This easy Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is topped with pecans and marshmallows is a traditional side at our family Thanksgiving table.
This comforting dish combines mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, and butter with a hint of cinnamon. It is all crowned with pillowy soft marshmallows and toasty pecans.
A sweet potato casserole is the perfect combination of sweet and savory.
A Dessert-Like Holiday Side Dish
I love turkey dinner… not for the turkey per se, but more for the stuffing and the sides that go along with it, like this amazing casserole.
- This Sweet Potato Casserole is fairly simple and traditional; the flavors of sweet potatoes and pecans really shine.
- It’s easy to make and can be made ahead of time.
- Not only are they delicious; this sweet potato casserole is inexpensive to make.
- This almost dessert-like side dish is perfect for Thanksgiving, Easter, or Christmas but simple enough to serve for Sunday supper too!
Ingredients For Sweet Potato Casserole
The ingredients in this sweet potato casserole recipe are simple but delicious. There is no need for extra additions like eggs or flour.
- Sweet Potatoes—This recipe uses 3lbs of sweet potatoes, which is about 6 medium to large sweet potatoes. This can vary a bit. You can use canned sweet potatoes if you’d like. You’ll need 3 cans (29oz each) (well drained). We tested a few different brands and found Bruce’s to be superior as it contains way more potatoes in the can for the same weight!
- Brown Sugar—Light or dark brown sugar can be used in this recipe. I prefer dark brown sugar if I have it, as it has more flavor. You can also add a dash of maple syrup if you’d like.
- Butter—I use salted butter in this recipe. If you use unsalted butter, add extra salt if needed.
- Pecans—We love pecans paired with sweet potatoes. Feel free to swap them for walnuts.
- Flavoring—A little vanilla extract and a pinch of cinnamon are added for flavor. You can add extra cinnamon or more warm spices (like pumpkin pie spice) if you’d like. You can also add a splash of bourbon or other flavors.
Topping Options
Our favorite way to top this recipe is with pecans and mini marshmallows. If you’d prefer, you can add a streusel topping or pecan crumble.
Preparing the Sweet Potatoes
I prefer to peel and cube my sweet potatoes before boiling to reduce cooking time. You can certainly boil them whole (they’ll need about 20-25 minutes) and peel them once they’re cooked.
Using a potato masher to mash sweet potatoes by hand allows you to leave a little bit of texture. If you prefer them completely silky smooth, you can use a hand mixer to make them fluffy.
How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole
- Prep the sweet potatoes: Peel and boil the potatoes in a large pot according to the recipe below.
- Mash: Mash with butter, cinnamon, and sugar. Spread the sweet potato mixture into a baking dish.
- Bake: Top with marshmallows & pecans and bake until golden. So easy.
Variations
We always make a simple sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans, but you can also add a delicious crumble topping or a splash of bourbon if you’d like.
Easy to Make Ahead
This easy sweet potato casserole recipe can be prepared well ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours for meal prep (store the topping separately).
If you do refrigerate it before baking, remove it from the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking. If chilled, heat it for about 20 minutes and then stir the sweet potatoes. Add the topping and cook for 15-20 minutes, cold sweet potatoes take much longer to heat through.
This Sweet Potato Casserole is a perfect Thanksgiving or Easter side dish, yet it is so easy that you will want to serve it for any Sunday supper.
The addition of pecans and marshmallows really adds a crunchy, crisp topping that pairs so nicely with those soft, buttery mashed sweet potatoes. Once you try it, you’ll see why this sweet potato casserole appears on every special occasion.
More Sweet Potato Love
Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into cubes
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- ⅓ cup butter softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup chopped pecans divided
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon or to taste
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9 x 13 pan.
- Place sweet potatoes in a pot of boiling water. Simmer for 15 minutes or until fork tender. Drain.
- In a large bowl (or in the pot the potatoes were cooked in), mash the sweet potatoes with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, vanilla and salt & pepper.
- Fold in half of the pecans and spread into prepared pan.
- Sprinkle with the marshmallows and the remaining pecans.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until marshmallows are golden brown and potatoes are heated through.
Video
Notes
- Light or dark brown sugar can be used.
- If using unsalted butter, add extra salt if needed.
- Prepare and refrigerate before baking, keeping the topping in a separate container.
