Every year families gather around the table, give thanks, and enjoy delicious food on the Thanksgiving holiday. While everyone may have their own personal favorites, it’s always fun and exciting to add new dishes to the mix. Sweet potatoes are a naturally sweet and healthy ingredient and there are so many ways you can enjoy them.
Whether you’re heading to a Thanksgiving potluck or hosting Thanksgiving yourself, be sure to add a few of these unique sweet potato recipes into the mix. We have found unique dessert recipes, appetizers, classics dishes such as sweet potato casserole, and many other Thanksgiving side dishes too. These crowd-pleasing recipes will surely be a hit!
We’re going to start with a classic, sweet potato casserole. As we all know, sweet potatoes are naturally sweet so it’s only fitting to pair them with ingredients like marshmallows and brown sugar.
This side dish is so sweet, it’s almost like you’re eating dessert for dinner! While we usually save dessert for last, your guests will certainly appreciate digging into this irresistibly sweet side dish during the main course.
https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/loaded-sweet-potato-casserole/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: LIFE, LOVE AND SUGAR
Appetizers are always a great idea! After all, these small plates of food tide us over until the big meal. This year share a platter of these bacon-wrapped sweet potato bites with your friends and family.
Sweet potato pieces are wrapped in savory bacon and then are rolled in brown sugar. This appetizer is the perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors. Just don’t be surprised when you discover that there aren’t any leftovers.
https://kidfriendlythingstodo.com/sweet-potato-bacon-wraps-kid-friendly-things-to-do-com/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: KID FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO
Fresh salads are always a good idea, especially for holiday dinners. After all, they help balance out all of those rich and hearty sides.
To make this salad combine Kale with roasted sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, walnuts, and goat cheese crumbles. You’ll also be provided with a delicious and simple vinaigrette recipe that pairs wonderfully with the salad.
https://www.forageddish.com/blog/2018/12/25/roasted-sweet-potato-salad-cranberry-walnut?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=576190658_20515348_295645 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORGED DISH
Stuffing is a must-have side dish, especially on Thanksgiving. However, if you require gluten-free foods, stuffing can be your enemy, until now that is!
This sweet potato unstuffing recipe is full of delicious and nutritious ingredients and would complement the main entrée wonderfully. Even if you don’t require gluten-free foods, step outside of your comfort zone and try something different this year!
https://therealfoodrds.com/sweet-potato-unstuffing/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE REAL FOOD
Hummus is a delicious and nutritious snack. Serve it as an appetizer this Thanksgiving and your guests will thank you!
This recipe puts a fun spin on a traditional hummus recipe as it adds sweet potato for a unique flavor. The sweet potato will also make the hummus creamier and will provide a hint of sweetness. Serve the hummus with crackers, pita chips, or fresh veggies.
https://theflavoursofkitchen.com/roasted-sweet-potato-hummus/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE FLAVOURS OF KITCHEN
If you love all things savory and garlicky, you’re going to love this recipe! These smashed sweet potato bites are crispy, buttery, cheesy, and irresistibly good.
While they may be crispy and savory on the outside, they are sweet and perfectly soft on the inside. Additionally, this is a twice-baked recipe but the time and effort you put into this side dish will be worth the wait.
https://cafedelites.com/garlic-butter-smashed-sweet-potatoes-with-parmesan/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: CAFE DELITES
Potato salad is a crowd pleaser and is great for potlucks, parties, and of course, holiday dinners. This recipe puts a fun twist on a classic potato salad recipe as it adds sweet potatoes into the mix.
This salad is full of savory flavors from ingredients like bacon, red onion, and dijon mustard, however, the sweet potatoes will add a hint of sweet flavor. This combination makes a wonderful balance of sweet and savory flavors and you may find yourself craving this salad all year round.
https://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/russet-and-sweet-potato-salad-w-bacon/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: CINNAMON SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE
These delicious bites would be an excellent appetizer or side dish, your choice! With ground turkey and shredded sweet potato, these poppers are protein and nutrient-rich!
In addition to the healthy ingredients, they’re also full of flavor thanks to ingredients like rosemary, sage, and parsley. These poppers also come together in and around 30 minutes!
https://unboundwellness.com/cranberry-sweet-potato-turkey-poppers/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: UNBOUND WELLNESS
Who doesn’t love sneaking bites of cookie dough? While it may not be healthy and is a food you shouldn’t eat raw, it is quite tempting. This cookie dough recipe is not only safe to eat, but it’s full of healthy ingredients too.
This Thanksgiving, satisfy your palate and serve this delicious and unique dip as an appetizer. It is made with sweet and natural ingredients and pairs wonderfully with fresh fruit, chocolate, and graham crackers.
https://www.bucketlisttummy.com/sweet-potato-cookie-dough-dip/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=804687748_33153534_181768 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: BUCKET LIST TUMMY
Twice-baked potatoes are delicious because a crispy baked potato shell is stuffed with fluffy and flavorful mashed potatoes. This Thanksgiving surprise your dinner guests with these maple walnut twice-baked sweet potatoes, they will not be disappointed.
