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Cozy Bacon Brown Sugar Roasted Sweet Potatoes – Easy Side Dish

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These roasted sweet potatoes are the side dish that steals the show. They are sticky, salty, sweet, and utterly addictive, with crispy bacon bits against tender, caramelized sweet potatoes coated in a buttery brown sugar glaze.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 4 medium sweet potatoes)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped into ½-inch pieces
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • ⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves (or chopped fresh parsley)
  • Flaky sea salt (like Maldon), for finishing

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the cubed sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss well until every piece is coated. Spread them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
  3. Roast the sweet potatoes for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the sheet, flip the potatoes with a spatula, and roast for another 10 minutes until tender and starting to brown.
  4. While the potatoes are roasting, place the chopped bacon in a cold skillet. Turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the skillet.
  5. Reduce the heat to low and add the butter to the skillet with the reserved bacon fat. Once the butter melts, stir in the dark brown sugar, cinnamon, smoked paprika, cayenne (if using), and maple syrup. Whisk continuously until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth and bubbly, about 2 minutes.
  6. Remove the roasted sweet potatoes from the oven and transfer them to a large bowl. Pour the warm bacon brown sugar glaze over the top. Add the crispy bacon bits. Gently toss everything together until the potatoes are evenly coated.
  7. Return the glazed sweet potatoes to the baking sheet, spreading them back into a single layer. Roast for another 5-7 minutes, until the glaze is bubbling and caramelized.
  8. Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves and a pinch of flaky sea salt. Serve hot or warm.

Notes

Don’t skip the par-roast—roasting the sweet potatoes before adding the glaze is crucial to prevent burning. Cut the bacon while it’s cold for easier chopping. Watch the glaze closely as sugar burns fast. Use a metal spatula for flipping the potatoes. Can be made ahead: roast sweet potatoes and cook bacon up to 2 days in advance, store separately, then make glaze and finish when ready.

Nutrition

Keywords: roasted sweet potatoes, bacon brown sugar sweet potatoes, holiday side dish, easy sweet potato recipe, caramelized sweet potatoes

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/cozy-bacon-brown-sugar-roasted-sweet-potatoes-easy-side-dish/