Easy Stove Top Candied Yams made with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon are the perfect Thanksgiving side dish. You'll love this traditional recipe!
These homemade candied yams are to die for, friends! They're rich, sticky, sweet and best of all, you cook them on the stove top or in an electric skillet, which frees up oven space. If you're looking for a delicious Thanksgiving side dish, you don't want to miss this easy recipe for candied yams!
If you're a regular reader, you know how much I love sharing old family recipes that belonged to my mom and grandma. Well, this time, I'm doing something slightly different! I'm sharing an easy recipe for my mother in law's candied yams.
Usually, we have mashed sweet potatoes or sweet potato casserole with marshmallows for our Thanksgiving side dishes. The kids are partial to the casserole because they like to scrape the marshmallows off the top and eat them first. Personally, I prefer the lighter mashed sweet potatoes.
So the Hubs suggested we have the candied yams, instead. He remembers his mom making them every year, and he even had the recipe memorized. It's a super simple recipe, and you only need four ingredients in addition to the yams.
And let me just say that this is definitely NOT a low calorie recipe for yams! These babies are smothered in butter and brown sugar and seasoned with cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg. But, since Thanksgiving only comes once a year, we're good, right? Besides, they taste absolutely incredible!
Like I said, these candied yams are very easy to make. Just brown the yams in the butter and top with brown sugar and spices.
While the yams are cooking, keep basting them with that awesome sauce until they're done. Easy peasy! You can also add more butter if you want a thinner sauce or more sauce. It's totally up to you!
The Hub's mom used to cook the yams in an electric skillet, but we made these on the stove. Either way is fine, and you can save the oven space for the turkey. Because it's not Thanksgiving without the turkey right?
Looking for More Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes?
- Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon
- Baked Acorn Squash
- Homemade Crock-Pot Cinnamon Applesauce
Recipe for Easy Stove Top Candied Yams
Easy Stove Top Candied Yams
Ingredients
- 4 large yams
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Wash, peel and slice yams into ¾-inch slices
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium high heat
- Place yam slices in a single layer in skillet, and cook for 10 minutes per side
- Mix brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg together, and sprinkle over yams
- Reduce heat to medium, and let simmer for 30 to 35 minutes, basting frequently, or until yams are soft, but firm
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy this recipe for easy stove top candied yams as much as we do!
Happy Fall, Y'all!
Sharing this recipe at Weekend Potluck
Patrick says
Making these for Christmas. Tried them over the weekend and actually really simple and a huge hit with the kids.
Dee says
That's great, Patrick. So glad you liked the yams!
Ashanti S. says
Made these 2 days in a row! Sooooo yummy!!!!! My family loved them and my BF asked me to make them for him every day. The flavor was on point and the softness of the sweet potatoes were perfect. Thank you for sharing.
Dee says
So glad you enjoyed them. Thanks!
Nana says
Really excited to try this! My grandmother used to make these for Thanksgiving and it was my favorite part of the meal! I can still see her at the stove pouring the candied liquid over the sweet potatoes. I'm sure we will all love it. So excited to find this. I've looked periodically online for years for this recipe because I didn't get the recipe from her. I don't think she ever wrote it down.
Dee says
I hope you enjoyed the yams, Nana!
Mary Lou says
My grandmother made the best darn candied sweet potatoes on the stove. I failed to get her recipe and have searched for many years for one similar. I have a feeling this is it but have not tried yet. Thank you for posting.
Dee says
I hope you like it, Mary Lou. 🙂
Sara says
This was absolutely delicious. Out of everything I cooked for Thanksgiving my husband said that this was the best and he's not even a sweets person the kiddos devoured them as well☺️ will be making it again this year
Dee says
Thank you so much, Sara! So glad you liked them!
donald w brooke says
can this recipe work with Bruces canned yams?
Dee says
I think canned yams might be too soft for this. I usually make those into a mashed sweet potato casserole. 🙂
Clyde says
Canned yams are really good and faster. But, with most things, a little prep and a little more time makes this more special. God bless on this Thanksgiving 🦃✌️🤎💛🧡
Caryl says
My mom used canned yams for hers. Just wouldn’t need to cook as long
Mary says
I tried your recipe for Thanksgiving this year and everyone loved it! Recipe was simple and easy to follow and the results were Great. Thanks so much for sharing it!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Mary. So happy you liked it! 🙂
Karen says
A+++++
Diane R Byrd says
Can these be made a day ahead? I'm going to make these for Thanksgiving dinner. BUT was wondering if they could be made ahead like on Weds, and IF so would you only cook like 15mins or so and then on thurs put back in saute pan on top of stove and then re warm for another 15 mins, adding more butter as needed for basting? I LOVE Candied yams but don't like them mushy
Dee says
You can make them ahead of time, but just be careful not to cook them too long the first time.
Joyce King says
Can this same recipe be used for in the oven. To make a larger batch for Thanksgiving. If so, do you cover in oven.
Dee says
Cooking it on the stove is what caramelizes the yams. My husband said his mom tried it once in the oven, but it didn't work well. You could probably make it on the stove and transfer the potatoes to the oven to keep warm, though.
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says
Dee, those look gorgeous. My mother made stovetop candied yams, too, but she used a lot less butter and sugar, probably half. I'm not suggesting you change your recipe, though. Just saying if anyone in the family ever needs to "cut back" you can still make the dish! 🙂 Love the photos!
Dee says
Thanks, Jean. I was surprised at the amount of butter and sugar at first, but my husband swears by it since it's his mom's recipe. Good to know it tastes good even when cut back! 🙂
Miz Helen says
Oh mercy how I love Candied Yams, these are wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday. Come to next weeks Thanksgiving party on Tuesday at 8:00 am, CST, see you then!
Miz Helen
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
We love candied yams! A must for Thanksgiving dinner!
Krista says
What a great side dish for the Holidays!
Jen says
Personally, the smothering of these yams is what makes them so good!! Love it!!
Catalina @ Peas & Peonies says
This sounds amazing! I think this need to be my next snack!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Not low-cal? Perfect for Thanksgiving, then! They look fab!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Those look positively luscious!
Amy @ Little Dairy on the Prairie says
Yum! They looks so delish! I love how you topped them!