Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple Pecan Sauce
These roasted sweet potatoes with maple pecan sauce are the ultimate sweet and savory side dish!
I’ve never been much of a sweet potato casserole gal. I usually skip right over it in favor of other dishes like mashed potatoes or stuffing.
But when I dreamed up this idea (which is loosely inspired by this Bon Appetit recipe) I knew I had stumbled upon my perfect solution— the flavors of classic sweet potato casserole without the casserole!
This side dish starts with roasted sweet potato halves that are slathered with a simple buttery maple syrup and pecan sauce during the last 5 minutes of baking. They’re sweet and savory, soft and crunchy, and so cozy and satisfying. What’s more, these sweet potatoes are easy to make and a lot lighter than a casserole!
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple Pecan Sauce
How to Roast Sweet Potatoes
Here’s the easiest way I’ve found to roast sweet potatoes:
- Scrub whole sweet potatoes well until skin is clean.
- Cut in half lengthwise.
- Place on a sheet pan lined with parchment.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Roast at 425°F for 25-30 minutes till fork tender.
Sweet potatoes roasted this way come out of the oven with crispy, caramelized edges and soft tender insides. They’re delicious served just like this! The skins are completely edible, but you can scoop out the flesh if that’s more your style.
Top with Maple Pecan Sauce
This simple sauce that’s prepared on the stove top and added for the last 5 minutes of baking takes these roasted sweet potatoes to a whole new level.
Here’s what goes into the sauce:
- Butter
- Real maple syrup
- Cinnamon
- Red pepper flakes (optional but recommended!)
This sauce is sweet and the perfect topping for the sweet potatoes. The small kick from the red pepper flakes is my secret ingredient! These sweet potatoes aren’t necessarily spicy, but they do have a nice mellow spiced flavor. Of course, you can dial the red pepper flakes up or down depending on your preferences.
The Ultimate Holiday Side Dish
The combination of sweet potatoes + maple syrup + pecans really screams Thanksgiving or Christmas, and for good reason! These roasted sweet potatoes with maple pecan sauce are perfect for your holiday table. If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional sweet potato casserole, this is it!
Other Side Dishes to Love
- Classic Herb Stuffing
- Brussels Sprouts and Mushroom Casserole
- The Best Mashed Potatoes
- Buttery Garlic Green Beans
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Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple Pecan Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 small sweet potatoes , halved (about 3 lbs total)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons real maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛-¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Arrange halved sweet potatoes on the prepared pan, cut side-up.
- Drizzle with olive oil and rub over the tops of the sweet potatoes so they're covered. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Roast sweet potatoes until tender, about 25-30 minutes.
- While sweet potatoes are cooking, prepare the sauce.
- Add butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes to a small saucepan set over medium heat. Cook for 1-2 minutes until smooth and combined. Stir in pecans.
- Spoon sauce over the roasted sweet potatoes and return to the oven for about 5 minutes until sauce is bubbly.
- Serve immediately, or let cool and store in the fridge until ready to serve. Rewarm in a 350°F oven covered in foil for 30 minutes.
Do you add the nuts to the saucepan or sprinkle them on later?
Oops! Add to the sauce and before spooning over the sweet potatoes.
this is a good recipe and easy to make