Recipes just don't get more southern than yams, pecans, and bourbon all tucked under a sweet praline crunch.
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
Bourbon sweet potato casserole is one of my favorite side dishes. I love buttery sweet potatoes any time but for Thanksgiving dinner, it just doesn't get more "fall" than this - bourbon, fall spices, yams, pecans...
- You can assemble it ahead of time and bake it on the big day.
- It's a little upgrade on the classic Thanksgiving side dish, sweet potatoes with marshmallows.
- Bourbon balances the sweetness and adds layers of flavor while the crunchy praline adds texture.
Even if you're not a fan of yams/sweet potatoes you may find yourself taking another helping of this great recipe!
It's the perfect way to update old-fashioned yams.
If you're looking for a less sweet dish, next time try the chipotle sweet potato mash or pineapple sweet potato casserole.
🧾 Ingredients
This easy recipe is filled with fall flavor and color. Rich, vibrant, and sure to become a family tradition!
- Sweet potatoes or yams can be fresh or canned.
- Make sure fresh sweet potatoes are firm to the touch and the skin is intact with no soft spots.
- Completely drain canned yams.
- Heavy cream lightens the sweet potatoes and gives them creaminess. You can substitute whole milk or evaporated milk if you wish to cut down on some of the fat.
🔪 Instructions
This traditional side dish couldn't be easier! The main thing to remember is to really whip the ingredients together so they are light and fluffy.
- After baking, scoop the sweet potato flesh out into a mixer and throw the peels away. If you're using canned yams then be sure to drain them thoroughly.
- Whip on high speed until fluffy.
- Add vanilla and spices to the mashed sweet potatoes.
- Whip in the brown sugar.
- Add melted butter, heavy cream, and bourbon.
- Spoon the sweet potato mixture into a greased baking dish and set aside.
- Chop the pecans.
- Combine sugar and melted butter. Mix in the pecans.
- Saute until the brown sugar is melted and no longer grainy. Watch carefully!
- Place the candied pecans on the top of the casserole and bake.
- Serve hot.
How to bake sweet potatoes
The best way to cook the sweet potatoes for this recipe is by baking. If you've never done it before check out my tutorial on how to bake sweet potatoes step by step!
To boil
Boiling is not the best way to cook sweet potatoes for use in this bourbon sweet potato casserole. The potatoes soak up water as they cook and the flavor will be a bit weak and the texture can be watery.
But, if you must, here's how...
- Peel sweet potatoes.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cut in chunks and add to the water.
- Boil until tender.
- Drain.
🎥 Video
Click on the image to watch me make this recipe from start to finish with extra tips! (Video opens in a new tab).
Code for Casserole Table -
Casserole times and temps
Sometimes you need to bake two things at once - here's how to adjust the time and/or temperatures of your casserole!
These times are only an estimate. Be sure to check your casserole often. It's done when an instant-read thermometer registers 165F when stuck in the middle of the casserole.
| Temperature | Time | Time From Frozen |
| 300F | 1 hour | Don't recommend |
| 325F | 50 minutes | 1 ½ hours |
| 350F | 40 minutes | 1 hour and 10 minutes |
| 375F | 30 minutes | 1 hour |
| 400F | 20 minutes watch the topping that it doesn't scorch. Cover with foil if needed. | 40 minutes - watch the topping that it doesn't scorch. Cover with foil if needed. |
🥫 How to store bourbon sweet potatoes
While we all love to sit around the table and chat after dinner be sure to cover and refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Refrigerate
Leftover sweet potato casserole should be covered with plastic wrap or put in an airtight container and refrigerated promptly. This will be fine in the fridge for 3 or 4 days total.
Freeze
For longer storage you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Cover tightly with plastic wrap then aluminum foil.
Make ahead
This is the perfect side dish recipe for Thanksgiving Day because you can make it a few days ahead of time and cover it with plastic wrap. Make the topping and put it in a separate container, also in the fridge.
When ready to bake just uncover, add the topping in an even layer, and bake as directed. Since it's cold you may need a few extra minutes of cooking time.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Due to differences in ovens and casserole dishes baking times can vary. Be sure to check the sweet potato casserole after about 20 minutes... The internal temperature will be 160F-165F with an instant-read thermometer when it's done.
- Even though it's not in a traditional sweet potato casserole use a good bourbon in this. Trust me! It makes a huge difference in the flavor.
- A teaspoon of vanilla extract is delicious in this - especially if you're leaving the bourbon out.
- The bourbon cooks out - you don't have to worry about getting the kids tipsy.
- If you prefer not to use bourbon you can use extra cream, cream soda, or even ginger ale in place of it.
