Sweet Potato Salad with Canned Yams Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

February 28, 2021February 8, 2024

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Sweet Potato Salad with Canned Yams is as easy as it is delicious. Starting with canned sweet potatoes is a super time-saver, and the result is a slightly sweet and very special cold potato salad.

This delicious sweet potato salad recipe uses canned yams for a quick and easy side dish. Perfect for summer picnics and BBQs!

Sweet Potato Salad with Canned Yams Recipe

Potato Salad with Sweet Potatoes. Yes, you read that correctly. Is your mind blown, because mine sure was the first time I found this recipe in my Major Hospital cookbook. It had never occurred to me to use sweet potatoes in my potato salad, let alone to use canned sweet potatoes.

Why is this such a genius idea? Sweet Potato Salad with Canned Sweet Potatoes reduces the prep time to almost nothing. The canned yams are already cooked, so there’s no boiling required. Pop open the can, drain the water, and dice.

In the time it takes to chop the eggs, celery and onions, this hard boiled egg and sweet potato salad is ready to go.

Ingredient List

Besides canned yams, the rest of the ingredients of this canned yam potato salad are very traditional for a potato salad:

Mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip)

Hard Boiled Eggs

Celery

Green onions (or regular)

Dijon mustard

There’s a trio of textures in this recipe. First, there’s the soft texture of the sweet potatoes and hard boiled eggs. Then, you have the perfect crunch that comes from diced celery and onions. And then last but not least, the creaminess is a result of the mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip).

Are canned yams the same as sweet potatoes?

Even though yams and sweet potatoes are technically different, canned yams are interchangeable with canned sweet potatoes. Many cans have both the words Yams and Sweet Potatoes both on the label.

Are canned yams already cooked?

Yes, the canning process at the factory cooks the yams to the perfect texture. That’s why it’s safe to use them in a cold sweet potato salad where there’s no cooking involved.

Are canned sweet potatoes healthy?

Yes, as long as you use the canned yam (or sweet potato) variety packed in water. Using the variety packed in syrup has a high sugar content. Sweet potatoes are naturally low in sodium and cholesterol. They are also high in both fiber and Vitamin C, making them a healthy food choice.

How to Make Sweet Potato Salad with Mayonnaise

Step by Step Instructions

1. Drain water from canned yams; dice.
2. In a large bowl, mix together canned yams, diced celery, diced onions, chopped hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip), Dijon mustard and salt. Stir gently.
3. Start with less mayonnaise, and add more, if needed.
4. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 to 4 hours before serving.

Storage Instructions

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

For the full instructions and ingredient list for cold sweet potato salad, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Recipe FAQs

• This is a cold sweet potato salad.
• Look for canned yams in water, not syrup.
• Drain the canned yams well before dicing.
• Regular yellow mustard would work too instead of Dijon.
• Substitute Miracle Whip for Mayonnaise, if desired.
• Start with 1 1/4 cups Mayonnaise, and then add up to 1/4 additional cup if needed.
• Substitute regular, chopped onions for green onions.
• To allow the flavors to meld, refrigerate a minimum of 2 to 4 hours before serving this sweet potato salad with mayo.
• For easy travel, pack and serve out of one of these adorable serving bowls with a lid to prevent spills while traveling.
• Visit ourAmazon Store for our favorite pantry essentials and kitchen gadgets.

Recipe Variations

• For more crunch, add diced water chestnuts. Or add nuts such as pecans or walnuts.
• Instead of canned sweet potatoes, make roasted sweet potatoes in the oven. Let cool, then dice them up for this sweet potato salad recipe.
• Diced red onions are a great swap for yellow or white onions.
• I love adding diced bell peppers. Red bell peppers or green peppers will work.
• For more sweetness, add diced apples or dried cranberries.
• Use roasted butternut squash instead of sweet potatoes.
• Season to taste with salt and black pepper, if desired.
• For a less sweet salad, add a splash of white vinegar, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.

Old Fashioned Salad Recipes

Old Fashioned Pea Salad

Bologna Salad

Pink Lady Salad

Sweet Macaroni Salad

Classic Ambrosia Salad

Favorite Holiday Side Dishes

I think this would be a perfect side dish for the holidays served along side our 3-Ingredient Crock Pot Hamor Crock Pot Beef Brisket or Slow Cooker Turkey Breast.

Try some of our other favorite holiday side dishes:

Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

Grandma’s Deviled Eggs

Crock Pot Green Beans with Bacon

Slow Cooker Calico Beans

Buttermilk Mac and Cheese

Linking up to Weekend Potluck.