Spoon University Logo
BeFunky collage
BeFunky collage
Recipes

Thanksgiving-Inspired Sweet Potato Fries to Satisfy All Your Cravings

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at U Mich chapter.

Let’s face it: Thanksgiving is a lot of work. So when Thanksgiving cravings strike and there’s no chance of you standing in the kitchen for hours on end preparing all your favorite dishes, appease your tastebuds with these quick Thanksgiving-inspired sweet potato fries. Capturing all the cozy flavors of the holiday, this pair of savory and sweet recipes makes a perfect feast for one. 

Savory Sweet Potato Fries

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 5 minutesCook time: 20 minutesTotal time: 25 minutesServings:1 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Amelia Popowics

    Wash the sweet potato and cut off the ends and any sprouts or bad spots. Chop the potato into sticks about 1/2 inch in width.

  2. Amelia Popowics

    In a medium bowl, toss the sweet potato fries with the vegetable broth, rosemary, and thyme. Arrange the fries on a baking sheet so that none are overlapping. Line the baking sheet with a silicone mat, parchment paper, or aluminum foil to prevent the fries from sticking.

  3. Amelia Popowics

    Roast the fries at 450° Fahrenheit until tender and caramelized, about 20 minutes, flipping halfway to ensure even cooking.

To elevate these savory fries, serve them with this fast vegan gravy, adapted from the Simple Vegan Blog’s recipe. Vegetable broth lends the gravy a surprising depth of flavor and richness, no pan drippings necessary. (Pro tip: for maximum efficiency, whip up this gravy while waiting for your fries to roast.)

Quick Vegan Gravy

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: minutesCook time: 5 minutesTotal time: 5 minutesServings:1 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Amelia Popowics

    Add all the ingredients to a small saucepan and whisk to combine. Cover the pan and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low. Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture has thickened to your desired consistency.

Now I hope you saved room, because somewhere up in the clouds, angels are singing about the dessert fries coming up next. Warm cinnamon, luscious nut butter, and sweet dried fruit harmonize in an autumnal symphony that’s the stuff of Thanksgiving dreams. Seriously. They’re that good. 

Dessert Sweet Potato Fries

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 5 minutesCook time: 20 minutesTotal time: 25 minutesServings:1 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Amelia Popowics

    Wash the sweet potato and cut off the ends and any bad spots or sprouts. Chop the potato into sticks 1/2 inch in width.

  2. Amelia Popowics

    In a medium bowl, toss the sweet potato fries with the cinnamon, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Arrange on a baking sheet so that none are overlapping. Line the baking sheet with a silicone mat, parchment paper, or aluminum foil to prevent the fries from sticking.

  3. Amelia Popowics

    Roast the sweet potato fries at 450° Fahrenheit until tender and caramelized, about 20 minutes, flipping halfway to ensure even cooking.

  4. Amelia Popowics

    Transfer to the fries to a bowl and top them with nut butter, raisins or dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds.

So there you have it: a glorious Thanksgiving feast, sans the stress of carving a turkey and the awkwardness of making small talk with your distant relatives. I hope you give these Thanksgiving-inspired sweet potato fries a try, whether it’s November or the middle of summer. As far as I’m concerned, any time is a good time to be thankful for sweet potatoes.

Hey there! I'm a plant-based foodie with a love for making mouthwatering recipes out of simple, wholesome ingredients. In my free time, you can find me swooning over roasted sweet potatoes and spreading peanut butter on top of just about anything.