Homemade Garlic Butter Sweet Potato Bake Recipe
A rich and creamy homemade garlic butter sweet potato bake featuring thinly sliced sweet potatoes baked in a decadent garlic-infused cream sauce with fresh thyme and topped with golden Parmesan cheese. This comforting dish is perfect as a hearty side or a satisfying vegetarian main.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Creamy Sauce
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, divided (a small amount reserved for greasing)
- 5 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Sweet Potato Bake
- 3 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced thin (about 1/8-inch thick)
- 1/3 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with a small amount of butter or nonstick spray to prevent sticking. Set aside until assembly.
- Make Creamy Sauce: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together the cornstarch and heavy cream until smooth. Add butter, minced garlic, chopped fresh thyme, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Stir frequently until butter melts and the mixture is hot but not boiling. Remove from heat and let garlic gently infuse into the cream for enhanced flavor.
- Assemble and Begin Baking: Arrange the thinly sliced sweet potatoes evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish, overlapping slightly for even cooking. Pour the hot creamy sauce evenly over the potatoes, ensuring thorough coating. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Add Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove the dish from the oven and evenly sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the top. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly. Optionally, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end to crisp the cheese top, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the gratin rest for about 10 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and make slicing easier. Serve warm and enjoy your creamy, garlicky, cheesy sweet potato bake.
Notes
- For thinner slices, use a mandoline slicer to ensure even cooking.
- Allowing the garlic to infuse gently in the cream improves flavor without bitterness.
- Broiling at the end crisps the cheese topping but watch closely to prevent burning.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with roasted meats or a fresh green salad for a complete meal.
Keywords: sweet potato bake, garlic butter sweet potatoes, creamy sweet potato gratin, cheesy sweet potato casserole, baked sweet potatoes, vegetarian side dish
