Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole topped with spicy pecans, brown sugar and bacon will be the favorite at your holiday meal. The savory addition of rosemary to the topping is a game changer.
Change up your sweet potatoes with this spicy, sweet, bourbon flavored improvement on traditional sweet potato casserole. The bourbon mixed with mashed sweet potatoes is subtle but not overpowering. You expect the typical brown sugar topping, and then you take a bite and taste a savory, spicy, salty and just slightly sweet mixture that compliments the bourbon flavored potatoes perfectly.
What do you NEED to make sweet potato casserole
- 4 Red Garnet Sweet Potatoes
- Bourbon
- Bacon
- Rosemary
- Pecans
- Brown sugar and flour
- Butter, milk, eggs, vanilla
- Cinnamon, cayenne pepper,
What kind of SWEET POTATOES work best for a sweet potato casserole
I find that a sweet, moist and less starchy sweet potato works best for a casserole. Look for a Red Garnet or Jewel, they will have an orange to red skin and are what you see the most in the grocery. The lighter skin Hannah variety are gong to be more starchy and dry. For some great photos and nutritional information, Paleo Flourish may be helpful.
How do you make Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole
Step 1: Cook the potatoes. You have two choices, you can either bake them for about 1 hour, which technically is the best way. However, I can barely tell the difference if you microwave the potatoes for about eight minutes. If I have the time I’ll bake them, but if you’re in a hurry, go with the microwave version. Since you are adding so many things to the sweet potatoes it won’t make that much difference.
Step 2: Once cooked, peel off the skins and mash with a potato masher, I use this one. If you don’t have one, use the bottom of a mug. Add milk, butter, eggs, bourbon and the rest of the seasonings and combine. Pour into a baking dish.
Step 3: Make the topping by combining all the ingredients and then sprinkle on top of the sweet potatoes. At this point you can cover and refrigerate overnight or until ready to bake. It needs to bake for about 30 minutes until the top is golden and brown.
We had this easy sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving and it really spiced up the traditional side dishes. If you don’t like bourbon, I have substituted vanilla. I personally prefer the bourbon flavor, but these are amazing both ways. You can make this in advance and add the topping before baking. Once baked, it will only save for a day or two before the topping looses its crunch. Still delicious, but a little mushy.
FAQ’s and Tips
You can assemble this the day before but wait to bake it until you are ready to serve. If taking this to a pot luck, bake it beforehand and heat it up just before serving.
The top will begin to get soggy after a day, still delicious but a little mushy.
While it will freeze, the topping will not be as crunchy when reheated.
Substitute an equal amount of pure vanilla extract
You can either bake the sweet potatoes in the oven for an hour or microwave them for about 8 minutes.
MORE Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Make-ahead mashed potatoes because you need one dish that you don’t have to worry about
- Broccoli casserole because the creamy cheese sauce is amazing
- Corn pudding with cornbread, because I live in the South and you have to have corn pudding
- The best oven baked stuffing because it’s Thanksgiving!
- Don’t forget the fluffiest yeast rolls
- It’s not Thanksgiving without cranberry relish
Interested in more sweet potato recipes
Try Sweet potato muffins or sweet potato fritatta. If you like curry then try sweet potato curry, or add them to chili for a hearty dish this winter. For a delicious appetizer try sweet potato crostini.
If you make Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! I would love to see your creation.
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Adapted from Half Baked Harvest
Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 medium sweet potatoes about 4 cups
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- TOPPING
- 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup flour
- 1 ½ cups pecans
- ⅓ cup butter melted
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary
Instructions
- To cook the potatoes poke them with a fork and bake in the oven at 400º for 1 hour or microwave for about 8 minutes until soft and tender. Cool and peel away skins. Mash in a large bowl. Add in brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, milk, butter, eggs and bourbon until fully combined. Pour into greased casserole dish.
- Topping:
- In a separate bowl, add cooked bacon, brown sugar, flour, pecans, butter, cayenne, rosemary. Mix well. Spread on top of sweet potato mixture.
- Bake at 350º for 30-40 minutes or until the pecans are golden.
Notes
Recipe Tips
- You can substitute vanilla for the bourbon
- You can make this the day before but it’s best baked the same day.
- This will last for 1-2 days and then the topping will get mushy.
- You can either bake the sweet potatoes for an hour or microwave for about 8 minutes.
Would this be fine to make night before at home and then take to a potluck the next day and just reheat in oven?
Yes, it will reheat great in the oven, let it come to room temperature before you put it in the oven. If you need to reheat in a microwave, the pecan topping will not be as crisp but will still taste great. Hope it’s a hit at your potluck.