Baked yam casserole has been a staple on my holiday table for many years. I learned how to make it soon after moving to the States. And now it’s a family-friendly dish that’s always the star of the holiday table. However, a few years ago, my guys started craving this Southern specialty more often. And, of course, I was happy to oblige! It’s comforting and delicious, making any meal a smashing success. And it also happens to be super affordable and lightning-fast to put together! However, true yams (Dioscorea) are quite different from sweet potatoes. They’re dry and starchy with rough skin, comparable to regular potatoes. If you’re worried about confusing them, scratch the surface with your fingernail. True yams are usually white inside, while sweet potato yams are generally orange.
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Yam Casserole
Prep – Preheat the oven to 350℉/177℃. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Wash, peel, and dice the sweet potatoes into ¾-inch cubes or bite-size chunks. Place the sweet potato cubes in the prepared casserole dish. (Photo 1) Mix – In a small bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Microwave for about 30 seconds or until the butter melts, then stir well. (Photos 2-3) Assemble – Pour the butter mixture over the sweet potatoes in the casserole dish, add vanilla, and stir to coat. (Photo 4) Cook – Cover the casserole pan with aluminum foil, transfer it to the oven, and roast for 30 minutes. (Photo 5) Chop – While the sweet potatoes are roasting, roughly chop the pecans. After your casserole has baked for 30 minutes, add the chopped pecans. Give everything a good stir, then roast for an additional 15-20 minutes uncovered until the sweet potatoes are very soft and the liquid in the casserole dish has reduced to a sticky candy coating. (Photo 6) Serve hot, and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
When planning a holiday feast, I prepare the yams a day or two before. You can wash, cut, and keep them in the fridge until needed. Or you can prepare and assemble the casserole and keep it covered in the refrigerator for a day or two. When ready to bake, allow it to come to room temperature and follow the baking instructions.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Yam casserole is super delicious fresh from the oven! Serve it as a side dish, or top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. And leftover casserole stores beautifully in the fridge for four days covered in plastic wrap. And you can freeze it for up to four months. Reheat leftover yam casserole in a baking dish in the oven for approximately 20 minutes at 325℉/160℃. Or you can reheat smaller portions in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until warmed through.
What to Serve With Yam Casserole
Pairing this casserole with baked spatchcock turkey, cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole creates a showstopping holiday feast. No holidays on the horizon? This scrumptious casserole can be served with baked chicken leg quarters or breaded pork chops any night of the week.
More Tasty Sweet Potato Recipes to Try
Conclusion
This easy-as-can-be yam casserole is a welcome addition to the dinner table any night of the year! Are you hungry for more simple side dish recipes? Follow me on Instagram to get new ideas each week!
Watch How to Make It
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