Perfect Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Look no further for Perfect Roasted Sweet Potatoes! Tender, golden, and crisp, they are easy to make, nutritious, tasty, and so versatile. Enjoy them as a side or addition to your favorite meals.

This blog post was originally published on February 16, 2015. It was updated with new recipe photos and information on March 26, 2025.

Since I was a little girl there have been few foods I’ve loved more than sweet potatoes. I love them baked whole, as fries, added to recipes, even shredded. However, I might just love simple roasted sweet potatoes best. The process of roasting sweet potatoes brings out the natural sweetness, and satisfying earthiness.

Roasting sweet potatoes is super simple and beginner-friendly. If you can cut a potato and turn on an oven, you can make these, I promise! They are ready in a few easy steps and are made with common pantry staple seasonings.

The result is a versatile side dish or healthy snack. They can also be used as a meal topper added to your salads, bowls, wraps, and more. I even like to bulk them up with legumes, greens, grains, and homemade dressing to make a complete and delicious plant-based meal.

If you’re wondering how to cook sweet potatoes with different methods, check out my Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges, Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato, and Sweet Potato Puree. Or head to the archives to see all of the unique and delicious sweet potato recipes here on Sweet Potato Soul.

Choosing & Buying Sweet Potatoes

The best sweet potatoes for this recipe are Jewel and Garnett. I also love Japanese sweet potatoes (murasaki) which are sweeter and starchier. Choose potatoes with smooth, unblemished skin that are firm and heavy for their size. Avoid any with soft or wet spots.

You will need 3 medium-sized potatoes, or roughly 2 lbs.

How to Prepare & Cut Sweet Potatoes

Rinse the potatoes well with cool water, scrubbing them gently with a vegetable brush or clean wash cloth. If desired, peel the potatoes with a vegetable peeler, though I often like to keep them on for extra nutrition (source).

Once cleaned and peeled, trim off the ends with a sharp knife. Usually, the final 1/2 to 1 inch will do.

Next, cut the potatoes lengthwise or widthwise into 1-inch thick slices. Rotate the slices and cut 1-inch pieces perpendicular to the first cut, making sweet potato spears. Group the spears together and cut across in 1-inch increments, resulting in 1-inch square cubes.

Ingredients

A simple but flavorful seasoning blend makes this sweet potatoes recipe one of a kind and delicious! Here’s what you’ll need:

Oil: Adds richness, helps the potatoes crisp up, and keeps them from sticking to the baking sheet. Use avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, or coconut oil. If using, melt the coconut oil on low heat or in a microwave before drizzling it on the potatoes.

Pantry Seasonings: Smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper add smokiness and a light zesty heat. A delicious trifecta! Always use spices with a good expiration date for the best taste.

Salt: Fine sea salt enhances the tuber’s sweetness. If using table salt, reduce it to 3/4 teaspoon.

How to Roast Sweet Potatoes

• Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

• Oil the Potatoes. Add the cubed sweet potatoes to a large mixing bowl and drizzle them with oil. Gently toss until covered.

• Season the Potatoes. Combine the spices in a small bowl, then sprinkle them over the sweet potatoes. Toss the potatoes until evenly covered with the spice mixture.

• Roast Potatoes. Evenly spread the potatoes onto the baking sheet. Roast for 40 minutes, stirring the potatoes halfway through or until tender.

• Enjoy! Remove the potatoes from the oven. Let them cool at room temperature for a few minutes before serving. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, and enjoy hot!

Seasoning Variations

Though I absolutely adore the smoky and lightly spicy seasoning blend, potatoes do well with various herbs and spices. Try any of the following combinations to give this roasted sweet potatoes recipe your own touch.

• Simple: Sprinkle the potatoes with salt, pepper, and 2 teaspoons coconut or cane sugar. Perfect for adding the roasted potatoes to other dishes!
• Southwest: Swap ground cumin for the smoked paprika.
• Herbs: Season the potatoes with 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary or oregano and the directed amount of salt and pepper for an herbaceous dish. Add cayenne pepper to taste. You can also use 1 teaspoon of Herbes de Provence for a light, floral finish. Or use 1 teaspoon of za’atar for a Middle Eastern flavor.
• Asian: Roast the potatoes in sesame oil and combine 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder, ginger powder, and salt to give these potatoes a zesty and savory Asian-inspired touch.

Recipe Pro-Tips

• Cut the potatoes uniformly. Ensure even roasting with similarly-sized potato cubes. They don’t need to be identical, but they should be around the same size. I recommend .5 inch cubes.
• Space out the sweet potatoes. Use a large, rimmed roasting pan and spread them out so they do not overlap and leave room for the potato steam to evaporate. Otherwise, the potatoes can get soggy and mushy instead of crisp.
• Rotate throughout the baking time. Turn the potatoes once or twice during the cooking time so they cook and crisp up evenly.
• Add extra time as needed. If the potatoes aren’t fork-tender at the end of the roasting time, add time in 3-5 minute increments or until tender and golden-brown.

Serving Suggestions

This roasted sweet potato recipe makes a versatile and easy side dish for almost any meal, from vegan chicken nuggets to veggie burgers. You can also add it to salads, bowls, wraps, and any of the following:

• Vegan Burrito Bowls 
• Edamame Salad
• Winter Kale Salad

Storage Directions

• Refrigerating: Cool the roast sweet potatoes to room temperature before transferring them to an airtight container and refrigerating for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: The cooled potatoes can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost them in the refrigerator overnight or reheat them from frozen.
• Reheating: Warm the potatoes in a 300°F oven for 5-10 minutes or until warmed through. Double the baking time if reheating frozen potatoes. You can also heat the potatoes in the microwave on gentle heat.

FAQs

More Easy Sweet Potato Recipes

• Sweet Potato Hummus
• Sweet Potato Soup
• Red Lentil Curry with Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili
• Vegan Sweet Potato Biscuits
• Sweet Potato Breakfast Burritos