Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes – made with olive oil, sea salt, fresh cracked pepper and a touch of maple syrup, then tossed with toasted pecans for extra crunch! This simple side dish is the perfect addition to any holiday menu!
Unpopular opinion: sweet potatoes are better than regular potatoes. And that goes for baked, roasted, mashed, and even fried! (Like I said… definitely an unpopular opinion!)
But for whatever reason, I like both them better both in flavor and texture. And I especially love them as part of a holiday meal! Whether it’s Sweet Potato Casserole, Sweet Potato Stuffing, or even Sweet Potato Pie, they clearly have an important place on a holiday table. And these Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes are one of the simplest, most delicious ways to enjoy them.
Made with just 5 ingredients, these potatoes are easy to prep in advance and ready after just 20 minutes in the oven. They’re perfect, not only for the holidays, but as a simple, delicious side dish for any meal!
what you’ll need for this recipe
Sweet potatoes – Sweet potatoes are the star of the show in this recipe. I used 4 cups of cubed (1 inch) sweet potatoes. I chose to leave the skins on for flavor, but you can peel them first if you prefer. You can also prep them in advance by chopping them and storing them cold water in the refrigerator to prevent them from drying out.
Rosemary – I added 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary for a deliciously herbaceous flavor. When using fresh rosemary, simply remove the needles from the stalks and discard the stalks.
Olive oil – I tossed the sweet potatoes in 1/4 cup olive oil. You can substitute canola or vegetable oil for a milder flavor if you prefer.
Salt & pepper – I used simple seasonings of salt and pepper. 1/2 teaspoon of each helps to bring out all the delicious flavors without overpowering the sweet potatoes or rosemary.
Pecans – I added 1/2 cup of pecan halves for a deliciously nutty flavor and extra crunch. Feel free to substitute chopped pecans or another type of nut if you prefer. Also feel free to omit the nuts altogether.
Maple syrup – Finally, a hint of maple syrup brings out the sweetness of the potatoes and pairs well with the rosemary and pecans. I used 3 Tablespoons of pure maple syrup.
how to make rosemary roasted sweet potatoes
Combine the ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweet potatoes, rosemary, olive oil, salt & pepper. Toss well to coat.
Roast. Spread the potatoes on a large rimmed baking sheet and roast at 400° for 15 minutes.
Add pecans and maple syrup. Remove from oven; add pecans and maple syrup and toss to combine.
Roast. Roast for an additional 5 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Make Ahead Tip
This recipe is easy to prep ahead by cutting the sweet potatoes up to 24 hours in advance. Since cut sweet potatoes tend to dry out quickly, just be sure to store them in cold water in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use them.
Recipe Variations
- Use a combination of regular and sweet potatoes
- Sweeten with brown sugar or honey instead of maple syrup
- Substitute walnuts or almonds for the pecans
- Add additional fresh herbs, such as sage or thyme
- Add chopped bacon
- Sprinkle with cayenne pepper for a sweet + spicy combo
- Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice
Looking for more great Thanksgiving dishes? I have so many to choose from! Here are some of our favorite side dishes to add to your menu:
- Spiced Cranberry Pear Sauce
- Maple Bacon Roasted Butternut Squash
- Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes
- Maple Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Candied Acorn Squash
- Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
- Cheesy Muffin Tin Biscuits
Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed sweet potatoes skins on
- 4 fresh rosemary sprigs needles only
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 1/2 cup pecan halves
- 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Combine sweet potatoes, rosemary, olive oil, salt & pepper in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine.
- Spread on a large rimmed baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven; add pecans and maple syrup and toss to combine.
- Roast an additional 5 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Notes
Recipe Variations
- Use a combination of regular and sweet potatoes
- Sweeten with brown sugar or honey instead of maple syrup
- Substitute walnuts or almonds for the pecans
- Add additional fresh herbs, such as sage or thyme
- Add chopped bacon
- Sprinkle with cayenne pepper for a sweet + spicy combo
- Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice
Kristine+@+Kristine's+Kitchen says
These look unbelievably good! I agree that it’s fun to mix things up a bit when it comes to traditional holiday dishes. I love that you left the skins on the sweet potatoes. There’s more nutrition that way, plus it saves me from the loathed kitchen job of peeling potatoes!
Erin+@+The+Spiffy+Cookie says
Love! I am obsessed with rosemary right now.
Catherine says
Dear Cathy, Those are great looking sweet potatoes and would make a wonderful side for the holiday. Catherine
Jess says
I’m with you – I love different food, and prefer it over our typical fare! I love that there are so many options where we love so that certainly helps! Your dish looks delicious and perfect for the holidays and I love rosemary so it’s a must try for me 🙂
Teresa says
These potatoes look lovely. I can’t wait to make them.
Julie+@+Tastes+of+Lizzy+T says
What a gorgeous side dish. We love our sweet potatoes. I’ll be trying this!
Jamie+@+Love+Bakes+Good+Cakes says
I am with you 100% on going to an ethnic joint versus the typical burger and fries place! These potatoes sound delicious, Cathy!
Lisa+@+Cooking+with+Curls says
Wow, those are absolutely gorgeous Cathy!! I love basic foods, I wish I was better at creating them, lol. That is actually my goal for next year. 🙂
Deb+@+Cooking+on+the+Front+Burner says
These look amazing Cathy!!!
Lynn Marie says
Have now made them three times! They don’t disappoint! My husband does not like sweet potatoes but he ate these and loved them!,
Debbie says
Can I make these sweet potatoes a day before Christmas dinner and warm up?
Cathy Trochelman says
I think they would be best hot out of the oven, but you could prep them a day ahead of time, but cutting them up and getting everything ready to throw in the oven.