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
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