Amidst the excitement of planning the perfect Thanksgiving menu, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to traditional sweet potato dishes. Fortunately, there are countless ways to elevate this humble root vegetable into show-stopping sides and desserts that will impress even the most discerning guests.
Whether you’re looking to blend it into delicious bread and biscuits or pile it high into mouthwatering casseroles and pies, sweet potatoes pair beautifully with a range of festive flavors like sharp cranberry and delicate warm spices. With our collection of 23 expertly curated Thanksgiving sweet potato recipes, you’ll discover new ways to make this year’s holiday season truly unforgettable.
20+ Fantastic Sweet Potato Recipes for Thanksgiving
Sweet Potato Casserole
Laying the foundation for a show-stopping side dish, this sweet potato casserole recipe is an elevated twist on a classic. The game-changer? A rich brown sugar and pecan topping that adds a delightful textural contrast to the smooth and creamy mashed potatoes beneath. With its perfect balance of nutty and crunchy, it’s no wonder this dish has become a crowd-pleaser!
This comprehensive recipe takes you through every step of the process, from prep work to achieving that perfectly golden-brown crust. For an extra-special touch, consider swapping out the pecans for a decadent marshmallow layer, adding an extra layer of sweetness and indulgence.
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Vibrant and inviting, caramelized sweet potatoes are a delightful presence on any holiday table, from Thanksgiving to Christmas, Easter, and beyond. It’s their rich, buttery flavor, paired with creamy undertones and subtle hints of vanilla, warm spices, and a drizzle of maple syrup that initially catches the eye. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that these sweet potatoes are more than just a familiar face.
The addition of orange zest, fresh rosemary, and a touch of sea salt gives them a unique twist, setting them apart from the usual candied sweet potatoes.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a casserole that’s easier to make than this one, yet it’s bursting with the rich flavors of fall. The simplicity of this recipe is deceiving – it may look effortless, but it’s actually packed with depth. To take some of the pressure off, feel free to substitute canned yams for fresh sweet potatoes if you’re short on time.
The beauty of this dish lies in its straightforward preparation: simply spread a layer of mashed sweet potatoes in a casserole dish and top with toasted marshmallows and brown sugar streusel. The delightful combination of creamy potatoes, gooey marshmallows, and crunchy streusel will have your Thanksgiving guests clamoring for seconds.
Cranberry Sweet Potatoes
Welcoming the winter season with a delicious twist on a classic side dish, sweet potatoes are paired with tart cranberries to create a harmonious balance of flavors. Wrapped in a medley of textures and tastes, this unique recipe boasts not one, but three different forms of cranberry – juice, dried cranberries, and luscious sauce. The sweetness of the sliced sweet potatoes is elevated by the berries sprinkled on top, while the juice and sauce combine to form a rich and tangy glaze.
Complementing this delightful syrup are warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest, which add an aromatic depth to the dish before it’s baked to perfection.
Garlic Butter Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
Looking for a side dish that will complement your Thanksgiving feast perfectly? This herby sweet potato recipe is the ideal choice for those who enjoy the savory flavor of sweet potatoes. The aromatic garlic butter infuses the potatoes with a rich, fragrant goodness as they bake, creating a truly mouth-watering experience. Blended with cream and parmesan cheese, this comforting casserole boasts a gorgeously creamy and smooth texture that is sure to delight both kids and adults alike.
Your family will love this heavenly dish so much, it’s likely to become a Sunday dinner favorite even after the holidays have passed.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Let’s not forget about the simple pleasures of Thanksgiving cooking with a classic baked potato recipe that lets the natural flavors shine through. Sweet potato enthusiasts know that sometimes less is more when it comes to making this delicious side dish. A light drizzle of oil, a sprinkling of fresh herbs or spicy seasonings, and some time in the oven are all you need to bring out the sweetness of these versatile spuds.
Sweet Potato Souffle
Creating an impressive dessert for dinner guests or special occasions can be a daunting task. However, serving up these airy soufflés is sure to win over even the most discerning palates. Not only are they light and decadent, but when presented in individual ramekins, they add a touch of elegance and sophistication to any holiday table. The subtle hint of pumpkin pie spice infuses them with a warm, comforting flavor that’s reminiscent of soft, fluffy clouds.
Southern Sweet Potato Cake
Often considered a show-stopping centerpiece for special occasions, this layered cake is perfectly suited for feeding a large group of people. The tender sponge cake is crafted with sweet potatoes and warm cinnamon, creating a delightful flavor combination. The layers are held together by a generous amount of honey cinnamon buttercream, which not only serves as the frosting but also adds an extra layer of moisture to each bite.
For those who value efficiency in their baking process, making the cake ahead of time and freezing it is an excellent option, allowing for an even denser and more tender crumb when thawed.
Sweet Potato Marshmallow Bars
Gently unfolding the flavors of sweet potato puree onto a crunchy biscuit crumb base, these bite-sized treats are essentially miniaturized versions of classic sweet potato casserole. Much like cheesecake bars, their appeal lies in being best savored chilled and accompanied by a dollop of whipped cream.
Texas Roadhouse Loaded Sweet Potato
Holidays are the perfect time to indulge in sweet treats, and why settle for regular sweet potatoes when you can load them up with delicious toppings?! Honey cinnamon butter, caramel, and marshmallows create a sweet and gooey combination that’s more like a dessert than a side dish. It’s a festive twist on traditional Thanksgiving fare, so go ahead and treat yourself to this indulgent loaded sweet potato – after all, when can you eat dessert for dinner if not during the holidays?!
Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole
You know that the holiday season can be overwhelming with so many tasks competing for your attention. In the midst of party planning, greeting relatives, hosting friends, and everything in between, it’s easy to let cooking fall by the wayside. That’s why using a slow cooker is a game-changer for Thanksgiving meals. Simply pile in sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, spices, and marshmallows, set it and forget it, and open it up a few hours later to find a bubbly casserole all ready to eat.
No fuss, no mess, just delicious Thanksgiving fun!
Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Generally, comfort foods are a staple during the holidays, and whipped sweet potatoes are no exception. They’re creamy, they’re thick, and they’re absolutely divine. One of the best things about this Thanksgiving recipe is that it requires only seven ingredients, most of which you likely already have in your kitchen pantry.
Simply gather your ingredients, cook your sweet potatoes, and then blend or mash them together with butter, cream, and seasonings to create a dish that’s both familiar and exciting. The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability – you can adjust the seasonings to suit your taste, making it sweeter if that’s what you prefer or adding savory notes for a different twist.
You can even experiment with various mashing techniques to achieve the perfect texture, chunky or smooth, whichever suits your mood.
Southern Sweet Potato Pie
Often, traditional desserts are elevated by incorporating regional flavors and ingredients. Take the classic sweet potato pie for example, which originates from the deep South. This year, consider adding a touch of Southern charm to your Holiday celebrations with this simple yet satisfying recipe. Made with fresh sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, flour, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, it yields a moist cake that complements any meal perfectly.
Sweet Potato Muffins
Preparing for the influx of guests during Thanksgiving can be overwhelming, to say the least. Hosting family and friends often involves providing more than just a single meal, with requests for snacks, breakfast options, and even brunch appearing as the day progresses. I’ve learned from experience that it’s always wise to have some extra food on hand, just in case, which is why I’m making a large batch of sweet potato muffins.
These tasty treats not only make great use of any leftover sweet potatoes but are also incredibly delicious. Plus, they’re perfect for munching on throughout the day, and their sweet flavor will undoubtedly be a hit with your guests.
Sweet Potato Pound Cake
Keeping in mind the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes, they can be added to baked goods to create a delightful texture and crumb. Interestingly, this is not unlike what bananas or applesauce do for baked treats. Keeping this in mind, our pound cake recipe follows suit. We’ve incorporated mashed sweet potato into the batter, combining it with an assortment of ingredients such as flour, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and more.
The final touches are a syrupy glaze made from sugar, orange juice, and orange zest for that extra layer of flavor.
Sweet Potato Bites
Taking its cue from nature, this sweet treat offers a perfect blend of visual appeal and taste satisfaction. The simplicity of its preparation belies the fact that it’s more than just a straightforward combination of ingredients; sweet potatoes are sliced into thick rounds, topped with maple syrup, and finished off with marshmallows for an effortless yet impressive result.
Sweet Potato Cheesecake
Renowned for its light and airy texture, this cheesecake is a true delight. Its soft sweet potato filling provides a subtle sweetness that perfectly complements the crunchy buttery gingersnap crust. Whether you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth after dinner or save it for an afternoon pick-me-up or midnight indulgence, this dessert is sure to be a hit with your guests.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple Butter
Navigating the realm of indulgent holiday sides, there’s one dish that consistently steals the show: caramelized potatoes. These delectable treats are elevated to new heights when roasted until tender and browned, then generously tossed in a rich maple cinnamon butter sauce. The end result is nothing short of culinary perfection – sticky, sweet, and irresistibly soft – making them the ultimate accompaniment for a decadent Thanksgiving feast.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
Yielding a sweet and savory delight, baking sweet potatoes twice allows for maximum flavor and texture development. The filling becomes incredibly soft and fluffy, while the skin develops a satisfying crunch and chewiness that’s simply irresistible. This recipe cleverly combines brown sugar, pecans, and cinnamon to create an addictive twist on traditional casserole or roasted potato sides.
Sweet Potato Bread
Loaded with the perfect blend of warm spices and natural sweetness, this chunky sweet bread has captured my heart. Its moist texture makes it an ideal way to subtly incorporate more vegetables into meals for even the pickiest eaters or dinner guests. The flavor profile is reminiscent of carrot cake, while also drawing similarities with pumpkin bread. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves come together in harmony to create a deliciously comforting treat.
Sweet Potato Apple Butter Casserole
Savoring the taste of autumn, this casserole is an ultimate delight for the senses. Made with a rich blend of ingredients including apple butter, sweet potato puree, cream, honey, and brown sugar, it’s the perfect side dish to serve on Thanksgiving day. To add an extra touch of sophistication, simply sprinkle some toasted pecans on top just before serving and indulge in its gooey goodness.
Mini Sweet Potato Pies
Hosting a large crowd on Thanksgiving can be overwhelming, but with the right make-ahead pies, you can lighten your load amidst the holiday chaos. These pies are a great solution because they require some prep and assembly in advance, but it’s worth it for the convenience. You can prepare the filling weeks ahead of time and freeze it until needed, taking away the stress on the actual Thanksgiving day.
The filling itself is a heavenly blend of sweet potato puree, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs, and evaporated milk, creating a deliciously comforting flavor that’s sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
23 Best Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Recipe Collection
Often, the traditional Thanksgiving menu can feel a bit stale. However, by adding some exciting new dishes to the table, you can breathe fresh life into your holiday celebration. With over 20 unique sweet potato recipes, ranging from savory sides to decadent desserts, there’s something for everyone this Thanksgiving.
Instructions
Achieving culinary success requires careful planning, and it starts with selecting your favorite recipe. To ensure that you have everything you need, organize all the required ingredients beforehand to avoid any last-minute trips to the grocery store. By doing so, you can prep a delicious meal in 30 minutes or less.
