Caramelized and crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes are savory, tasty, and the all-around perfect side dish! Keep them classic by seasoning with salt and pepper; add savory, warm, or zippy spice by sprinkling with the additional spices.
2poundssweet potatoespeeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 3 large potatoes)
3tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil
½teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonground black pepper
Optional seasonings:
½teaspoongarlic powder
½teaspoonground cumin
½teaspoonchili powder or paprika
½teaspoonground cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into ½-inch cubes, then place on a large baking sheet.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. If desired, add any of the additional seasonings (all or some), then toss the potatoes to coat evenly.
Bake for about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until fork tender. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use a large baking sheet. The potatoes will roast the best when they have plenty of space to spread out on the pan, so always choose a large enough pan that the potatoes have room for the hot air to circulate around them. Otherwise, the potatoes will steam rather than roast and not get crispy. Additionally, a rimmed sheet pan will help prevent potatoes from falling off the pan when you season or turn them.
Stir the potatoes throughout the roasting time. This will help them to cook evenly and to prevent burning. Additionally, if your oven has hot spots, consider rotating the pan after stirring.
Checking the potatoes for doneness. Different varieties of sweet potatoes can cook at different speeds, so check the potatoes for doneness towards the end of the cooking time by piercing them with a fork. Once you can pierce the potatoes easily – that is, with no resistance – they are cooked through.
Tips for easy clean-up. Toss the vegetables with the oil and seasonings on the sheet pan instead of in a bowl to save on dirtying extra dishes. Make clean-up even more effortless by lining the baking sheet with parchment paper before adding the ingredients and seasoning.
Optional variation. For a hint of extra sweetness in the sweet potatoes recipe, just drizzle or sprinkle 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or light brown sugar along with the spices before roasting.