Description
Pioneer woman slow cooker yams deliver a comforting Southern side dish that melts in your palate. Home cooks can savor rich, sweet potato goodness without complex kitchen work.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 4 tbsps (56 g) salted butter
- 1 cup (220 g) packed brown sugar
- 1 ½ tbsps (11 g) cornstarch
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ tsp cayenne
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Juice of 1 orange
- Chopped walnuts, toasted, for serving
- Chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly coat sweet potato cubes with cornstarch in a large mixing bowl, ensuring each piece is lightly and evenly dusted.
- Layering: Arrange cornstarch-coated sweet potato cubes in a uniform layer within the slow cooker, strategically placing butter chunks across the surface. Sprinkle brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and a hint of cayenne pepper evenly over the cubes.
- Seasoning: Drizzle vanilla extract and freshly squeezed orange juice over the sweet potatoes. Add water and a pinch of kosher salt to elevate the flavor profile.
- Cooking: Secure the slow cooker lid and set the temperature to low. Allow sweet potatoes to gently simmer for approximately 3 hours, stirring occasionally to promote even tenderness and prevent sticking.
- Finishing: Once sweet potato cubes reach a perfect tender consistency, gently toss them to ensure thorough coating with the aromatic cooking liquid. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with toasted walnuts and freshly chopped parsley for a delightful textural and visual contrast.
Notes
- Cornstarch Coating Technique: Lightly dust sweet potato cubes with cornstarch to create a crispy exterior and help thicken the cooking liquid, preventing mushiness during slow cooking.
- Butter Placement Strategy: Strategically distribute butter chunks across the surface to infuse rich flavor and create a smooth, luxurious texture throughout the dish.
- Spice Balance Tip: Carefully measure pumpkin pie spice and cayenne pepper to achieve a perfect sweet-and-slight-heat profile without overwhelming the natural sweetness of the yams.
- Stirring Importance: Gently mix the sweet potatoes every hour to ensure even cooking, prevent sticking, and distribute seasonings consistently for maximum flavor development.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 40 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg