Sweet Potato Casserole
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Fork-mashed sweet potatoes topped with a crisp, buttery pecan streusel—this sweet potato casserole is the dish everyone will be asking you to make again next year.
When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, I think most of us would say, “Don’t get fancy on me, just make the standards really special.” That’s exactly what this sweet potato casserole does. The filling is creamy and lightly spiced, with just enough brown sugar to enhance the natural sweetness of the potatoes, and instead of the usual marshmallows, it’s topped with a buttery brown sugar-pecan streusel. It’s crunchy, nutty, and, in my opinion, a major upgrade.
In my house, it’s “that dish”—the one everyone keeps sneaking forkfuls of long after the meal is over. Best of all, the casserole can be assembled ahead of time, so there’s one less thing to worry about on Thanksgiving Day. Serve it alongside your Thanksgiving turkey and turkey gravy for the complete holiday spread.
“My mom and I used your recipe for Thanksgiving and loved it so much that we are making it again for Christmas.”
What You’ll Need To Make Sweet Potato Casserole
- Sweet potatoes – Note that most supermarkets use the names “sweet potato” and “yam” interchangeably. This can be confusing since yams aren’t sweet potatoes at all, but rather thick white tubers with dark brown skin. Chances are you won’t find real yams at the grocery store, so if you see “yams,” you’re probably looking at sweet potatoes. If you’re in a pinch, canned sweet potatoes (well-drained) can be substituted, though fresh gives the best texture and flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a warm, caramel-like sweetness to both the filling and the streusel topping without overpowering the natural sweetness of the potatoes.
- Butter: Adds richness to the sweet potato filling and gives the streusel its buttery, crumbly texture.
- Cinnamon and nutmeg: A cozy mix of spices that brings out the natural sweetness of the potatoes.
- Eggs: Bind and add moisture to the sweet potato mixture, and help it set as it bakes.
- All-Purpose Flour: Gives the streusel topping structure and helps it bake up crisp and crumbly.
- Pecans: Add nutty flavor and plenty of crunch to contrast with the creamy filling.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole
Step 1: Boil the sweet potatoes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil—no need to salt it, since the potatoes will be salted later in the mixture. Add the sweet potatoes and cook until they’re soft enough to pierce easily with a fork. They should be very tender so they’re easy to mash. Drain well and let cool slightly before handling.
Step 2: Make the topping. Melt the butter in a medium bowl the microwave, then add the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Mix until well combined (it will be a bit clumpy), then mix in the chopped nuts.
Step 3: Make the sweet potato filling. Place the cooked, drained sweet potatoes in a bowl and mash with a potato masher or fork until very smooth. Mix in the melted butter, salt, brown sugar, and nutmeg, then stir in the eggs. It’s fine if there are few lumps—it’s impossible to get rid of all of them.
Step 4: Assemble. Transfer the sweet potato mixture to a 2-quart baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture. At this point, you can refrigerate it overnight until you’re ready to bake it or freeze it for longer storage.
Step 5: Bake. Bake, uncovered, for about 40 minutes, or until the topping is deeply golden brown and the filling is set. Let the casserole cool slightly before serving; it holds its shape better once it’s had a few minutes to rest. If you have leftovers, they’re likely to disappear before the dishes are done. If not, they’re just as good the next day.
Making It for Marshmallow Fans Too?
If you’ve got marshmallow loyalists in the family, you don’t have to choose sides. Make half the streusel topping and spread it over half the casserole, then top the other half with mini marshmallows during the last 20 minutes of baking. Keep an eye on them near the end, as marshmallows can go from golden to burnt quickly.
More Holiday Side Dishes You’ll Love
Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
For the Sweet Potato Mixture
- 3 lb sweet potatoes (about 3 large), peeled and cut into 1-in (2.5-cm) chunks
- ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (packed) light brown sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
For the Streusel Topping
- ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (packed) light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and set an oven rack in the middle position.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil (no need to salt). Add the sweet potatoes and cook until soft and very tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and let cool.
- Meanwhile, make the topping: Melt the butter in a medium bowl in the microwave. (Alternatively, melt it in a small pan over low heat and transfer to a medium bowl.) Add the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon and mix until well combined. It should look a little clumpy. Stir in the chopped nuts and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mash the cooked and drained sweet potatoes with a potato masher or large fork until very smooth. Add the melted butter, salt, sugar, and nutmeg and mix well. Mix in the eggs. It's okay if there are some lumps. Set aside.
- Transfer the sweet potato mixture to a 2-qt (2L) baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture and bake, uncovered, for about 40 minutes, or until the topping is nicely browned. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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I know you have said this could be made and reheated the next day but my question is do you cook the crisp, then refrigerate when cool and then warm the next day to serve or you mix it up, put the topping on and refrigerate without cooking and cook it the next day and serve?
Hi David, You can make (and bake) the whole thing ahead of time and just reheat it until crisp on top before serving. Enjoy!
Hi Jenn! I am excited to try this recipe! Can I make it ahead and reheat it? Or will it be better to make it Thursday and bring it to dinner? Also…how did you get the potatoes so smooth–should I put them in the mixer? Thanks so much! Ellyn
Hi Ellyn, It’s perfectly fine to make ahead — it reheats beautifully. And I just mash them up with a fork or potato masher.
Hi Jen,
This recipes looks delicious and I am looking forward to making this for Thanksgiving. If I make just the sweet potato part now and freeze it without the topping, how long should I bake it on Thanksgiving Day when I add the topping? Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Cyndi, If you make and freeze the sweet potato portion, I would make sure it is fully defrosted before baking. If it is, you can bake it for the directed amount of time. If not, I would increase the baking time in 20 minute increments until it’s heated through. Just cover the top with foil if it starts to get too dark. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Jen,
It worked out beautifully for Thanksgiving. Thanks! Hope you had a nice holiday!
This recipe is amazing! I followed it to a T and thought it was just the perfect amount of sweet! I wanted to try it out on my biggest, most honest skeptics, my kids, before I made for thanksgiving. All I can say is I turned 2 non-loving sweet potato kids into sweet potato fans! They could not get enough! I will definitely be making for thanksgiving!
Best ever! Received 5 stars from Family & Friends this past Thanksgiving. My own twist: I added an additional 1/2 pound of sweet potatoes and substituted pumpkin pie spice to the sweet potato mixture. For the topping, I used half a cup of brown sugar, half a cup of flour, added a dollop of cream and substituted 1/3 cup of walnuts and pumpkin pie spice. Exceptional results with an aromatic flavourful scent. Easy to prepare and made a day in advance to rave reviews.
Are you aware that if you allow 8 servings, each one is 445.4 calories with 23.4 g fat, 77.6 g cholesterol, 55.6 g sugar?
It sounds delicious, but totally unhealthy!
This is our favorite sweet potato recipe for the holidays and beyond. I love plain sweet potatoes so found the amount of sugar a bit over the top and use about half of what is called for, have also substituted 4 egg whites for eggs. When I am making for a crowd I make a double bottom with one batch of topping. Half the sugar in the bottom. Someone always asks me for the recipe!
Made this for Easter along w/ the Brussels Sprouts/Kale Salad and the Asparagus/Peas dish. This was fantastic and extremely easy. The topping is sooooo good.
[While I’m being honest, I DID warm up a bowl of this later in the evening and ate it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Just sayin’. :)]
Lovely dish! Everyone love the sweet potatoes and wanted the recipe! Thank you so much!
Lovely dish! I made it to accompany stuffed turkey breast for Christmas Day dinner and it was a hit. I followed another reader’s advice and halved the topping ingredients and it was plenty, as it’s fairly rich.
Thanks for another nice recipe!