Learn How to Make the Base Recipe
This is a variation of our roasted diced sweet potato base recipe. If you don’t have the time to roast whole potatoes, dicing them speeds up the cooking time and develops even more of that delicious caramelized flavor. These sweet and spicy sweet potatoes are extra yummy with spiciness from chili powder, smokiness from paprika, and sweetness from cinnamon. They make a delicious side for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Must-Know Skills
To make this recipe even easier, check out these videos to learn how to:
Learn how to slice and dice like a pro in our Knife Skills 101 course!
Culinary Tips for Delicious Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potatoes
We use weight instead of volume for sweet potatoes because sizes can be highly variable. Weigh at the store or use a simple kitchen scale. It’s okay if you have slightly more or less than 1 pound.
For best results when roasting, use our memorable acronym: ROAST WELL.
Right Temp
Set your oven to a high cooking temperature to achieve optimal caramelization. In general, anywhere between 400ºF and 500ºF is considered a roasting temperature.
Oil Generously
Don’t be scared of oil! Healthy oils add nutrition, satiety, and great flavor to roasted vegetables. Make sure every piece is thoroughly coated with oil; it’s better to use a little too much than not enough. Use oils with high smoke points, such as canola or avocado oil.
Alike Items
If you want to roast an assortment of vegetables at the same time, select ones that are similar and will cook in the same amount of time.
Skip Pan Liners
For best caramelization and browning, place the oil-coated vegetables directly onto the pan. Although parchment paper, silicone mats, and foil make clean-up easier (we get it!), your vegetables won’t be quite as crisp and delicious.
Traditional Sheet Pan
When roasting, be sure to use a traditional sheet pan, with no more than a 1-inch rim along the sides. Deeper dishes cause vegetables to steam rather than roast – not optimal when trying to make crispy veggies! A metal pan also ensures browning.
Wash and Dry
You should always wash fresh produce before eating or cooking, but another important step when roasting is to make sure your vegetables are dry. Water generates steam, and again, we want to avoid steam to ensure the vegetables turn brown and crispy.
Even Cuts
It is important to make your pieces approximately the same size to ensure even cooking. Small pieces cook faster than large pieces. Check out our online Knife Skills class to improve your speed and efficiency in the kitchen!
Leave Space
Spread the vegetables out on a sheet pan and leave plenty of space around each piece. If you overcrowd the pan, the vegetables will steam. Are you noticing a trend here? Steam is the enemy when trying to create crisp, roasted veggies!
When in doubt, use two pans. Yes, that might mean cleaning more dishes to clean, but we promise it will be worth it!
Let them Cook!
Cooking requires patience. While it can be tempting to pull the vegetables from the oven once they are soft, make sure that they get that nice, brown exterior. For longer cooking vegetables, such as potatoes, you can stir them halfway through the cook time to brown on all sides, but it’s not totally necessary.
To learn more about how to roast vegetables, check out this article!
Ingredient Substitutions
- Sweet Potatoes: use any variety: orange, white, or even purple!
- Canola or Avocado Oil: substitute a lower-quality extra virgin olive oil.
- Chili Powder: use any variety! If you are watching your sodium levels, look for a version with no added salt.
- Smoked Paprika: substitute regular paprika, sweet, or hot. They will all work, but will provide slightly different flavors.
- Cinnamon: substitute with pumpkin or apple pie spice.
- Cayenne Pepper: substitute red pepper flakes.
We like to buy our spices from the Spice House. They have great quality, variety, and flavor!
Recipe Variations
You can vary this recipe by changing up the spices. Add more, take away, or fully sub. Make it your own!
As always, use our base recipe as a guide, then adjust to YOUR taste!
Equipment Recommendations
For recipe success, use the following pieces of equipment:
Check out our essential equipment guide to stock your kitchen with ALL the tools you need to prepare anything and everything!
Health Benefits of Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potatoes
Americans love potatoes, but white is the more popular variety. Why not mix it up with nutritious and delicious sweet potatoes? Eating a variety of natural colors, like orange from sweet potatoes, is best for overall health. This recipe features sweet potatoes, healthy cooking oil, and spices.
Sweet Potatoes
The sweet potato is a root vegetable in the morning glory family. Sweet potatoes are a great source of important nutrients, such as beta carotene and anthocyanins which are naturally occurring phytonutrients. These phytonutrients help prevent diseases.
Canola Oil
Canola oil contains heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and omega 3 fatty acids. It also has a high smoke point, making it ideal for high-heat cooking methods, such as roasting.
Spices
Using spices decreases the need for salt, which may help reduce hypertension risk and therefore promote heart health. Additionally, spices contain powerful antioxidants which may help reduce inflammation in the body.
Learn more about the health benefits of spices in this article, and check out our ingredient guide to help you purchase the best ingredients!
How to Serve Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potatoes
These roasted sweet potatoes make a delicious side at almost any meal! Pair with our beef and bean burgers base recipe and a green salad for a balanced plate.
Learn how to build a healthy balanced meal with our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book!
Storage Tips
Allow sweet potatoes to cool, then store in an airtight container. Leftovers will last for up to 1 week in the refrigerator, but they will definitely lose some crispness as they sit! Reheat in the oven for the best texture.
Want more roasted vegetable recipes?
Try out these flavorful favorites!
Roasted Russet Potatoes Base Recipe
Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 lb sweet potatoes (~4 cups diced)
- 1 ½ Tablespoons canola or avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- Dash cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425ºF.
- Clean and scrub sweet potatoes well. Do not peel. Dice into ½-¾" cubes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oil, chili powder, cinnamon, paprika, salt, pepper, and a dash of cayenne pepper. Add diced sweet potatoes. Using a spatula, toss to evenly coat.
- Spread sweet potatoes on a baking sheet in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Roast 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are browned, crisp, and easily pierced with a fork. Enjoy!
Nutrition
FAQ Questions:
What should I serve with sweet and spicy sweet potatoes?
These roasted sweet potatoes pair well with burgers, grilled chicken, fish, eggs, grain bowls, salads, and other roasted vegetables. They work as a side dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Can I use frozen sweet potatoes?
Yes. Frozen diced sweet potatoes can be used, but they may not become quite as crispy as fresh sweet potatoes. Roast them directly from frozen and add a few extra minutes to the cooking time if needed.
How long do leftovers last?
Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For the best texture, reheat them in the oven instead of the microwave.
Can I adjust the sweetness and spice level?
Absolutely. Increase the cinnamon for a sweeter flavor profile or add more cayenne pepper for extra heat. You can easily customize the seasoning blend to match your taste preferences.
