Roasted Sweet Potatoes

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.

roasted sweet potato recipe

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!

Roasted sweet potato recipe ingredients

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.

Chopped sweet potatoes on a cutting board with knife

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!

Sweet potato cubes on a baking sheet with olive oil

Next, season them. Spread the cubed potatoes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle them with olive oil…

Hands seasoning sweet potato cubes with black pepper

…and season them with salt and pepper…

Hands tossing sweet potato cubes with oil on a baking sheet

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!

How to roast sweet potatoes - sweet potato cubes on a baking sheet

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 are so many ways to use them! Here are a few of my favorites:

How do you like to eat roasted sweet potatoes? Let me know in the comments!

roasted sweet potatoes

More Favorite Roasted Veggies

If you love this recipe, try roasting one of these veggies next:

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Roasted Sweet Potatoes

rate this recipe:
4.60 from 5 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Serves 6 to 8
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.

6 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Leigh
    03.15.2024

    3 stars
    I expected the potatoes to be crispy, but they were just soft. Still tasted great, but not sure where it went wrong. I purposely didn’t use parchment paper so they would be crispy. Maybe there were too many pieces at once?

  2. JB
    01.13.2024

    5 stars
    easy, versatile. I added chopped cauliflower too. good. can add additional spices too.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.15.2024

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  3. Lynn
    02.08.2023

    What is the correct position in the oven for roasting veggies? Upper, lower or center?

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.09.2023

      Hi Lynn, You can do any. The hottest part of most ovens is near the bottom, so roasting the sweet potatoes on a low rack will give you the best browning underneath.

  4. B Farwell
    05.17.2021

    Love your skins on suggestions. Great nutrition. Couldn’t you add mashed sweet potatoes in with fresh homemade vegan burgers?

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.