This flavorful Yam Casserole is the perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast. It combines the natural sweetness of yams with a crunchy pecan topping, making it a crowd-pleasing dish. The yams are cooked until tender, mashed with butter, brown sugar, and warm spices, then topped with a mixture of pecans, brown sugar, and butter. Baked to perfection, this casserole will be a star on your holiday table.
Ingredients
- 4 large yams
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Peel the yams and cut them into chunks. Place the yam chunks in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook until the yams are fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Drain the cooked yams and transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Mash the yams using a potato masher or fork until smooth.
- Add melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt to the mashed yams. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
- Pour the yam mixture into the greased baking dish and spread it evenly.
- In a small bowl, mix chopped pecans with brown sugar and melted butter until well coated. Sprinkle the pecan mixture over the yam mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve the yam casserole as a side dish alongside your holiday main course.
