- These sweet potatoes are elegant enough for holidays, yet simple enough for weeknight dinners.
- The fiber and vitamin A found in sweet potatoes supports heart and eye health.
- You can roast the sweet potatoes ahead of time and finish when you’re ready to enjoy.
These Crispy Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Parm deliver everything you want in a side dish—comfort, flavor and a touch of the wow factor. Fiber-rich sweet potatoes are roasted until tender, then gently smashed into a layer of Parmesan cheese. Parmesan works double duty here, sprinkled under and over the potatoes to form a lacy crust. Whether you’re setting the table for a holiday feast or elevating a simple roast chicken dinner, this dish is a winner. Read on for how to make this delicious side dish perfectly below!
Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen
These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!
- Cut the sweet potatoes into even rounds so they roast at the same rate and smash cleanly.
- Don’t crowd the pans. Give each round space on the baking sheet—this encourages caramelization instead of steaming.
- Grate your own Parmesan cheese. Freshly grated Parmesan has better flavor, plus many pre-grated cheeses contain anticaking agents that can keep the cheese from melting smoothly.
Nutrition Notes
- Sweet potatoes get their beautiful orange color thanks to the antioxidant beta carotene, a form of vitamin A that has been shown to support heart and eye health. Thanks to their fiber content, sweet potatoes can also support gut health and may help with weight loss.
- Parmesan cheese provides an umami, savory flavor to any recipe, including these smashed sweet potatoes. Traditionally, Parmesan cheese is made with animal rennet, which means it’s not vegetarian. If you’re following a vegetarian diet, be sure to use vegetarian-friendly Parmesan cheese made with enzymes instead of animal rennet. You can find this at most grocery stores.
- Garlic doesn’t just add tasty flavor, it also provides some serious health benefits. Garlic contains immune-supporting benefits thanks to a compound called allicin. These powerful cloves have heart-health benefits, and may help lower blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation.
- Extra-virgin olive oil contains monounsaturated fats that can help protect your heart and reduce inflammation. These healthy fats, along with polyphenols and vitamin E, may also help fight cognitive decline and keep your joints healthy. An added benefit is that the fat helps to absorb the fat-soluble vitamin A found in the sweet potatoes.
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf.
