These easy roasted sweet potatoes are tossed in maple cinnamon butter and cooked until caramelized and tender. A simple yet satisfying side dish that’s perfect for a casual dinner, yet elegant enough for a holiday meal!
We can’t get enough of sweet potatoes! From sweet potato casserole to twice baked sweet potatoes, they’re always on our table. This recipe for roasted sweet potatoes takes just minutes to put together, but the end result tastes anything but ordinary.
When the cooler weather months roll around, I am all about the sweet potatoes. They’re healthy, inexpensive and readily available. These maple roasted sweet potatoes contain just a handful of ingredients but are big on flavor.
How do you make roasted sweet potatoes?
The first step is to peel your sweet potatoes and cut them into uniformly sized pieces. If you prefer, you can leave the skins on your sweet potatoes. I find that sometimes sweet potato skins are tough, so I always remove them before cooking. The sweet potatoes get tossed in a mixture of butter, cinnamon, maple syrup and salt, then are roasted to perfection.
Tips for the perfect potatoes
- I look for long, thin sweet potatoes because I find that they’re easier to cut into similar sized pieces.
- Don’t forget to stir your sweet potatoes halfway through the baking time so that they cook evenly and don’t burn.
- While I typically make this recipe with orange sweet potatoes, yellow sweet potatoes will also work. This technique can also be used to roast carrots, butternut squash and pumpkin.
What is the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?
True yams are grown in Asia and Africa and look very different than what we’re used to seeing labeled as yams here in the United States. You often see bright orange tubers like the ones featured here called yams, but in fact they’re just another variety of sweet potato. In America, you’ll actually see sweet potatoes of many different shapes, sizes and colors at the supermarket, but not true yams.
What temperature do you cook sweet potatoes at?
For this recipe, you’ll want to keep the heat relatively low because you don’t want the sugars in the maple syrup to burn. Often times vegetables are roasted at high heat, but these sweet potatoes are roasted at 375 degrees so that they get slightly caramelized but don’t blacken.
Roasted Sweet Potato Variations
- Garlic and Herb Sweet Potatoes: Toss cubed sweet potatoes with olive oil minced garlic and assorted herbs.
- Bacon Sweet Potatoes: Place chopped raw bacon on the sheet pan with your potatoes and cut the amount of butter in half. Roast until bacon is crispy.
- Honey Sweet Potatoes: Substitute honey for the maple syrup in this recipe.
- Pecan Sweet Potatoes: Follow the recipe as directed and garnish with chopped candied pecans.
Don’t have sweet potatoes on hand? This recipe also works great with carrots or butternut squash.
These roasted sweet potatoes are great alongside fish, chicken, beef or pork. They also pair perfectly with ham or roasted turkey for a fabulous holiday meal. Give them a try and watch the rave reviews pour in!
More side dish recipes
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
- Zucchini Gratin
- Honey Roasted Carrots
- Garlic Butter Mushrooms
- Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Sweet Potatoes Video
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple Butter
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a sheet pan with cooking spray.
- Whisk together the butter, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl.
- Place the sweet potatoes in a single layer on the sheet pan, then pour the maple butter mixture over the top.
- Use a spoon or your hands to toss the sweet potatoes in the butter to coat them evenly.
- Bake for 35 minutes, stirring once halfway through the bake time. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on September 30, 2018 and was updated on September 25, 2019 with new content.
Fred says
Made these as part of our Thanksgiving dinner this year and was an instant crowd pleaser. Printing the recipe for next year!
Sara says
So glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for reporting back!
Genevie says
Could you use honey instead of maple syrup
Sara says
Yes that’s fine!
Janine says
Can these be made ahead?
Sara says
Yes they can, although they’ll be a little softer reheated than when they’re fresh from the oven!
Kristina says
These are wonderful, simple ingredients and so easy to put together quickly! My family loved them so much that when I was assigned to make a sweet potatoe dish for the kids school thanksgiving feast, I made these…the all kids LOVED them! Thanks for this recipe!
Sara says
Wow that’s great, so happy to hear it!! Thanks for reporting back!
Debbie says
Yummy! I’m trying this next week!
Anne Anderson says
We tried this tonight for dinner. Yum. Neither of us are a fan of maple flavor or like cinnamon in savory dishes. I used Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup. I’m going to try melting brown sugar with the butter next time. Two thumbs up from hubby and I.
Sara says
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for reporting back!
Trina says
These look incredible! I have been obsessed with sweet potatoes lately, so I am super excited I saw this on grocery shopping day!
Dr. K. Lee Banks says
Oh, another yummy recipe to try! I do love sweet potatoes and have some on hand. I’ve already hit the print button so I can save this recipe to my folder on my desktop.
Debbie says
I am a fan on sweet potatoes and these looks so good and easy!
Ty @ TravelTasTily says
These look absolutely delicious and perfect for holiday events. I am definitely have to make it.
Laura Dove says
Oh I loove roasted vegetables, swede especially! You cant beat that sweetness when they have been slow roasted! I am going to try this way!
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
Mmmm, we are a sweet potato loving family in our house. I’m gonna have to make them like this, I usually make fries but these look really good. Thanks!
Lynndee says
Roasted sweet potatoes are one of my favorites. I haven’t tried preparing them with maple syrup though. Thanks for the recipe. Bet it is good!
Lisa Favre says
You totally had me at maple butter. I adore sweet potatoes but never even thought of roasting them with maple butter – I’ll have to try this one out!
Shannan P says
Yum!! These look delicious! Definitely something to add to the holiday side dish list!
Ruth I says
We love sweet potatoes here but never tried to roast it. I am so excited to try this! A new recipe and looks so delicious!
Ashley says
OMGoodness these look amazing! I love sweet potatoes.
cathy mini says
Wow this is look and taste so good another delicious recipe to try on .. thanks for sharing this .
Heather says
I miss sweet potatoes so much! I haven’t had one in months. They are one of my favorite side dishes.
GiGi Eats says
I ADORE roasted sweet potatoes SO SO SO SO SO much! And I have a few sitting on the couch that NEED cooked – so yep, IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TODAY!!
Crystal says
I’m going to have to try this recipe! I just started an AIP diet and I know I can have sweet potatoes. Never been a huge fan of them but they are slowly growing on me!`