Name: Maple Melting Sweet Potatoes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Ingredients: 5 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted and divided into 2 1/2 tablespoons + 2 1/2 tablespoons); 1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (peeled (if desired) and sliced horizontally into 1-inch thick slices); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 3 tablespoons maple syrup; 1 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth); 2 cinnamon sticks; 3 whole cloves

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Maple Melting Sweet Potatoes are soft inside and slightly caramelized outside with a savory, sweet and subtly spiced flavor, and a rich sauce to drizzle on top. It’s an easy side dish that’s perfect for fall or winter, and even special meals like Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner!

If you like sweet potatoes, but think the usual candied sweet potatoes that are either drowning in marshmallows or brown sugar (or both) taste a little more like dessert than a dinner side dish, these Melting Sweet Potatoes are for you!

First, these potatoes are caramelized in butter on both sides. After that, a savory/sweet mixture of rich chicken broth, maple syrup, and warm spices is added, which infuses the potatoes as they roast. They get so tender!

We use a touch of smoky, complex-flavored maple syrup to bring out the natural caramel-sweet notes in sweet potatoes, but this dish isn’t overly sweet. The earthy flavor of sweet potatoes really shines through.

The end result is melt-in-your-mouth sweet potato circles. They have a lovely crust outside thanks to caramelizing them in butter. And because we use both sweet and savory ingredients, their flavor is rich, complex, and well-balanced.

drizzling pan sauce on roasted sweet potato

And these Melting Sweet Potatoes have a deliciously decadent sauce built right in! As the chicken stock and maple cook with the buttery sweet potatoes, the liquid not only seeps into the potatoes, but it also evaporates, leaving a thick, rich sauce to drizzle on top.

This side dish is a great addition to any fall or winter meal, including Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner!

front view of melting sweet potatoes in serving bowl

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The flavor of sweet potato shines through. A lot of sweet potato side dishes add a ton of sweet ingredients, but here we just use a hint of maple syrup to enhance their natural flavor.
We use minimal ingredients. Because this recipe really is all about the star of the show!
This is a lovely side dish for just about any fall or winter meal.

Easy Homemade Melting Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Ingredients

Unsalted butter – this helps caramelize our sweet potatoes and adds richness
Sweet potatoes – the star of the show!
Salt and black pepper – to season our dish
Maple syrup – for a touch of smoky sweetness that pairs so well with sweet potatoes
Chicken broth – use a really good flavorful broth for the richest flavor; you could also use vegetable broth if you want to keep this dish vegetarian
Cinnamon sticks and whole cloves – these add a touch of warm spice

Step-by-Step Instructions

Slice the sweet potatoes. (You can peel them first if you want.)
To a cast-iron skillet or metal baking dish, add the sweet potatoes, 2 1/2 tablespoons melted butter, salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat the potatoes. Arrange them in a single layer.
Roast until the potatoes are starting to turn golden on the bottom, about 15 minutes. Flip the potatoes over and roast until they’re starting to turn golden on the second side, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix together the remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons melted butter, maple syrup, and chicken broth in a medium bowl. After you flip the potatoes, add the chicken broth mixture, the cinnamon sticks, and cloves. Roast until the liquid is mostly evaporated off and has formed a thick sauce, and the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes more.

How to Store and Reheat Melting Sweet Potatoes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Reheat in an oven-safe dish covered with foil at 400F until warm, about 15 minutes.

maple melting sweet potatoes in stoneware bowl on wooden cutting board

Do You Need to Peel Sweet Potatoes?

You can peel the sweet potatoes or not, it’s totally up to you. If potatoes are very large their skin can sometimes be thicker and tough. My potatoes were on the smaller side, so I left the peel on.

Cooks Tips

What Baking Dish Should I Use? Use a cast-iron skillet or metal baking dish. Do not use a glass dish at this temperature.
To Thicken the Sauce: If your sauce is on the thinner side once your potatoes are cooked, you can pour the sauce into a saucepan and heat it on the stovetop over medium-low heat until thickened, stirring frequently. This should only take a couple minutes.
If You Don’t Have Whole Cinnamon Sticks and Cloves: You can add 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1 pinch ground cloves.

More Sweet Potato Side Dishes to Make

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