Irresistibly Fluffy Easy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Sweet potato casserole has been my comforting companion through countless holiday gatherings.

Memories of my grandmother’s kitchen swirl with the warm, inviting aromas of this classic dish.

Soft, creamy potatoes blend perfectly with a crunchy pecan topping that adds delightful texture.

Maple syrup brings a subtle sweetness that makes this recipe truly special.

Each bite connects you to cherished culinary traditions passed down through generations.

Marshmallows or streusel – the choice is yours in crafting this crowd-pleasing side.

You’ll want to savor every delicious spoonful of this ultimate comfort food.

Ingredients for Easy Sweet Potato Casserole Magic

Main Ingredients:

• Sweet Potatoes: Creamy root vegetable that provides the rich, smooth foundation of the casserole. Choose orange-fleshed varieties for deeper color and sweetness.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a smooth texture. Unsalted butter works best for controlled seasoning.
• Brown Sugar: Brings deep caramel-like sweetness to complement the sweet potatoes. Light or dark brown sugar can be used.
• Milk: Helps create a soft, creamy consistency. Whole milk provides the best texture and flavor.
• Eggs: Bind the mixture and add structure to the casserole.

• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, sweet undertones to the dish. Pure vanilla extract provides the best flavor.
• Cinnamon: Warm spice that complements the sweet potato's natural sweetness.
• Salt: Balances and enhances all the other flavors in the casserole.

• Pecans, Flour, Brown Sugar: Create a crunchy, sweet streusel topping that adds texture and extra flavor. Toast pecans for enhanced nuttiness.
• Optional Marshmallows: Provides a classic, gooey topping for those who love an extra sweet finish.

Why This Easy Sweet Potato Casserole Steals the Show

• Quick and Simple Preparation: Whip up this sweet potato casserole with minimal kitchen skills, making it perfect for novice cooks or busy holiday meal planners.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Food: Packed with warm spices and a crunchy pecan topping, this dish delivers irresistible flavors that appeal to both kids and adults at family gatherings.
• Versatile Holiday Showstopper: Seamlessly fits into traditional Thanksgiving spreads or can elevate weeknight dinners with its delightful combination of sweet, creamy potatoes and crispy streusel topping.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare most of the casserole in advance, refrigerate, and bake just before serving, reducing stress during busy holiday meal preparations.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Sweet Potato Casserole

Step 1: Prepare Sweet Potato Base

Wash sweet potatoes thoroughly under cool running water. Cut into uniform chunks to ensure even cooking. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Carefully add potato chunks and cook until they’re tender enough to pierce easily with a fork (roughly 15-20 minutes). Drain potatoes completely in a colander, then return to the pot. Mash potatoes using a potato masher or electric mixer until smooth and creamy.

Step 2: Craft Delicious Potato Mixture

• Mashed sweet potatoes
• Melted butter
• Brown sugar
• Whole milk
• Beaten eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

Whisk all ingredients until they blend into a silky, uniform mixture. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading evenly with a spatula.

Step 3: Create Crunchy Pecan Topping

• Brown sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Chopped pecans
• Ground cinnamon
• Melted butter

Combine ingredients until they form a crumbly, delightful texture. Sprinkle the topping generously over the sweet potato base, covering the entire surface.

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Slide the baking dish into the center rack and bake for 25-30 minutes. Look for a golden-brown color and bubbling edges, indicating the casserole is ready. For extra indulgence, sprinkle marshmallows during the final 5 minutes and broil until they turn a beautiful caramel brown.

Step 5: Serve and Savor

Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. This allows the dish to set and makes serving easier. Scoop generous portions onto plates and enjoy alongside roasted turkey, glazed ham, or your favorite holiday main course. Watch as family and friends delight in this comforting, sweet potato masterpiece!

Sweet Potato Casserole Tips That Really Work

• Boost Potato Smoothness: Use a hand mixer or potato masher to create an ultra-creamy texture without lumps, ensuring a silky-smooth base for your casserole.
• Customize Topping Crunch: Swap pecans with walnuts or almonds for a different nutty flavor, or add extra crunch by lightly toasting the nuts before mixing into the streusel.
• Make Ahead Magic: Prepare the casserole a day in advance and refrigerate, then bake just before serving to save time during holiday meal prep.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Replace butter with coconut oil and use almond milk or oat milk to make the recipe suitable for dairy-sensitive guests.
• Spice It Up: Experiment with additional warm spices like nutmeg or ginger to enhance the sweet potato's natural sweetness and create a more complex flavor profile.

How to Store Sweet Potato Casserole Without Losing Flavor

• Refrigerate leftover casserole in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Seal tightly to prevent moisture loss and preserve the delicious flavor.
• Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or warm the entire dish in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
• Avoid freezing this casserole, as the creamy texture and crispy streusel topping may become soggy when thawed.
• Pro tip: Store the streusel topping separately from the sweet potato base to maintain its crunchy texture if you plan to keep leftovers for a few days.

Perfect Pairings for Sweet Potato Casserole

• Pair with Warm Bourbon Cider: Craft a spiced bourbon cider that complements the sweet potato's caramelized notes, enhancing the casserole's rich, comforting flavors with a smooth, warming alcohol kick.
• Match with Crisp Riesling: Select a slightly sweet Riesling to balance the dessert-like sweetness of the casserole, its bright acidity cutting through the rich, buttery pecan streusel.
• Serve alongside Roasted Turkey: Create a classic Thanksgiving plate by pairing the sweet potato casserole with herb-roasted turkey, allowing the sweet and savory elements to dance together on the palate.
• Complement with Maple-Glazed Ham: Serve the casserole with a maple-glazed ham, where the sweet potato's brown sugar and cinnamon tones harmonize beautifully with the ham's glazed exterior.

Twists to Try on Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

• Marshmallow Mountain: Transform the classic casserole by creating a thick, pillowy marshmallow layer that covers the entire surface, toasted to golden perfection for extra gooey sweetness.
• Coconut Caribbean: Incorporate shredded coconut into the streusel topping and add a splash of rum extract to the sweet potato mixture for a tropical flavor profile that brings island vibes to the traditional dish.
• Spiced Bourbon Blast: Enhance the recipe by adding a tablespoon of bourbon to the sweet potato mixture and sprinkle some ground nutmeg and ginger into the streusel for a warming, sophisticated adult version of the classic casserole.
• Maple Pecan Power: Replace brown sugar with pure maple syrup in the base and mix chopped maple-candied pecans into the streusel for an intensely rich, nutty experience that elevates the classic recipe.

Frequently Asked Sweet Potato Casserole Questions

• Why are sweet potatoes good for this casserole?

Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins A and C, fiber, and antioxidants. They provide a natural sweetness and creamy texture that makes this casserole both nutritious and delicious.

• Can I make this casserole ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the sweet potato mixture and streusel topping a day before, store them separately in the refrigerator, and assemble just before baking. This makes holiday meal prep much easier.

• Is this recipe kid-friendly?

Absolutely! The sweet, cinnamon-spiced flavor and crunchy pecan topping make this casserole appealing to children. It’s like a dessert that passes as a side dish, which kids tend to love.

• How can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Simply substitute the all-purpose flour in the streusel with gluten-free flour or almond flour. The rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free, making this an easy adaptation for those with dietary restrictions.

Easy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

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4.6 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Creamy Southern sweet potato casserole brings comfort and warmth to family gatherings with its luscious marshmallow topping. Rich, buttery flavors and cinnamon-spiced sweet potatoes create a nostalgic side dish you’ll crave at every holiday meal.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 lbs sweet potatoes (about 4–5 medium, peeled & cubed)
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup milk (or heavy cream)

Liquid & Seasoning Ingredients:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt

Topping Ingredients:

• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup mini marshmallows

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Instructions

1. Prepare the sweet potatoes by cutting them into uniform cubes and boiling in salted water until they become tender and easily pierced with a fork, approximately 15-20 minutes.
2. Drain the cooked sweet potatoes thoroughly and transfer to a large mixing bowl, then mash until completely smooth and free of lumps.
3. Incorporate melted butter, brown sugar, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt into the mashed sweet potatoes, stirring until the mixture is completely homogeneous and creamy.
4. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and carefully spread the sweet potato mixture evenly across the bottom, creating a smooth surface.
5. Create the streusel topping by combining brown sugar, all-purpose flour, chopped pecans, ground cinnamon, and melted butter in a separate bowl, mixing until the ingredients form a crumbly texture.
6. Generously sprinkle the pecan streusel over the sweet potato base, ensuring complete and even coverage.
7. Place the casserole in a preheated oven at 350°F and bake for 25-30 minutes, watching for a golden-brown color and slight bubbling around the edges.
8. Optional: For an extra indulgent touch, add marshmallows during the final 5 minutes of baking and briefly broil until they turn golden and puffy.
9. Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes, which helps the dish set and makes serving easier.
10. Serve warm as a delightful side dish alongside holiday main courses, and enjoy the rich, comforting flavors.

Notes

• Opt for organic sweet potatoes to enhance the natural, earthy flavor and boost nutritional value.
• Prevent lumpy mashed sweet potatoes by using a potato masher or electric mixer for ultra-smooth consistency.
• Customize the casserole for dietary needs by substituting dairy-free milk and vegan butter for a plant-based version.
• Reduce sugar content by using monk fruit sweetener or cutting the brown sugar quantity in half for a lighter, less sweet dish.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 305
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 39 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg