Delicious & Healthy Weight Watchers Hasselback Sweet Potatoes: Your Ultimate Side Dish

Discover the perfect blend of elegance and simplicity with these incredible Weight Watchers Hasselback Sweet Potatoes. At just 3 WW points per serving, they are an outstanding side dish, especially comforting and inviting during the cooler months. These potatoes redefine “comfort food” by delivering a rich, satisfying experience that is both healthy and incredibly versatile. If you’ve yet to experience the magic of Hasselback sweet potatoes, prepare to be delighted! They take the familiar concept of baked sweet potatoes and elevate it with a stunning, fan-like presentation, achieved through meticulous, thin slices that create an impressive visual appeal and a delightful texture.

Whether you’re planning a casual weeknight dinner or an elegant gathering, this recipe strikes the perfect balance. It’s straightforward enough for everyday cooking but sophisticated enough to impress at dinner parties or holiday meals, ensuring it will become a go-to crowd-pleaser. Beyond their aesthetic charm, these Hasselback sweet potatoes are packed with nutrition and flavor. They feature hints of fresh garlic, the nutty richness of Parmesan cheese, and a fragrant medley of herbs, including thyme, sage, rosemary, and oregano. Each herb is carefully chosen to complement and enhance the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes, creating a harmonious and memorable taste profile.

To further enrich the dish, a light butter substitute provides a luxurious mouthfeel without adding excessive calories, while the Parmesan cheese bakes to a beautiful golden crisp, offering a perfect savory, nutty topping. I simply can’t get enough of this side dish! If you’re looking for a delightful entrée to serve alongside these Hasselback sweet potatoes, be sure to explore my comprehensive dinner recipe collection, where you’ll find an abundance of excellent options to complete your meal.

Why You Should Add This Recipe to Your Menu

• Effortlessly Easy: This side dish is remarkably simple to prepare, requiring minimal hands-on time before it goes into the oven. This makes it an ideal choice for busy weeknights, allowing you to focus on your main entrée without juggling multiple complex tasks on the stovetop. Even novice cooks will find this recipe approachable and rewarding.
• Incredibly Versatile: The beauty of these baked sweet potatoes lies in their adaptability. Their simple yet exquisite seasoning profile makes them a fantastic accompaniment for a wide array of main courses. They pair beautifully with everything from roasted chicken and grilled fish to savory pork tenderloin or various vegetarian mains, offering endless possibilities for meal planning.
• Wholesomely Healthy: Crafted with minimal, wholesome ingredients, this is a truly healthy sweet potato side dish. Sweet potatoes are naturally rich in fiber, vitamins A and C, and antioxidants. The addition of fresh garlic and aromatic herbs further enhances its nutritional value and flavor. For an even lighter option, you can easily omit the Parmesan cheese, reducing both points and calories while still enjoying a delicious dish.

Recipe Overview

• Serving Size: Approximately ½ a medium sweet potato (124g)
• Number of Servings: 8
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 55-75 minutes (depending on potato size)
• WW Points Per Serving: 3 WW points per serving, 26 points for the entire recipe (Click here to view the recipe in the WW app. WW login is required)

Essential Ingredients for Weight Watchers Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Gathering high-quality ingredients is the first step to a truly delicious dish. For these Hasselback sweet potatoes, you’ll want fresh, firm sweet potatoes and vibrant herbs to maximize their flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 32 oz Sweet potatoes (about 4 medium-sized)
• 4 tbsp Light butter substitute (or light margarine)
• 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 3-4 Garlic cloves, finely minced
• Salt, to taste (preferably sea salt or kosher salt)
• ¼ tsp Black pepper, freshly ground
• 2 tsp Dried thyme
• ¼ tsp Ground sage
• 1 tsp Dried crushed rosemary
• 1 tsp Dried oregano

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Weight Watchers Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Follow these detailed steps to create perfectly cooked and flavorful Hasselback sweet potatoes:

1. Prepare the Sweet Potatoes: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Thoroughly wash your sweet potatoes and pat them completely dry with a paper towel. This ensures a crispier skin. Trim off both ends of each sweet potato for a cleaner presentation and easier slicing. To create the signature Hasselback slices without cutting all the way through, place a sweet potato on a cutting board. Position two butter knives or cooking spoons parallel to its longer edges, one on each side. These will act as a guide, preventing your knife from slicing through the bottom. Carefully use a sharp knife to make thin, crosswise slices along the length of the sweet potato, stopping when the knife touches your guides. Repeat this process for all the sweet potatoes, aiming for consistent, thin slices to ensure even cooking.
2. Create the Herb Butter Mixture: In a small mixing bowl, combine about 3 tablespoons of the light butter substitute with the minced garlic and all the dried herbs (thyme, sage, rosemary, and oregano). Mix until well combined. Now, using your clean hands, gently rub this aromatic mixture all over the surface of each prepared sweet potato. Make sure to work the herb butter down into the thin crevices you’ve just created. This ensures every bite is infused with flavor. If you have any extra butter mixture, feel free to stuff it more generously into the potato’s slits. Finally, sprinkle the sweet potatoes generously with salt and black pepper to taste.

3. Bake to Perfection: Arrange the seasoned sweet potatoes in a greased baking dish, ensuring they have a little space between them. For the first 30 minutes of baking, cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. This helps to steam the potatoes, making them tender on the inside. After 30 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking for another 15-30 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are completely fork-tender throughout. The total cooking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of your sweet potatoes. To check for doneness, simply pierce the thickest part of a potato with a fork – it should glide in easily with no resistance.

4. The Finishing Touch: Once the sweet potatoes are cooked through and tender, remove them from the oven. Brush any remaining light butter substitute over their tops, and then generously sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese. For an extra layer of flavor and a beautiful golden-brown crust, you can optionally place the baking dish under the broiler for 2-3 minutes. Watch them carefully to prevent burning; you want a lovely, bubbling, slightly browned cheese topping. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Creative Variations and Easy Substitutions

This Hasselback sweet potato recipe is wonderfully flexible, allowing for numerous delicious variations to suit your taste or dietary needs. Feel free to experiment with these ideas:

• Sweet & Savory Maple Pecan Hasselback Sweet Potatoes: For a different take that leans into the natural sweetness of the potatoes while retaining a savory touch, reduce the amount of dried herbs slightly. To the butter mixture, add 1-2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup. Brush this mixture onto the sweet potatoes before baking. Once they are done cooking, sprinkle them generously with toasted, chopped pecans for an irresistible crunch and added depth of flavor. A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg could also be a delightful addition here.
• Butter vs. Oil Alternative: If a light butter substitute isn’t readily available or you prefer another option, you can easily use vegetable oil or olive oil. The key is to provide a fat source that helps the potatoes achieve a nice crispy skin while preventing them from drying out during baking. Olive oil lends a slightly herbaceous note, while vegetable oil is more neutral. Coconut oil could also be used for a subtle tropical hint.
• Explore Different Cheeses: While Parmesan offers a classic nutty flavor, don’t hesitate to experiment with other cheese varieties. Mozzarella cheese will provide a wonderfully melty, stringy topping. Sharp cheddar cheese adds a bold, tangy flavor. For a more piquant and salty kick, crumbled feta cheese works beautifully. Alternatively, soft goat cheese, added towards the end of baking, will melt into a creamy, tangy delight.
• Customizable Seasoning Options: To simplify your preparation, a good quality Italian seasoning blend can be used in place of the individual dried herbs. If you’re feeling adventurous, explore different spice combinations. For a warm, smoky, and spicy kick, try adding some smoked paprika or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the butter mixture. If you’re short on fresh garlic, garlic powder is a convenient substitute – use about ½ teaspoon for every clove of fresh garlic. Onion powder is another great addition for a savory depth.
• Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Crispy Bacon: Elevate this side dish into a more substantial offering by adding crispy bacon bits. Simply cook your bacon separately on the stovetop until it reaches your desired crispiness. Crumble the cooked bacon and sprinkle it over the Hasselback sweet potatoes right before serving. The salty, smoky crunch of bacon perfectly complements the tender, sweet potatoes and creamy cheese. For extra freshness, garnish with chopped chives or green onions.

Expert Tips and Tricks for Perfect Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Achieving perfectly cooked and beautifully presented Hasselback sweet potatoes is easier with these helpful tips:

• Storing and Reheating Leftovers: Any leftover Hasselback sweet potatoes can be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for three to five days. For longer storage, they can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. To reheat, you can use a microwave for speed, but for the best texture (crispier skin), reheat them in an oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through. Leftovers can also be repurposed into hashes or served alongside eggs for breakfast.
• Mastering the Slices for Even Cooking: The key to evenly cooked Hasselback potatoes is consistent, thin slices. The thinner and more uniform your slices are, the more quickly and evenly the sweet potatoes will cook, resulting in that desirable crispy exterior and tender interior. Remember that cooking time is highly dependent on the size of your sweet potatoes. If you’re baking potatoes of varying sizes, it’s common for smaller ones to cook faster. Don’t hesitate to remove individual potatoes from the baking dish as they become fork-tender, allowing the larger ones to continue baking until done.
• Optimizing Butter Application: Light butter substitutes can sometimes be firmer or less spreadable than regular butter, making them tricky to brush onto the sweet potatoes effectively before baking. This is precisely why I recommend using your hands to rub the butter-herb mixture onto the potatoes. This allows you to really work the mixture into all the crevices and ensure an even, thorough coating, which is crucial for flavor absorption and preventing the potatoes from drying out.

More Sweet Potato Delights

If you love sweet potatoes, be sure to check out these other fantastic recipes:

Weight Watchers Sweet Potato Souffle

Easiest Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes

Maple Bacon Sweet Potato Bites