Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes are one of my favorite Fall sides. This recipe is special enough to be served on Thanksgiving, but we make it on the regular in Autumn and Winter because oven-roasted sweet potatoes are easy and irresistibly delicious. You’ll love how the garlic is added – no peeling required!
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Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe
The maple in this recipe caramelizes the edges of the sweet potatoes as they roast in the oven, making them glow. Those are the pieces my fork attacks first, along with the salty bites of bacon. Don’t skip the roasted garlic – pop the little cloves out of their sleeves and indulge. Maple-bacon flavored roasted garlic is incredible.
If you love sweet potato recipes as much as we do, don’t miss my Sweet Potato Casserole (a treasure of a recipe), along with my Creamy Sweet Potato Soup (also topped with bacon).
Ingredients for Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potatoes – Choose firm sweet potatoes with smooth skin. Garnet or Jewel varieties work best for roasting.
- Maple Syrup – Use real maple syrup for the best caramelized flavor.
- Bacon – Adds salty contrast and crispy texture. I used regular-cut bacon, but if you are using thick-cut, make sure to add them to the pan sooner so they have time to crisp up.
- Garlic – Roasting whole garlic cloves gives the dish a mellow, sweet flavor. I cut the whole head in half so there’s no peeling required, then I pop the roasted cloves of garlic out over the finished sweet potatoes.
- Olive Oil – Helps the potatoes caramelize and prevents sticking.
Are Sweet Potatoes and Yams the Same?
Some grocery stores in North America label sweet potatoes and yams interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. A true yam is a deep reddish/purple color on the outside with a white center and is not commonly sold in North American grocery stores.
What you will typically find in grocery stores are sweet potatoes (as pictured below) that have a copper-colored exterior with an orange center. This type of sweet potato is what’s commonly used to make traditional Thanksgiving sides like Mashed Sweet Potatoes or Sweet Potato Casserole.
How to Make Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes
I’m convinced that oven-roasting vegetables is the best way to cook them, especially sweet potatoes. The texture is incredibly smooth and roasting draws out their natural sweetness. We add real maple syrup, bacon and garlic to give this dish wonderful sweet, salty, savory flavors that you will love.
- Preheat oven to 400˚F. Line the bottom of a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment or Silpat.
- Slice the whole garlic head in half horizontally (parallel to the root). Peel and slice sweet potatoes into 3/4″ thick pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss together sliced sweet potatoes, garlic, olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper.
- Arrange on a baking sheet with garlic cut-side-up. Bake at 400˚F for 20 min, then stir, top with bacon and bake another 25-30 min until sweet potatoes are tender and bacon is crisp.
How Long to Roast Maple Sweet Potatoes?
At 400˚F, sweet potatoes cut to 3/4″ thick will take about 45 minutes to roast. For best results and even roasting, cut potatoes to an even thickness and stir the potatoes halfway through. Test the largest chunk of potato – it should be easily pierced with a fork. Use the largest sheet pan that will fit in your oven for even roasting. We use a big 15×21 sheet pan.
Do I have to Peel Sweet Potatoes Before Roasting?
Whether or not you peel your sweet potatoes for roasting is personal preference. Sweet potato skins are tender and you can skip the peeling if you love the texture of the skins. It will be even easier and the skins are nutritious.
A tray of caramelized maple-roasted sweet potatoes is like adult candy. I’ll pull this out of the oven and take little bites while making dinner until I realize a quarter of it is gone! These roasted sweet potatoes disappear quickly every time. Make it once and you’ll make it again and again!
Push the roasted garlic cloves out of the sleeves and serve them tossed with the sweet potatoes. I hope this roasted sweet potato recipe becomes a new favorite for you!
Serve these maple-roasted sweet potatoes and bacon as the most delicious side dish. I’m so tempted to pick some right off the screen, and unfortunately for me, there weren’t any leftovers (there never are!)… Best to make them again.
Pair these with our Air Fryer Whole Chicken, Roasted Pork Tenderloin, or Pan-Seared Steak – it goes with pretty much any protein.
Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Bacon
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400˚F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or Silpat.
- Slice the whole un-peeled garlic head in half horizontally (parallel with the roots). Peel and slice sweet potatoes into 3/4″ thick pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sliced sweet potatoes, halved garlic head, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp maple syrup, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper and toss to combine.
- Place in a single layer on a prepared baking sheet with the garlic cut-side-up. Bake at 400˚F for 20 min. Remove from oven, stir the sweet potatoes, sprinkle pieces of bacon evenly over the top and bake another 25-30 min or until sweet potatoes are tender and bacon is crisp.
Notes
- Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container up to 4 days.
- Reheat: in a 375°F oven for 10–15 minutes, or air fryer for 5-8 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Holiday-Worthy Sides
These are all of the classic Thanksgiving side dishes that we traditionally make for our Thanksgiving dinner. Make them all for the ultimate Thanksgiving feast.
