Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Apples

Name: Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Apples
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 cups sweet potatoes (about 2 medium sweet potatoes); 2 cups apples (about 2 medium apples); 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided; 3 tablespoons maple syrup, divided; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional); ½ cup chopped pecans

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Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples make for an easy and healthy fall side dish or the perfect addition to a holiday meal.

Sweet Potatoes with Apples and Pecans in a white bowl on a blue striped napkin with two silver forks and cinnamon sticks next to bowl.

Let’s be honest, you don’t go into Thanksgiving dinner looking forward to the turkey. You’re there for the delicious sides and over-the-top scrumptious pies!

If you’re hosting this year or are in charge of a Thanksgiving side dish, I’ve got an easy and healthy one for you – roasted sweet potatoes with apples and pecans. Move over basic sweet potato recipe, I've got a perfect fall side dish with tart apples and sweet potatoes that will elevate your holiday menu or your dinner table the next time you need a healthy side dish.

Made with simple and affordable ingredients, this perfect side dish will be on repeat all fall long. It’s prepared with a handful of pantry ingredients and is ready in about 40 minutes. Plus, this recipe is gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian to fit all the dietary needs in your life!

Roasting is my favorite way to cook vegetables these days. Because roasting a vegetable, makes it tastes lightly crisp and caramelized on the outside and tender on the inside. Also, the oven brings out the vegetables’ natural sweetness and is much healthier than frying. Plus, who wants to babysit sautéed veggies on the stovetop, only to have them turn out soggy? Not this gal! I want my family dinners to be made up of easy recipes!

So, it’s no surprise that’s the method we’re using for this easy and flavorful sweet potato apple bake recipe. With only a few basic ingredients, you've got a knock-out seasonal dish perfect for the holidays or your weeknight meal! Pair this tasty side with protein, such as baked chicken thighs or pork chops, and you’ve got an easy and pleasing fall meal! This recipe will show you that eating healthy and home-cooked food doesn’t have to be complicated. Even the kids won’t be able to resist this baked sweet potatoes and apple dish when they smell it roasting in the oven!

Why You Should Make This Recipe

Easy prep, and it all comes together with a vegetable peeler, cutting board and knife, a large bowl and a baking sheet.
Healthy and filling side dish that is versatile for weeknight meals to impressive holiday dinners.
The sweetness of the potatoes and the tartness of the apples provide a perfect balance and flavor profile that your whole family will love!

Ingredients Needed & Substitutions

With only a few fresh ingredients, you’ve got a delicious standout seasonal dish perfect for the holidays or your weeknight meal!

Simple Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples ingredients: sweet potatoes, apples, pecans, olive oil, maple syurp, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon.

Sweet potatoes – jewel or garnet sweet potato varieties are recommended. Look for sweet potatoes that have orange skin and orange flesh.
Apples – I prefer Granny Smith apples to provide a little tartness and balance out the sweet of the potato. Any kind of apples would work.
Extra virgin olive oil – I like using a high quality EVOO for this recipe. You could substitute with coconut oil or avocado oil.
Pure maple syrup – is used as a sweetener. You could omit or use honey.
Kosher salt – you can use sea salt.
Ground cinnamon
Brown sugar (optional) – again, used as a sweetener. You could omit it completely if you want no added sugar.
Pecans – substitute with walnuts or sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.

See the printable recipe card below for quantities.

How to Make Sweet Potato & Apple Casserole (Quick & Easy)

Heat the oven and line a sheet tray with parchment paper or foil.

Peel sweet potatoes and apple skins with a vegetable peeler, and cube into 1" pieces.

Place cubed sweet potatoes in a large bowl, toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and maple syrup and sprinkle with kosher salt, cinnamon and brown sugar. Mix well.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the sweet potatoes evenly in a single layer. Be careful not to crowd the pan and roast for 20 minutes.

While the sweet potatoes are baking, add the remaining olive oil and maple syrup into the bowl, toss cubed apples into the mixture, and stir to combine. After 20 minutes, remove the baking pan from the oven, flip the sweet potatoes, and add the apple mixture.

Roast for an additional 20 minutes or so until the sweet potatoes and apples have browned.

Remove the pan from the oven and place the ingredients into a serving bowl. Top with chopped pecans and serve immediately.

Find the printable recipe card below with exact instructions.

Sweet Potatoes with Apples and Pecans in a white bowl on a blue striped napkin with two silver forks next to bowl.

Recommended Equipment & Tools

Not only does this Cinnamon Sweet Potato Apple Bake recipe call for simple, basic ingredients, but it also uses staple kitchen equipment. Here are my favorites:

Storage

This recipe is best served right after it’s made. Leftovers can be stored for 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure to cool completely before refrigerating.

If you plan to make these ahead of time, place ingredients on a baking sheet and roast for about 5-10 minutes at 400°F, or in the air fryer at 400°F for about 4 minutes to reheat. Microwaving will cause the vegetables to be soggy...but still tasty!

I don’t recommend freezing this dish.

Tips for Recipe Success

Make sure not to overcrowd the vegetables on the baking sheet. Consequently, overcrowded vegetables will steam instead of roast, and you will lose the glorious roasted caramelized flavor and crispy texture.
Additionally, chop the vegetables so that they are about the same size. This helps them roast evenly.
For easy clean up, line the baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

Close up of Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples and pecans.

Which type of sweet potatoes should I use?

I recommend sweet potatoes with an orange skin and flesh, like the jewel or garnet sweet potato varieties found in the produce section of your grocery store.

Which type of apple variety should I use?

The best apples for baking are ones that are firm enough to hold up to the baking process. I like using Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Jonagold or Pink Lady.

Should I peel the sweet potato skins and apples before chopping and roasting?

For this recipe, I did peel the sweet potatoes and apples because I have a little girl who won't eat the sweet potatoes with the skin on. However, you could leave the skin on and save you some time if that's to your liking.

Can I make these Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples with Pecans ahead of time?

This recipe is best served right after it’s made so you can enjoy the glorious roasted caramelized flavor and crispy texture.

However, if you plan to make these ahead of time, allow vegetables to cool completely prior to storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you are ready to serve, place roasted vegetables on a baking sheet and roast for about 5-10 minutes at 400°F, or in the air fryer at 400°F for about 4 minutes.

Microwaving will cause the vegetables to be soggy...but still tasty!

What is the Best Temperature for Roasting Vegetables?

The perfect temperature to roast most vegetables is 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps the veggies taste lightly crisp and caramelized on the outside and tender on the inside. The oven brings out the vegetable’s natural sweetness. Of course, oven cooking temperature will vary on type and size of vegetable, but 400 degrees Fahrenheit usually does the trick! I have found that most root vegetables roast perfectly at this temperature.

If you give this delicious Cinnamon Sweet Potato Apple Bake recipe a try, please leave a comment below, rate the recipe, and don’t forget to tag me @homesweetfarmhome on Instagram and use the hashtag #homesweetfarmhome. I’d love to see what you come up with and share with our community. Cheers!