Description
Sweet, buttery, and spiced to perfection, Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes are a soul-warming side dish perfect for the holidays or any comfort-food craving. Thick rounds of sweet potatoes simmer slowly in a brown sugar glaze with cinnamon and nutmeg until melt-in-your-mouth tender. This easy recipe is ideal for holiday dinners, Sunday soul food spreads, or even quick weekday meals when you want a little Southern charm on your plate. Add it to your list of dinner ideas, easy side dishes, and Southern classics—you’ll come back to it again and again!
Ingredients
4 large sweet potatoes
½ cup unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons water
Instructions
1. Peel the sweet potatoes and slice them into ½-inch thick rounds.
2. Arrange the sweet potato slices in a single or slightly overlapping layer in a large skillet or baking dish.
3. In a saucepan or the skillet itself, melt the butter over medium heat.
4. Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and water. Stir until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the mixture begins to bubble.
5. Pour the syrup mixture evenly over the sweet potatoes.
6. Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and cook over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring gently every 10 minutes.
7. Uncover and continue cooking for another 10–15 minutes until the syrup thickens and clings to the potatoes.
8. Serve warm with your favorite mains or as part of a Southern feast.
Notes
Use a cast iron skillet for extra flavor and even heat.
If you want more syrup, increase the butter and sugar by 25%.
Gently stir to avoid breaking the potato slices.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ~1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Southern sweet potatoes, candied yams, holiday side, sweet potato side dish, easy Southern recipe