Garlic-Parmesan Melting Sweet Potatoes

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These garlic-Parmesan sweet potatoes melt in your mouth, just as the name implies! After browning in a hot oven, thick slices of sweet potato simmer in a garlic-infused broth, soaking up savory flavor. A finishing sprinkle of cheese adds a golden, crisp edge. This easy dish pairs beautifully with roasted chicken or pork and makes a wonderful holiday side.

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:
6
  • This melt-in-your-mouth sweet potato side dish is perfect for holiday meals as well as everyday dining.
  • Leaving the skins on your sweet potatoes provides extra fiber for good gut health. 
  • Choose sweet potatoes of similar size, not too large, to ensure even cooking.

Our Garlic-Parmesan Melting Sweet Potatoes are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and perfect to accompany your dinner tonight. Antioxidant-rich sweet potatoes are roasted in a combo of butter and heart-healthy olive oil. We added tons of inflammation-fighting garlic to the broth, which infuses the sweet potatoes and makes them tender and fluffy on the inside. The Parmesan cheese adds the best umami flavor, complementing the bright herbaceousness. Keep reading for our expert tips on technique, baking pan suggestions and more. 

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • When selecting sweet potatoes, choose ones that have a block shape (instead of cylindrical) and are narrower in diameter. This will ensure that the rounds are uniform in size and won't crowd the pan.
  • If you’re looking to try something different, consider replacing the sweet potatoes with purple potatoes or Japanese sweet potatoes.
  • For this recipe, it’s best to use a metal baking pan. A glass dish (even Pyrex) could shatter when you add the broth mixture to the hot pan.
  • For the best flavor and texture, we suggest grating the Parmesan cheese by hand instead of using pre-grated cheese.

Nutrition Notes

  • Sweet potatoes are packed with beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body. This vitamin is essential for healthy vision, skin and immune function. We leave the skins on the sweet potatoes in this recipe, so you get the additional fiber benefit—great for your gut health. 
  • Garlic doesn’t get enough credit for its powerful nutritional benefits. When you cut or smash garlic, like we do in this recipe, you release an antioxidant called allicin, which is anti-inflammatory and great for heart health. 
  • Parmesan cheese is considered a hard cheese, which means it is lower in lactose and higher in calcium—two benefits if you are lactose-intolerant. Traditionally, Parmesan cheese is not considered a vegetarian option because it is made with animal rennet, so if you are following a vegetarian diet, be sure to look for a vegetarian-friendly Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients for a recipe including sweet potatoes butter cheese garlic herbs and seasonings

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser.

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes, scrubbed

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon chopped mixed fresh herbs (such as thyme, rosemary and/or sage)

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper

  • 6 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)

  • 1 cup lower-sodium vegetable broth

  • 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish

Directions

  1. Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 450°F. Cut 2 unpeeled sweet potatoes crosswise into 1-inch-thick rounds; transfer to a large bowl.

    Sweet potatoes sliced on a cutting board with a chefs knife nearby

    Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser.

  2. Add 2 tablespoons melted butter, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon herbs, ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper; toss to coat. Arrange the sweet potatoes in a single layer in a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan. (Don’t use a glass dish, which could shatter.) Roast, flipping once, until browned, about 35 minutes.

    Baked sweet potato slices with herbs on a baking tray metal spatula lifting one piece

    Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser.

  3. Whisk chopped garlic into 1 cup broth; carefully add the broth mixture to the pan. Sprinkle the tops of the sweet potatoes with 3 tablespoons Parmesan. Continue roasting until the broth has mostly been absorbed and the sweet potatoes are very tender, 12 to 15 minutes more. Transfer to a serving platter; drizzle with the remaining butter mixture from the pan. Sprinkle with more Parmesan, if desired.

    Recipe image of Garlic-Parmesan Melting Sweet Potatoes.

    Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What’s the difference between a sweet potato and a yam?

    Yams are tubers that thrive in subtropical and tropical climates. They have a starchy texture and are not sweet. In contrast, sweet potatoes are roots, have a sweet flavor and are commonly found items in grocery stores, even though they are often mislabeled as yams.

  • How should I store and reheat leftovers?

    To store leftovers, place them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can reheat the sweet potatoes in a skillet over medium heat or warm them in the oven or toaster oven at 300°F until they are heated through, which typically takes 8 to 10 minutes. While you can also microwave them, we don’t recommend it because it can negatively alter the texture.

  • What should I serve with Garlic-Parmesan Melting Sweet Potatoes?

    This dish is a perfect side for Thanksgiving turkey and pairs wonderfully with many of our favorite recipes for chicken, steak, pork and seafood. Consider pairing this dish with our Basic Whole Roast Chicken or Air-Fryer “Fried” Chicken Thighs, Rosemary & Garlic-Basted Sirloin Steak or Pan-Seared Strip Steak, Oven-Roasted Pork or Air-Fryer Fish Cakes or Broiled Scallops.

EatingWell.com, September 2025

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

225 Calories
9g Fat
33g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size 2 to 3 pieces
Calories 225
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 5g 19%
Total Sugars 7g
Added Sugars 0g 0%
Protein 3g 7%
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Vitamin A 1176µg
Vitamin C 4mg 5%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 1mg 10%
Folate 18µg
Vitamin K 12µg
Sodium 342mg 15%
Calcium 89mg 7%
Iron 1mg 7%
Magnesium 46mg 11%
Potassium 562mg 12%
Zinc 1mg 6%
Vitamin B12 0µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Sarah Pflugradt, Ph.D., RDN, CSCS
Sarah Pflugradt

Sarah Pflugradt is a registered dietitian who holds a Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Her extensive background in dietetics has made her a sought-after expert in family and youth sports nutrition.

and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.