The Best Classic Yams Recipe (2024)

ByHeather Painchaud November 15, 2022April 21, 2024 UpdatedApril 21, 2024

The best classic yams recipe – simply delicious, quick and easy to make. These yams make the perfect side dish for any meal!

This is the most delicious yams recipe, hands down! Add this family staple to your next holiday meal.

Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board onPinterestand it will be there when you’re ready!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Along with cranberry sauce, yams are a classic side dish at many holiday meals. For those with a sweet tooth, today’s easy side dish is the perfect addition to any meal, any time.

It’s also a great recipe to get you started if you haven’t worked with fresh sweet potatoes before. Let the flavour of these yams speak for themselves!

FYI, at the grocery store, the terms yams and sweet potatoes are often used interchangeably. I do the same.

Technically, true yams are a starchy root vegetable that is much more like regular potatoes than the sweet “yams” that are easily accessible here in Canada.

Easy yam recipe:

This is one of those easy sweet potato recipes that you are going to want to save! My mom makes this delicious dish for every special occasion or family dinner.

The ingredient list is also so small, it’s more of a starting point. You can easily make adjustments to best suit your family.

Ingredients:

• 4 small fresh yams, about 1 pound
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp coarse sea salt

** The seasoning possibilities are endless! Be sure to check out our recommendations below.

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray a 9×11 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.

3. Slice the yams, leaving the skin on, into ¼” thick rounds.

4. Arrange yam slices in the prepared pan so they are evenly spaced.

5. Drizzle with olive oil.

6. Sprinkle with salt or seasoning of your choice.

7. Bake in the preheated oven until tender, about 20 minutes.

Makes 8 servings. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to one week.

Seasoning suggestions:

• Add warm spices like ground cinnamon, a little nutmeg, or even pumpkin pie spice, with a bit of brown sugar.
• Drizzle with maple syrup.
• Mix in unsalted butter and a splash of heavy whipping cream for a different take on mashed potatoes.
• Toss the rounds with olive oil so that they are completely coated. Placing them into a large freezer bag works well for this.

Serving suggestions:

• Serve with your favourite protein for a healthy meal.
• Instead of cutting the yams into rounds, turn them into sweet potato fries.
• Add a few different root vegetables to your pan with the rest of the ingredients.
• For a quick sweet potato casserole simply mix together 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Add the brown sugar mixture to the soft sweet potatoes and mash them right in the casserole dish. Spread 1/2 cup mini marshmallows over the top of the sweet potatoes, put the dish back in the oven to broil on low until the marshmallows are just golden, then remove and serve with Sunday dinner.
• Cut yams into large chunks, toss in a mixture of orange juice, melted butter, white sugar, and cinnamon, and bake. This buttery syrup will turn into a delicious sauce as it all cooks, giving you the best candied yams.

The next time you’re asked to bring something to Thanksgiving dinner, pull out your recipe card for this delicious side dish. They are sure to be the first thing to disappear!

More holiday recipes:

• The Best Smoked Turkey
• Make these Turkey Cranberry Sliders
• Low carb stuffing recipe
• Delicious Cranberry Salsa
• The best turkey brine
• Try this garbage can turkey!

If you love this yams recipe, please give it a five star review and help me share it on Facebook or Pinterest so that others can enjoy it too!