Roasted Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes with Dried Cranberries

Name: Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans with Dried Cranberries
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 1 tablespoon mustard (any variety you’d like); 2 large sweet potatoes (about 1 pound), cut into cubes; 1 pound green beans, trimmed; 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme; ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; ½ cup dried cranberries

August 27, 2021

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Roasted Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes with Dried Cranberries are marinated in a maple mustard dressing, then roasted to perfection for an easy side dish that’s full of flavor with little hands on time. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or holiday table!

Gluten Free, Grain Free, Nut Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Dairy Free

It’s that time of year, my friends. That time when food bloggers start talking about all things fall and Thanksgiving-like when it’s still 90 degrees outside! So yes, us food bloggers are slaving away in hot houses with our ovens on when they definitely should not be on!

I remember when I first learned that major magazines, like Food and Wine or Bon Appetite shoot their fall and holiday content in the summer. I was shocked! Or that Hallmark Christmas movies are really made in July when the actors are sweating. Never working in editorial before, I never knew just how far in advance the media has to plan… but now as a food blogger I get it… so here we are!

I’m starting the fall season off slowly with a very requested recipe combo:
a) something with sweet potatoes, and…
b) easy veggie side dishes

These Roasted Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes with Dried Cranberries are a delicious side dish your holiday (or weeknight) table needs this year!

To be honest, the recipe is kinda basic. It’s so simple to throw a bunch of veggies together in a large bowl and roast. (Aren’t roasted vegetables the best?!) But it’s also elevated just enough that you can serve it for the holidays with extra pops of flavor and garnish.

I combined sweet potatoes and green beans because when cut to the right size they cook evenly together. I marinated the veggies in a simple olive oil-based marinade, sweetened with maple syrup with a hint of tang from the mustard.

It’s a must-try recipe this fall!

Ingredients to make Roasted Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes with Dried Cranberries

This recipes takes only 7 ingredients (+ oil, salt and pepper) to make! You’ll need:

Maple syrup
Mustard
Sweet Potatoes
Green Beans
Dried or fresh thyme
Garlic powder
Dried cranberries

What’s the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?

An age-old question! Everyone refers to orange sweet potatoes as yams, and it’s a confusing point! Honestly, you can use EITHER for this recipe! Traditionally, yams do have a thicker/tougher skin compared to sweet potatoes. You can learn more about the differences here.

What type of mustard should you use?

With so many mustard varieties on the market, I know it can be confusing. I tested this recipe with Dijon mustard, yellow mustard and spicy brown mustard. They all provide that tang, but due to the sheer quantity of veggies, it’s a really mild flavor. As a result, it doesn’t really matter what type of mustard you use!

Can you use frozen green beans?

Yes, you can use frozen green beans, however, make sure they’re thawed with extra water eliminated before you toss them with the sweet potatoes.

Ingredient substitutions for this roasted veggie recipe

Aside from using any mustard you have available and frozen green beans, there are a few ingredients swaps you can use and still get a delicious result.

Instead of sweet potatoes use…

Butternut squash
Buttercup squash
Delicata squash
Acorn squash
Carrots
Regular potatoes

You may need to adjust the cooking time slightly since some of these winter squashes will cook faster than sweet potatoes. For example, butternut squash roasts much faster.

Instead of dried cranberries use…

Raisins
Chopped apples or pears
Roasted pepitas or sunflower seeds (for crunch, not sweetness)

Instead of green beans use…

Although I love green beans in this recipe (they’re one of those veggies that retains a bit of their crisp when you roast them), you could use…

Asparagus (when in season)
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Onions
Brussels sprouts (quartered)

How to make Roasted Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes with Dried Cranberries

This recipe could not be easier to make! To avoid many dishes, in a large bowl, mix together olive oil, mustard and maple syrup. After that, add the sweet potatoes and green beans right into this bowl to toss together and marinade and spices (dried thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper).

Be sure to evenly coat all of the veggies! Really make sure to mix them well (I even like to use clean hands to make sure everything is tossed well).

Distribute the veggies on a large baking sheet. I like to use parchment paper for easy clean up, but you could also use a silpat or roast directly on the tray (if that’s your thing).

Once the sweet potatoes are soft to fork, they’re done. I cooked mine for about 35 minutes, but it really depends on how big you cut your potatoes. Which leads me to…

How big should you cut the sweet potatoes?

For a quicker roast I cut the sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes, or dice. Even more, you can cut the sweet potatoes into skinny strips (like the green beans).

The key is that no matter what shape you use, you cut the sweet potatoes in a small and/or thin enough size that they’ll roast in the same time frame as the green beans, about 30-35 minutes.

What to serve with Roasted Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes with Dried Cranberries

This is a great side dish to accompany any sort of fall meal. Dare I even say it could make an appearance on your Thanksgiving table?!

Here are some of my favorite recipes to pair with this easy side dish:

Pesto Pork Chops
Easy Sheet Pan Chicken & Veggies – you can even add the chicken to this recipe and coat in the same marinade!
Chicken Marsala
Vegan Lasagna with Tofu Ricotta

Kitchen Tools to Make This Recipe

You may need a few kitchen tools to make this recipe (most of which you probably have!)…

Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans with Dried Cranberries

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