If you’ve never tried Melting Sweet Potatoes, get ready to meet your new favorite side dish! These irresistible rounds caramelize in the oven with buttery, garlicky flavors, then soak up a savory broth to become so tender they practically melt in your mouth. Whether you’re planning a holiday spread or just jazzing up a weeknight dinner, Melting Sweet Potatoes add a golden pop of color, deep flavor, and a luxuriously soft texture that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of Melting Sweet Potatoes lies in their simplicity. Each ingredient here plays a crucial role, creating an irresistible harmony of flavors and textures. Don’t be tempted to skip or substitute without a good reason; these basics will guarantee perfect results every single time!
- Sweet Potatoes: Choose firm, bright orange sweet potatoes for the best color and melting texture after roasting.
- Unsalted Butter: Melted butter is the key to rich, golden caramelization on the outer edges.
- Olive Oil: Adds a subtle fruitiness and prevents the butter from burning during roasting.
- Salt: Essential for bringing out the natural sweetness and balancing flavors.
- Black Pepper: Just a bit gives warmth and depth—you can always add more before serving, too.
- Garlic Powder: Lends consistent, mellow garlic flavor that seeps into every bite.
- Dried Thyme: Adds an earthy, slightly floral note that flatters sweet potatoes beautifully.
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: Soaks into the potatoes for moisture and adds a touch of savory richness. Vegetable broth works well for a vegetarian option!
- Garlic Cloves: Smashed whole, they infuse the broth with fresh, aromatic flavor as the potatoes finish roasting.
- Chopped Fresh Parsley: Optional, but a sprinkle before serving adds color and a fresh finish.
How to Make Melting Sweet Potatoes
Step 1: Prep Your Sweet Potatoes
Start by peeling the sweet potatoes and slicing them into sturdy, even rounds about one inch thick. This uniformity helps ensure every piece cooks at exactly the same rate, so you get that signature “melting” texture all the way through. It’s worth taking a moment to make the slices as consistent as possible!
Step 2: Toss with Flavor
Place the sweet potato rounds in a large bowl, then drizzle them with the melted butter and olive oil. Add the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme, and toss everything together until each piece is glistening and well-coated. This quick toss sets the entire flavor foundation for your Melting Sweet Potatoes.
Step 3: Arrange and Roast
Lay the seasoned sweet potato rounds out on a heavy-rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Spacing them out ensures the edges crisp up rather than steam. Pop them into your preheated 425°F (220°C) oven and roast for 15 minutes. Flip each round (a spatula is handy here), then roast for another 15 minutes. The slices should now have gorgeous, caramelized edges.
Step 4: Add Broth and Garlic
Carefully pour the chicken broth all around the sweet potatoes on the baking sheet. Nestle the smashed garlic cloves right into the pan. Slide it all back into the oven for 10–15 minutes more—this is when the magic really happens! The broth soaks up into the caramelized rounds, making your Melting Sweet Potatoes unbelievably tender.
Step 5: Finish and Serve
Once the sweet potatoes are fork-tender and the pan juices have thickened a bit, take them out of the oven. Spoon some of that concentrated, buttery broth over each round for max flavor. Scatter chopped fresh parsley over the top if you like a burst of green or a little extra brightness. Serve immediately while they’re hot and at peak meltiness!
How to Serve Melting Sweet Potatoes
Garnishes
A flourish of chopped fresh parsley is classic, adding both color and freshness to every plate of Melting Sweet Potatoes. For even more flavor, try a delicate dusting of smoked paprika or a light sprinkle of Parmesan cheese—the salty notes pair perfectly with the natural sweetness of the potatoes. If you enjoy a little heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes can liven things up!
Side Dishes
Melting Sweet Potatoes belong on both casual and holiday tables. Pair them with roast chicken, turkey, or glazed ham for an instant comfort-food feast, or serve alongside a hearty fall salad with toasted nuts and greens. They’re equally delicious next to grilled salmon, pork tenderloin, or creamy risotto if you’re feeling a little luxurious.
Creative Ways to Present
For an eye-catching platter, arrange the rounds in a spiral or overlap them artfully on a large serving dish, spooning the herb-infused broth over just before serving. Or stack a few slices into mini towers for a restaurant-style touch. Melting Sweet Potatoes also make adorable individual portions when plated in small ramekins—a fun twist for dinner parties!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, transfer leftover Melting Sweet Potatoes and any remaining pan juices to an airtight container. They’ll keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days. The potatoes may firm up slightly as they chill, but a quick reheat brings them right back to their tender, melt-in-your-mouth state.
Freezing
You can freeze Melting Sweet Potatoes for longer storage. Lay cooled rounds in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the fridge or reheat directly from the freezer at a lower oven temperature to prevent drying out.
Reheating
To reheat, arrange the sweet potato rounds in a single layer in a baking dish, spoon any reserved broth or add a splash of fresh chicken or vegetable broth over the top, and cover tightly with foil. Warm them in a 350°F oven until heated through and tender, about 15–20 minutes. With this gentle method, you’ll recapture all the meltiness you loved from the first bite!
FAQs
Can I make Melting Sweet Potatoes vegetarian or vegan?
Absolutely! Substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth to make this dish vegetarian. For a vegan version, use your favorite dairy-free butter substitute in place of the butter. The results are just as sumptuous and full of flavor!
Do I really need to peel the sweet potatoes?
For the best “melting” texture, peeling is highly recommended. The skin can prevent the rounds from soaking up the broth, so you’ll get much softer results with peeled potatoes. However, if you love a little earthy chew, you can leave the skins on—just scrub them well first.
Can I use other types of potatoes for this recipe?
While Melting Sweet Potatoes shine most with classic orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, you can use white or Japanese sweet potatoes for a different color and slightly drier texture. Regular potatoes like Yukon Golds will also work, but the sweetness and “melt-in-your-mouth” quality is unmatched with sweet potatoes!
How do I prevent the potatoes from sticking to the pan?
Make sure to coat your baking sheet lightly with oil or line it with parchment paper before adding the sweet potato rounds. A nonstick baking sheet also helps. The initial toss with butter and oil provides a barrier, but spacing the rounds apart will guarantee easy flipping and golden edges.
Why do you add broth partway through?
Adding broth after the initial roasting phase allows the sweet potatoes to caramelize first, then soak up moisture for that “melting” interior in the last stage. This two-step method is what gives Melting Sweet Potatoes their legendary texture—you get the best of both crispy edges and tender centers!
Final Thoughts
If you crave a cozy side dish with maximum flavor and an unforgettable texture, you owe it to yourself to make Melting Sweet Potatoes. Whether for a holiday gathering or any night you want a little extra comfort, this recipe is pure magic. Give them a try and see why they always disappear faster than you expect!
Print
Melting Sweet Potatoes Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
These Melting Sweet Potatoes are a delicious and easy-to-make side dish that will impress your family and guests. Tender sweet potato rounds roasted to perfection with savory seasonings and a hint of garlic, these sweet potatoes are a flavorful addition to any meal.
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes:
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into 1-inch thick rounds)
Seasonings:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Additional:
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 garlic cloves (smashed)
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Coat Sweet Potatoes: Toss sweet potato rounds with melted butter, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme in a large bowl.
- Roast: Arrange sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes. Flip and roast for another 15 minutes.
- Add Broth: Pour chicken broth and smashed garlic over the sweet potatoes. Roast for an additional 10–15 minutes.
- Serve: Spoon pan juices over sweet potatoes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- Vegetable broth can be used to make this dish vegetarian.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese or smoked paprika before serving.
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