37 Sweet Potato Recipes for Thanksgiving and Beyond

Melting Sweet Potatoes
Photo: Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Although you're probably most familiar with the classic sweet potato dishes you see on your Thanksgiving or Christmas table, this sweet and savory spud offers a lot more than just a touch of holiday nostalgia. This versatile tuber can transition between sweet and savory in a flash. It brings earthiness and warmth to our favorite holiday desserts, like sweet potato pie, and subtle, natural sweetness to entrées and sides. Higher in fiber and lower in calories than a russet or a Yukon gold, the sweet potato is a great healthier alternative to starchy spuds too.

While it's a must on most holiday menus (is it even Thanksgiving without a sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows?), this simple side is worthy of working its way into your daily supper plans too. A humble baked sweet potato topped with a pat of butter and a dash of cinnamon is absolutely irresistible any day. Whether you want to mix it up on a weeknight or impress the in-laws at your next holiday gathering, here are some of our favorite sweet potato recipes to get you started.

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Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

You'll need just a few ingredients and your Instant Pot to turn sweet potatoes into a buttery and creamy side dish.

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Sweet Potato Stacks

Sweet Potato Stacks
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Recipe: Sweet Potato Stacks

All of the taste of sweet potato casserole in an elevated stack, this recipe is a fantastically unique twist on your traditional holiday side.

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Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

We skip the mayonnaise and replace the traditional potatoes with sweet potatoes in this lightened-up version of potato salad.

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Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole

Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Southern Living

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole

Give your overstuffed holiday oven a little breathing room, and let your slow cooker lend a hand.

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Sweet Potato Rolls

Sweet Potato Rolls
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sweet Potato Rolls

Add a little bit of color and sweetness to homemade rolls with the addition of a sweet potato.

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Melting Sweet Potatoes

Melting Sweet Potatoes
Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Melting Sweet Potatoes

Meet your new signature sweet potato side.

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Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes

Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Recipe: Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes

There's nothing boring about these oven-baked spuds, especially when you can let your imagination run wild with personalized toppings.

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Sweet Potato-Carrot Soup

Sweet Potato-Carrot Soup
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Prissy Lee Montiel

Recipe: Sweet Potato-Carrot Soup

An immersion blender helps turn root vegetables into a rich and creamy soup.

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Sweet Potato Brownies

Sweet Potato Brownies
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Sweet Potato Brownies

Natural syrupy sugars from roasted sweet potatoes are just the addition your next batch of homemade brownies needs.

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Photography, and Food Styling: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

With less mess and fewer calories than its traditionally fried cousin, this recipe may be our new air fryer favorite.

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Spicy Sweet Potato Crostini

Spicy Sweet Potato Crostini
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Spicy Sweet Potato Crostini

Sweet potatoes aren't just for side dishes. Here they serve as the base for a flavorful appetizer.

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Perini Ranch Steakhouse Southern Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar Pecans

Perini Ranch Steakhouse's Southern Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar Pecans
Robbie Caponetto; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Recipe: Perini Ranch Steakhouse Southern Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar Pecans

This recipe comes from Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap, Texas. We love the rustic touch of cooking it in a cast-iron skillet.

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Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie

50 Best Thanksgiving Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie

Brown butter adds a rich nuttiness to the classic Sweet Potato Pie in this new favorite recipe.

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Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
Emily Laurae/Southern Living

Recipe: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

You'll be surprised how versatile this classic casserole is. The sweet potato filling is finished with a crunchy topping of cornflakes, pecans, and brown sugar, balanced out with the gooey favorite—marshmallows.

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Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole

Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole
Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole

Not only is this casserole visually stunning, but the pre-sliced potatoes make it easy to portion out.

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Sweet Potato Cobbler

Sweet Potato Cobbler
Antonis Achilleos, Food Styling: Gordon Sawyer and Tina Stamos, Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell

Recipe: Sweet Potato Cobbler

We all know and love sweet potato pie, but we may have just found a new favorite sweet potato dessert. Topped with buttermilk biscuit drops and streusel crumbles, this cobbler expertly walks the line between sweet and savory.

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Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes and Bacon

Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes and Bacon
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes and Bacon

Never underestimate the power of a warm, hearty soup. Feel free to leave out the bacon to make this recipe vegetarian-friendly.

