Looking for a flavorful and easy-to-make side dish that will impress your family and friends? Look no further than these Baked Cajun Sweet Potatoes! Whether serving them as a side dish or a snack, these sweet potatoes will surely be a hit.
Ingredients
Note: The full ingredients list is provided in the recipe card below.
- Sweet potatoes: The star of the recipe, sweet potatoes are sliced into wedges and roasted until tender and golden brown.
- Avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil: Used to drizzle over the sweet potatoes to help them crisp up and add richness to the dish.
- Granulated garlic: Adds a subtle garlic flavor to the sweet potatoes without overpowering the other spices.
- Red pepper flakes: Gives the dish a spicy kick and helps balance out the sweetness of the potatoes.
- Oregano: Adds a savory flavor to the dish and complements the other spices.
- Cajun seasoning: A blend of spices including paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried herbs, Cajun seasoning gives the dish its bold and spicy flavor.
- Kosher salt: Season the sweet potatoes and bring out their natural sweetness.
How to Make Cajun Sweet Potatoes
Note: The full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F and position an oven rack in the middle.
- Scrub the potatoes thoroughly, then cut each potato in half lengthwise. Next, cut each half into thirds lengthwise, resulting in 6 long wedges from each potato.
- Place the potato wedges in a large bowl. Add Cajun seasoning, oregano, granulated garlic, red pepper flakes, 4 tablespoons of olive oil, paprika, and kosher salt to the bowl. Toss the potatoes until they are evenly coated with the mixture.
- Grease a rimmed sheet pan with 1 tablespoon of oil (avoid using foil as the potatoes may stick). Arrange the coated potato wedges on the sheet pan in a single layer, placing them with one cut side down.
- Bake the potatoes in the preheated oven until they turn golden brown and become crispy about 45 minutes. Using a flat spatula, turn the potatoes halfway through the cooking time for even browning.
- Once the potatoes are done, remove them from the oven and taste for seasoning. Adjust the seasoning if needed by adding more kosher salt to taste.
- Transfer the baked potato wedges to a serving platter.
FAQ
Can I use regular potatoes instead of sweet potatoes?
While the recipe is designed explicitly for sweet potatoes, you could try using regular potatoes. Just keep in mind that the flavor and texture will be different.
Why did my sweet potatoes turn out too soft or mushy?
Overcooking the sweet potatoes or using too much oil can make them overly soft. Roast them until golden brown and tender when pierced with a knife, using the recommended amount of oil.
My sweet potatoes didn't get crispy. What went wrong?
The potatoes might have been too close to the baking sheet, causing them to steam rather than roast. Make sure they are spread out in a single layer with space between each wedge. Also, ensure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature.
The seasoning was too spicy for me. How can I adjust it?
The spiciness comes primarily from the Cajun seasoning and the red pepper flakes. In the future, you can reduce the amount of these ingredients or omit the red pepper flakes altogether.
The sweet potatoes started to burn before they were fully cooked. What should I do?
Oven temperatures can vary, so it's essential to watch them. If you notice they're browning too quickly, you can reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees and continue to cook until they're done.
My sweet potatoes were too dry. How can I fix that?
This could be due to not using enough oil or roasting them too long. Ensure you're using the right amount of oil and watch the cooking time closely to prevent over-roasting.
The seasoning didn't stick well to the potatoes. Why?
Ensure the sweet potatoes are well-coated with oil before adding the seasonings. The oil helps the seasonings stick to the potatoes and creates a nice crust when roasted.
Related Recipes:
- Spicy potato wedges
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Garlic potato wedges
- Roasted potatoes
Recipe
Easy Cajun Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 large sweet potatoes , (rinsed) sliced into wedges
- ¼ cup avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon of oregano
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning , adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt , to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F and position an oven rack in the middle.
- Scrub the potatoes thoroughly, then cut each potato in half lengthwise. Next, cut each half into thirds lengthwise, resulting in 6 long wedges from each potato.
- Place the potato wedges in a large bowl. Add Cajun seasoning, oregano, granulated garlic, red pepper flakes, 4 tablespoons of olive oil, paprika, and kosher salt to the bowl. Toss the potatoes until they are evenly coated with the mixture.
- Grease a rimmed sheet pan with 1 tablespoon of oil (avoid using foil as the potatoes may stick). Arrange the coated potato wedges on the sheet pan in a single layer, placing them with one cut side down.
- Bake the potatoes in the preheated oven until they turn golden brown and become crispy about 45 minutes, turning the potatoes halfway through the cooking time using a flat spatula for even browning.
- Once the potatoes are done, remove them from the oven and taste for seasoning. Adjust the seasoning if needed by adding more kosher salt to taste.
- Transfer the baked potato wedges to a serving platter.
Notes
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.