Table of Contents
  1. What is chipotle pureé?
  2. Why does this recipe work for Thanksgiving?
  3. Watch how to make this sweet potato casserole
  4. Chipotle Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

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In my opinion, Thanksgiving should be changed up periodically. I’m not talking about anything radical, but instead, using the basics in a new way.

On my table, sweet potatoes are always present in some form, but I like to have variations. Dessert has enough added sugar and sweet potatoes have enough natural sugars that I see no reason to add any more. Instead of brown sugar and marshmallows, I want to taste the sweet potatoes themselves.

This casserole brings out the sweet potato flavor with a homemade chipotle butter. No flavor masks the other. Instead, they create perfect harmony.

Hand scooping slices of sweet potatoes out of white serving dish sitting on wood board

What is chipotle pureé?

As a rule, I always keep a can of chipotles in adobo in my pantry. If you haven’t used this ingredient, it’s composed of two items:

  • Chipotle is dried and smoked jalapeńo peppers.
  • Adobo is a Mexican red sauce that is slightly sweet and tangy.

Together, chipotles in adobo becomes an intense, smoky, spicy ingredient that is packed with flavor. When opening a can of chipotles in adobo, you will find whole peppers in the red sauce. I always blend the peppers with the sauce to create a paste-like sauce. This can easily be added to recipes in any amount.

Top down view of white serving platter filled with shingled slices of sweet potato with chipotle butter poured over the top sitting on a wood board

Why does this recipe work for Thanksgiving?

With the monotony of customary browns and yellows present at Thanksgiving, an update is needed. Or at least, the holiday needs something unique and fresh to liven up the meal. These sweet potatoes can be assembled the morning of Thanksgiving and stored in the refrigerator until about one to one-and-a-half hours before the meal. Simply pull them out of the refrigerator and bake!

Anything that can be prepared ahead is a time saver and takes away at least some of the stress. I love the simplicity of these potatoes, but also the major flavor impact they provide!

Top down view of sliced sweet potatoes sitting in baking dish with spoon scooping one of the potatoes

More Thanksgiving side dishes

Watch how to make this sweet potato casserole

YouTube video
Top down view of white baking pan filled with slices of sweet potatoes covered with chipotle sauce and thyme

Chipotle Sweet Potato Casserole

4.33 from 40 votes
While this is not a traditional sweet potato casserole, this chipotle version will please anyone in the mood for this Thanksgiving staple. Made with slices of sweet potato and topped with a slightly spicy butter, this dish is super easy to eat!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 14 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 tbsp (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup chipotle puree
  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice
  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 5 lb sweet potatoes

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
  • Remove the ends of the sweet potatoes to create even-sized slices. Save discarded potatoes and roast them separately. Slice the sweet potatoes ¼-inch thick. Lay in a baking dish in a shingle style.
    5 lb sweet potatoes
  • In a small saucepan, combine the butter, chipotle puree, orange juice, lime juice, maple syrup, thyme, and salt. Bring to a simmer over low heat, 3-4 minutes. Once at a simmer, stir to ensure all of the ingredients are evenly mixed. Remove from the heat and pour over the prepared sweet potatoes.
    12 tbsp (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, ¼ cup chipotle puree, ¼ cup fresh orange juice, 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, 3 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
  • Bake in the preheated oven until the potatoes are tender, 55-65 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 246kcalCarbohydrates: 36.2gProtein: 2.7gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2.9gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 26.2mgSodium: 340.2mgPotassium: 570.4mgFiber: 4.9gSugar: 9.8gVitamin A: 1232.7IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 57.5mgIron: 1mg
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Difficulty Intermediate
Method Baking

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Kaleb

Kaleb Wyse is a New York Times bestselling author behind the popular Wyse Guide website. Living on his fourth-generation Iowa farm, he loves sharing recipes and gardening tips that come from traditions that feel comfortably familiar. His down-to-earth style makes sustainable living and farm life feel like home!

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4.33 from 40 votes (30 ratings without comment)

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14 Comments

  1. Where do you get the citrus juicer. You have a yellow one for lemons and a green one for limes. Where do I buy them?

  2. 5 stars
    I love watching your cooking, baking & gardening you are just amazing. Your enthusiasm is Awesome!!💗🇿🇦

  3. 5 stars
    This is an amazing recipe! I made it tonight for my husband and I as part of our dinner; as a try out for an alternative dish for Thanksgiving dinner! It absolutely will be added!

  4. I love versatile , quick and easy recipes. I didn’t have the chipotle’s so I substituted it for 3 heaped teaspoons of my Texas dry rub. Yum!!! Delicious. Thanks!!!!! 💝💝💝

  5. 5 stars
    I’ve made these 3 times…so obviously I love them!
    Great spice & they compliment so many meals.
    If you have leftovers, try sautéing them on med-high until slightly browned. Serve with eggs. Tasty!

  6. 5 stars
    I made this dish last Thanksgiving. It was a big hit with my husband who does not eat sweet potatoes, but does enjoy spicy foods. The sauce keeps in refrigerator for several weeks, if you reduce the recipe as I did. So looking forward to including this recipe in our Thanksgiving menu again this year. It would make a delicious accompaniment to roasted pork or chicken, as well.
    Love your work, Kaleb!

  7. 4 stars
    Oh boy was this ever good! I tasted the sauce before pouring it over the potatoes and wondered what I had done. BUT! Once the sauce was simmered with the butter then the dish was baked, this provided a very tasty and not too sweet side dish. I loved it. One of the guests even asked for the recipe too. Yum!

  8. 5 stars
    I made Kaleb’s Chipotle Sweet Potato Casserole for Thanksgiving this year. It was great to have a colorful savory dish to compliment the meal. It was so fast and easy to make, too, which was a relief when there was so much other food to prepare. I also love that it can be made the night before and baked the next day. I was not successful in using my immersion blender like Kaleb did to blend the chipotle peppers, so I just chopped them finely with a knife which worked well. Even though I thought the casserole was very tasty and not too spicy, I’m not sure the older people at our table enjoyed the spiciness of the dish as much as the younger people did. Next Thanksgiving I’ll make Kaleb’s sweeter sweet potato casserole recipe:)