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Today I’m sharing an easy recipe for roasted sweet potatoes with cinnamon and cayenne that goes light on both oil and honey to keep the Weight Watchers Points in check.
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite starches. They’re versatile, naturally sweet (affiliate link), and just as happy in a savory dish as they are in dessert. Roasting really lets that natural sweetness bloom, and with a gentle hit of spice, these roasted sweet potatoes have become a regular favorite around here.
They’re hearty enough to stand on their own, yet simple enough to work as a side dish for almost anything — proof that even a humble potato can take center stage.
Table of Contents
- Why I Love These Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Are Sweet Potatoes Free Points on Weight Watchers?
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How Many Calories and WW Points in Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon and Cayenne?
- How to Make Roast Sweet Potatoes, Step-by-Step
- Recipe Notes
- Serving Suggestions
- Ways to Use Leftovers
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon and Cayenne Recipe
- More WW-Friendly Sweet Potato Recipes
Why I Love These Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Naturally sweet (affiliate link) with just enough heat
- Roasting brings out deep flavor without much oil
- WW-friendly and very satisfying
- Works as both a side dish or a light main
- Leftovers are easy to reuse
Are Sweet Potatoes Free Points on Weight Watchers?
Yes. Plain sweet potatoes are zero points on the current Weight Watchers plan.
The Points in this recipe come from the small amount of oil and honey.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Sweet potatoes – I prefer orange-fleshed varieties like garnet or jewel for their creamy texture.
- Olive oil – Just enough to help the potatoes roast and brown.
- Honey – Adds a subtle sweetness. You can reduce slightly or omit if you prefer.
- Ground cinnamon – Enhances the natural sweetness of the potatoes.
- Cayenne pepper – Adds gentle heat. Adjust to taste.
- Salt and pepper – Season lightly to balance the sweetness.
How Many Calories and WW Points in Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon and Cayenne?
According to my calculations, each serving has just:
- Calories: 113 calories.
- WW Points: 3 To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) - Old Points: 3 PointsPlus
How to Make Roast Sweet Potatoes, Step-by-Step
Step 1: Heat the oven to 400F degrees. Spray a baking dish, or baking sheet (affiliate link) large enough to hold the potatoes in a single layer, with non-stick spray.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix the potato with the oil, honey, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Lightly season to taste with salt and pepper and place in the prepared baking dish.
Step 3: Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden and tender.
Step 4: Serve hot.
Recipe Notes
Sweet potatoes, yams, garnets — the naming can be confusing. I use the orange-fleshed varieties labeled as yams or garnets, which tend to have the best texture for roasting.
Sweet potatoes have thicker skins than white or red potatoes, so I recommend peeling them before roasting. A swivel-blade vegetable peeler (affiliate link) works especially well and removes just the tough outer skin.
Once peeled and cut, the potatoes can be tossed with the seasonings and stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before baking — handy if you want to prep ahead.
I love the vegetable peelers with a swivel blade. It makes easy work and is best if you struggle with any wrist stiffness.
Once peeled and cut into chunks, the dish can be spiced and left to “marinate” in the fridge, covered, for up to 2 days before baking. If you’re planning to be away, you can prepare it and just bake it at the last minute.
Serving Suggestions
These roasted sweet potatoes with cinnamon and cayenne pair well with:
- Roasted or grilled chicken
- Fish or pork
- Simple salads for a light lunch
They’re hearty enough that a larger portion can easily serve as the main dish with a leafy green salad on the side.
Ways to Use Leftovers
Leftovers reheat well in the microwave (affiliate link). You can also:
- Use them as a warm grain-style bowl base
- Add them to soups or stews for extra body
- Toss them into salads
If you’ve made these Spiced Sweet Potatoes, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon and Cayenne
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato, washed, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1-1/2 teaspoons honey
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch of cayenne
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400F degrees. Spray a baking dish, or baking sheet (affiliate link) large enough to hold the potatoes in a single layer, with non-stick spray.
- In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix the potato with the oil, honey, cinnamon and cayenne. Lightly season to taste with salt and pepper and place in the baking dish.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly golden and tender.
- Serve hot.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 3 PointsPlus (Old plan) Yam, sweet potatoes, Garnets? All of this can be confusing when choosing your potatoes. I always use the orange colored yams or garnet potatoes that are also dark colored. They seem to have the best texture for this dish. Depending on your area, you make have special varietals worth trying. The technique for cooking will be the same. Unlike white and red potatoes with a pretty think skin, generally sweet potatoes have a thicker skin which is best peeled off before baking. A standard peeler works best as it takes off only the essential peel, unlike a knife which can slip and take off a good chunk of the potato. I love the peelers with a swivel blade. It makes easy work and is best if you struggle with any wrist stiffness. Once peeled and cut into chunks, the dish can be spiced and left to “marinate” in the fridge, covered, for up to 2 days before baking. If you’re planning to be away, you can prepare it and just bake it at the last minute.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More WW-Friendly Sweet Potato Recipes
If you liked these spicy roasted sweet potatoes you might also like:
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes and Onions – A colorful, all-in-one roasted side.
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Granola Crumble Topping – Comfort food made lighter.
- Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Ham – Hearty and satisfying.
- Crock Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes – Creamy and simple.
Easy, quick and good!