These tasty Southern-style Candied Yams are made in one easy skillet with a buttery brown sugar cinnamon nutmeg syrup. Impress your guests with this tasty and simple yam recipe.
Its sweet flavor is so delicious with baked ham, ham steak, slow cooker turkey, and roasted pork. This is a must-try for any sweet potato casserole lover and a great side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Sweet Potatoes: You would be hard-pressed to find a true yam in a grocery store here. Yams and sweet potatoes are two different starchy root vegetables. However, in the United States, the names are used synonymously for sweet potatoes.
- Butter: unsalted or salted. If using salted butter, adjust the added salt to the recipe to taste.
- Spices: ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, kosher salt, and black pepper
- Vanilla extract: pure vanilla extract
How to make Candied Yams
First, add the sweet potatoes, sugars, butter, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla to a large skillet or pot over medium heat. As the sugars and butter melt, stir to combine all the ingredients and coat the potatoes with the sugar mixture.
Bring the mixture to a low boil, cover it with a lid or aluminum foil, and reduce it to a simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes or until fork tender. Gently turn the sweet potatoes as they are cooking. Turn the heat up during the last few minutes of cooking to thicken the sauce. For best results, serve promptly.
Preparation Tips
- Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into uniform size chunks. Sweet potatoes can be challenging to cut, so be prepared and be safe.
- Stir the potatoes just enough to mix the spices and glaze both sides of the potatoes.
- Is your stovetop extra busy? It’s no problem; prepare them in a baking dish in the oven using the same concept. Bake covered at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes, stirring to combine and baste several times. Then remove the top and cook until fork tender and glazed.
- For an extra special treat, sprinkle with toasted pecans. Or use an oven-proof skillet, top with mini marshmallows, and bake uncovered at 400 degrees until the marshmallows melt and lightly brown.
Prepare It In Advance
Prepare this dish up to 2 days in advance and let those flavors mingle. Be careful not to cook the sweet potatoes too much. Cook just until barely fork tender. Prepare the recipe as instructed and let the potatoes fully cool. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stovetop on low or in the microwave at reduced power.
Serving Suggestions
- Smoked ham
- Roasted pork loin
- Roast turkey
- Ham steak
- Roasted chicken
- Mac and cheese
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat at reduced power in the microwave.
To freeze first, cool completely. Then, place in freezer bags or a freezer container, removing as much air as possible if using freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop on low.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
Candied Yams Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs sweet potatoes
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the sweet potatoes, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla to a large skillet over medium heat. As the sugars and butter melt, stir to combine all the ingredients and coat the potatoes.
- Bring the mixture to a low boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes or until fork tender. Gently turn the sweet potatoes as they are cooking.
- Turn the heat up during the last few minutes of cooking to thicken the sauce. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. For best results, serve promptly.
Notes
- Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into uniform size chunks. Sweet potatoes can be challenging to cut, so be prepared and be safe.
- Stir the potatoes just enough to mix the spices and glaze both sides of the potatoes.
- Is your stovetop extra busy? It’s no problem; prepare them in a baking dish in the oven using the same concept. Bake covered at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes, stirring to combine and baste several times. Then remove the top and cook until fork tender and glazed.
- For an extra special treat, sprinkle with toasted pecans. Or use an oven-proof skillet, top with mini marshmallows, and bake uncovered at 400 degrees until the marshmallows melt and lightly brown.
Nutrition
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Luna S
This is one of my favorite dishes to make! It always turns out so delicious.
Melissa
One of my family’s favorite recipe and not just for Thanksgiving. These are great with roasted chicken, turkey tenderloins, baked ham, and grilled pork tenderloin. Such a treat and so easy.
Tisha
Perfect recipe for fall weather! Love these!
Erin
Thanks for the great sweet potato recipe. My family loves it and want me to make it again.
Sandra
My kids loved this candied yam! So good! Thanks!
Carlo
Such a delicious side dish. I love when it’s paired with savory meats. We have purple yams too in my country but they are prepared as desserts.
Maria
Best yams ever. I love this side dish with your roasted chicken recipe. It is one of my family’s favorite meals.
Catalina
Yum! I love them so much and I am making them for the first time at home thanks to your recipe!
Beth Pierce
Enjoy, Catalina!
Clarice
This looks delicious! I had no idea it’s easy to make one. This would be a perfect side dish. Love the idea of serving this with smoked ham.
Also, thank you for pointing out the difference between yams and sweet potatoes. I learned something new today.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Clarice!
Edgar
We love candied yams. They are do delicious and easy to make. Such a great side dish for chicken or ham.
Richard Lowe
This brings back memories from childhood Christmas. Thanks for letting me recall the smells, tastes, and textures.
Nancy
Great candied yams (sweet potato) recipe. They were delicious and easy to make. I am already for Thanksgiving.
Sophie
Everyone loved the candied yams, and I’m already looking forward to making them again for our next holiday gathering. Thanks for sharing this fantastic recipe!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Sophie!
Nathan
I never knew that yams and sweet potatoes are actually distinctly different, very interesting! If I can find some yams I’d love to use them for this recipe, it looks absolutely delicious. Thanks so much for sharing!
Sarah
This was such a sweet and savory dish that does not disappoint! Easy and delicious; the best way to enjoy yams, indeed!
Jess
Amazing that this is made in one skillet!