- Put your casserole dish on a baking sheet in case there are bubble overs.
- Sweet potatoes and yams are interchangeable. Use either one.
- I prefer to roast or bake the potatoes when I make this dish with fresh produce. I think it gives them more flavor.
- Save time by using canned yams that have been well drained - but... it won't be as good.
- I don't recommend chopping the pecans with a food processor. Chop them by hand. They need to be coarsely chopped for the best texture.
- Use as thick a layer of candied pecan crumble as you wish. That crunchy topping is SO good.
- You can prepare this sweet, buttery sweet potato side dish about 3 days ahead of time, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Bake before serving.
- This dish freezes well.
Here's a great article on the difference between sweet potatoes and yams.
👩🍳 Faqs
Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.
Yes, just prepare as directed but leave the topping off and don't bake it. Cover with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. The night before you plan to serve it put it in the fridge to thaw. Add the pecans, bake, and serve as directed.
You can cover it tightly with plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator 3-5 days.
Cover with aluminum foil and reheat in a 325F oven for about 15 minutes.
An easy side dish made with whipped yams and baked with a crunchy pecan praline topping.
📚 Related recipes
More great sweet potato recipes. If you're looking for classic sweet potato casserole try the Southern candied yams.
What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness! Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!
🍽️ Serve with...
Creamy and delicious, this southern sweet potato crunch casserole recipe is the stuff Thanksgiving memories are made of!
But don't wait til then!
This is the perfect fall side dish to serve with all your favorite dinner recipes!
Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside! This French Onion Chicken is perfect for Fall.
Deviled Chicken is another easy main dish that goes perfectly with these sweet potatoes.
Restless Chipotle recommends...
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I like the Pyrex clear casserole dishes because they are easy to clean and cooks evenly
Using an electric mixer makes it easier to get a creamy texture but you don't need to drag out your big stand mixer for this. A potato masher doesn't really do a good job but you can use it if it's your only option.
📞 The last word
We love these creamy sweet potatoes! Sometimes I'll leave the "crunch" off and use marshmallows but it's always on our Thanksgiving table!
It's a family recipe that I've been making for at least 40 years. I'm sure that once you try it you'll love it as much as we do.
I like to think of it as a side dish or maybe a healthy dessert.
Click over to this post for more prep ahead sides for Thanksgiving and you'll definitely want to check out this tutorial and preparing the sweet potatoes for this recipe.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Bourbon Sweet Potato Crunch Casserole
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes/yams, or 3 29-ounce cans, drained
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup bourbon
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup butter
Instructions
- Slice sweet potatoes in half, brush with butter, and bake at 350F until tender - or drain canned yams.
- Remove the peels and add the cooked sweet potatoes to the bowl of your mixer and blend until smooth.
- Add the remaining ingredients, except topping, and whip until well blended and fluffy.
- Taste and adjust seasonings.
- Spoon into a greased casserole dish.
- Sprinkle with the pecan topping.
- Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.
Topping
- Melt butter in a heavy saucepan.
- Add the chopped pecans and brown sugar.
- Cook, stirring often, until the pecans are well coated.
- Spoon the topping over the yam mixture.
Notes
-
Expert Tip: Due to differences in ovens and casserole dishes baking times can vary. Be sure to check the sweet potato casserole after about 20 minutes... The internal temperature will be 160F with an instant read thermometer when it's done.
- Even though it's not in a traditional sweet potato casserole use a good bourbon in this. Trust me! It makes a huge difference in the flavor.
- A teaspoon of vanilla extract is delicious in this - especially if you're leaving the bourbon out.
- The bourbon cooks out - you don't have to worry about getting the kids tipsy.
- If you prefer not to use bourbon you can use extra cream, cream soda, or even ginger ale in place of it.
- Put your casserole dish on a baking sheet in case there are bubble overs.
- Sweet potatoes and yams are interchangeable. Use either one.
- I prefer to roast or bake the potatoes when I make this dish with fresh produce. I think it gives them more flavor.
- Save time by using canned yams that have been well drained - but... it won't be as good.
- I don't recommend chopping the pecans with a food processor. Chop them by hand. They need to be coarsely chopped for the best texture.
- Use as thick a layer of candied pecan crumble as you wish. That crunchy topping is SO good.
- You can prepare this sweet, buttery sweet potato side dish about 3 days ahead of time, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Bake before serving.
- This dish freezes well.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
First published November 4, 2014. Last Updated October 31, 2023, to add more information, tips, and faqs.
Amanda says
Can you use pumpkin pie spice instead of all of the seasonings?
Marye says
sure.