- Remove the sweet potato casserole from the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking. Bake for 20 minutes and then stir.
- Add the topping and cook for 15-20 minutes longer or until heated through and the marshmallows are toasty.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish
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This easy sweet potato casserole can be prepared well ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours for meal prep.
If you do refrigerate it before baking, remove it from the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking. If chilled, heat it for about 20 minutes and then stir. Add the topping and cook an additional 15-20 minutes as cold sweet potatoes take much longer to heat through.
Leftovers can be placed in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
You can bake to reheat but I find it quicker to reheat sweet potato casserole in the microwave. Once reheated, you can add new marshmallows and put it in the oven (or air fryer) for a few minutes to toast.
You can freeze sweet potato casserole before or after baking. If freezing before baking, don’t add the topping until it has thawed and baked. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake according to the “make ahead” directions in the notes of the recipe.
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Happy Thanksgiving! I am making your potatoes for dinner today. Can you share what serving size your nutritional info represents? 1 cup? Thank you!
Approximately ½ cup. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family too!
Many thanks! ❤️
If using the canned yams do I need to also boil those as well?? I need help
Canned yams do not need to be boiled, they should be well drained.
Thanks
This was a huge hit and will be added to the Thanksgiving rotation!
Can I make this ahead of time and then pop it in a crock pot?
I use this slow cooker sweet potato casserole with a bit of a different topping since it doesn’t brown. You could certainly add marshmallows if you’d like.
Is it possible to cook this in 2 separate 8×8 pans for two separate thanksgivings? Should there be any alterations made?
Yes, certainly. You can reduce the cooking time slightly (make ahead method in the notes) —I would suggest you remove the sweet potato casserole from the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking. Bake for 10 minutes and then stir, add the topping and cook for 15 to 20 minutes more or until heated through and the marshmallows are toasty.
Sweet! I think I’ll use marshmallows anyways I’m not concerned with the browning unless it affects the taste ?
It shouldn’t affect the taste. Enjoy!
Thanks for instructions on how to prepare day before Thanksgiving.
Thank you so much for giving us the option to adjust the quantities! I really appreciate it. Happy Thanksgiving!
I used the same recipe measurements but am baking in a 9×11. Do I keep the same oven time?
It should be close to the same, it’ll be a little bit thicker so it could need 5 minutes extra. Insert a butter knife into the center to ensure it’s heated through. If it’s hot, it’s ready!
love this
Great recipe! I didn’t have a 9×13 pan, so I used two 9″ pie pans and it turned out wonderful!
Hello! If I would like to add extra cinnamon to this recipe, how much do you suggest I add?
Thanks! :)
I’d suggest up to half teaspoon although I do find it has enough as written for our liking.
Excellent! This is now a staple in our holiday meals :) I’ve shared it to all my friends and family and love to hear when other people make it and fall in love . Thank you so much!
Easy to make and delicious! I left out the nuts. Great dish to share
May I substitute a pecan butter brown sugar topping for the marshmallows? If so, do I need to increase the cooking time?
I have never tried but that sounds pretty delicious. I would love to hear how it turns out!
Can you use large marshmallows?
Hi Ally, you can use large marshmallows but I would recommend cutting them into four pieces.
I was wondering if you could use canned yams/sweet potatoes instead?
Yes, you can use canned in this recipe.
I have a question about the cooking time if you use the streusel topping in place of the marshmallows. If I prepare the day before, do I cook for 20 then add the streusel topping and cook an additional 20 or does the streusel need to cook longer than the marshmallows? Thank you!
Streusel will be fine added at the beginning of cooking.
Can this possibly be made ahead of time and put in the freezer without the topping? I’m trying to prepare as much as I can before Thanksgiving so I wanted to see I’ve this is one I can go ahead and freeze.
If planning on freezing it, I would leave the topping off and add when ready to bake to keep it crisp. If possible I would take it out of the freezer the night before and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. It can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Roasting sweet potatoes rather than boiling them will enhance their flavor. Simply wash and bake at 375 for about 50 minutes or until fork tender. Let cool and the skins will peel right off. Put in the bowl and mash. Super easy.
Do you wrap in foil before you roast them?
I roast sweet potatoes without foil.
No you don’t. Anything canned is already cooked.
We are going to try recipe.we love sweet
Potatoes so casserole will good to.