Everything Thanksgiving: Get all our Thanksgiving recipes, how-tos and more !

Sweet potatoes, though welcome on the table any time of year, are a must come Thanksgiving . You might think they seem a bit redundant sitting next to the mashed potatoes, but trust us, they are an essential side dish.

Thanks to their natural sweetness, sweet potatoes bring a little taste of dessert to the dinner table. And it doesnt hurt that theyre often topped with a layer of even sweeter marshmallows. Or candied pecans.

While we love all the traditional ways sweet potatoes make an appearance at Thanksgiving, were fans of trying something new. Even on Thanksgiving. We put together a collection of sweet potato recipes that offer a fresh take on how to serve this spud with a few traditional ones mixed in as well.