If you enjoy a combination of sweet and spicy, you will love this tasty side dish. I’ve been making my sweet potatoes like this for about 10 years and they are still a favorite! Even those that don’t really like things spicy appreciate them this way. The brown sugar really balances out the chili powder and cayenne pepper, while the roasting melds the flavors together to bring happiness to your mouth!
If my memory serves me right, I believe I found this recipe many years ago from a Taste of Home magazine that I had at the time. I changed it slightly and copied it into my recipe booklet. It was definitely a keeper and one I use at most holidays. It’s so easy and you’ll find it’s a go-to side dish for you as well…
{Recipe follows photos}
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Start by peeling 3 large sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 1/2 lbs.) Cut them in half lengthwise and place flat side down on your cutting board.
Now slice each half into 4 or 5 pieces.
Cut slices into cubes/chunks.
Throw all the chunks into a large resealable bag and add 4 tablespoons of olive oil (or canola oil). Seal bag and shake to coat the potatoes well. Add in the brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper. With bag sealed well, toss to coat the potatoes so the spices are distributed evenly.
Transfer potatoes to a baking dish and bake, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes or until tender. You will need to stir them up every 15 minutes, so they bake evenly. Serve and enjoy! (They are really yummy heated up the next day as well!)
Spicy Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients:
3 large sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 1/2 lbs.)
4 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I use 1/2 tsp., but you might want to try it first with 1/4 tsp. depending on your taste)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel and cut potatoes into chunks about 1 inch. Put into a large resealable bag and add oil. Shake to coat evenly. Add the brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper and shake the bag to coat potatoes evenly. Transfer to a baking dish and bake in oven for 40-45 minutes or until potatoes are tender, stirring them every 15 minutes so they cook evenly.
Enjoy…
~Micha
Zim on a Whim 
I make these often! So good!
And so easy! 🙂
Oh, sweet potatoes!!!! I like your balance of sweet + spicy — how do your kids like them? Mine like their sweet potatoes cubed and roasted with butter and cinnamon sprinkled on top, but I think the kick of the chili powder would be a great twist for their taste buds.
My son loves them, and my daughter will eat them (she prefers just regular potatoes) but if you’re going to use the cayenne pepper, I’d just use 1/4 tsp. for the kids. (Or I guess you could omit it and just try it first with just the chili powder?)
I’m going to have to try this my next day off!!! YUMMY!
Let me know what you think!
Love sweet potatoes and the spicy approach sounds yummy!!
Sweet with a kick. 🙂
These look so delicious!
Thanks – hope you get a chance to make them!
You need to put more sweet potatoes in your diet-great way to do do this.
For sure!
I make these all the time and they are delicious! Here I thought I was the only one with an affinity for spicy sweet taters! Great minds, yes? 🙂
Yes! I love things that are sweet and spicy or sweet and salty…must be because I can never decide what I want! haha
my mom found this and I made it on Thanksgiving. sooooo good! I’m making it again today for a football party. thank you for sharing this!
I’m glad you liked them! And thanks for coming back to let me know!