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:

4.67 from 12 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

Should you wrap sweet potatoes in foil before baking? ›

Wrapping sweet potatoes in foil helps in a few ways. It prevents the exterior of the tuber from drying out and overheating too quickly, which would minimize enzymatic activity; it also results in a more evenly cooked texture.

Is it okay to eat a sweet potato every day? ›

If you enjoy sweet potatoes, you can absolutely enjoy them daily. However, eating multiple sweet potatoes every day could cause a harmless condition called carotenodermia, where your skin turns yellow-orange. You may also want to be cautious about your sweet potato intake if you have a history of kidney stones.

What's the healthiest way to eat sweet potatoes? ›

Boiling may actually retain most of the antioxidant power of sweet potatoes, compared to roasting and steaming. If we compare baking to boiling microscopically, boiling helps thin out the cell walls and gelatinize the starch, which may enhance the bioavailability of nutrients.

Is it healthier to bake or microwave a sweet potato? ›

It's really the best way. Microwaving sweet potatoes cuts down cook time by 45 to 55 minutes, and, according to a 2018 study, helps maintain the potato's nutritional value. All cooking methods cause foods to lose some of their nutrients, but the quicker your potato cooks, the more nutrients it will retain.

Why is it advisable not to wrap potatoes in foil while baking? ›

Wrapping a potato in foil prior to baking traps the potato's natural moisture, steaming instead of baking it. This results is a soggy baked potato, not the light fluffy Idaho Baker that most people prefer.

Which side of the aluminum foil do I use for baked potatoes? ›

A potato will cook faster if the shiny side of the aluminum foil is touching the potato than if the dull side is touching the potato.

When not to eat sweet potatoes? ›

How to tell if sweet potatoes have gone bad. If your sweet potato is soft in spots, smells rotten, or oozes a mysterious liquid, that potato should be discarded. Another sign that sweet potatoes have taken a turn for the worse is if they start growing stalky purplish sprouts.

Is sweet potato anti-inflammatory? ›

Antioxidants Aplenty

Purple-fleshed sweet potatoes are thought to contain super-high levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. As these substances pass through your system, they balance out free radicals -- chemicals that harm your cells.

Are sweet potatoes good for high blood pressure? ›

Eating potassium-rich sweet potatoes helps promote a healthy heart. Higher potassium intake allows you to excrete more sodium lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk for heart disease according to the American Heart Association.

What color sweet potato is the most nutritious? ›

Immune Support

While all sweet potatoes contain vitamin A, the orange variety has substantially more of it. Beta-carotene and vitamin C help regulate your immune system and boost your body's natural protection against infections.

Are sweet potatoes better for you than rice? ›

🍠Why Choose Sweet Potatoes? Nutrient-Dense: Packed with more vitamins and minerals than rice. Whole Food Option: A great choice for those aiming for a diet based on whole foods.

Is it better to roast or boil sweet potatoes? ›

If you want to eat sweet potatoes and maintain blood sugar balance, Sapola suggests boiling rather than roasting them.

Are oven roasted sweet potatoes good for you? ›

They're high in fiber and antioxidants, which protect your body from free radical damage and promote a healthy gut and brain. They're also incredibly rich in beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A to support good vision and your immune system.

Is sweet potato better than bread? ›

Vitamins A and C don't even register on the charts for bread, while sweet potatoes offer a good source of vitamin C and some potassium. One small sweet potato contains 12 grams carbs with 2 grams fiber, whereas a slice of store-bought 100% whole-wheat bread provides 19 grams carbs and 3 g fiber.

What is the benefit of wrapping potatoes in foil? ›

Some say wrapping baked potatoes in aluminum foil helps them cook faster (aluminum conducts heat, then traps it), and it does keep them hot for longer once they come out of the oven, which is why we think restaurants use this method. Wrapping potatoes will also give you a softer, steamed skin, if that's what you like.

Does wrapping potatoes in foil make them crispy? ›

"Baking a potato wrapped in foil in a traditional oven will cook the potato," says Chavez, "but the foil will hold in all of the moisture which will cause the interior of the potato to be more wet than fluffy, and the skin of the potato will be soft, rather than crispy." The moisture can create a perfect haven, if ...

Should I bake potatoes on foil or parchment paper? ›

Preheat oven to 375° and line a sheet tray with parchment paper. Wash potatoes well and scrub off any dirt that is on them. Dry throughly and place on sheet tray. Using a fork, pierce holes into each potato- about 3 pokes on each side.

How do you keep potatoes from sticking to aluminum foil? ›

Parchment Paper: When making foil packets, we really like to sandwich our food between two layers of parchment paper for a few reasons. 1) It prevents sticking. 2) Keeps the aluminum foil clean so it can be reused or recycled.

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