Simple, sweet and salty side dish that’s perfect for any dinner gathering. These roasted sweet potatoes are baked with maple syrup and bacon grease and then mixed with crispy bacon.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Let me tell you, preparing food with a new baby is not easy! When I was a first-time new mom and busy with my little man, my mom came over every weekend to bring me food and clean. This time, even though I am a little more experienced at being a mom, she still comes over often to help me clean and still insists of bringing me food.
I may have a pretty well stocked freezer with prepared food (and extra meatballs), but my mom still tries to bring me food. Last time she came over with a HUGE sack of sweet potatoes. Since my husband and my little guy love sweet potatoes, I guess she thought we could use extra.
The only time I ever got that much sweet potatoes was in preparation for Thanksgiving. So, since I had that much sweet potatoes to use, I made a couple of Thanksgiving recipes to try out. First, I made these simple maple bacon roasted sweet potatoes. (Yes, you heard BACON.) Next, I made a delicious sweet potato pie that I will share with you later.
This is a very simple side dish of roasted sweet potatoes but the flavor is fantastic. This dish is sweet and salty with a little kick from the fresh cracked peppercorns. The sweetness from potatoes combined with salty bacon and zesty peppercorns is a party in your mouth. Best part is this side dish will go with just about any other side dish and protein for the holiday dinner.
How To Make Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Bacon In The Oven:
Preheat the oven to 400° and line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, covering it entirely and up the sides. Lay bacon slices side by side in one even layer. Bake for 13-20 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of bacon, until fully cooked.
Take out bacon slices onto a paper towel. SAVE bacon grease after cooking bacon in a separate bowl.
Sweet Potatoes:
Set oven temperature to 425°.
Peel sweet potatoes and cut them into 1/2 inch cubes. Place cut potatoes into a large mixing bowl and add maple syrup, bacon grease that you saved, salt, and fresh cracked black pepper.
Mix potatoes very well and spread it onto the same baking sheet where you just made bacon. (Or, you can choose to use a separate baking sheet.) Spread it in an even one even layer.
Bake for 35-45 minutes (depending on how thick you cut the potatoes). Take out of the oven and place potatoes into a serving bowl. Dice cooked bacon and mix it in with roasted sweet potatoes.
More Side Dish Recipes To Try:
Bacon and Herb Mashed Potatoes
Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Sauteed Green Beans and Tomatoes
If you made any of my recipes and shared them on Instagram, make sure to tag me @willcookforsmiles and #willcookforsmiles so I can see all the things you tried!
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Maple Bacon Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 lbs sweet potatoes
- 8-10 slices raw bacon
- Bacon grease from cooking bacon
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Bacon:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F degrees and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Lay bacon slices side by side in one layer.
- Bake for 13-20 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of bacon, until fully cooked.
- Take out bacon slices onto a paper towel. SAVE the bacon grease.
- Potatoes:
- Set the oven temperature at 425°F.
- Peel sweet potatoes and cut them into 1/2 inch cubes. Place cut potatoes into a large mixing bowl.
- Add maple syrup, bacon grease that you saved, salt, and fresh cracked black peppercorns.
- Mix potatoes very well and spread it onto the same baking sheet where you just made bacon. (You can choose to use a separate baking sheet.)
- Bake for 35-45 minutes (depending on how thick you cut the potatoes).
- Take out of the oven and place potatoes into a serving bowl.
- Dice cooked bacon and mix it in with roasted sweet potatoes.
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