Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Brown Butter Pecans

The short answer: These cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes caramelize in a hot oven with real butter, a spoonful of maple, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange zest. They give you that candied yam feeling with a fraction of the added sugar, plus toasted pecans for crunch.

Candied yams are the dish everybody fights over at the holiday table. You love them, but you also know how much sugar is in that syrup. This version keeps the warm spice and sticky edges, so nobody feels like they’re missing out.

It’s one of the meals from our guide to is soul food healthy, and it’s built the Clean Fit Fab way: real food, big flavor, and no seed oils.

Why these cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes belong on your table

• Roasting does the candying. High heat pulls out the natural sugars in sweet potatoes.
• One spoon of maple goes a long way. So you still get that glossy, sweet finish.
• Warm spices make it taste sweeter. Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger fill in the gap.
• It works any night. It’s easy enough for a weeknight and pretty enough for a holiday.

Sweet potatoes bring fiber and vitamin A to the plate. The Harvard Nutrition Source has more on filling half your plate with colorful vegetables.

The flavor: what makes it taste so good

The flavor comes from contrast. Warm spice and butter, a little sweet from the maple, a little bright from orange zest, and a tiny pinch of cayenne that you’ll never notice but would miss.

• Ground cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger
• Real butter and a spoonful of pure maple syrup
• Fresh orange zest for brightness
• A pinch of cayenne and flaky sea salt for balance

What you need

Here’s a quick look at the ingredients. Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.

• Sweet potatoes: sweet potatoes, butter, pure maple syrup, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, cayenne pepper, sea salt
• Topping: pecans, butter, orange, flaky sea salt

Also, a note on fat: we cook with extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, butter or ghee. They taste better, and they’re real food.

How to make cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes

First, cut the sweet potatoes into chunks and toss them with melted butter, maple and spices. Next, roast them in a hot oven until the edges caramelize. Then toast the pecans in butter and scatter them over the top. The full recipe card is below.

Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes roasted with butter, a touch of maple, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange zest, topped with toasted pecans.

45minutes

4gprotein

270calories

4servings

Servings

1x2x3x

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Ingredients Uncheck all

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Sweet potatoes

• 2 lbs sweet potatoes about 3 medium, scrubbed and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2 tbsp butter melted
• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Topping

• 1/3 cup pecans roughly chopped
• 1 tsp butter
• 1 orange zested
• 1 pinch flaky sea salt

Instructions

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1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees and line a large sheet pan.
2. Toss the sweet potatoes with the melted butter, maple, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cayenne and salt.
3. Spread them in a single layer and roast for 30 to 35 minutes, flipping once, until tender with caramelized edges.
   Start 35 min timer
4. Meanwhile, toast the pecans in the butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat for 3 to 4 minutes until fragrant.
   Start 4 min timer
5. Scatter the pecans and orange zest over the sweet potatoes and finish with flaky salt.

Calories 270 Protein 4g Carbohydrates 42g Fat 11g Fiber 6g per serving, estimated

Serving ideas

Serve them next to oven fried chicken or Cajun baked catfish, with smoky collard greens on the side. They’re also great cold the next day with a scoop of Greek yogurt.

Nutrition at a glance: each serving has about 270 calories, 4g protein, 42g carbs and 6g fiber. Numbers are estimates and change with your exact ingredients.

Swaps and variations

• Use honey instead of maple syrup.
• Swap the pecans for toasted walnuts or pumpkin seeds.
• Use ghee or coconut oil instead of butter.
• Add a sprig of fresh thyme for a savory twist.

Make-ahead and storage tips

Store cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes in the fridge for up to 4 days. Keep the pecans in a separate jar so they stay crunchy, and reheat the potatoes in the oven or air fryer.

Frequently asked questions

Save this one for your next long day. Want more? Try our Cajun baked catfish next.

Reviewed for accuracy by a Licensed Practical Nurse with 17 years of clinical experience. This article is for general information and is not medical or nutrition advice.