Sweet potato with bacon and maple syrup

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While sweet potato side dish recipes are most common in fall, these maple bacon sweet potatoes with bits of salty bacon are worth a second glance year-round. 

Using freshly roasted chunks of sweet potatoes that are skillet bound and glazed in maple syrup, these soft, tender potatoes are more savory than overly sweet

Sweet potato with bacon and maple syrup

Why you will love making this Sweet Potato Recipe

Simple Side Dish – Some of the most delicious recipes are simple. After the veggies are cooked, the syrup mixture does the rest in pulling maple-roasted sweet potatoes together. Easy ingredients for a simple sweet potato dish

Holiday Meal or Weeknight Dinner – This perfect side dish recipe is standard for a holiday meal but just as good during the week. Quite kid-friendly,  the sweet caramelized onions and tender sweet potatoes are sure to become one of your favorite side dishes.

Ingredients

  • sweet potatoes – When cutting anything for recipes, cut potatoes as close to the same size as possible to ensure even baking. 
  • Vegetable oil
  • Seasonings – salt, ground black pepper, and dry thyme.
  • Raw Bacon cut into 1″ pieces.
  • Thinly sliced onions
  • Pure maple syrup

Variation Tip

Try roasting and adding baby carrots to the real maple syrup glaze too!

Sweet potato with bacon and maple syrup

How to make Maple Sweet Potatoes

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Set aside. Peel and cut sweet potato into 1/2 inch-sized pieces. 
  2. Mix sweet potato cubes and oil in a bowl.
  3. Spread sweet potatoes, in a single layer, on the baking sheet. Season generously with kosher salt and black pepper. 
  4. Roast for 20 minutes. Flip potatoes and roast for an additional 20 minutes. Potatoes will be slightly golden brown on one side. 
  5. Remove from oven and loosen potatoes from foil if necessary. 
Sweet potato with bacon and maple syrup
  1. Add bacon to a skillet and heat over medium heat until browned.
  2. Add onions and cook on low for 10-15 minutes or until soft.
  3. Add maple syrup and heat on medium heat until boiling.
  4. Boil for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mixture will foam and bubble.
Sweet potato with bacon and maple syrup
  1. Add cooked potatoes to glaze and mix well.
  2. Serve topped with fresh or dry thyme.
Sweet potato with bacon and maple syrup

Expert Tips

The roasting time of the sweet potatoes may change depending on how you cube the potatoes. Check around 30 minutes for fork-tender, but it may take up to 40 minutes. 

Variations in spices are easy with this yam dish. Try adding a dash of cinnamon or changing out the thyme for rosemary

Crushed walnuts or crushed pecans can offer a bit of texture. Just skillet toast nuts for 2-3 minutes and leave them out to pass around the holiday table.

Sweet potato with bacon and maple syrup

While marshmallows are pretty common to smother the simple taste of the sweet potato, the pure maple syrup will step up to the job giving it just the right amount of sweetness.

However, we won’t judge if you toss a few mini marshmallows on top or melt some in the skillet at the end. 

Try this dish with honey over maple

Nothing is more manageable than a crock pot sweet potato casserole recipe for the holidays. 

Everyone loves regular mashed potatoes but mix it up with this recipe for stovetop mashed sweet potatoes. Yum!

Not all sweet potatoes must be covered in sweetness! Try savory diced sweet potatoes baked in the oven.

Traditional brown sugar sweet potatoes recipe stovetop keeps the oven clear for other holiday recipes.

Use the Pressure Cooker to make sweet potatoes in no time at all!

Move over apple pie, sweet potato pie wants its holiday mention!

Lastly, while not a potato, try the recipe for maple bacon brussels sprouts too!

Sweet potato with bacon and maple syrup

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Sweet potato with bacon and maple syrup

Maple Bacon Sweet Potatoes (Roasted & Glazed)

Prep Time 40 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Maple Bacon Sweet Potatoes – fresh roasted sweet potatoes combined with maple syrup glaze and smothered in bacon and onions. A great holiday (or every day!) side dish recipe.

  • Baking Sheet

  • Skillet

  • 3 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
  • 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • 5 slices bacon cut into 1" pieces, left raw
  • 1 onion thinly sliced
  • 1 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp. dry thyme

  • Preheat the oven to 425 and line a baking sheet with foil. Set aside. 

  • Mix diced sweet potatoes and vegetable oil together in a bowl.

  • Spread sweet potatoes, in a single layer, on the baking sheet.

  • Season generously with salt and pepper. Roast potatoes for 20 minutes.

  • Flip sweet potatoes and roast for an additional 20 minutes. Remove from oven and loosen potatoes from foil if necessary. Set the sheet pan aside.

  • Add raw bacon to a skillet and heat over medium heat until pieces are browned.

  • Add sliced onions and cook on low for 10-15 minutes or until onions are soft.

  • Add pure maple syrup and heat on medium heat until boiling.

  • Boil for 3-4 minutes stirring occasionally.

  • The mixture will foam and bubble.

  • Add roasted sweet potatoes to glaze and mix well, covering all potatoes.

  • Serve dish topped with dry thyme. 

Try this dish with roasted baby carrots. 

Serving: 1gCalories: 424kcalCarbohydrates: 84gProtein: 6gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 570mgPotassium: 951mgFiber: 7gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 32184IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 133mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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What flavors work well with sweet potato?

What Goes Well With Sweet Potatoes?.
Herbs & Spices: chili pepper, cilantro, cinnamon, coconut, garlic, ginger, nutmeg, rosemary, thyme, allspice, cinnamon, and clove..
Produce: lime, onions, carrot, salt, thyme, walnuts, oranges, pineapple, apples, and potato..

What toppings are good on sweet potatoes?

TOPPING OPTIONS:.
Brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and salt..
Maple syrup, butter and toasted pecans..
Sour cream, chives, salt and pepper..
Blue cheese, walnuts and honey..
Mini marshmallows, brown sugar and cinnamon (pop it under the broiler to toast the marshmallows a bit).
Beef, Turkey or Veggie Chili..
Sloppy Joe meat..

How do you make sweet potato for breakfast?

How To Make A Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash.
Cook the bacon in a large pan over medium heat. ... .
Saute the onion and red bell pepper for about one minute to soften..
Add the sweet potatoes and spices to the pan and cook for 10-12 minutes. ... .
Add the bacon and kale to the pan and stir until the kale has just wilted..

How can I spice up sweet potatoes?

While sweet potatoes taste delicious with just a sprinkle of salt and pepper, a little extra seasoning really elevates the flavor. If you're looking to add a warming, savory vibe to this recipe try roasting with a blend of cumin, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper.