Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Sugar and spice and everything nice…that’s what this Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers recipe is made of! An easy side dish, perfect for fall.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. We receive a commission if purchases are made through our links to retailers.Click here to read our full disclosure policy.

When I wasa new mom and wife,sweet potatoes were cooked in my kitchen only one time per year: Thanksgiving. And, it was almost alwayscanned sweet potatoes (or yams). Let’s just say thatI was oddly intimated by fresh sweet potatoes.

When I made sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving, it was always a “classic” sweet potato casserole, topped with marshmallows. My husband and I would enjoy it. But the kids? It wasn’t their thing. There was always a ton of leftovers, and I figured that my kids just didn’t like sweet potatoes. But, did that stop me? Nope. I continued to make them most years, citing that it wasa tradition.

But, over the last several years, I learned that my kids actually DO like sweet potatoes. They just didn’t like MYsweet potato casserole. I figured this out byoccasionally working them into other meals over the years. They love sweet potato fries (even opting for them over regular fries at restaurants) and one of their favoritefall dinnershas been our DIY Baked Sweet Potato Bar.

They also enjoy my Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Quinoa and Kale (although one of the kids prefers it without the blue cheese). And I’ve even started serving a much better sweet potato casserole at Thanksgiving that they LOVE and insist that I have to make more of it this year. And, yeah, it has no marshmallows on top.

But, when it comes to all the ways I’ve cooked with sweet potatoes, this Spiced Sweet Potato Skewers recipeis their winner.

Ingredients Needed for Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers:

Cooking Equipment needed for Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers:

Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers Recipe (3)

Of course, what’s not to like? It includesbacon and sugar. The kids love it, I love it, and David goes CRAZY for them. They’re almost too good, so enjoy in moderation.

To get started on your Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers recipe, you’ll first peel andcut sweet potatoes into about 1 1/2″ chunks. Place them in a bowland toss witholive oil.

In a small bowl, you’ll combine brown and white sugar, as well as several spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cayenne pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.

With metal skewers, alternate achunk of sweet potatoand 1/4th of a slice of baconthat has been folded in half (or smaller if necessary). Don’t pack your sweet potato and bacon together tightly. Make sure to leave a tiny bit of room between each bacon slice and potato chuck to allow even cooking. Repeat the pattern until you have about 7 pieces of sweet potato and 6 pieces of bacon on each skewer.

Due to how firm sweet potatoes are, I do not recommend using bamboo skewers. I recommend usinggood, but basic, metal skewers.

Note: if you are wanting a vegetarian version, you can leave the bacon off. You can also use less bacon – just place 2-3 sweet potato chunks between 1 piece of bacon.

Roll each skewer in the spiced sugar mixture. You may want to presssome of the spiced sugar onto the potatoes and bacon. Tap your skewer gently to remove any excess.

Place each skewer on top of oven-safe cooling racks that are placed on top of arimmedbaking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and bacon is fully cooked. Serve and enjoy!

Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers Recipe

Print

Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers Recipe (9)

Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers Recipe

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 1 review

  • Author: Brandie Valenzuela
Print Recipe

Description

Sugar and spice and everything nice…that’s what this Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers recipe is made of! An easy side dish, perfect for fall.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into 1 1/2″ chunks)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound sliced bacon
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Place oven-safe cooking racks on top of a large rimmed baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Place cut sweet potatoes in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to combine. Set aside.
  3. Without separating bacon slices into individual pieces, cut entire slab of bacon slices into fourths (when laying horizontally in front of you). This is easiest by cutting slab in half and then cutting each of those portions in half again.
  4. In a small bowl, combine sugars and spices. Pour spiced sugar mixture onto a large, rimmed baking sheet.
  5. With metal skewer, slide on a chunk of sweet potato, then 1 small piece of bacon (which is 1/4th of a bacon slice) that has been folded in half (or smaller if necessary). Make sure to leave a tiny bit of room between each bacon slice and potato chuck to allow even cooking (don’t push them tightly together). Repeat pattern until you have about 7 pieces of sweet potato and 6 pieces of bacon on each skewer.
  6. Roll each skewer in the spiced sugar mixture. You may want to use your hand to hold some of the spiced sugar to press more of it onto the potatoes and bacon. Tap your skewer gently to remove any excess spiced sugar. Place skewer on top of the the cooling racks on your prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining skewers. Discard any remaining spiced sugar.
  7. Bake skewers for about 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and bacon is fully cooked.

Notes

Note: if you are wanting a vegetarian version, you can leave the bacon off. You can also use less bacon – just place 2-3 sweet potato chunks between 1 piece of bacon.

  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Recipe Card powered bySpiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers Recipe (10)

Want even more potato side dishes?

My Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers Recipe ismy contribution to the November#12Bloggers Event that happens on the 12th of every month. It includes myself and 11 blogging friends and we all create recipes around a common theme — all of the recipes have 12 ingredients or less too. This months theme is Potato Side DishRecipes— here are the links to allof the other great potato side dishes:

Spiced Sweet Potato and Bacon Skewers Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to poke sweet potatoes before baking? ›

Do you have to poke holes in sweet potatoes before baking? Typically holes are poked into a sweet potato to prevent a potato exploding in your oven. However, the chance of that happening is low, and according to Lifehacker, sweet potatoes will retain more flavor if you don't poke them.

What makes sweet potato sticky? ›

Initially, it may be off-putting, but it's actually indicative of a healthy potato and a flavorful meal. FoodsGuy explains that this thick, white, sticky liquid is just a mixture of sugar and water from the sweet potato leaking a bit after getting excited by the prospect of being part of such a delicious meal.

Why do you need to soak sweet potatoes before cooking? ›

TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: The main secrets to achieving that incredible crispy texture, is to soak the cut sweet potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes. This helps remove the starch from the sweet potatoes so they´re not limp & soggy.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

How many holes should you poke in a sweet potato? ›

Use a fork to poke 8 to 10 sets of holes in the skins of each sweet potato for ventilation and wrap each tightly in aluminum foil. Place on a baking sheet to catch the juice that will inevitably leak out. Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour, or until soft.

Is it better to wrap sweet potatoes in foil when baking? ›

Wrapping sweet potatoes in foil helps in a few ways. It prevents the exterior of the tuber from drying out and overheating too quickly, which would minimize enzymatic activity; it also results in a more evenly cooked texture.

What happens if you forgot to poke holes in baked potatoes? ›

It seems like, at worst, the skin might tear to release some of the steam, but a large explosion is definitely unlikely. That said, it's true that potatoes do release a lot of water as they cook, and releasing that steam is important to creating that fluffy, creamy inside that marks a good baked potato.

What is the white liquid oozing from sweet potatoes? ›

The ooze is actually referred to as "sap." It is made up of sugar and starch combined with the moisture found in the vegetable, and it escapes out of the damage made from the knife. The sap really equals the sweetness. If it's pouring out of your potato, that means it's a sweet and delicious vegetable.

What is the sugar coming out of my sweet potato? ›

A sweet potato that has sap is a good sign–it means it's fresh. “The sap is a naturally occurring mixture of sugar, starch, and water,” says Ann Ziata, chef at the Institute of Culinary Education.

What are some interesting facts about sweet potatoes? ›

Sweet potatoes are planted in the spring and harvested in the fall. Sweet potatoes are great sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, beta carotene, fiber and potassium. Sweet potatoes can be white, yellow, red, purple or orange. The orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are sweeter than the other varieties.

Is there a trick to cutting sweet potatoes? ›

So, to make cutting easy, you want to go ahead and soften them first using one of the methods below. Parboiling – Cut off both ends of the sweet potato, and place it in a large pot of water. Bring the liquid to a boil. Then, reduce the heat slightly, and let the potato simmer for about eight minutes.

Why not to boil sweet potatoes? ›

Despite their sweet taste, these potatoes have an intermediate glycemic index (GI) level, meaning they are digested and absorbed fairly slowly, leading to a more gradual increase in blood sugar levels. But, a lot of these benefits, including nutrients and taste, can be lost by boiling sweet potatoes.

How do you make sweet potatoes easier to cut? ›

how to soften sweet potatoes For Cutting
  1. Parboil – peel and trim off both ends of the sweet potato and place in a saucepot with water. ...
  2. Microwave – use a fork to poke holes into the sweet potato and microwave for 2-3 minutes, depending on size.
Apr 14, 2023

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5905

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.