Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe

When it comes to sweet potatoes, there are plenty of ways to prepare them. Whether you load them like a baked potato or cut them into chips and drizzle olive oil on top and then crisp them in the oven to perfection, there's no right or wrong way to enjoy this delightful veggie. But if you are looking to try something that's totally new and outside of the box, these honey roasted sweet potatoes are sure to please your crowd. The sweet taste of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon are the perfect flavors to accompany the sweet potato itself, and this side dish is totally on par if you want something fun and new.

Recipe developer and nutritionist Hayley MacLean came up with this creative side dish that you can pair perfectly with pretty much any main. "I love how perfect for fall this recipe is! The sweet honey and warming cinnamon are so wonderful together, and are perfectly balanced by the lemon," MacLean raves. "Plus, the color is just so beautiful, and reminds me of all the falling leaves of the season!" Keep scrolling to find out how to fix up these yummy taters.

The first step you need to take is to make a grocery list and head to the store. Be sure to check for items that you may have at home already before you head out. When you get to the store, make your first stop at the produce aisle, and load up on sweet potatoes. By load up, we mean get two. For the primary liquids, you will need honey and olive oil. Next, grab a lemon for fresh juice. To provide even more flavor and to accompany the honey, stop by the spice aisle, and get ground cinnamon. Lastly, you'll need salt and pepper if you don't have any at home.

Sweet potatoes are one of the many foods that provide a ton of health benefits to anyone who eats them. Plain and simple — MacLean explains it best! "Sweet potatoes are an awesome source of fiber, both soluble and insoluble, which helps promote gut health and keep your body 'moving!' It also is full of antioxidants like beta-carotene that help reduce the effects of oxidation to the cells of your body and help prevent the onset of disease," she raves. "Additionally, they help maintain eye and brain health with many of the other vitamins and minerals incases in these amazing tubers. They really are little nutritional powerhouses!"

Now that you have all of the ingredients in front of you, it's time to get down to business. Set your oven  temperature to 375 F. Usually when you bake potatoes, you need to cook them at a higher temperature due to thickness. Preheating is a great way to start a recipe, so the oven gets hot while you tend to the prep work.

In the meantime, peel your potatoes, and then cut them into bite-sized pieces. "Chopping the sweet potatoes can be a little difficult because they are large and tough," MacLean says. "Make sure to keep a good grip and slice the potato in rounds first, then these are easier to dice into smaller pieces."

Now, take out a small mixing bowl for the sauce. You will need to toss in the honey and the olive oil first. Next, add the lemon juice and the cinnamon. Using a whisk, mix everything together well. "I like to use a whisk when mixing because I feel is distributes the ingredients more evenly and helps the honey really loosen up and fully incorporate into the marinade," MacLean explains. "A spoon sometimes wont pick up the honey stuck to the bottom of the mixing bowl, I have found!" You'll then toss the sweet potatoes in the honey mixture.

For the next step, take out a baking sheet that is big enough to fit all of the sweet potatoes. Make sure that they don't overlap, as this will take longer to cook. Spread the potatoes in a single layer, and then drizzle any of the remaining honey mixture over the top. Finally, season the sweet potatoes with a little bit of salt and pepper.

Pop the potatoes into the oven, and set the timer for 25 to 30 minutes. At the halfway mark, stir the potatoes. Continue cooking until the potatoes get tender. You can test doneness by poking the potatoes with a fork. Alternatively, you could try an air fryer. "I think these would be great in an air fryer! I would do them at 400 F for about 20 minutes, tossing halfway through — make sure to line the air fryer to keep clean up easy from this sticky dressing," MacLean says.

These potatoes are best when served right away. They would make a great appetizer, or they would be the perfect side to accompany a main dish. "I love serving these as a side to roast chicken with a fresh green salad or slaw. I also use these often for building grain bowls with quinoa, greens, and whatever else you would like to throw in," MacLean explains. 

Have anything left? "Leftovers are best for four to five days in an airtight container in the fridge, and can easily be reheated in the microwave or with the reheat function on many air fryers," MacLean shares. Cheers to another great recipe!