Description
Enjoy a delicious and festive side dish with these Thanksgiving Pecan Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes. Sweet potatoes are sliced, seasoned with warm spices, baked to tender perfection, and topped with a luscious maple syrup and pecan mixture for a caramelized finish that’s perfect for any holiday table.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potato Preparation
- 2 large Sweet Potatoes
Seasoning and Baking
- ⅓ cup Melted Unsalted Butter
- 1.5 teaspoon Cinnamon (divided: 1 tsp for potatoes, 0.5 tsp for topping)
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
Topping
- ⅓ cup Maple syrup + 2 tablespoons (total ⅓ cup + 2 tbsp)
- ⅓ cup Chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon Thyme
Instructions
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Clean and cut sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch thick rounds. You may keep the skin on or peel them based on preference.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 380°F (200°C) to get it ready for roasting.
- Season Potatoes: In a bowl or a ziplock bag, combine the sweet potato slices with melted butter, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, salt, paprika, and pepper. Mix thoroughly with a spatula or shake if using a bag to ensure all slices are evenly coated.
- Arrange on Baking Tray: Place the slices in a single layer on a baking tray, leaving a little space between each to allow for proper roasting and prevent steaming.
- First Bake: Bake the sweet potatoes for 20-25 minutes at 380°F (200°C), checking for tenderness and firmness. Baking time may vary slightly depending on slice thickness.
- Prepare Topping Mixture: While the potatoes bake, mix maple syrup, chopped pecans, the remaining 0.5 teaspoon cinnamon, and thyme in a small bowl.
- Add Topping and Final Bake: Remove the tray from the oven, spoon about 1 teaspoon of the maple pecan mixture onto each sweet potato slice evenly. Place the tray back into the oven and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes until the edges caramelize.
- Serve: Serve warm, either on its own or garnished with crumbled feta cheese if desired.
Notes
- For best caramelization, avoid overcrowding the baking tray. Proper spacing helps the sweet potatoes brown instead of steam.
- Slicing thickness affects baking time; adjust accordingly to achieve tenderness without overcooking.
- You can keep or peel the sweet potato skins based on your texture preference.
- Feta cheese makes a great savory garnish to contrast the sweetness.
- Use pure maple syrup for the best flavor profile.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
