🍠✨ Small Batch Butter Pecan Sweet Potatoes (Cozy Holiday Side Dish)
These Small Batch Butter Pecan Sweet Potatoes are tender, buttery, and perfectly sweet with toasted pecans and a caramel‑like brown sugar drizzle. A warm, comforting holiday side dish sized just right for small family dinners, Thanksgiving for two, or any cozy fall meal.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
Ingredients
2–3 medium sweet potatoes
1–2 tablespoons avocado oil
Coarse sea salt
2 tablespoons melted butter
1.5 tablespoons brown sugar
Pinch of cayenne (optional)
1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set oven to 400°F and lightly grease an 8×8 baking dish.
- Prep the sweet potatoes: Wash, peel, and cut the sweet potatoes into 1/2‑inch cubes.
- Season: Toss the cubed sweet potatoes with avocado oil and coarse sea salt.
- Bake: Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish and bake for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are just fork‑tender.
- Make the butter‑pecan topping: While the potatoes bake, combine the melted butter and brown sugar in a small bowl. Add cayenne if using.
- Add pecans: Once the sweet potatoes are tender, top them with the roughly chopped pecans.
- Drizzle: Pour the butter‑sugar mixture evenly over the potatoes and pecans.
- Finish baking: Return the dish to the oven for 5–10 minutes, or until the pecans begin to toast and the topping caramelizes slightly.
- Toss & serve: Remove from the oven and gently toss to coat everything evenly. Serve immediately while warm and buttery.