Say hello to Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes! Their crispy edges and soft centers make these potatoes more than just a side dish. They're the quick and easy answer to "What should I make with dinner tonight?"
Perfectly paired with salmon or a quick cucumber salad, this is a recipe you'll want to make any time of the year.
This is a recipe you can truly enjoy all year long. For instance, it's the perfect side dish for Cast Iron Chicken Thighs, one of my family's favorite chicken recipes.
While I like a good sweet potato casserole and mashed sweet potatoes as much as the next person, I'll admit that I've replaced those dishes with this recipe multiple times.
Why This Honey-Roasted Sweet Potato Recipe Works
EASY DINNERS - Once you've peeled and diced the sweet potatoes and tossed them in a quick honey-lemon mix, all that's left is roasting. Super simple!
SIMPLE INGREDIENTS - Just a handful of kitchen staples are all you need.
ROASTING - Oven-roasted veggies are a fast and tasty way to elevate any meal.
It is the way to go if you want to amp up your cooking skills quickly. And if you're looking for more delicious side dishes, be sure also to try our Roasted Potatoes and Carrots recipe.
Ingredients
Please check the recipe card below for a detailed, printable ingredient list.
SWEET POTATOES - Opt for medium-sized sweet potatoes. They are more flavorful than the larger ones.
OLIVE OIL - Extra virgin is the way to go for higher-heat cooking like roasting. I recommend using extra virgin olive oil. It has a higher smoke point than regular olive oil, and I've never had issues roasting sweet potatoes at 425º Fahrenheit.
TIP - Costco sells a good, inexpensive extra virgin olive oil. The only thing I don't love is that they use plastic bottles. The best extra virgin olive oils are stored in dark glass bottles.
BUTTER - Stick with unsalted butter.
LEMON - Both zest and juice work their magic here.
HONEY - Quality matters, so go for the good stuff.
Variations
MAPLE SYRUP - Swap honey with pure Maple syrup (but not Pancake syrup).
ADD SOME HEAT - Add a dash of chili powder or red pepper flakes for an extra kick.
CINNAMON AND NUTMEG - Sprinkle the sweet potatoes with a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon. The version is perfect for the holidays.
SALT - If you have sea salt, use it.
COCONUT OIL - A good alternative if you are trying to avoid butter.
How To Make Honey-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Please check the printable recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- PREP - Heat oven to 425° Fahrenheit and prepare a foil-lined baking sheet. Cut and season sweet potatoes.
- MIX - Melt butter in a pan and add olive oil, lemon, and honey. Simmer for a minute.
- COAT - Toss sweet potatoes in the honey-lemon butter.
- ROAST - Place on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes. Check and add time if needed.
More Easy Sweet Potato Recipes
Recipe Success Tips
A good rule of thumb is that anything you can do with a regular potato can also do with a sweet potato. From sweet potato fries, sweet potato wedges, and sweet potato skins to Mashed Sweet Potatoes, they are incredibly versatile and fun to work with.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Store Sweet Potatoes
Store sweet potatoes in a dark, dry place. Do not refrigerate sweet potatoes.
How To Store Cut Sweet Potatoes Ahead Of Time
You can prepare them 3 to 4 days ahead of time by peeling and chopping them. Once chopped, store them in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid and keep them in the refrigerator. This method helps maintain their freshness and ensures they're ready to use when needed.
Sweet Potatoes vs. Yams
Let's talk about it. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they are two different vegetables. So why are they often mislabeled? The theory is that it was used to differentiate between orange and pale sweet potatoes.
True Yams
- Can grow much larger
- Their flesh varies between off-white and purple.
- They are starchier
- It is best if you always peel yams because their skin can irritate our digestive system.
Sweet Potatoes
- They come in dark orange and pale yellow; some have purple flesh.
- Pale sweet potatoes have a thinner yellow skin and yellow flesh.
- They are pretty soft and similar to baked potatoes.
Nutritional Benefits of Roasted Sweet Potatoes
These are some but not all perks if you include sweet potatoes in your diet.
- HIGH IN VITAMIN A - This can promote good vision, a stronger immune system, and better bone health.
- RICH IN VITAMIN C - Can lower bad cholesterol ('LDL'), strengthen your immune system, lower blood pressure, and much more.
- HIGH IN FIBER - This can help you to feel full longer.
More Popular Comfort Food Recipes
OLD-FASHIONED POTATO SOUP - Rich and creamy loaded potato soup.
SHRIMP LO MEIN - An easy 30-minute recipe perfect for when you want a delicious one-pot dinner that is easy to make.
PIZZA CASSEROLE - Your favorite pizza toppings turned into a hearty casserole.
EASY CHEESY CHICKEN PARMESAN - The ultimate midweek comfort food.
BEE STING CAKE - An easy version of one of Germany's most popular cakes.
Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 lemon juice + zest
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
PREP
- Preheat oven to 425° Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set aside.
- Peel and cut sweet potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Add to a large bowl and season with salt.
MAKING THE HONEY-LEMON BUTTER
- Add butter and olive oil to a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until the butter has melted. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and honey. Simmer for one minute on low heat.
