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These orange glazed sweet potatoes are an authentic taste of autumnal goodness. The bright citrus flavors from the orange juice are perfect with the potatoes’ natural sweetness. This is what makes this recipe both comforting and elegant. Roasted to caramelized perfection, these sweet potatoes make a delicious and wholesome side. Serve them with roasted meats, baked fish or vegetarian entrees. Kids will love this side dish too!
If you love sweet potatoes, make these orange glazed sweet potatoes this holiday season and enjoy their sweet, rich taste.
Also try sweet potato casserole with pecans, this air fryer sweet potato stack, French onion baked potatoes, and my sweet potato gnocchi.
Why You’ll Love It
Bursting with flavor: The combination of sweet potatoes, maple syrup, and fresh orange creates a perfectly balanced sweet and tangy, irresistible glaze.
Simple but super impressive: This dish looks elegant enough for special occasions, but it’s easy to prepare with minimal ingredients and effort.
Elevating simple sweet potatoes: Take a budget vegetable and turn it into a restaurant-quality side.
Orange Glazed Sweet Potatoes Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Sweet potatoes: I like to find long, thinner sweet potatoes that are similar in size, as their rich flavor pairs beautifully with the other ingredients.
Butter: Adds a creamy richness to the dish.
Brown sugar: Brings a deep, caramel-like sweetness that brings out the sweet potatoes’ natural sweetness while adding moisture.
Orange: You’ll need freshly squeezed juice and zest for the best flavor.
Maple syrup: This natural sweetener layers in earthy, complex flavors beyond the brown sugar’s simple sweetness.
Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger: These add a cozy, familiar warmth.
Thyme leaves: Use fresh thyme leaves in this orange sweet potato recipe.
How to Make Orange-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prep sweet potatoes: Peel and slice the sweet potatoes.
Arrange in the dish: Stack the sweet potato slices and arrange them in two large rings around the cast-iron dish, filling the center with any extra slices.
Make the sauce: In a saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, orange juice, maple syrup, orange zest, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and thyme. Cook over medium heat for 4 or 5 minutes, stirring until the sauce bubbles.
Coat the potatoes: Pour the warm sauce evenly over the arranged sweet potatoes.
Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes or until the tops are golden. Season and serve your candied sweet potatoes.
Substitutions and Variations
Brown sugar: Use coconut sugar or honey for a more natural sweetener.
Orange juice: Replace with lemon juice or pineapple juice for a tangy twist.
Maple syrup: Agave syrup (I like this one) or honey works well if you prefer a different type of sweetness.
Thyme: Rosemary or sage can be used for a different herbaceous note.
Nutty crunch: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top for added texture.
Marshmallow topping: For a classic sweet potato casserole vibe, add marshmallows in the last 10 minutes of baking.
Citrus burst: Add extra orange zest for a stronger citrus flavor, or mix in lime zest for a zesty twist.
Cubed sweet potatoes: You can also make this into a more rustic version by not arranging them and just cooking them as cubes in a baking dish.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizer: Start with these fun little cranberry bites or this hearty roast beet salad.
Main: Try my apple cider turkey or this incredible cranberry and cream cheese-filled flank with your orange roasted sweet potatoes.
Dessert: You’ve got to end with something utterly delicious like this apple caramel dip.
How to Store Orange Candied Sweet Potatoes
Store: Store leftovers of this glazed sweet potato recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Yes, you can freeze cooked sweet potatoes. Let them cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Let your citrus-glazed sweet potatoes defrost overnight in the fridge.
Reheat: Reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through.
Top Tips
Careful not to overcook the sauce: You can cook it for 2 to 3 minutes but do not overcook it, or it can become thick like caramel and won’t spoon easily.
Even slicing: Use a mandolin slicer for quicker, more even slices.
Baste the potatoes: Baste the sweet potatoes a couple of times during the last 15 minutes of the baking time. Use a spoon and scoop some of the sauce from the pan over the potatoes.
Get some good color: During the last 10 minutes of baking, you can place them under the broiler (500°F) to give a little more color to the potatoes.
Make it ahead and save time: Prepare and bake the sweet potatoes, then refrigerate them for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven, uncovered, at 350°F until warmed through.
Orange Sweet Potatoes FAQs
Slice the sweet potatoes evenly and avoid overbaking. Cover with foil for the first 45 minutes to retain moisture, then uncover to let the tops caramelize.
Yes! Substitute the butter with a plant-based alternative like coconut oil or a vegan butter alternative.
Feel free to get creative! You can add a splash of bourbon, a hint of vanilla extract or even a dash of chili powder for an extra kick.
Orange Glazed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Orange Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 6 sweet potatoes, medium
- ½ Cup butter
- 1 Cup brown sugar
- ½ Cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/3 Cup maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon orange zest
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ Teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ Teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ Teaspoon thyme leaves, fresh, plus more for garnish
- flaky sea salt, for garnish, optional
- nonstick cooking spray, as needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Peel and slice the sweet potatoes about ¼-inch thick.
- Spray an oven-safe dish (cast iron or similar) with cooking spray.
- Gather the potatoes into stacks and layer them around the pan, to form 2 large rings. Fill in the middle with the extra potatoes.
- Combine the butter, brown sugar, orange juice, maple syrup, orange zest, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and thyme leaves in a saucepan.
- Cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until the sauce begins to bubble. Pour the sauce over the potatoes.
- Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15 minutes.
- If the tops of the potatoes are not browned enough, keep baking for another 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and sprinkle over some more thyme and flaky sea salt if liked. Serve immediately.
Notes
Even slicing: Use a mandolin slicer for quicker, more even slices.
Baste the potatoes: Baste the sweet potatoes a couple of times during the last 15 minutes of the baking time. Use a spoon and scoop some of the sauce from the pan over the potatoes.
Get some good color: During the last 10 minutes of baking, you can place them under the broiler (500°F) to give a little more color to the potatoes.
Make it ahead and save time: Prepare and bake the sweet potatoes, then refrigerate them for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven, uncovered, at 350°F until warmed through.
Nutrition
These orange glazed sweet potatoes have a vibrant citrus taste from the orange juice. This dish strikes a perfect balance between comforting and refined. Roasted until caramelized and golden, they make a tasty and nourishing side. Pair them with roasted meats, baked fish or vegetarian dishes for a versatile addition to any meal.
Other Sweet Potato Recipes to Try
- These hearty taco-stuffed sweet potatoes combine savory ground beef with all your favorite taco toppings.
- Maple garlic sweet potato casserole is really good.
- This sweet potato dish is topped with crunchy candied maple pecans, making it the perfect balance of sweet and nutty.
- A creamy Thai-inspired coconut chicken soup with sweet potatoes and peppers for a spicy, comforting meal.
- These crispy sweet potato wedges are easy to make in an air fryer.
- TikTok-inspired crispy stacked potatoes are thinly sliced, layered, and baked to perfection, creating irresistible, crunchy potato stacks.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
These orange glazed sweet potatoes were a hit! The citrusy glaze adds such a nice twist to the sweet potatoes. I’ll be making these all season long.