Roasted sweet potatoes and carrots are a time honored holiday side dish. I've added an extra layer of sweet brown sugar to give this classic recipe a unique twist. As it roasts in the oven, the brown sugar transforms into a golden caramelized glaze that's utterly delicious!
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Sweet potatoes are incredibly versatile. They can be roasted, mashed, baked, or turned into sweet potato pies. They're great at starring in both savory and sweet dishes. It's this versatility that makes them a favorite ingredient for creating holiday recipes.
This recipe uses sweet potatoes with another root veg - carrots to wonderful effect. Crispy roasted sweet potatoes and carrots are coated in a sweet caramelized layer of brown sugar that levels this dish up a notch.
Related Recipe: Maple Roasted Air Fryer Baby Carrots
💚Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
💚Roasted sweet potatoes and carrots with brown sugar are a wonderful combination of sweet and savory flavors. The natural sweetness of the vegetables, enhanced by the caramelization from the brown sugar, creates a dish that's uniquely delicious.
💚It's a perfect side dish for the holidays, adding a pop of color and flavor to your table.
💚You only need about 10 minutes hands on time to make this dish. The oven does the rest of the work for you.
🛒Ingredients & Tips
- Sweet Potatoes: I peeled the sweet potatoes for this recipe, but you could also leave them unpeeled for a more rustic touch.
- Carrots: You don't need to peel the carrots. A significant amount of the nutrients are in the skin, and leaving the skin on gives them a crispier texture.
- Brown Sugar: You can use either light or dark brown sugar for this roasted sweet potatoes and carrots recipe. Both types of brown sugar add a rich sweetness to the dish, but they have slight differences in flavor due to their molasses content. Light brown sugar has a milder flavor with a touch of sweetness. Dark brown sugar contains more molasses, giving it a stronger, more intense flavor with notes of toffee and caramel.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil has a higher smoke point compared to some other cooking oils, making it suitable for roasting at higher temperatures without breaking down an producing undesirable flavors.
- Salt & Pepper: The salt and pepper balance out the sweetness in this recipe, so they're really important elements. Be sure to measure them out as directed in the recipe.
👨🍳How To Make Roasted Sweet Potatoes And Carrots With Brown Sugar
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweet potatoes and carrots.
- In a small bowl, whisk together your olive oil, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour the brown sugar mixture over the sweet potatoes and carrots, tossing to coat them evenly.
- Spread the coated sweet potatoes and carrots in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Roast in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and caramelized, stirring once or twice during cooking.
- Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving dish.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
💡Expert Chef's Tips
- Cut the sweet potatoes and carrots into uniform-sized pieces to ensure even cooking. This helps in achieving consistent caramelization and prevents some pieces from being undercooked while others are overcooked.
- Make sure your oven is fully preheated before placing the vegetables inside. This helps in creating that initial burst of heat, contributing to a nice caramelization on the exterior of the sweet potatoes and carrots.
- Spread the sweet potatoes and carrots in a single layer on the baking sheet. Crowding them can lead to steaming instead of roasting. If needed, use two baking sheets to ensure proper spacing.
- When tossing the vegetables with the brown sugar mixture, do so with care to coat each piece evenly. This ensures that every bite is infused with the combination of sweetness and spices.
- Oven temperatures can vary, so keep a close eye on the vegetables during the last few minutes of roasting. You want them to be tender on the inside and golden brown on the outside. Adjust your cooking time to get the perfect balance.
🍽️Serving Suggestions
Roasted sweet potatoes and carrots with brown sugar is an ideal dish to serve for a holiday meal. But, the sweet caramelized flavor complements a lot of dishes you might consider ideal table mates. Here's a few suggestions:
- If you're planning a holiday menu, serve this dish alongside balsamic and maple roasted Brussels sprouts. The tangy notes in the Brussels sprouts are the perfect complement to the sweetness of caramelized veggies.
- A simple side dish of sautéed kale with garlic and a squeeze of lemon is a nutrient-packed, tangy side dish that contrasts well with the sweetness of the potatoes and carrots.
- Believe it or not, a sweet and spicy salsa like this Mango Habanero Salsa is absolutely delicious with roasted sweet potatoes and carrots. You could also try making this Spicy Cucumber Mango Salad.
❄️Storage Instructions
Refrigerator:
If you have leftovers, store the roasted sweet potatoes and carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They can be refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
Freezer:
While roasted vegetables can be frozen, the texture may change slightly upon thawing. If you choose to freeze them, allow the roasted sweet potatoes and carrots to cool completely before transferring them to a freezer-safe container. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
Reheating:
To reheat, preheat your oven to revive that crispy texture. Spread the vegetables on a baking sheet and warm them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, you can reheat them in the microwave, but this may result in a softer texture.
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
Certainly! Pre-cutting sweet potatoes and carrots before roasting is a great time saver if you're making this recipe for a holiday meal. If you've pre-cut sweet potatoes and carrots for roasting but aren't ready to cook them yet, it's a good idea to store them in the fridge. Place the cut pieces in an airtight container or a sealed plastic bag to maintain freshness.
Absolutely! You can mix the brown sugar glaze ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Just be sure to reheat it slightly or bring it to room temperature before tossing it with the vegetables for even coating before roasting.
Yes, you can! While olive oil is commonly used, you can experiment with other oils like avocado oil or vegetable oil based on your preferences or dietary considerations.
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📖 Recipe
Roasted Sweet Potatoes And Carrots With Brown Sugar
Ingredients
- 2 sweet potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
- 3 carrots peeled and sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Chopped fresh parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweet potatoes and carrots.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour the brown sugar mixture over the sweet potatoes and carrots, tossing to coat them evenly.
- Spread the coated sweet potatoes and carrots in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Roast in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and caramelized, stirring once or twice during cooking.
- Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving dish.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired
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