Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (2024)

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Related Before You Go FAQs

Sweet potatoes, though welcome on the table any time of year, are a must come Thanksgiving. You might think they seem a bit redundant sitting next to the mashed potatoes, but trust us, they are an essential side dish. Sweet potatoes bring a little taste of dessert to the dinner table -- because, well, they're so naturally sweet. And often topped with a layer of even sweeter marshmallows. Or candied pecans. Or they're just straight up candied themselves. There are so many different ways to serve this orange root that make them earn their spot on the Thanksgiving table.

While we love them in all the traditional ways mentioned above, it's never a bad idea to see what else sweet potatoes can bring to the Thanksgiving spread. We put together a collection of recipes to help you do that -- with a few traditional ones mixed in as well.

1

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (1)

How Sweet It Is

Bourbon Bacon Whipped Sweet Potatoes With Brown Butter And Crispy Sage

2

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (2)

Half Baked Harvest

Lighter Sweet Potato Casserole With Maple Toasted Marshmallow

3

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (3)

How Sweet It Is

Cinnamon Sugar Hasselback Sweet Potatoes With Oatmeal Cookie Crumble

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4

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (4)

Damn Delicious

Loaded Sweet Potatoes

Get the Loaded Sweet Potatoes recipe from Damn Delicious

5

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (5)

Pinch of Yum

Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Crumble

6

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (6)

Damn Delicious

Sweet Potato Casserole

Get the Sweet Potato Casserole recipe from Damn Delicious

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7

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (7)

How Sweet It Is

Apple Bacon Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Get the Apple Bacon Stuffed Sweet Potatoes recipe from How Sweet It Is

8

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (8)

Half Baked Harvest

Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Bourbon Maple Butter

9

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (9)

How Sweet It Is

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Get the Savory Sweet Potato Casserole recipe from How Sweet It Is

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10

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (10)

Half Baked Harvest

Curried Sweet Potato Rounds With Honeyed Walnuts, Cranberries And Blue Cheese

12

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (12)

Completely Delicious

Sweet Potato-Cranberry Crisp

Get the Sweet Potato-Cranberry Crisp recipe from Completely Delicious

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13

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (13)

Half Baked Harvest

Sweet Potato Tater Tots

Get the Sweet Potato Tater Tots recipe from Half Baked Harvest

14

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (14)

Half Baked Harvest

Tandoori Butter Sweet Potato Fries

Get the Tandoori Butter Sweet Potato Fries recipe from Half Baked Harvest

15

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (15)

How Sweet It Is

Roasted Grape And Goat Cheese And Honey Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

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16

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (16)

The Beeroness

Sweet Potato Beer Biscuits With Maple Sage Butter

17

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (17)

Half Baked Harvest

Maple Cream Sweet Potato Soup With Cheddar Cinnamon Sugar Twist

18

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (18)

Half Baked Harvest

Simple Salty Sweet Potato Skin Chips

Get the Simple Salty Sweet Potato Skin Chips recipe from Half Baked Harvest

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19

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (19)

Half Baked Harvest

Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole With Sweet ‘N Savory Bacon Pecans

20

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (20)

Foodie Crush

Maple Buttered Sweet Potato Wedges

21

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (21)

Completely Delicious

Sweet Potato Crescent Rolls

Get the Sweet Potato Crescent Rolls recipe from Completely Delicious

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Related

Thanksgiving Cookingsweet potatosweet potato recipesthanksgiving-recipeThanksgiving

Before You Go

1

Pommes Dauphinoise (Potatoes Au Gratin)

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (22)

Sarah Shatz/Food52

2

Cauliflower & Broccoli Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (23)

Sugar Et Al

3

Turnip Gratin Recipe

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (24)

Simply Recipes

Get the Turnip Gratin Recipe recipe by Simply Recipes

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4

Sweet Potato And Kale Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (25)

Oh My Veggies

Get the Sweet Potato And Kale Gratin recipe by Oh My Veggies

5

Onion Potato Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (26)

Simply Recipes

Get the Onion Potato Gratin recipe by Simply Recipes

6

Pan-Roasted Brussels Sprout Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (27)

Arctic Garden Studio

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7

Chard Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (28)

James Ransom/Food52

8

Greens And Grains Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (29)

The Yellow House

Get the Greens and Grains Gratin recipe by The Yellow House

9

Potato Gratin With Green Chile

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (30)

Bijoux/Food52

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10

Zucchini Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (31)

The Little Kitchen

Get the Zucchini Gratin recipe by The Little Kitchen

11

Spinach Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (32)

James Ransom/Food52

12

White Bean Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (33)

How Sweet It Is

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13

Crab And Gnocchi Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (34)

A Spicy Perspective

Get the Crab and Gnocchi Gratin recipe by A Spicy Perspective

14

Gratin Of Asparagus With Cheese Béchamel

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (35)

Mimi Thorisson/Manger

15

Potato And Bell Pepper Gratin With Pepper Jack Cheese

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (36)

New Media Publishing

Get the Potato and Bell Pepper Gratin with Pepper Jack Cheese recipe

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16

Celery And Fennel Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (37)

James Ransom

17

Ham And Potato Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (38)

TASTE

Get the Ham and Potato Gratin recipe

18

Root Cellar Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (39)

Ron Manville

Get the Root Cellar Gratin recipe

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19

Tomato Fennel Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (40)

Gourmande in the Kitchen

20

Bacon And Mushroom Potato Gratin

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (41)

Brown Eyed Baker

Proof That Sweet Potato Recipes Are A Thanksgiving Necessity (2024)

FAQs

Why do we eat sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving? ›

The exact origin of the tradition of including sweet potatoes on the Thanksgiving dinner menu remains uncertain. However, much credit is given to writer, activist, and an influential editor Sarah Josepha Hale who was a staunch advocate for the creation of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.