- Pour the honey-lemon butter over the sweet potatoes. Toss well to make sure the sweet potatoes are evenly coated.
ROASTING
- Transfer sweet potatoes onto the baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes. Check for doneness and add additional time if needed.
May
I've been reading a bunch of your recipes this morning and I love your take on these. Thank you so much for sharing.
LaDale
Tried this recipe, delicious. First time I tried roasted veggie. Served this with charcoal grilled pork roast with a hot pepper jelly glaze, asparagus and cucumber and onion salad. Will definitely be making this again! Thanks for the post.
Maike
I am so excited you liked it. Your dinner sounds amazing. Especially the pork roast. Love it!
Tracy
They had a great taste but didn’t caramelize what did I do wrong?
Maike
Yay, I'm glad you liked the taste. Just keep them in the oven a little longer. 🙂
Kelly Scardigli
Loved it! Went well with my honey seared pork chops.👍😍
Maike
Thank you for sharing. I'm so excited you liked it. 😁
Karryn
Question:? Can I toss together tonight and roast tomorrow night?
Maike
Yes, you can! 🙂
Michelle Caples
This was a hit! We loved the hint of lemon flavoring. Sorry, we at it all before the thought of a picture entered my mind. I'll post a picture next time.
vicki l kmiecik
Could I make this with a bag of frozen sweet potatoes Or even canned sweet potatoes?
Maike
Great question. I've never done either one, but you should be ok using frozen sweet potatoes. Make sure to thaw the sweet potatoes beforehand. As for canned, I'm really uncertain, because I've never had canned sweet potatoes, but I'm sure they are in some kind of liquid. I'd drain the liquid and then follow the recipe. My guess is that it should work. Good luck, if you go ahead, I'd love to know how it worked out.
Kim
Do you happen to know if it can be made ahead and frozen?
Thanks
Maike
I don't think you'd have much of an issue making the sweet potatoes in advance.
You'd just have to reheat them. And the benefit could be that the flavors had more time to marinate, so it might work out quite well. Just store the baked sweet potatoes in any well-sealed airtight container. I've recently 'converted' to Rubbermaid Brilliance containers and Stasher (but that's a different story ;-).
Another way of easy prepping is to get all your peeling, cutting, and chopping done ahead of time. This all you'll have to do is mem aking the lemon butter sauce, pouring it over the sweet potatoes and transfer them into the oven.
As for freezing, I've never frozen the baked sweet potatoes. Sorry, that I can't help here. If others have the same question, please leave a comment and do a test freeze and share the results on the website.
Alicia
I always freeze my sweet potato casserole for thanksgiving- I would imagine this would be okay as well 👍
Traci
What type of honey do you suggest? Thank you!
Maike
Most kinds of honey will work. I like rich, flavorful honey like the 365 Light Amber Mountain Forrest Honey and the Trader Joe's Multi-Floral Clover Honey. (The price for the Trader Joe's honey on Amazon is way too high, but I wanted you to see.) 🙂
SHARON Ogletree
Love the not to sweet roasted flavor. I did have to increase timing. I added pecans
Phyllis
Made this for Thanksgiving dinner. Followed the recipe as written. Everyone loved them. Will definitely make many more times. Thank you so much for sharing.
Maike
I'm so happy to hear everybody enjoyed the recipe! Thank you so much for sharing.
Rita
Can I add some carrots?
Maike
Yes, you can roast carrots. They are delicious, too. Check out this roasted carrot recipe.
Penny
Need to use up some sweet potatoes. Came across this recipe and it sounded good. It is delicious! My husband and i both loved them. Made exactly as recipe states.
Noel
Wow! Thanks will try tonight.
MJ
Would I be able to make these on a tin foil pan on a gas grill?
Maike
I've never tried it myself, but generally if your gas grill has an upper rack and you can keep the temperature 400º-425º Fahrenheit, it should work without a problem. I'd love to know how it turns out.
Victoria Haneveer
Ooh I like this one. I'm currently obsessed with all root veggies including sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, parsnips, pumpkins, butternut squash et (after quitting keto after several years where these goodies were banned!) Now, I typically just roast them in a huge roasting pan with chicken, beef or another meat and add some oil plus whichever herbs/spices I want to use. But I never tried adding honey. I have added some honey to carrots and parsnips, but not to sweet potatoes, so I can't wait to try this recipe! I like Thanksgiving potatoes (with or without the marshmallows) so I'm sure it'll be wonderful.
Cindy
What do you think of using Maple Syrup as a substitute for the Honey?
Maike Corbett
Great idea. It's a little less sweet but definitely delicious. Go for it. 🙂
Shirley Roberts
am trying this for the first time my son wants me to make it we are having our Thangiving friday. I hope this turns out good cause I am givning it to my daughter and boyfriend. Wish me luck.
Helen
Tasted great but did not crisp
Maike Corbett
Thank you for your feedback and reach out. I think this can easily be fixed. Try leaving them in a little longer. Towards the end, if they haven't caramelized properly, add another 2-3 minutes, check again, and adjust upwards if necessary. Ovens can vary greatly, my old GE Profile gas oven was a lot faster than my current GE Cafe (also gas) . A few extra minutes can make a world of difference. Hope that helps.