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes – just read the reviews!
- Turkey Gravy – a must-have with Juicy Turkey
- Green Bean Casserole – made from scratch
- Cranberry Sauce – so good with orange zest
- Soft Dinner Rolls – don’t forget honey butter
- Potato Salad – way better than store-bought
- Egg Salad – easy, excellent
- Deviled Eggs – also with bacon
Super easy and yummy. I cooked my bacon with the potatoes the whole time, since it was thicker, and my son prefers softer bacon.
Hi Natasha, We do not eat pork. Do you have a suggestion for a bacon substitute that would provide the salty, crispy effect?
Beef bacon would be the closest in flavor and crispiness, but you can use turkey bacon too.
Wondering if I could sub the potatoes with butternut squash??
Hi Carrie, that should be fine. Just check earlier, 10-15mins sooner since squash baked faster.
can you use garlic cloves instead of the whole one
Hi Robin, that would be fine.
Can this dish be made a couple days ahead? I have all ingredients just want to know if I can do as much as I can. Using our stuffing and cranberry recipe.
Hi Joann! Yes, you can make them ahead and they do reheat pretty well both in the oven and on the stovetop. It is a good idea to reheat them either way so your bacon crisps/freshens up and it is best served warm.
Happy thanksgiving to you and your family!
I made this for my husband and he said, “wow, that Natasha has done it again!” The bacon put it over the top for him. He’s diabetic and we’ve been trying to switch to sweet potatoes for a carb that’s better for him. So it’s a double win!! Thank you, Natasha!
I’m so glad he loved it, Joyce! Thanks for sharing.
Cutting goes very quickly with (your recommended) Chop Wizard. 🥰
Can this be cooked using a crock pot? I need to carry this to an office party, and that seems to be the easiest method.
Hi Jerry! I haven’t tested this in a crockpot to provide instructions.
Making again for Thanksgiving this year! Last time I made it, it was a hit! Awesome combo of flavors! Even the people who don’t like sweet potatoes were raving about this dish. Keeper for Thanksgiving dinner for years to come❤️
I hope they love it just as much this year! I’m so glad you found a family favorite on my site! Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Natasha! I have thick cut bacon and last time I did it, bacon didn’t cook through. Do you think it’ll be better to fry it separately and mix with sweet potatoes? Thank you!
Hi Tatiana, that may work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
I’m having 14 for TG dinner. This will be one of the sides. Do you think doubling the recipe is sufficient? Also, I’ve read reviews and don’t want to end up with steamed food. Can you recommend a pan size? I know you use a baking sheet but would a large disposable foil pan work or is it something with low sides that is preferable? Thank you!
Hi Trisha! A rimmed baking sheet works best so that air can still circulate and bake everything evenly. My pan was 21”x15” you can reference the image above to see how they were placed in the pan, there isn’t much room left but they aren’t overcrowded either. I would measure your oven to see what size pan would fit. You may need to make it in two separate pans. I think doubling it may be enough since you’re having other sides as well.
I just made this and my bacon didn’t get crispy. I followed the directions and even added extra cooking time to crisp it up – but nothing. I finally turned my oven to broil and at least got it to crisp up a little by doing that. What did I do wrong? Other than that, it was delicious!
Hi Penny, the most likely reason is overcrowding the pan. If the sweet potatoes and bacon are really packed onto the baking sheet, it will be doing more steam cooking than roasting which will keep it from crisping up. Also, using thick cut bacon will be more difficult to crisp up.
Thank you. And yes, my pan was pretty crowded and everything basically steamed – even the potatoes. I will try it again soon with your suggestion.
Thank you.
I hope you love it, Penny! Best of luck!
Hi Natasha, i live in Australia and i love All your recipes, in this one can i sub the bacon for anchovies?
Hi Amal, I have not tried this recipe with anchovices to advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
I had asked a question, but now I can’t find the other comments and the answer!
HI Darlene, your question is answered below. Do a Command + F to find your name on the page and it will take you there. It depends on what else you are baking – if the temperature is the same and you have space in the oven, the bake time will be about the same – maybe slightly longer.
I wonder about oven temp and timing…can I adjust this to go along with other oven dishes baking/roasting at the same time?
ps-your site is my go to place-all recipes I’ve tried are excellent!
Hi Darlene! I’m not quite sure how to do that successfully. It would also depend on which type of dishes you’d be making along with it, it would be best to use those that have similar baking times and temperatures.
I think I am missing what to do with the garlic head after 20min. Do you mix that in as well??
Hi Cathy! See my note in the blog above, “Push the roasted garlic cloves out of the sleeves and serve tossed with the sweet potatoes.”
I hope you love this recipe!