholesterol and balance glucose, and insoluble fiber, which helps keep your bowels healthy and regular.

What is the tastiest sweet potato? ›

While Beauregards may be the most common sweet potato, Jewels are right next to them in terms of being a great, classic sweet potato. They have a pretty, thin orange skin, and bright orange flesh that screams "sweet potato." (Or "yam," wrong as that may be.

What flavors pair well with sweet potatoes? ›

Sweet potatoes pair well with apple, peach, and orange juice, and coffee - flavors that have distinctly sweet or bitter notes. The addition of cardamom or cinnamon can add a spicy twist to a co*cktail too.

Why are my roast potatoes not crisping up? ›

Give them a cold water bath: Once your potatoes are chopped, toss them into a large bowl. Then cover the potatoes completely with cold water and let them soak for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight). This will help to rinse off the excess starch and help the potatoes crisp up beautifully in the oven.

Why are my roasted sweet potatoes soggy? ›

The main reasons for soggy sweet potato wedges are: overcrowding the baking sheet, not tossing in enough oil, having too thick sized wedges, and not roasting at a high enough heat.

Why are my sweet potatoes still hard after baking? ›

If the potato is still firm when squeezed, that means it needs to cook more. Baked sweet potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat for 2 minutes in the microwave, at 400°F in the air fryer for 5 minutes, or at 400°F in the oven for 10 minutes.

Why won't my potatoes get crispy in oil? ›

A: This sure sounds a lot like potatoes that have been stored too long, in too cold of an environment before cooking. When potatoes are held below 41°F for too long a period, the starches convert to sugar and it changes the cooking chemistry.

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