Roasted Sweet Potatoes (super easy) | Get Inspired Everyday!

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These Roasted Sweet Potatoes are great for a simple side dish to so many dinners! They’re also tasty as a base for taco bowls or even sausage gravy. They’re easy to make and the caramelized sliced edges are so good with a pat of butter and sea salt melting into it. Roasted sweet potatoes are our favorite gluten-free and dairy-free way to create all sorts of bowl meals and they’re nutrient-dense as well.

Cubed Roasted Sweet Potatoes on a baking sheet with a wood spatula scooping some off.

Roasted sweet potatoes are a classic side dish you can pair with so many different dinners. We love to roast them cubed up or halved as a base to make all sorts of yummy bowls or as a simple side dish.

They’re just as good if you’re serving them with my Easy Baked Chicken Breasts, or as a base for all your favorite taco toppings. No matter what way you go, this is one of those ‘back pocket’ recipes you’ll want to always have on hand.

These are also great for meal prepping because they reheat so well. I love roasting a pan or 2 on the weekend to have in the refrigerator. Then from there, it’s quick and easy to reheat them in a skillet and add over easy eggs for a healthy breakfast.

Side view of cubed Roasted Sweet Potatoes on a baking sheet with a wood spatula scooping some off.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Sweet potatoes, butter, sea salt, and pepper on a wood cutting board.

Sweet potatoes – any color of sweet potato works in this recipe. You’ll find instructions below for how to roast them halved or cubed.
Butter or olive oil – If you go with the cubed sweet potatoes they roast much better with a bit of butter or olive oil. If you cut them in half, they can roast without anything with the flat side placed down on the parchment sheet.
Sea salt & pepper – I like to season the cubed sweet potatoes with a touch of salt and pepper before you roast them because it really brings out the flavor.

How to make this recipe step by step

Cubing up sweet potatoes on a wood cutting board.

Step 1: Start by thoroughly washing/scrubbing the sweet potatoes. Then cut them into halves or cube them up depending on your chosen route listed in the recipe.

Pouring olive oil over cubed sweet potatoes on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Step 2: Next spread them out evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet and drizzle the olive oil or melted butter over the top.

Shortcut: if you use butter, you can eliminate one dish by dotting the butter over the top then melt it in the oven briefly before tossing the cubed sweet potatoes to evenly coat them.

Sprinkling sea salt over the cubed sweet potatoes.

Step 3: Season the sweet potatoes with sea salt and pepper and toss them together to coat each cube completely.

Nutrition Powerhouse: sweet potatoes have a different nutritional profile then potatoes. They’re a great source of Vitamin A, potassium, and fiber.

Finished roasted sweet potatoes with a wood spatula.

Step 4: Roast until tender with golden brown edges and serve.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes on a baking sheet with a wood spatula.

Ways to serve this

Serve these Roasted Sweet Potatoes any way you enjoy roasted potatoes. They make a great side dish to so many meals including Easy Herb Roasted Chicken, Tuscan Chicken, Pork Tenderloin, Creamy Garlic Chicken, or my Pizza Chicken.
Use them as a base for bowl food recipes. We love these with all the classic American taco toppings. Pile on the taco meat, cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream. Head on over to my Taco Sweet Potato Bowls for the full rundown and recipe.
These also work really well as a base for burrito bowls. Try piling on Carnitas or Beef Barbacoa along with salsa, guacamole, cheese, lettuce, and anything else you love on burrito bowls.
Also if you roast these cut in halves, (directions are in the recipe) they’re really good served with a pat of butter, sea salt, and pepper just like the classic baked potato.
And finally, if you’re dairy free, try my Vegan Queso as a topping to the Mexican taco or burrito bowls described above with these sweet potatoes, so good!

FAQ’s

Do you need to boil sweet potatoes before roasting them?

No there’s no need to boil them first, just like regular potatoes you can roast them in the oven starting with raw cubed-up potato. There’s no need to par-boil sweet potatoes, the oven will caramelize them perfectly without the extra step.

What temperature is best to bake or roast sweet potatoes?

For cubed sweet potatoes, 450ºF will give you golden browned cubes. But to bake sweet potatoes whole you want to lower the temperature to 425ºF. You can find all my tips with my recipe for whole-roasted sweet potatoes.

Why are my roasted sweet potatoes soggy?

Overcrowding the baking sheet and not roasting at a high temperature will lead to soggy sweet potatoes. Also, sweet potatoes won’t get crispy like regular potatoes. But by roasting at a high temperature you will get lovely browned sweet potato cubes as pictured in this recipe.

Storing leftovers

To store – place any leftovers into a sealed container and store them in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Make ahead – these reheat well so you can make them ahead. Remember that if you make them ahead, the leftovers won’t keep as long.
Reheating – place the leftovers in an oven-proof dish and reheat at 350ºF until heated. Or for small amounts, you can heat them over low heat in a small covered skillet on the stovetop. You can also microwave these until heated through.
To freeze – cooked sweet potatoes freeze really well in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Straight down view of Roasted Sweet Potatoes on a baking sheet.

Tips & Tricks

Roast sweet potatoes cubed as pictured for the fastest cooking time. Or cut them in halves and use them as a base for taco bowls in place of the standard taco shells. They’re also perfect in place of rice (or in addition to rice) in a burrito bowl.
Roasting the sweet potatoes as halves takes a little longer but it makes a nice change. You can also follow my recipe for Baked Sweet Potatoes for how to make them whole. This is perfect if you want to stuff them with your favorite toppings.

Dietary Options & Substitutions

Dairy-free – Roast the sweet potatoes with olive oil or dairy-free butter.
Paleo – use olive oil or ghee.
Vegan or Vegetarian – use olive oil or vegan butter.

Straight down view of Roasted Sweet Potatoes on a baking sheet turned sideways.

More Side Dish Recipe Inspiration

I really hope you enjoy these Roasted Sweet Potatoes! If you do get a chance to make this recipe, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.