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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.
Any tips for making this dairy free?
Hi Keaton,
So sorry, I have not tested this recipe without the dairy products, but you could certainly give it a try using dairy free milk and vegan butter. I hope this helps! xx
Is there a way I could convert this to a crockpot?
Hi Rena,
So sorry, I have never made this recipe in the crockpot so I am not sure how well that would work for you! xx
We have a pecan/walnut allergy. What other nuts do you think would work? I like the idea of a “crunch”
Hi Kimberly,
Pepitas might be a nice substitute! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it turns out well for you! xx
This recipe looks and sounds amazing as I am so tired of marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes :-).
Could you please tell me how many pounds of sweet potatoes this recipe calls for.
Thank you.
Thanks so much!! Sorry, I didn’t weigh the sweet potatoes, I just used 4 medium sized potatoes. I hope you love this recipe! xx
Hi Tieghan, I’m thinking about making this recipe this year. I have a few vegetarians at my table, ok to omit the bacon without losing the flavor, yes??
Thanks,
HJ Kiff
Hi Heather,
Of course, that would be just fine for you to do! I hope this recipe turns out well:) xT
This looks really delicious!! Sadly, my son has an egg allergy. How important are the eggs? Is there an acceptable substitution?
Hi Beth,
So sorry, I have not tested this recipe without the egg, you could certainly try using a substitute or just omitting them! Let me know how the dish turns out! xx
I’ve been making this recipe every Thanksgiving for about 9 years now. At first people were skeptical and not happy about veering off the path of the typical marshmallow rich version. But over the years they learned to love it and I’ve started to have to make extra. My extended family even asked for the recipe during COVID because they didn’t want to miss out as they celebrated it alone!
Wow! Thank you so much for making this recipe each year, Mario! So glad it is always enjoyed:) Thanks for your comment! xT
Made this last year for Thanksgiving, loved it. But this year I will omit the cayenne pepper. I like hot, but this was too overpowering. Thanks for all of your amazing recipes!
Thanks so much for your feedback Allison! So glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed last year! xT
How much cayenne did you use? I am nervous about it being too much for my crew.
Does it matter if you use light brown sugar vs. dark brown?
Hi Kelsey,
Either one will work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
A must for every Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner. I have been making this dish for the last few years. The sweet and savory pecans make this dish stand out on the table. So yummy. Try this dish, you won’t regret it!
Aw love to hear this! Thank you! xT
Can you freeze this ahead?
Yes, that should work just fine! xT
Would you freeze this once cooked or after step 4?
Thank you 😊
After step 4:) I would also wait to add the pecans, I think that would work best for you!
Hi there. I haven’t made this yet but heard it’s delicious! Has anyone ever made it without the pecans? I have someone with an allergy but really want to try this recipe. How “important “ do you think the pecans are to the overall success of the recipe?
Hi there! You can omit them if you’d like, they just give a nice crunch to the dish! xT
Absolutely delicious! Made this for Christmas dinner. Everyone loved it! I made it two days before and baked it Christmas evening.
Hey Susan,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear this was enjoyed! xT
Is this dish baked covered or uncovered?
Hi Nancy,
You are going to bake this uncovered. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
I wanted to make another updated review to share what I did differently. My friends ask me to bring this every holiday season now. I add maple extract as well as vanilla extract and I replace the bourbon with spiced rum. I don’t add sage or rosemary(did not like it personally) instead I add whole fresh sprigs of rosemary ON TOP while it’s baking and the aroma cooks into the dish without overpowering it and having to pick it out. This recipe is so good & easy to put together!
Hey Samantha,
I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Merry Christmas! 🎁🎄
I made this for a Friendsgiving/Christmas dinner today. Everyone loved this savory version.
Hey Kim,
Happy Monday!❄️🎄 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT