Roasted Sweet Potatoes

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This incredibly simple and quick roasted sweet potatoes recipe relies on the most basic of seasonings: olive oil, salt and pepper. Serve it with your favorite main dish for a quick weeknight meal.

Active Time:
10 mins
Additional Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 servings
  • Here's a quick and easy side dish for weeknight meals or add to grain bowls, pasta and salads.
  • Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins A and C, plus potassium and can benefit heart, gut and eye health.
  • Orange- or red-skinned sweet potatoes generally have the sweetest flavor but choose any variety you like.

Our Roasted Sweet Potatoes recipe is the one you keep in your back pocket for those days when you need a quick side. This is also the perfect recipe to add to grain bowls, pasta dishes and salads. Fiber-packed sweet potato cubes get a simple toss of extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and are roasted to perfection at high heat. This same method works well for other hearty vegetables as well, such as white potatoes and butternut squash. And don't be afraid to leave the skins on, they add great texture and even more fiber! Keep reading for our expert tips on how to prep your pan and different seasoning suggestions.

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! 

  • Sweet potatoes with orange or red skin typically offer the sweetest flavor, but choose any variety you prefer. Sticking to one type is best, as different varieties may cook at different rates. Some excellent options include Jewels, Beauregards, Belleview, Covington, Red Garnet, Burgundy, Diane and Vermillion.
  • To achieve the crispest potatoes, cut them to the same size, spread them out on a large pan to prevent steaming and flip them halfway through cooking. Plus, we use foil and refrain from using parchment paper, which can create a heat barrier.
  • We recommend leaving the skin on the potatoes since it provides valuable nutrition and becomes deliciously crispy—it saves time, too. However, if you prefer, you can peel them.

Nutrition Notes

  • Sweet potatoes provide complex carbohydrates for energy, fiber to keep things moving through your gut and a little bit of plant protein. They're loaded with vitamin A and also offer a good amount of vitamin C and potassium. The type of fiber in sweet potatoes is resistant starch, which acts as a prebiotic, feeding your beneficial gut bacteria. Sweet potatoes have been associated with a healthy heart, gut and eyes.
Overhead view of the ingredients for Roasted Sweet Potatoes recipe

Preethi Venkatram

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • 1 pound sweet potatoes (about 2 medium), scrubbed

  • 1 ½ teaspoons olive oil

  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

  • teaspoon ground pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil; lightly coat with cooking spray. Set aside. Cut unpeeled sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes.

    Close up view of potato slices from Roasted Sweet Potatoes recipe

    Preethi Venkatram

  2. Toss 1 pound of sweet potatoes with 1 1/2 teaspoons oil, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Arrange sweet potatoes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes or until lightly browned and crispy on cut sides and tender inside, turning once.

    overhead shot of roasted sweet potatoes on a sheet pan
    Preethi Venkatram

Equipment

Large rimmed baking sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What herbs go well with sweet potatoes?

    This simple recipe calls for just salt and pepper, but you don't have to stop there. You can jazz up sweet potatoes with herbs, spices, nuts and even cheese after (or before) they're done roasting. Dried spices like chili powder or smoked paprika pair nicely with roasted sweet potatoes and are best added before they hit the oven. Fresh herbs like thyme, basil or rosemary lend the most flavor when they're added after the sweet potatoes are done roasting. Tossing chopped nuts or crumbled cheese like goat cheese or blue cheese with roasted sweet potatoes a few minutes after they leave the oven is a great way to add flavor and texture.

  • What should I serve with sweet potatoes?

    This easy side dish can be prepared for a weeknight dinner and pairs well with many main dishes. Crispy Roast Chicken, Steak au Poivre, Skillet Lemon-Garlic Salmon and Lemon-Balsamic Chicken Thighs make a delicious accompaniment to these roasted sweet potatoes.


    Roasted sweet potatoes can also be incorporated into other dishes, like Sweet Potato, Sausage and Goat Cheese Egg Casserole, Spinach Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, White Beans & Basil and Kale & Roasted Sweet Potato Hash.

  • What is a prepared baking sheet?

    We line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil, then coat the foil with cooking spray before the sweet potatoes are added to the pan. Since the oven is hot (425°F), the foil acts as a layer of insulation that will prevent over-browning. (Plus it will make cleanup a lot easier!) In order for the sweet potatoes to cook evenly, you'll have to turn them once halfway through cooking. A layer of cooking spray on the pan makes this a whole lot easier and prevents the potatoes from sticking.

  • How should I store and reheat leftovers?

    Once the potatoes have completely cooled, transfer them to an airtight container and place them in the refrigerator. They will remain good for about 5 days, though they taste best if eaten sooner. To reheat, you can use a microwave on Medium power, checking the temperature in 1-minute intervals until they are warm enough. For the crispiest results, reheat them in an air fryer, toaster oven or conventional oven at 400°F for approximately 15 minutes.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)

85 Calories
2g Fat
17g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 2/3 cup
Calories 85
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 1g 3%
Total Fat 2g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Vitamin A 11584IU 232%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Folate 9mcg 2%
Sodium 168mg 7%
Calcium 25mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Magnesium 21mg 5%
Potassium 276mg 6%

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
Carrie Myers, M.S.,
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
Hilary Meyer,
Hilary Meyer
Hilary Meyer is a recipe developer, tester, and content creator. After graduating from culinary school, she started working the EatingWell Test Kitchen in 2006, developing and testing recipes.
Jan Valdez,

Jan Valdez has years of experience working in test kitchens, primarily in research and development and product development. Her experience in the Good Housekeeping test kitchen in New York City launched a career in professional test kitchens.

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.