Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes are a healthy side dish that will make your taste buds sing! The best part about these potatoes is their crispy edges and soft centers.
They're perfect with oven-roasted salmon and a quick cucumber salad.
This is a recipe you can truly enjoy all year long. For instance, it's the perfect side dish for Oven Baked Chicken Thighs, one of my family's favorite chicken recipes.
While I like a good sweet potato casserole as much as the next person, I'll admit that I've replaced it with this recipe multiple times. I've even added Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes to our holiday table and received many compliments.
Why This Easy Recipe Works
EASY DINNERS - This recipe belongs to that category. After peeling and dicing the sweet potatoes and tossing them in the honey lemon mixture, all you need to do is roast them. It doesn't get much easier than this.
SIMPLE INGREDIENTS - The primary ingredient is sweet potatoes, and besides that, you'll need a few more items you'll probably already have in your fridge and pantry.
ROASTING - Oven-roasted vegetables are one of our favorite hacks to make a simple side dish that tastes amazing and doesn't take long to make.
If you want to amp up your cooking skills quickly, it is the way to go. And if you're looking for more delicious side dishes, be sure also to try our Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower recipe.
Ingredients
SWEET POTATOES - Look for medium-sized sweet potatoes. They have more flavor than their larger siblings.
OLIVE OIL - I strongly recommend using extra virgin olive oil. It has a higher smoke point than regular olive oil, and I've never had issues roasting the sweet potatoes at 425º Fahrenheit.
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 - Use unsalted butter.
LEMON - Use both the zest and the juice of one lemon. It'll balance the sweet flavors perfectly.
HONEY - Look for good quality honey.
Variations and Additions
MAPLE SYRUP - If you don't have honey, you can substitute it with pure Maple syrup (not Pancake syrup).
ADD SOME HEAT - If you like an extra bit of kick, add a dash of chili powder or red pepper flakes.
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
For detailed instructions, please check the recipe card.
- Peel and cut the sweet potatoes. Add the sweet potato cubes to a large bowl and season with salt and black pepper.
- Melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat in a small saucepan. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, and honey. Simmer on low heat for one minute.
- Pour the hot honey-lemon butter over the sweet potatoes. Toss well.
- Spread sweet potatoes across a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Roast for 25 minutes at 425º Fahrenheit.
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.
STORING SWEET POTATOES - Store sweet potatoes in a dark, dry place. Do not refrigerate sweet potatoes.
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 orange and pale sweet potatoes.
True Yams
- can grow much larger
- their flesh varies between off-white and purple.
- are starchier
- it would be best if you always peeled yams because their skin can irritate our digestive system
Sweet Potatoes
- come in dark orange, pale yellow, and some have purple flesh
- have pale sweet potatoes have a thinner yellow skin and yellow flesh
- are pretty soft and similar to baked potatoes
Nutritional Benefits of Roasted Sweet Potatoes
These are some but not all of the perks you'll get if you include sweet potatoes in your diet.
- HIGH IN VITAMIN A - 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 - Can help you to feel full longer.
More Popular Comfort Food Recipes
OLD-FASHIONED POTATO SOUP - Rich and creamy loaded potato soup.
SHRIMP CARBONARA - A delicious recipe perfect when you want something unique that is easy to make.
EASY CHICKEN PARMESAN - The ultimate midweek comfort food.
BEE STING CAKE - An easy version of one of Germany's most popular cakes.
BUTTERKUCHEN - A light and airy German butter cake that's gooey and sweet.
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.
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.) 🙂