Best Sweet Potato Rounds with Goat Cheese

If you ask me, sweet potato rounds are a total game-changer for easy appetizers.

These little bites combine the natural sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes with creamy, tangy goat cheese in a way that makes perfect sense. The combination just works – like they were meant to be paired together.

Each round gets nice and crispy on the outside while staying soft inside, and the goat cheese melts slightly into all the nooks and crannies. I like to finish them with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and a drizzle of honey.

It’s the kind of appetizer that looks fancy but is actually super simple to make – perfect for everything from casual get-togethers to holiday parties.

What Kind of Goat Cheese Should I Use?

For these sweet potato rounds, you’ll want to use a soft, spreadable goat cheese (often labeled as chèvre) rather than aged varieties. Fresh goat cheese typically comes in logs or tubs at the grocery store, and either option works great here as long as it’s soft enough to spread. If your goat cheese is too firm, just let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before using – this makes it much easier to mix with the herbs and spread on the sweet potato rounds. While plain goat cheese is perfect for this recipe, you can also use herbed varieties if that’s what you have on hand, just adjust the amount of fresh herbs you add accordingly.

Options for Substitutions

Need to switch things up? Here are some handy substitutions for this recipe:

• Sweet potato: While sweet potatoes give this dish its signature taste, you could try regular potatoes or even thick-cut butternut squash slices. Just note that cooking times might need adjusting – regular potatoes usually take a bit longer.
• Goat cheese: Not everyone loves goat cheese, and that’s okay! Try cream cheese, ricotta, or even mascarpone for a milder flavor. If you’re dairy-free, whipped dairy-free cream cheese can work too.
• Fresh herbs: No fresh herbs? Use dried ones instead – just remember to use 1/3 of the amount since dried herbs are more concentrated. You can also swap thyme and rosemary for sage or oregano.
• Honey: Maple syrup makes a great alternative to honey. For a sugar-free option, try a sugar-free maple syrup or skip the sweetener entirely – the sweet potatoes are naturally sweet on their own!
• Olive oil: Any neutral cooking oil works here – try avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or even melted coconut oil.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge when making sweet potato rounds is achieving the perfect texture – cutting the rounds too thick will leave you with undercooked centers, while too thin means they’ll burn quickly, so aim for consistent 1/4-inch slices using a sharp knife or mandoline. Getting crispy edges depends on giving each round enough space on the baking sheet – overcrowding leads to steaming instead of roasting, so use two baking sheets if needed and rotate them halfway through cooking. To prevent the goat cheese mixture from melting completely and sliding off, let your sweet potato rounds cool for 5-7 minutes after roasting before adding the topping. For the best flavor combination, add the honey drizzle just before serving, not while the rounds are still hot, as this keeps the honey from becoming too thin and running off the sides.

What to Serve With Sweet Potato Rounds?

These sweet potato rounds work really well as part of a bigger spread, especially during cocktail hour or as a starter! Since they combine both sweet and savory flavors, they pair nicely with simple proteins like grilled chicken or roasted pork tenderloin if you’re serving them as a side dish. For appetizer-style serving, I like to put them on a platter alongside some mixed olives, fresh fruit like grapes or figs, and maybe some spiced nuts – it makes for a really nice grazing board. If you’re hosting a party, these rounds go great with both red and white wine, or even a crisp apple cider.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These sweet potato rounds are best enjoyed right after making, but if you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Try to keep the goat cheese topping separate if possible – this helps maintain the best texture for both components.

Make Ahead: Want to prep these in advance? You can slice and roast the sweet potato rounds up to 2 days ahead. Store them in the fridge, then just warm them up and add the goat cheese mixture when you’re ready to serve. The herb-goat cheese mixture can also be made a day ahead and kept in the fridge.

Warm Up: To enjoy leftover rounds, pop them in the oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes until warmed through. If you stored them without the goat cheese, add it after reheating. A quick drizzle of honey right before serving brings back that fresh-made taste!

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	15-20 minutes
Total Time	30-40 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 500-600
• Protein: 15-20 g
• Fat: 25-30 g
• Carbohydrates: 65-75 g

Ingredients

• 1 large sweet potato, sliced thinly
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 ounces softened goat cheese
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon milk
• Salt and pepper for seasoning
• Honey for drizzling

Step 1: Prepare and Bake the Sweet Potato Rounds

Start by preheating your oven to 425°F (220°C).

Thinly slice the sweet potato into rounds, aiming for a thickness of approximately 1/16 inch.

Using a mandoline slicer is highly recommended for consistent, even slices.

Toss the sweet potato rounds in olive oil, adding a pinch of salt and pepper for seasoning.

Arrange the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet to ensure even cooking.

Bake in the oven for 7-8 minutes, then carefully flip each slice and bake for an additional 7-8 minutes until crispy and slightly golden.

Step 2: Prepare the Goat Cheese Mixture

While the sweet potato rounds are baking, prepare the goat cheese topping by combining the goat cheese, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, milk, and salt to taste.

Use an electric hand mixer to beat the ingredients together until the mixture is light, airy, and smooth, which should only take a few minutes.

Step 3: Assemble and Serve

Once the sweet potato chips are done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool slightly.

Spread approximately 1/2 teaspoon of the prepared goat cheese mixture on top of each sweet potato chip—or adjust the amount based on your preference.

Finish each chip with a drizzle of honey for added sweetness and flavor.

Serve immediately to enjoy these delightful, savory-sweet bites at their best.