Easy candied Sweet Potatoes is the perfect Christmas dinner side dish. These sweet potatoes cook up soft, buttery and so delicious.

Candied Sweet Potatoes on a plate with a fork
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Candied Sweet Potato Casserole is a must side for all our holiday dinners. They are always cooked to perfection and a family favorite side dish recipe. They are sweet, buttery, creamy and always have the best flavor.

These sweet potatoes are a delicious side dish that we serve every holiday with our turkey and ham but I also make them throughout the year. They are so easy to make and my family always request them. See more Christmas Sweet Potato Recipes.

What are Candied Sweet Potatoes?

Candied Sweet Potatoes is the ultimate side dish. Fresh sweet potatoes are sliced and placed in a baking dish. They are then covered with a melted butter sauce and seasoned with warm spices that can easily be found at the grocery store.

They are then baked to perfection and the results are caramelized sweet potatoes that are soft and buttery.

Are Candied Yams and Candied Sweet Potatoes the same thing?

Candied Yams and Candied Sweet Potatoes are both made from sweet potatoes, rooted vegetable, but they do not taste them same.

Yams have a starch texture similar to a white potato. Candied Sweet Potatoes are sweeter and have a creamier texture.

Sweet Potatoes and Yams always make the perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Ingredients

Ingredients - sweet potatoes, salt, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Salt
  • Butter
  • Dark Brown Sugar
  • Ground Cinnamon
  • Ground Nutmeg

Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Chopped Pecans – If you like pecans, add some chopped pecans to the top before baking. Adding nuts allows gives the sweet potato a nice crunchy texture.
  • Maple Syrup – Maple syrup is a delicious addition to the buttery sauce. It has warm flavors and mixes well with the butter and with spices. We have even added in vanilla extract for flavor.
  • Marshmallows – Top this classic side dish with mini marshmallows. This will make the best sweet potato pie.
  • Orange Juice – Add in orange juice or orange zest. This is great way to add some fresh flavor to sweet potato casserole dish.

Step by Step Instructions

  • Step 1 – Heat Oven – Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Slice sweet potatoes in a baking dish

Step 2 – Peel and Cut Sweet Potatoes – Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into approximately 1/2” thick slices. Then place the orange flesh sweet potatoes into a prepared baking dish. Season the sweet potatoes with the salt.

Melt butter, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large sauce pan

Step 3 – Melt butter and other seasoning – Melt the butter over medium high heat in a saucepan.  Then stir in the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Stir and heat until the sugar has dissolved (just a few minutes).  Watch the mixture closely so that it does not burn.

Pouring the sugar mixture over the sweet potatoes in a baking dish

Step 4 – Pour mixture over sweet potatoes – Then pour this brown sugar mixture evenly over the sweet potatoes making sure that every sweet potato is covered with the butter mixture.

Mixing the sauce with the sweet potatoes in the baking dish

Step 5 – Cover and Bake – Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 40-60 minutes stirring every 15 minutes to 30 minutes until the sweet potatoes are fork tender.

  • Step 7 – Serve and Enjoy – Serve immediately while warm and enjoy! This is perfect for Thanksgiving side dish and as a Christmas side dish.

Recipe Tips

  • Covering the Sweet Potatoes – Once you have melted the buttery mixed add to the sweet potatoes and toss. Make sure to cover the sweet potatoes completely.
  • Slicing the Sweet Potatoes – We recommend slicing the sweet potatoes about the same size. This ensure that the sweet potatoes cook evenly.
  • Baking – When baking the sweet potato casserole, make sure to cover for the first hour. Make sure to stir throughout the cooking process so that the sweet potatoes doo not burn.
  • Fork Tender Potatoes – Make sure you potatoes are fork tender before removing them from the oven. I also like them to have a crispy golden brown texture before removing them.
  • Buttery Sauce – When melting the butter, white sugar, and other ingredients watch closely so they sauce doesn’t burn in the pan.
Candied Sweet Potatoes in a baking dish with a wooden spoon

Can Candied Sweet Potatoes be made in advance?

You can prepare the buttery brown sugar glaze in advance. But we recommend making it and then baking it. It is best served right after it is made.

Candied Sweet Potatoes in a baking dish

How to Store

Refrigerate the candied yams recipe leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. These store well and reheat easily in the microwave. If you have a large portion left, we recommend placing back in the baking dish to reheat.

More Easy Side Dish Recipes:

We love hearing from you. If you make this candied sweet potato recipe, please leave us a message or a star review.

Candied Sweet Potatoes

5 from 1 vote
Candied Sweet Potatoes is the perfect Christmas dinner side dish. These sweet potatoes cook up soft, buttery and so delicious.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6
Cuisine American
Course Side Dish
Calories 538

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs Sweet Potatoes
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 1 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
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Instructions

  • Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into approximately 1/2” thick slices.
  • Then place the sweet potatoes into a 9X13 baking pan. Season the sweet potatoes with the salt.
  • Melt the butter over medium high heat in a saucepan.  Then stir in the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  • Stir and heat until the sugar has dissolved (just a few minutes).  Watch the mixture closely so that it does not burn.
  • Then pour this mixture evenly over the sweet potatoes making sure that every sweet potato is covered with the butter mixture.
  • Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 40-60 minutes stirring every 15-20 minutes until the sweet potatoes are fork tender.
  • Serve immediately while warm and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Calories 538kcal, Carbohydrates 97g, Protein 5g, Fat 16g, Saturated Fat 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 4g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 41mg, Sodium 327mg, Potassium 1080mg, Fiber 9g, Sugar 48g, Vitamin A 43375IU, Vitamin C 7mg, Calcium 130mg, Iron 2mg

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About the Author

Hi! We are Carrie and Christina! Welcome to Christmas on a Dime!

We  are sisters and love everything about Christmas. We are here to help you celebrate the magic of Christmas all year long!

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