Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Honey and Cinnamon

Article by Layla Khoury-Hanold

Roasted sweet potatoes are a healthy, versatile vegetable side year-round, but they’re an especially popular Thanksgiving side dish. Tyler Florence’s top-rated recipe yields roasted sweet potatoes that are golden, caramelized and slightly crisp outside and tender and fluffy inside. With Tyler’s easy oven roasted sweet potato recipe, you’ll learn how to ensure even cooking, the key ingredient that adds extra caramelization and flavor, how long to cook them for and how to tell when they’re done. Tyler’s roasted sweet potatoes strike an ideal sweet-savory balance, making them a versatile addition to holiday meals and weeknight dinners—but they just might steal the show this Thanksgiving.

How to Make Roasted Sweet Potatoes Like a Pro

Cut the sweet potatoes into even pieces. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 1-inch cubes. Make sure that they are of similar size so that they cook evenly in the oven.

Arrange sweet potatoes in a single layer. Arrange the cubed sweet potatoes on a sheet pan or cookie sheet in a single layer, taking care not to crowd them. Giving the sweet potatoes ample space ensures that they will roast and caramelize; if they touch or overlap, they will steam instead of roast.

Season the sweet potatoes with oil, honey and spices. Tyler drizzles the sweet potatoes with honey which adds to the flavor of the sweet potatoes’ natural sugars inside and helps to caramelize them on the outside. He adds a dusting of cinnamon, salt to balance the flavor between sweet and savory, freshly cracked black pepper and extra virgin olive oil for richness.

Roast the sweet potatoes until tender. Roast sweet potatoes in a 375 degrees F oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until tender. The roasted sweet potatoes will be golden, caramelized, sticky and slightly crisp on the outside, and super sweet and soft in the middle.

Finish the sweet potatoes with olive oil. After transferring the sweet potatoes to a serving platter, Tyler finishes them with an extra drizzle of olive oil to ensure that the potatoes have a savory, slightly sweet flavor profile.

How Long to Roast Sweet Potatoes

Cubed sweet potatoes take about 25 to 30 minutes to roast in a 375 degree F oven. You’ll know the sweet potatoes are done when they are golden, caramelized, sticky and slightly crisp on the outside, and soft and tender inside. To check for doneness, insert the tip of the knife or a fork into the sweet potato cube; it should yield easily when it’s done cooking.

What Temperature to Bake Sweet Potatoes

In this recipe, Tyler roasts cubed sweet potatoes in a 375 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

For more information on how long to bake sweet potatoes in the oven, check out our primer How to Cook Sweet Potatoes.

What to Serve with Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Serve roasted sweet potatoes with Thanksgiving and holiday mains, such as Tyler’s Maple-Roasted Turkey with Sage Butter, Citrus-Marinated Grilled Turkey, Roast Prime Rib of Beef with Horseradish Crust or Baked Fresh Ham with Apple-Cranberry Sauce. Roasted sweet potatoes go well with some of Tyler’s top-rated, easy side dish recipes, including Bacon and Brussels Sprout Hash, Herbed Butter Parsnips, Candied Carrots and Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Almonds.

Meals with Sweet Potatoes

If you’re looking for dinner recipes with sweet potatoes, pair them with a protein such as Roast Pork and Sweet Potatoes, Grilled Chicken and Sweet Potatoes with Strawberry Salsa or Steak with Beer Sauce and Sweet Potatoes. For vegetarian roasted sweet potato mains, try making Spicy Quinoa with Sweet Potatoes, Roasted Veggie Grain Bowl or Thanksgiving Pasta Salad.