Maple Bacon Sweet Potatoes

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. 

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

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. 

6. Add bacon to a skillet and heat over medium heat until browned.
7. Add onions and cook on low for 10-15 minutes or until soft.
8. Add maple syrup and heat on medium heat until boiling.
9. Boil for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mixture will foam and bubble.

6. Add cooked potatoes to glaze and mix well.
7. Serve topped with fresh or dry thyme.

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.

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. 

Related Sweet Potato Side Dishes

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!