Caramelized Sweet Potatoes

5 from 2 votes

Caramelized Sweet Potatoes are roasted sweet potatoes coated with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until deeply caramelized on the bottom. They’re ideal for holiday dinners, comfort food sides, and fall-inspired meals. The cut sides roast against a hot pan to create a rich caramelized texture while the centers stay soft and tender.

Prep Time10

Cook Time25

Resting Time15

Total Time50

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 351kcal

Author: Jami Powell

Equipment

Baking sheet
Small Mixing bowl
Brush for coating

Ingredients

4 medium sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter melted
¼ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Place a heavy-duty aluminum baking sheet in the oven to preheat. Wash the sweet potatoes and slice each one in half lengthwise.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt until fully combined.
Remove the hot pan from the oven and lightly grease it. Brush the cut sides of the sweet potatoes with the glaze, then place them cut side down, leaving space between each one.
Return the pan to the oven and roast for 20-25 minutes, without flipping. The cut sides should darken and caramelize as the sugars cook against the hot pan.
After roasting, remove the pan from the oven but don’t touch the sweet potatoes yet. Let them rest on the pan for 10–15 minutes to allow the caramelized sugars to firm up so they release cleanly. Gently lift with a metal spatula and drizzle any sticky glaze from the pan over the top.

Video

Notes

Cooking Notes

Preheating the baking sheet helps the cut sides caramelize quickly once the sweet potatoes hit the pan. Letting them rest after roasting allows the glaze to set so they release more cleanly.

Tips for Best Results:

Place the sweet potatoes cut side down for maximum caramelization.
Leave space between the potatoes so they roast instead of steam.
Avoid flipping the sweet potatoes during roasting.
Let them rest on the hot pan before removing with a spatula.

How to Know It’s Ready:

The bottoms should look deeply caramelized and the centers should feel tender when pierced.

Nutrition