Chef John's Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Chef John's Glazed Sweet Potatoes balance bright lemon with maple sweetness, coating tender orange-fleshed yams in a glossy, spiced glaze. Hints of ginger, cinnamon, and a touch of cayenne add warmth and complexity, while a sprinkle of nuts brings welcome crunch. Serve this festive side for holiday dinners, Sunday roasts, or any comforting fall meal.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Glazed Sweet Potatoes, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactPoor
- 37 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 20 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 50
- Heart Health
- 38
- Metabolic
- 54
- Digestive
- 27
- Inflammatory
- 24
- Performance
- 47
- General Wellness
- 1
Stir the salt into 2 quarts of cold water in a large pot. Add the sweet potato pieces to the pot and set over high heat; bring to a simmer. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are just shy of tender but still cooked, 5 to 7 minutes. Check doneness with the tip of a knife. Drain.
- 2
Add the brown sugar, butter, lemon juice, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, and a pinch of salt to a skillet. Set over medium-high heat, stirring until the glaze ingredients melt and start to bubble. Keep cooking, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to thicken, 4 to 6 minutes.
- 3
Add the drained sweet potatoes to a skillet. Turn the heat to high; cook and stir until the potatoes are coated with the glaze and very tender, and the glaze has thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Move to a serving dish; garnish with chopped nuts.
- Calories 372.06 kcal Moderate 19%
- Protein 3.78 g Low Source 8%
- Carbohydrate 75.75 g 28%
- Total Fat 7.08 g Moderate 9%
- Saturated Fat 3.59 g Moderate 18%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 14.44 mg Low Source 5%
- Sodium 215.58 mg Moderate 9%
- Dietary Fiber 11.09 g Good Source 40%
- Total Sugars 52.22 g --
- Added Sugars 9.95 g Moderate 20%
- Calcium 64.89 mg Low Source 5%
- Iron 1.2 mg Low Source 7%
- Potassium 49.35 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 1257.91 mcg Good Source 140%
- Vitamin C 23.62 mg Good Source 26%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Milk 🥛
About This Recipe
Chef John's Glazed Sweet Potatoes is made with 11 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 30 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Brown Sugar, Cayenne Pepper, Ground Cinnamon, and Ground Ginger. Each serving provides about 372.06 kcal, and is a good source of fiber.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Glazed Sweet Potatoes made of?
- The main ingredients are Brown Sugar, Cayenne Pepper, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Lemon Juice. The full list of 11 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Glazed Sweet Potatoes?
- About 30 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 372.06 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Glazed Sweet Potatoes easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 11 ingredients and 3 steps.
- Is Chef John's Glazed Sweet Potatoes healthy?
- Chef John's Glazed Sweet Potatoes has an easyChef Pro health score of 47/100. Per serving, it provides 372.06 calories and 3.78 g of protein, or 8% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 215.58 mg (9% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 3.59 g (18% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 9.95 g (20% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Tree Nuts and Milk, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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