Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Crispy roasted sweet potatoes make a perfect easy potato side dish for pork or chicken. Seasoned with red pepper flakes and thyme, they are a sweet and spicy combo that adds so much flavor to your meal.
Does your family eat sweet potatoes outside of the Thanksgiving dinner?
Bright orange sweet potatoes, or yams, are not a vegetable I grew up eating but I have learned to absolutely love them as an adult.
If you're looking for a way to enjoy them without oodles of marshmallows and butter, this easy crispy roasted sweet potato recipe is sure to be a winner.
Chopped into large cubes and tossed in olive oil, these sweet potatoes are roasted with garlic, roasted red pepper flakes, and thyme giving them a fantastic sweet and spicy flavor.
You'll love the final texture of the roasted potatoes alongside chicken or pork.
Why This is the Best Recipe
I've been making this delicious crispy roasted sweet potatoes since the first year we got married. I think it is the best recipe because:
- Crispy Texture: I love how crispy the outside of the sweet potatoes get. If you've only ever tried mashed sweet potatoes, you need to try making them this way.
- Sweet and Spicy: But not too spicy! These crispy sweet potatoes have an awesome sweet flavor from the potatoes themselves and a hint of kick from the crushed red pepper flakes.
- Guilt-Free Sweet Potatoes: No marshmallows, no brown sugar, just heart-healthy olive oil and absolutely delicious potatoes.
- Perfect Year Round: Sweet potatoes are not just for the holidays! We enjoy them this way every month of the year.
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Ingredients
I've made this recipe so many times, I've practically got it memorized! You will, too! Especially with this easy, short list of things to use:
- Fresh Sweet Potatoes: Peeled and then cut into large cubes. Do not try to use canned yams or canned sweet potatoes for this recipe, they are too wet to roast.
- Olive Oil
- Minced Garlic
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Dried Thyme
- Salt & Pepper
Prep the Sweet Potatoes
On a large baking sheet, toss the sweet potatoes with the olive oil until coated.
Add the garlic and seasonings and toss to coat again.
Smooth the potatoes out into an even layer on the baking sheet. There should be plenty of room for air to circulate around the potatoes.
If the pan is too crowded, they'll steam rather than roast.
Cooking Instructions (Oven)
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Roast the sweet potatoes for 25 minutes. Use a spatula to flip them so both sides brown properly. Return to the oven and roast for another 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Cooking Instructions (Air Fryer)
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
NOTE: This recipe works best in a toaster oven style air fryer vs. a basket style. You want the air flow to work around each potato, if they're gathered in a basket they may steam.
Air fry the sweet potatoes for 15 minutes and then toss with a spatula. Roast them for an additional 10 - 15 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Prep Ahead Tips
If you want to get a jumpstart on dinner, you can peel and chop the sweet potatoes, toss them in oil and seasonings, and store them in an airtight zip-top storage bag in the fridge for up to 24 hours in advance of baking.
I recommend pressing as much air out of the bag as possible so the potatoes do not turn color.
Room temperature potatoes will roast better than cold ones, so let the bag of potatoes rest on the counter for 15 minutes before roasting if possible.
Make Ahead Tips
These crispy sweet potatoes are best served fresh.
I have found that leftovers reheat much softer. They still taste good but lose that crispy coating.
Your best option is to let the leftovers come to room temperature and reheat them in an air fryer until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
The roasted sweet potatoes get just the right amount of crispy on the outside and the spicy seasonings pair perfectly with the sweetness of the potato.
Our favorite meat dish to pair it with is my rum glazed pork or a holiday Crockpot spiral ham but it appears in our dinner rotation alongside roasted chicken and seasoned tilapia, too.
I also particularly love it as a side dish for egg recipes for brunch or dinner like my scrambled eggs and vegetables.
If you want to dress the potatoes up for a super-special holiday side dish, season them with the spicy kick but then serve them with a drizzle of maple glaze.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
Don't miss these other fan-favorite sweet potato recipes:
📖 Recipe
Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 medium sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks as evenly as possible
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Sprinkle of fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions Start Cooking
- Add the chopped sweet potatoes, oil, and seasonings to a large zip-top bag. Shake the bag until the potatoes are evenly coated in oil and seasonings.
Oven Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Spread the potatoes in a single layer on a large baking sheet with room between the pieces for air flow, do not over crowd the pan or they will steam.
- Roast the potatoes until tender and starting to brown, approximately a total of 45 minutes. Be sure to toss with a spatula halfway through the cooking time so they don't burn--the sweetness of the potatoes can cause that to happen quickly.
Air Fryer Instructions:
- This recipe works best in a toaster oven style air fryer vs. a basket style. If you have a basket style, you may want to cook just a small batch so the air can flow around the potatoes better.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Spread the potatoes in an even layer on the air fryer baking sheet.
- Roast for 15 minutes and then toss with a spatula. Roast for an additional 10 - 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and starting to brown.
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Yum! I LOVE sweet potatoes and this looks easy and delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Yum! I LOVE sweet potatoes and this looks easy and delicious! Thanks for sharing!