• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Meatloaf and Melodrama logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Collaborate
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
    • Collaborate
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About
      • Collaborate
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Meals » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Easy Stove Top Candied Yams

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Nov 1, 2022 by Dee

    Easy Stove Top Candied Yams made with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon are the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving dinner or any holiday meal. You'll love this traditional sweet potato recipe that tastes just like Grandma used to make! via @meamel

    Easy Stove Top Candied Yams with brown sugar, butter and cinnamon are the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving dinner or any holiday meal. You'll love this traditional sweet potato recipe that tastes just like Grandma used to make!

    Jump to Recipe -
    stove top candied yams on Thanksgiving table
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Cook Candied Yams on the Stove
    • Cooking Time
    • Recipe Variations
    • How to Store
    • FAQ
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    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! Grandma's candied yams recipe is truly one of the most delicious sweet potato recipes ever!

    Sweet potato side dishes are a must at Thanksgiving dinner. 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.

    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.

    sweet potatoes, cinnamon, brown sugar, butter and nutmeg

    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!

    Ingredients

    You only need a few simple ingredients for this old fashioned sweet potato side dish. Most are pantry staples you can find in your grocery store.

    • Sweet potatoes ( yams ) -- fresh sweet potatoes, not canned sweet potatoes or canned yams
    • Butter -- either salted butter or unsalted butter
    • Brown sugar -- either light brown sugar or dark brown sugar
    • Cinnamon
    • Nutmeg

    How to Cook Candied Yams on the Stove

    First, wash and peel sweet potatoes. Then, slice sweet potatoes into ¾ inch slices.

    Next, melt butter in a large skillet, and place sliced yams in a single layer into the skillet.

    Let them cook for about 10 minutes per side. They will start to soften up but won't be tender at this stage.

    cook sliced yams in butter and brown sugar

    Then, place brown sugar and spices on top of sweet potatoes. The brown sugar melts into the butter, making the most delicious sweet sauce!

    easy stove top candied yams with brown sugar

    Cooking Time

    Cook the yams over low to medium heat for another 30 to 35 minutes or until tender.

    While the yams are cooking, keep basting them with that awesome sauce during the cooking process until they're done. Easy peasy!

    Total cook time is about 50 minutes.

    You can also add more butter if you want a thinner sauce or more sauce. It's totally up to you!

    easy stove top candied yams with brown sugar butter sauce

    Grandma 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?

    Recipe Variations

    Many candied sweet potato recipes call for orange juice. You can add ¼ cup orange juice for a brighter flavor.

    Top sweet potatoes with mini marshmallows to really satisfy your sweet tooth!

    You can substitute white sugar in place of brown sugar. Or, add maple syrup.

    candied yams with brown sugar on serving spoon

    How to Store

    Store leftover candied sweet potatoes in an airtight container in your refrigerator. They keep well for up to 4 days. You can reheat yams in your microwave or on the stove.

    For longer storage, freeze this classic side dish in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months for best taste.

    FAQ

    What's the difference between candied yams and sweet potato casserole?

    Sweet potato casserole is made with mashed sweet potatoes and topped with mini marshmallows, then baked. Candied yams are made with sliced sweet potatoes in a sweet brown sugar glaze. This dish can be made on the stove or baked in the oven.

    Are candied yams and sweet potatoes the same?

    In this recipe, candied sweet potatoes are the same as candied yams. A true yam is larger, with whiter flesh and dark, thick skin. Sweet potatoes have tapered ends, yellow or orange flesh and thin smoother skin. So what we typically call yams are actually sweet potatoes.

    easy stove top candied yams on plate

    Recipe

    stove top candied yams with brown sugar glaze on platter

    Easy Stove Top Candied Yams

    Published by Dee
    Easy Stove Top Candied Yams with brown sugar, butter and cinnamon are the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving dinner or any holiday meal. You'll love this traditional sweet potato recipe that tastes just like Grandma used to make!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Text Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 50 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10
    Calories 331 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 large yams sweet potatoes
    • 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 to 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 low or medium low heat, and let simmer for 30 to 35 minutes, basting frequently, or until yams are soft, but firm

    Notes

    You can add more butter as the yams cook, if needed to make a thinner sauce
    Yams can be sliced anywhere from ½ inch to ¾ inch

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 331kcalCarbohydrates: 43gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 174mgPotassium: 63mgSugar: 42gVitamin A: 565IUCalcium: 44mgIron: 0.3mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    If you're a regular reader, you know how much I love sharing old family recipes. I hope you enjoy this old fashioned yams recipe as much as we do. It's always a delicious addition to anyone's Thanksgiving table.

    If you do try this easy recipe, please leave a star rating and/or comment.

    For more Thanksgiving recipes and delicious side dish recipes, sign up for the weekly newsletter and follow on social media.

    dee signature
    easy stove top candied yams recipe

    This delicious recipe was first published in 2017 and updated in 2022.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    More Easy Sides Dishes

    • instant pot corn on the cob with butter on white platter.
      Easy Instant Pot Corn on the Cob Recipe
    • air fryer corn on the cob with butter on white plate.
      Air Fryer Corn on the Cob (Easy Recipe)
    • kitchen tongs holding boiled corn over pot of boiling water with butter
      How to Boil Corn on the Cob in Butter
    • microwaved corn on the cob with melted butter on platter.
      How to Microwave Corn on the Cob (Easy Recipe)

    You May Also Like

    easy sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on spoon
    Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
    microwave sweet potato cut open on a plate with melted butter
    How to Microwave a Sweet Potato
    collage of instant pot thanksgiving recipes
    Easy Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Review Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Les Scigliano says

      November 24, 2022 at 12:47 pm

      They look Delicious and I’m definitely going to try them today.
      My only problem is, I don’t see how you can possibly make enough candied yams for more than one person if they have to be cooked in a single layer. Thats like one potato.

      Reply
      • Dee says

        November 24, 2022 at 8:48 pm

        When you cut the sweet potatoes in thick slices and use a large pan, there is definitely enough for more than one person. They are very sweet.

    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • baked breaded pork chops with panko bread crumbs and mashed potatoes on plate
      Baked Breaded Pork Chops
    • ground beef pasta, creamy shells and beef, in creamy tomato sauce in dutch oven
      Creamy Shells and Beef
    • apple pie dump cake with scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce on a plate
      Apple Pie Dump Cake Recipe (Apple Dump Cake)
    • bowl of peanut butter cheesecake dip with mini Reese's cups on top
      Peanut Butter Cheesecake Dip Recipe
    • easy baked beans with brown sugar on a serving spoon
      Easy Baked Beans Recipe with Brown Sugar
    • no bake banana pudding with cool whip and nilla wafer cookies and sliced bananas
      Easy No Bake Banana Pudding
    • apple crisp without oats on a plate with vanilla ice cream on top
      Cinnamon Apple Crisp Without Oats
    • pumpkin pie dip with fall sprinkles and cookies in a white bowl
      Easy Pumpkin Pie Dip Recipe (No Bake)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • All About Dee
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As Seen On

    as seen on buzzfeed delish country living forbes southern living

    Copyright © 2023 Meatloaf and Melodrama