Lemon-Pepper Sweet Potato Crisp

This is my new favorite sweet potato side dish. It's got incredible texture and amazing flavor with an irresistible bread crumb topping. You can serve it hot, but I think it might be better warm or at room temperature, which makes it a nice choice for Thanksgiving when it's hard to have everything ready at the same time. Great for a special holiday dinner or a random weeknight supper.

• Preparation Time: 35 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 321 Calories

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 cups fresh bread crumbs
• 1 medium lemon, zested and juiced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
• ½ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives, or to taste
• 1 ¼ cups grated sharp white Cheddar cheese, divided
• 2 ¾ pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner (such as Silpat®).

Step 2

Place bread crumbs in a mixing bowl and pour melted butter over top. Add salt, cayenne, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and mix until evenly coated. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and arrange in an even layer. Sprinkle 1 cup Cheddar cheese over top.

Step 3

Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Leave the oven on.

Step 4

Place sweet potatoes in a mixing bowl. Add lemon zest and juice, salt, pepper, cayenne, and melted butter; toss until evenly coated. Immediately transfer sweet potatoes into a buttered baking dish.

Step 5

Bake in the center of the oven until potatoes are very tender, about 1 hour.

Step 6

Break up the crispy, cheesy bread crumbs into very small pieces and scatter evenly over the potatoes. Gently press them into the potatoes and sprinkle remaining ¼ cup Cheddar over top.

Step 7

Return to the oven and bake until browned, 15 to 20 more minutes.

Step 8

Sprinkle with chives before serving.