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Our 2019 Thanksgiving Menu and Guide.
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Switching things up this Thanksgiving with this Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole with Sweet ‘n’ Savory Bacon Pecans. The classic sweet potato casserole we know and love, but topped with sweet and savory bacon pecans. These sweet potatoes are buttery, hinted with cinnamon, and lightly sweetened. The pecan topping is just a touch spicy, perfectly sweet, herby, and a little salty too. When baked together the potatoes and topping create the perfect balance and make for the BEST sweet potato casserole. Make these ahead of time for an easy holiday side that everyone will love.
It’s the second week of November and I very much have Thanksgiving on my mind. Anyone else?
It’s been a little tricky to get my menu fully planned, photographed, and written up in between traveling for HBH Super Simple. But I’m excited to finally say that I will be sharing my full menu this week! Are you guys in planning mode? Hoping so, because I have some good recipes coming, and it all starts with this casserole.
I’m sure I have said this before, but when it comes to Thanksgiving I really love a traditional menu. Herby roasted turkey, buttery mashed potatoes, popovers, vegetable sides, and of course, sweet potato casserole. Some of you may be surprised to hear this, since I love to share all kinds of different recipes, but when it comes to both Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’m all about tradition. And the older and more traditional the better.
The classics keep things simple and perfect every time. It’s why we look forward to the holidays so much. All the traditions!
That said, every year I try to create a few new dishes that are spins on the classics. They still feel like the classics, just updated a bit. My brothers only care about the turkey, mashed potatoes, and rolls, so I keep those basic (but good). But when it comes to the vegetables? I have some room to play with, and have a little fun.
Enter this sweet potato casserole. It’s just like my grandma’s sweet potatoes, but with a sweet, savory, and salty topping…that everyone loves.
Like most sweet potato casseroles, this bourbon sweet potato casserole is so simple and easy to make. The longest part of the process is roasting the potatoes. But nothing is hard and you might even have all the ingredients on hand right now.
So…start with the sweet potatoes. Yes, you can buy canned sweet potatoes, but I highly recommend roasting fresh potatoes for best flavor and color. If you have an instant pot, you can cook the potatoes quickly in there. If not, go the oven route. It’s my preferred method.
Once the potatoes are soft, peel away the skins (then use them to make these sweet potato skin chips) and then mash. Then add in a touch of brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, butter, and a splash of bourbon, and that’s it. This is my grandma’s base recipe and it never fails. Simple, but so delicious, and not overly sweet, which I think is really nice.
Question: are you a sweet or savory, sweet potato casserole person? I prefer a savory casserole…with just a touch of sweetness!
While the potatoes are roasting, start working on the bacon pecans.
Oh, these bacon pecans. Basically, this is a topping of candied bacon with pecans, and it’s incredibly delicious. Sweet and savory with a little crunch from the pecans, and saltiness from the bacon. I added sage and a little rosemary to bring in some savory flavors and balance out the sweetness. These herbs may sound like an odd addition but go with me on this because it’s so GOOD.
Also, if rosemary isn’t your thing, or you’re worried it may overpower the other flavors, then simply leave it out. My dad’s not the biggest rosemary fan. He sometimes complains that it’s overpowering. Use your best judgment here and go with your own personal taste.
Last up, layer the topping over the sweet potatoes and bake. It’s simple, nothing too fancy, and so EASY. While this bakes, your house will smell incredible, just like Thanksgiving should. You’ll soon find out that every bite is just as delicious as it smells.
These potatoes are sweet and buttery and the topping is crunchy. It’s the sweet potato casserole your Thanksgiving table needs. Promise.
And finally, you can easily prepare this ahead of time, and yes, it travels well too. If you’re on sidedish duty this Thanksgiving, this is your dish!
If you make this bourbon sweet potato casserole with sweet ‘n’ savory bacon pecans, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Huge hit at our Friendsgiving… didn’t use the sage or rosemary in the topping but matched everything else with gluten free flour. The cayenne and bacon with the sweet pecans and sweet potatoes is a great combo.
Thanks sooo much! Love to hear that this recipe was a success! xT
best sweet potato casserole I have made, the whole family loves it, I have been making it for 3 years now. It is expected now.
Hey Joe,
I appreciate you making this recipe so often and your review, so glad it is always delish! xT
This has been a staple for both our Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for years now. I personally think it’s even better the next day!
Hey Giselle,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe always turns out well for you, thanks for making it so often:) xT
So so good! I love the flavor that the sage gives the dish!
Hi Carina,
I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback! So glad it was enjoyed:) Have a great week! xT
It was a spicy even though I only used half of the cayenne it called for. No one really liked it unfortunately. I won’t make it again but if I did I’d leave out all the cayenne.
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear this was not enjoyed! xT
I made this for Thanksgiving this year – the 40-year reign of sweet potatoes swimming in brown sugar and butter is so over! Loved the creativity of your recipe as much as the sweet, crunchy, creamy warm taste. Thanks so much!
Hi Patty,
Happy Saturday!! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and your comment! So glad to hear it was enjoyed:)
Delicious
Thanks so much, Mercedes!!
These were the best sweet potatoes! Perfect combination of sweet and savory. Everyone loved them!
Hi Wendi,
I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback! So glad to hear it turned out well for you:) xT
Happy Thanksgiving! This was a hit with the family! Let’s just say it was a sidesgiving and according to my husband this was near the top, if not the top of the list, I used Elijah Craig bourbon, King Arthur flour. I used crumbled pecans from Trader Joe’s so the top looked slightly different.
Hi June,
Thanks for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was enjoyed! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
Tieghan this dish was the highlight of our Thanksgiving dinner. I usually make candied yams, and was receiving a fair amount of skepticism from my family about changing it up. Everyone absolutely loved it. So flavorful! Loved the sweet and savory. This will now be a Thanksgiving staple. Thank you!
Love to hear this, Heidi!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and your feedback:) xT
This was great! The turkey was delayed (grilled can be a little unpredictable!) and I had already started to bake this when we realized we needed to hold up. I just turned the oven off and left it in there and then restart the oven when we were back on track. Still turned out great. This doesn’t taste overtly boozy at all and I would recommend adding the bourbon for sure. My foodie family were fans.
Hi Carrie,
Thanks for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was enjoyed! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx
Thank you for such a delicious recipe! This will definitely be a favorite for years to come.
No adjustments needed. I wouldn’t change a thing!
Hi Emily,
Thanks for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was enjoyed! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xx