Bourbon Bacon Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Brown Butter and Crispy Sage Recipe
Delicious and creamy bourbon bacon whipped sweet potatoes enhanced with nutty brown butter and crispy sage leaves. Perfect as a comforting side dish for any special occasion or holiday meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
Bacon and Sage
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 15 to 20 sage leaves
- 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
Seasonings and Liquids
- 1/3 cup milk
- 4 tablespoons brown butter
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Boil Potatoes: Add the sweet potato chunks to a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender, about 30 minutes.
- Cook Bacon: While the potatoes boil, heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add the chopped bacon. Cook until the fat is fully rendered and bacon is crispy, or cook 3/4 of the way then finish crisping in the oven.
- Drain Bacon and Reserve Fat: Remove bacon with a slotted spoon onto paper towels to drain. Remove about 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the skillet and set aside in a bowl.
- Make Crispy Sage: In the same skillet, add butter and heat over medium. Add sage leaves and cook 1 to 2 minutes per side until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.
- Mash Potatoes: Drain potatoes thoroughly and return to pot. Mash with a fork or potato masher, then whip with a whisk or electric hand mixer until smooth and fluffy.
- Mix Flavors: Add reserved bacon fat, milk, bourbon, and brown butter to the whipped potatoes. Whip again until fully combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve or Bake: If serving immediately, spread potatoes in a dish and top with crispy bacon and crumbled sage. If waiting to serve, heat oven to 325 degrees F, top potatoes with bacon, bake 25 to 30 minutes, then crumble sage over the top before serving.
Notes
- For extra crispy bacon, finish cooking it in a preheated oven after rendering fat on the stovetop.
- Use full-fat milk for richer whipped potatoes, or substitute with a dairy-free alternative if preferred.
- Brown butter adds a nutty depth but can be omitted for a lighter version.
- Adjust bourbon amount based on your preference for flavor intensity; cook off the alcohol by mixing it into hot potatoes.
- These whipped sweet potatoes can be doubled easily for larger crowds.