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Two-Potato Gratin

Two-Potato Gratin
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Two-Potato Gratin

Layered with thinly sliced Yukon golds and sweet potatoes, this Two-Potato Gratin has the best of both worlds.

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Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Trade the marshmallows for breadcrumbs and the cinnamon for sage and you've got a hearty, savory take on the classic holiday side.

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Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

Bourbon Sweet Potatoes
Southern Living

Recipe: Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

This sweet potato mash has a secret ingredient. Serve with thick slices of Thanksgiving turkey and an Old Fashioned.

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Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust

Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust, christmas recipes
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust

This gorgeous potato cake may just outshine the Thanksgiving turkey.

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Cheddar-Caramelized Onion Bread with Whipped Sweet Potato Butter

Cheddar-Caramelized Onion Bread
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick

Recipe: Cheddar-Caramelized Onion Bread with Whipped Sweet Potato Butter

You'll want to save this sweet potato butter and spread it on just about everything, from toast to sandwiches.

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Shepherd's Pie with Potato Crust

Shepherd’s Pie with Potato Crust
Greg Dupree

Recipe: Shepherd's Pie with Potato Crust

With a two-tone scalloped potato crust, this Shepherd's Pie is anything but ordinary.

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Grilled Sweet Potato Fries

Grilled Sweet Potato Fries
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Grilled Sweet Potato Fries

Fire up the grill and enjoy sweet potatoes year-round with these simple, thick-cut Grilled Sweet Potato Fries.

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Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Corn Slow-Cooker Chowder

Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Corn Slow-Cooker Chowder Recipe
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Corn Slow-Cooker Chowder

Throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it go low and slow all day long.

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Sweet Potato Muffins

Sweet Potato Muffins
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Sweet Potato Muffins

Serve these muffins warm with a pat of butter and a sprinkling of spices for a real sweet breakfast treat.

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Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon
Alison Miksch

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

Orange juice gives this dish a little sweetness, while pieces of crumbled bacon will give you something to savor, and rosemary will give it an aroma all its own.

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Oven-Fried Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans

Oven-Fried Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Oven-Fried Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans

Sometimes, you just need a simple sheet pan dinner. With protein, starch, and veggies, this recipe has everything you need for a well-rounded meal.

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Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites

Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites

These portable sausage bites are the perfect addition to any gameday spread.

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Sweet Potato Pie

Sliced Sweet Potato Pie with Molasses Whipped Cream
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Sliced Sweet Potato Pie with Molasses Whipped Cream

This inventive recipe calls for the sweet potatoes sliced, not pureed, to add layered texture to the pie.

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Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole

Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole
Victor Protasio

Recipe: Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole

We'll be having sweet potatoes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the help of this easy, big-batch breakfast casserole.

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Sweet Potato Soufflé

Sweet Potato Soufflé
Micah Leal

Recipe: Sweet Potato Soufflé

This soufflé's stunning orange color earns it the title of an impressive dinner party dessert.

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Sweet Potato Soup

Sweet Potato Soup, potato soup, soup recipes
Greg DuPree

Recipes: Sweet Potato Soup

Dress this simple soup up with a few chopped pecans and a drizzle of yogurt on top.

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Sweet Potato Mash

Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potato Mash
Southern Living

Recipe: Sweet Potato Mash

Trade sweet potatoes for baking potatoes in this warm, savory side.

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Grated Sweet Potato Pudding

Grated Sweet Potato Pudding
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Grated Sweet Potato Pudding

Enhance the autumn flavor of this popular holiday side with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.

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Sweet Potato Cornbread

Sweet Potato Cornbread

Recipe: Sweet Potato Cornbread

Add a touch of sweetness to cornbread by adding two cups of mashed sweet potatoes.

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Sweet Potato Pound Cake

Sweet Potato Pound Cake
Jennifer Davick; Styling: Allison R. Banks

Recipe: Sweet Potato Pound Cake

Serve up sweet potatoes on the dessert table with this pound cake recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are sweet potatoes healthy?

    Sweet potatoes contain many nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese. These nutrients support gut health and your immune system. 

  • Are sweet potatoes the same as yams?

    No. Sweet potatoes and yams have different textures, flesh, and culinary uses, as sweet potatoes are softer and sweet when cooked, unlike a yam's dry and starchy flesh.

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