Our oven Roasted Maple Sweet Potatoes have the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavor, golden brown, crispy edges and deliciously soft centers. Lightly coated in a brown sugar and pure maple syrup glaze, this easy side dish is the perfect addition to your weeknight dinners, holiday meals and Thanksgiving table.
Everyday Maple Sweet Potatoes
When I hear maple glazed anything, I usually think deliciously rich and decadent, which is great if you are looking for recipes for your Thanksgiving menu or Christmas dinner, not so much if you just want a simple side dish for a weeknight meal.
However, unlike these Candied Sweet Potatoes with crunchy pecans – which is one of my favorite side dishes to make during the holiday season, this Roasted Maple Sweet Potatoes recipe is the perfect side dish for your everyday dinner table. These sweet potatoes are not overly sweet, and are made lighter, vegetarian and vegan by using olive oil instead of melted butter, which provides flavor with fewer calories.
What Do These Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes Taste Like?
Baking or roasting root vegetables at high heat brings out their natural sweetness, intensifying their flavor. Add a bit of real maple syrup to help with caramelization and you have a winner!. Savory, sweet, hearty and delicious.
Why You Will Love this Recipe?
- Easy to Make
- Made with a Handful of Ingrediets.
- One-Pan, Easy cleanup.
- Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free Side Dish
What’s in Oven Roasted Maple Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Sweet Potatoes: You can make this recipe with any type of sweet potatoes or yams. Red and orange-skinned sweet potatoes (orange-flesh sweet potatoes) like garnet, jewel, beauregard, nugget and covington varieties are sweeter, creamier and less starchy than other varieties so I tend to favor them.
- Oil: I use olive oil but other mildly tasting oils such as avocado oil can be used.
- Maple Syrup: Choose your favorite maple syrup (golden, amber or dark) or choose what fits your budget. I want to say that I’ve never used pancake syrup to make this dish but that would be a lie. If I’m out of an ingredient, I try to fix the problem without having to go out shopping! I’m a do-what-you-gotta-do type girl!
- Brown Sugar: I usually have light brown sugar handy but dark brown sugar can be used as well. Coconut sugar will work as well.
- Cinnamon: We add a small amount of ground cinnamon. You can skip it if you want. You can also use other spices such as ground nutmeg, cardamom, ground cumin or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick (pictured below), bbq seasoning and even apple pie spice!
How to Pick A Good Sweet Potato?
- Pick red or orange sweet potatoes as they are creamier and less fibrous.
- Choose sweet potatoes with smooth skin and without soft spots, growths or big cracks or cuts.
How To Roast Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup
For specific instructions, temperatures and cooking times, check the recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy clean up.
- Wash, peel and cut the sweet potatoes into cubes. Place them on the baking sheet.
- Drizzle them with oil and season them with maple syrup, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Toss to coat.
- Bake until tender and golden brown on the edges, tossing the sweet potato cubes around once through the baking time. Transfer to a serving dish and serve.
Roasted Maple Sweet Potatoes Tips for Success
- Use a baking sheet large enough to accommodate the sweet potatoes in a single layer.
- Although this recipe calls for peeled sweet potatoes, their skin is edible so you can leave it on if you prefer.
- Cut the pieces roughly the same size for even cooking.
- To check for doneness, test the sweet potato pieces with a fork. The flesh should be tender and you should feel no resistance when piercing them.
- You can use honey instead of maple syrup, if preferred.
- This recipe is not overly sweet. Add additional maple syrup or brown sugar if you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Leave the Skin On Sweet Potato When Roasting?
Although I usually peel the sweet potatoes when making this recipe, keeping the sweet potato skins is up to your personal preference. Sweet potatoes can be roasted peeled or unpeeled.
Do You Have to Boil (par-boil) Sweet Potatoes Before Roasting?
No, you don’t need to parboil the sweet potatoes before roasting them. Pre cooking them is an unnecessary extra step.
Why Are My Roasted Sweet Potatoes Not Crispy?
For best results, make sure the sweet potatoes are not crowded on the sheet pan. Having room between pieces guarantees good air circulation and crispiness. keep in mind that because of the maple syrup used in this recipe, the sweet potatoes should be caramelized with some crispiness but not as crispy as regular roasted sweet potatoes or sweet potato fries (made with only oil and salt).
Sweet Potato Health Benefits
Sweet Potatoes are loaded with nutrients, antioxidants and are a great source of fiber. They help reduce and regulate sugar levels and are well known for boosting brain function and improving memory. Because of their high content of vitamin A they are especially important for the immune system.
Make Ahead, Storing and Reheating
- Make Ahead: You can peel and cut the sweet potatoes and store them in a resealable bag covered with a dump paper towel or in a bowl covered with water in the fridge for a day. You can roast the sweet potatoes a few hours before serving them. They can be served at room temperature or be reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Storing: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about 3 days.
- Reheating: Sweet potatoes can be reheated in in a preheated 300° F oven or in the microwave at 50% power in small intervals until heated through.
What To Serve with these Roasted Sweet Potatoes?
Here are a few ideas:
- Baked Pork Chops
- Blackened Salmon
- London Broil
- Roast Chicken with Herb Butter
- Roasted Rack of Lamb
- Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
- Juicy Roasted Turkey with Gravy
Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up.
- Rinse, peel and cut the sweet potatoes into 3/4 inch cubes.
- In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon and olive oil.
- Spread the sweet potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet and pour the maple syrup mixture over them. Season lightly with salt and toss to coat.
- Roast in the oven, for 30 to 40 minutes or until tender and the edges are lightly brown, turning them with a spatula once during the cooking process.
- Remove from the oven and season with salt to taste. Serve warm.
Equipment
Recipe Notes
- Pick red or orange sweet potatoes as they are sweeter, creamier and less fibrous that other varieties.
- Use a baking sheet large enough to accommodate the sweet potatoes in a single layer.
- Although this recipe calls for peeled sweet potatoes, their skin is edible so you can leave it on if you prefer.
- Cut the pieces roughly the same size for even cooking.
- Feel free to use other spices such as cayenne pepper.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about 3 days.
Nutrition
This post has been updated with additional information for the reader. the recipe remains the same.
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