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Cheesy Maple Bacon Hasselback Sweet Potatoes are a wholesome holiday side dish that is nice and hearty! These hasselback potatoes are topped with cheese AND maple candied bacon, making them a standout side dish for any holiday meal.
This post has been sponsored by Cache Valley® Creamery. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As you plan your holiday meal, whether it is Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any other gathering, it’s time to head on over to your local Safeway to get cheesy with things.
Cheese is one of those ingredients that makes a regular appearance on the holiday dining table, at least in my world.
Whether it’s a cheese plate or cheesy potatoes, it’s the one ingredient that I would be absolutely miserable without around the holidays.
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite side dishes, but I am kind of burnt out on the marshmallow topped casseroles you see floating around this time of year. Instead, I wanted to bring sweet potatoes to the table in a brand new way! These are definitely the best hasselback sweet potatoes you could possibly make!
Cheese is what makes these potatoes better, but not just any cheese, Cache Valley® Creamery Cheese!
I’ve shared recipes with Cache Valley Creamery before (like this Tear-Apart Sourdough Holiday Cheese Dip!). The truth is, time and time again, I go back to Cache Valley Creamery cheeses because they are rich, smooth, and full of flavor. This is what makes them perfect for melting, especially on these hasselback sweet potatoes.
I like to use the combination of Cache Valley® Colby & Monterey Jack and Cache Valley® Whole Milk Mozzarella for these potatoes because the flavors lend themselves so well to sweet potatoes.
Not to mention the candied maple bacon and fresh thyme leaves that are sprinkled on top!
ingredients
bacon. Use thick cut bacon to make the candied bacon topping!
sugar. You will need brown sugar for the candied bacon. Either light brown sugar or dark brown sugar will work.
maple syrup. Maple syrup brings added depth of flavor to the candied bacon.
sweet potatoes. Select medium sweet potatoes for the recipe! You want to make sure they are medium to large in size so they will hold up to the hasselback preparation.
spices. All you need is garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
herbs. Fresh thyme and rosemary give the potatoes the best flavor! You could also use fresh chives.
cheese. Shredded colby and monterey jack blend, in addition to shredded mozzarella are used in this recipe.
butter. Use unsalted butter for this recipe! It’s better than using olive oil for the delicious flavor.
let’s make delish cheesy maple bacon hasselback sweet potatoes!
Make Candied Maple Bacon
Candied maple bacon is super simple to make! Simply place the bacon in an even layer on a rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet that’s been lined with aluminum foil.
Sprinkle with brown sugar and drizzle evenly with maple syrup. Place in the oven, THEN turn on the oven. You want the bacon in a cold oven because it’s the key to making candied bacon that turns out perfect every time! This method is much more reliable for candied bacon versus using a cast-iron skillet or something similar.
Once it’s done, roughly chop it and set it aside.
Prep Potatoes
To prep the potatoes, start by scrubbing them well and then pat them dry with paper towels. Use a very sharp chef knife to make the 1/8-inch slits in the potatoes, making sure to stop 1/2-inch from the bottom. You don’t want the knife going all the way through or the potatoes will fall apart! Don’t make thick slices, because the potatoes will take longer to cook if you do.
Bake Potatoes
In a small bowl, whisk together butter, garlic powder, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
Place the potatoes on a clean baking sheet, then brush with the herb butter mixture. Bake for 30 minutes, brush with the remaining butter, and bake again for 25 minutes.
Make Herb Butter
Break out the Cache Valley® Colby & Monterey Jack and Cache Valley® Whole Milk Mozzarella, sprinkling it over the top. The potatoes go back in the oven to bake until the cheese is nice and gooey. Sprinkle it with the chopped candied bacon and some fresh thyme leaves before serving!
Need some more inspiration for side dishes? Check out my side dish recipes page!
can I use a different type of potato?
While I highly recommend sweet potatoes for this recipe, you can also use russet potatoes if you prefer! Just treat the russet potatoes the same as instructed for the sweet potatoes.
can I make this dish vegetarian?
To make this dish vegetarian, simply skip the maple candied bacon!
how to store
Store. Add any leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheat. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
Finally, if you make this cheesy hasselback sweet potatoes recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a star recipe rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.
Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!
Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!
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Cheesy Maple Bacon Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
equipment
ingredients
- 8 slices Thick Sliced Bacon
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp maple syrup
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- 4 Tbsp melted unsalted butter
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp finely chopped thyme leaves
- 1 tsp finely chopped rosemary
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/3 cup Cache Valley® Colby & Monterey Jack
- 1/3 cup Cache Valley® Whole Milk Mozzarella
- Garnish: fresh thyme leaves
instructions
- To make the maple candied bacon, add bacon in one layer on a rack. Place the rack on an aluminum foil lined rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle bacon with maple syrup and sprinkle with brown sugar. Place in the oven.
- Turn oven to 425°F. You want to put the bacon in a cold oven and allow it to bake as the oven preheats so the bacon candies properly! Cook for approximately 15-20 minutes (time may vary based on how quickly your oven heats up, so check it a couple of times). Remove from oven when done (keep oven on) and roughly chop bacon. Set aside.
- While the bacon is cooking, spray a separate baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Wash and scrub sweet potatoes well, then pat dry with paper towels.
- Using a sharp knife, slice 1/8-inch wide slits into each sweet potato, stopping 1/2-inch from the bottom of the potato. You don’t want to cut straight through! Place on baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together butter, garlic powder, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Brush half the butter onto the potatoes and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and brush with remaining butter. Return to the oven to bake for another 25 minutes, until soft and tender in the center.
- Remove potatoes from oven and sprinkle with both shredded cheeses. Return to oven and bake until the cheeses are melted, about 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with candied bacon and fresh thyme leaves. Serve immediately.
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