Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes (2024)

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Published: Aug 27, 2024 by Barbara Curry

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You only need five ingredients to whip up these skillet sweet potatoes, and no oven is required! Fresh sweet potatoes are simmered slowly on the stovetop in brown sugar and butter and sprinkled with chopped pecans for a sweet side dish, perfect for serving at Thanksgiving, Sunday suppers or for weeknight dinners.

Stovetop Candied Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a classic side dish traditionally served at Thanksgiving dinner, often times in the form of casserole. But sometimes, casseroles can be complicated. So, I decided to make it simple by using fresh sweet potatoes and cooking them in a pan on the stovetop with brown sugar and butter, that’s it.

By cooking them slowly, over low heat, the potatoes are not overcooked or mushy and the time allows the gooey sauce to form.

The brown sugar and butter caramelize as the potatoes cook, creating a sticky, sweet coating on the potatoes that are fork tender but not mashed. You can add more brown sugar if you love that gooey coating.

This sweet potato recipe will take an hour to cook, but the only prep time is peeling the potatoes and occasionally checking the potatoes to make sure they’re not overcooked. It’s a great side dish recipe to make when you’re cooking several side dishes and need an easy no fuss one or want your oven free to make some casseroles.

This recipe is perfect for the holidays for serving alongside more savory side dishes likecornbread corn pudding andItalian sausage stuffing, it has just enough sweetness to offset the other flavors. Best of all sweet potatoes are available year round so you can make this recipe any time of the year and pair it with savorymain dishes!

What’s The Difference Between Sweet Potatoes And Yams?

Yams and sweet potatoes are both root vegetables, but yams are grown in Asia, Africa, and South America and have a white flesh more similar to a russet potato than a sweet potato. On the other hand, North Carolina is one of the top growers of sweet potatoes which have a natural sweetness to them and a beautiful orange interior. Sweet potatoes are much easier to find in US grocery stores and are what you want for this recipe.

Why We’re Obsessed With This Recipe

• Simple: You only need three ingredients to make this easy recipe.
• Cozy: The brown sugar and butter form a thick glaze, giving these sweet potatoes a comforting flavor.
• Adjustable: You can easily increase this recipe, all you need is a pan large enough to fit a single layer of the cut potatoes.
• Versatile: While sweet potatoes are a classic with turkey at Thanksgiving, they are great with ham or any other protein. I love serving them with a honey baked ham at Christmas or Easter.
• Make ahead: You can make this earlier in the day and let it sit at room temperature until you’re ready to eat. Just warm it up on the stovetop.

Here’s What You’ll Need For This Perfect Side Dish

• Raw sweet potatoes: You’ll need to peel and cut the potatoes in large chunks
• Pantry Staples: Brown sugar, butter, and salt. Brown sugar adds a depth of flavor and caramelizes better than white sugar. You can use light or dark brown sugar.I use unsalted butter and cut it into cubes to easily toss it into the skillet.
• Pecans: These add a slight crunch. You could also use walnuts if you like. You’ll roast them first so they have a nuttier flavor.

Step-By-Step Instructions For Making Skillet Sweet Potatoes

Step One: Simmer

Peel and chop the sweet potatoes in to 2-3 chunks and add them to a large skillet with water. You can use a cast iron skillet or any skillet that has a lid. You want very thick sweet potato slices. Cook for 30 minutes or until they are fork tender but not mushy.

Step Two: Make a gooey coating

Drain the water. Then, add butter, brown sugar, and salt and cook until the potatoes turn a deep brown and the sugar and butter have thickened, around 30 minutes. Occasionally, pour the liquid over the potatoes. Add chopped pecans on top at the end.

Make It Special

• For a warmer spin, add warm spices like ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger.
• If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the brown sugar.
• Double or triple the recipe if you’re serving a large crowd, just use a pan that will fit the sweet potatoes without overlapping.

Storing And Reheating Cooked Sweet Potatoes

• Store leftover sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. To reheat, place potatoes in a small skillet over low heat until warm.If you’re in a pinch,you can reheat them in the microwave.
• ​Note:If your leftover sweet potatoes are frozen, let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

More Sweet Potato Side Dishes

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me onInstagramusing the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.