Tag Archives: sweet potatoes

Five Healthy Sweet Potato Side Dish Recipes for Thanksgiving and Beyond

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Sweet potatoes are a kitchen superstar and especially popular around Thanksgiving and the fall season Sweet Potatoes are versatile, nutrient-dense, and naturally delicious – the perfect side dish for active living that will keep you going! Whether you’re looking for something savory, sweet, or a little bit of both, I have you covered with plenty of creative and healthy sweet potato side dish ideas. Here are five of my favorites to complement your next meal:

1. Sweet Potato Grits

Sweet Potato Grits combine the creamy comfort of traditional grits with the subtle sweetness and earthy richness of sweet potatoes. This dish is a fantastic side for breakfast, brunch, or dinner, pairing beautifully with eggs, greens, or your favorite protein — it also makes a fantastic savory alternative to that traditional overly sweet Thanksgiving sweet potato recipe with marshmallows!

2. Mashed Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions

Rosemary Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mashed Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions takes a savory approach to this classic side dish. The aromatic rosemary and deeply flavorful caramelized onions make this a standout choice for holiday gatherings or as a sophisticated accompaniment to roasted meats. I loved this mashed sweet potato recipe.

3. Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries

Let cool a couple minutes. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with honey, toss gently. Sprinkle with granola!

For a fun and slightly sweet side, try Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries. These fries are baked to crispy perfection and topped with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of crunchy granola. They’re great for snacking or as a side for burgers or grilled chicken.  These are adapted from a recipe I developed for my Cooking For One for Dummies cookbook (page 215)

4. Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup with Cilantro Chimichurri

Vegan Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup

Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup with Cilantro Chimichurri brings bold, smoky flavors to the table. This creamy vegan soup is balanced with the fresh, zesty punch of cilantro chimichurri, making it a perfect choice for a warming side or light meal.

5. Purple Sweet Potato Salad with Figs, Pomegranate & Balsamic Syrup

Purple Sweet Potato Salad with Figs, Pomegranate and Balsamic Syrup.

Turn heads at the table with Purple Sweet Potato Salad with Figs, Pomegranate & Balsamic Syrup. This vibrant and visually stunning dish combines the earthy flavors of purple sweet potatoes with the sweetness of figs, tart pomegranate arils, and a drizzle of balsamic syrup. It’s a perfect side for festive meals or special occasions.

These sweet potato side dishes showcase the versatility of this humble root vegetable, with options ranging from comforting to elegant. Which one will you try first? Let me know in the comments or tag @TheFitFork on Instagram with your recreations!

Sheet Pan Ginger-Honey Chicken w/ Sweet Potatoes, Apple, Fennel

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ginger-honey-sheet-pan-chicken-close-upI’ve had 99 problems this week, but at least getting a quick healthy dinner on the table wasn’t one of them thanks to this Sheet Pan Ginger-Honey Chicken with Sweet Potatoes, Apple & Fennel. This dish is so simple to prepare, just a couple minutes of chopping, tossing on a cookie sheet and drizzling with a quick sauce to keep everything moist white it to roast for 30 minutes – and only one pan to clean up!

Ginger Honey Sheet Pan Chicken with Apples, Sweet Potato and Fennel a simple yet hearty sheet pan dinner with loads of seasonal vegetables and a touch of honey and ginger. Easy clean-up, great for weeknights!

honey-ginger-sheet-pan-chicken-pouring-on-dressingA bed of fresh, seasonal vegetables  make a “lift” for the chicken breasts, ensuring they cook up nice and evenly – plus, I butterflied each massive breast to make a more reasonable-sized portion and speed up cooking time.  I originally developed this recipe for Litehouse Foods using their Organic Ginger with Honey Dressing which marries all my ingredients with just a touch of sweetness and the brightness of ginger.  In case you can’t find this dressing in the refrigerated section of your produce department, I’ve adapted the recipe (and noted how to do the bottled dressing swap).

apple-sweet-potato-onion

Fennel is one of the ingredients in this dish, and one I should definitely use more often. The scent of fresh fennel is amazing. It smells like black licorice but the cooked bulb has a very mild taste, you can use it as you would an onion. The crunchy raw bulbs and feathery stems can be used in salads, dips, and such to add an herby, aromatic effect.

jennifer fisher thefitfork brainpower5kIn other news, I jumped into my first 5k since the spring and was thrilled to come in 2nd overall female despite the hills, humidity and feeling slightly off my game at the start (in training and sleep). Had the lead until halfway when a girl about half my age made her move and I just could never muster up a surge. But, anyway, it’s all good and gets my head and heart back into the game for the Fall season.

One Sheet (Pan) to the wind! Ginger-Honey Chicken w/Sweet Potatoes, Apple, Fennel #Fitfluential

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So, what non-cookie recipe have you made on a baking sheet? Have you ever tried fennel? Are you running this fall — 5ks, marathons, or around the neighborhood? Please share in the comments below – XOXO, Jennifer 

 

Ginger Honey Sheet Pan Chicken with Apples, Sweet Potato and Fennel
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30min Sheet Pan Ginger-Honey Chicken w/ Sweet Potatoes, Apple, Fennel
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 
A simple yet hearty sheet pan dinner with loads of seasonal vegetables and a touch of honey and ginger. Easy clean-up, great for weeknights!
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 fennel bulb with feathered stalks
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/3” slices and quartered
  • 1 medium red onion, sliced into 1/3” slices and quartered
  • 1 large Granny Smith apple
  • 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon chinese five spice
  • 3 tablespoons oilve oil* or swap 1/2 cup tota Litehouse Foods Organic Ginger Honey Dressing
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vineager* or swap 1/2 cup total Litehouse Foods Organic Ginger Honey Dressing
  • 3 tablespoons honey* or swap 1/2 cup total Litehouse Foods Organic Ginger Honey Dressing
  • 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger root* or swap 1/2 cup total Litehouse Foods Organic Ginger Honey Dressing
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425 F degrees.
  2. Cut bulb off fennel stalks and slice bulb, removing core and root. Set aside 2 tablespoons of snipped feathery leaves from stalks to use as garnish.
  3. Drizzle oil on large rimmed baking sheet and fill with cut sweet potato, apple, onion and fennel in single layer (some overlap okay). Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  4. Add chicken on top of vegetable layer, sprinkle entire pan with five spice.
  5. In small bowl, whisk together "dressing" of olive oil, vinegar, honey and ginger. Drizzle approximately 1 ounce of dressing over top of each chicken piece (alternatively, use 1/2 cup of the store-bought dressing - Organic Ginger with Honey Dressing from Litehouse Foods.
  6. Place in oven on center rack and roast for a total of 30 minutes (up to 40 minutes depending on chicken thickness), drizzling the chicken with juices collected with a baster or large spoon approximately halfway through cooking time.
  7. Garnish with snipped fresh fennel.