How did sweet potatoes become a Thanksgiving food? ›

From Europe, the potatoes were brought over to America where they found a happy home in the humid South. Southerners adopted the flourishing sweet potato as a replacement for pumpkin in pies and seasonal side dishes.

What is the history of eating potatoes at Thanksgiving? ›

Sir Walter Raleigh introduced potatoes to Ireland in 1589 & the potato has been linked to Irish history ever since. Mashed potatoes, the most common way to enjoy potatoes at Thanksgiving, became an American staple in the 1700s. As far back as 1747, Americans were mashing up potatoes with butter, milk, salt, & cream.

Why are sweet potatoes a popular dish? ›

The vegetable contains high levels of beta carotene, and is a rich source of potassium, fiber, and vitamins A and C. The health hype was further enhanced by global demand for the vegetable — especially in parts of Europe where it is too cold to grow them.

What is the most popular food on Thanksgiving? ›

America's different regions can favor different local cuisines, and Thanksgiving dinner provides no exception. While turkey is the top selection in every region, side-dish challenger mashed potatoes are tied for first place in the Midwest (both winning 85% of matchups) and West (both winning 79%).

What is the history of sweet potato casserole? ›

The sweet potato casserole with pecans recipe originated in the South, and early variations of the recipe included different ingredients like cream or milk. The recipe has morphed over to the years to the recipe we know today, and Ruth's Chris is famous for its version of this side dish.

What food was really at the first Thanksgiving? ›

So, to the question “What did the Pilgrims eat for Thanksgiving,” the answer is both surprising and expected. Turkey (probably), venison, seafood, and all of the vegetables that they had planted and harvested that year—onions, carrots, beans, spinach, lettuce, and other greens.

What was the first Thanksgiving meal really like? ›

But according to the two only remaining historical records of the first Thanksgiving menu, that meal consisted of freshly killed deer, assorted wildfowl, cod, bass, and flint, and a native variety of corn harvested by the Native Americans, which was eaten as corn bread and porridge.

Why didn t the first Thanksgiving include white potatoes or sweet potatoes? ›

What was not on the menu was potatoes. White potatoes from South America and sweet potatoes from the Caribbean had not made it to North America by this first feast so no mashed potatoes or really potatoes of any kind like we see today.

What food was missing from the first Thanksgiving? ›

It is also worth noting what was not present at the first Thanksgiving feast. There were no cloudlike heaps of mashed potatoes, since white potatoes had not yet crossed over from South America. There was no gravy either, since the colonists didn't yet have mills to produce flour.

What were the 3 unlikely foods that were eaten at the first Thanksgiving? ›

Well certainly not what we eat at Thanksgiving. They ate fish, corn, venison, and no pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie would have required sugar, that was in a very limited amount. There would have been bread, but not the way we see it today.

Were sweet potatoes served at the first Thanksgiving? ›

Sadly, likely no pie was served at the first Thanksgiving either, as the Pilgrims did not have much sugar or other components needed to make a pie. Sweet potatoes were also not at the feast, as there were no sweet potatoes in America at that time.

What are 3 interesting facts about sweet potatoes? ›

Native Americans were already growing sweet potatoes when Columbus arrived on America's shores in 1492. The sweet potato is not a potato, not even a distant cousin. Potatoes are tubers; sweet potatoes are roots. Sweet potatoes have been growing in the South since as early as 1648.

What culture eats the most sweet potatoes? ›

China is the world's biggest producer and consumer of sweetpotato, where it is used for food, animal feed, and processing (as food, starch, and other products).

What are 4 facts about sweet potatoes? ›

Sweet potatoes in fact, are considered a superfood. They are an excellent source of many key nutrients such as fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, potassium and manganese. Additionally, they contain antioxidants and are naturally low in sodium.

Why do Americans eat sweet potato and marshmallow? ›

Sweet potato casserole was first promoted by a marshmallow company. Although it might seem strange to eat a dessert-like side dish alongside savory food, such sweet dishes have been common in American cooking since way back, according to Kitchn.

What does the sweet potato symbolize? ›

Sweet potatoes have deep roots, making them a powerful symbol of grounding and stability. They remind us that we are deeply rooted, and no matter where we are and where we come from, we can imagine new realities for ourselves whenever we decide to replant ourselves.

What is the history of marshmallows in sweet potatoes? ›

Most people point to a 1917 pamphlet by the Angelus Marshmallow Company as the first time sweet potatoes and marshmallows came together. This company is believed to be the first to commercially-produce and sell the squishy white marshmallows we know, roast, and snack on today.

Why do African Americans eat sweet potato pie? ›

After emancipation, when African American cooks gained more access to their own equipment and refined ingredients, they continued the tradition of baking with yams and sweet potatoes — especially the pie. These deep roots became the foundation of a strong tradition in African American food culture.

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