The mashed sweet potatoes are combined with Greek yogurt, pumpkin pie spice, and a dash of brown sugar. While the yogurt helps to make the potato perfectly creamy, the spices and sugar enhance the flavor of the sweet potato. Finally, top the potato with a mixture of chopped walnuts, butter, and brown sugar and bake them again!
https://www.savorynothings.com/maple-walnut-twice-baked-sweet-potatoes/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: SAVORY NOTHINGS
Have you ever tried baking sweet potato into a dessert? It’s a wonderful ingredient and because it’s naturally sweet it will only enhance the flavor of the dessert.
These sweet potato dessert squares are grain-free and an excellent option for Thanksgiving. They’re sweet, moist, and certainly delicious.
forkly.com/recipes/grain-free-sweet-potato-dessert-squares/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY
If you need to cook your sweet taters quickly then be sure to cook them in nothing other than the Instant Pot! You can cook quite a few potatoes quickly and effortlessly.
Further, the results are quite impressive too as the skin quite literally peels itself. Once the potatoes are cooked you can enjoy them as they are, or scoop out the center to create mashed potatoes or a casserole. The options are endless!
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/instant-pot-hack-how-to-cook-sweet-potatoes/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY
Once again, sweet potatoes can be transformed into elegant appetizers! These delicious sweet potato bites would make a great starter for Thanksgiving.
Simply roast sliced sweet potatoes in the oven. Be sure to drizzle the slices with olive oil and add a dash of cinnamon and salt. Once cooked, serve the sweet potato bites with goat cheese, chopped pecans and pomegranate seeds.
https://whatmollymade.com/sweet-potato-bites/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: WHAT MOLLY MADE
Sweet potatoes can even secretly make their way into fudgy brownies! This decadent recipe combines mashed sweet potato with maple syrup, cocoa powder, and a few other ingredients to create the most ooey-gooey fudgy brownies!
They require just 10 minutes of hands-on time and then cook quickly in the oven. Serve these for dessert on Thanksgiving and watch the tray of brownies quickly disappear.
https://theconscientiouseater.com/fudgy-sweet-potato-brownies-vegan-and-gf/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE CONSCIENTIOUS EATER
This crave-worthy side dish may steal the spotlight if you serve it this Thanksgiving. Sliced sweet potatoes are layered in a garlicky cream sauce.
This dish also contains loads of ooey-gooey cheese and fresh herbs that create an unforgettable flavor. You’ll know the gratin has finished cooking once the potatoes are tender, and the top is golden brown and bubbly.
https://www.forkknifeswoon.com/sweet-potato-gratin/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORK KNIFE SWOON
These sweet potato stacks are made effortlessly in a muffin tin. The muffin tin will help to keep the stacks together while the butter melts and fills each layer making these stacks extra delicious.
In addition to the sweet potato and butter, you’ll also need fresh rosemary and a dash of salt and pepper to provide these stacks with a lovely flavor. This side dish will be a wonderful contribution to the Thanksgiving meal.
https://www.recipetineats.com/roasted-sweet-potato-stacks/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: RECIPE TIN EATS
Here’s another exciting and delicious dessert idea that would serve wonderfully at your Thanksgiving dinner. This cinnamon ripple bundt cake has a secret ingredient, sweet potato!
While your guests may think that this is a pumpkin cake, they’ll be pleasantly surprised by the flavor and texture that the sweet potatoes provide. The cake is finished with a drizzle of cream cheese frosting that complements the cake perfectly.
https://ohsweetbasil.com/cinnamon-ripple-sweet-potato-bundt-cake-recipe/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: OH SWEET BASIL
If you’re searching for a side dish that is full of flavor and texture then look no further. This wild rice pilaf will serve wonderfully along with your other Thanksgiving dishes.
This pilaf is made with wild rice, pecan, dried cranberries, and sweet potatoes. To infuse this dish with lots of flavors you’ll need a few seasonings such as parsley, oregano, and thyme.
https://therecipecritic.com/cranberry-pecan-sweet-potato-wild-rice-pilaf/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE RECIPE CRITIC
Who needs pumpkin pie bars when you can have equally (if not more) delicious sweet potato pie bars! This delicious dessert recipe is made with sweet potato, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice.
As a bonus, this dessert is also gluten-free and vegan-friendly, which is great for guests who have dietary restrictions. However, if you don’t have dietary restrictions you’ll surely love these too.
https://frommybowl.com/sweet-potato-pie-bars/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FROM MY BOWL
Instead of a traditional pie, why not try serving delicious cupcakes this Thanksgiving. These cupcakes scream fall as they’re infused with flavors of cinnamon, brown sugar, and sweet potato.
You’ll also be provided with a lavish buttercream frosting recipe. This frosting is brown butter maple flavored and will pair perfectly with the cupcakes.
http://www.abajillianrecipes.com/2017/10/05/sweet-potato-cupcakes-with-brown-butter-maple-buttercream/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: A BAJILLIAN RECIPES
