This sweet potato casserole is perfect side dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. A classic dish with warming fall flavored spices and topped with delicious pecan streusel and gooey mini marshmallows.

easy sweet potato casserole recipe in white baking dish

What You’ll Love About This Recipe?

Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole is perfect with any holiday meal. This casserole is a perfect pair poultry and beef.
If you are looking for outstanding sides for your holiday table, then this casserole is what you need to make. It’s sweet, salty, nutty, gooey, and warming and all the way delicious!
It’s easy to make.
A true crowd pleaser! Even fussy kids would love this, I tell this from experience.
This casserole recipe has two toppings. Most families either have a tradition of making sweet potato casserole with plain brown butter (and pecan) streusel topping or stick to gooey marshmallow toppings.
I love both – nutty goodness of a pecan streusel toppings and gooey deliciousness of marshmallows. While you can stick to one topping of your choice, do consider to try adding both toppings. You’re in for real treat! Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
With two delicious and irresistible toppings – brown sugar pecan streusel and mini marshmallows this casserole tastes out of the world delicious!
Best part is yet to come! This recipe is easy to make ahead. Just assemble sweet potatoes in casserole dish, cover with cling film and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. Streusel topping can also be made ahead and stored separately in zip lock bags refrigerated. Just before serving, sprinkle streusel topping, bake and serve.
Let’s talk about the taste – it’s sweet and crunchy, salty from pecan nuts, and gooey! It’s so delicious, you’re sure to reach for seconds and third servings!
This casserole tastes practically like a dessert but traditionally served for side dish! How would you feel if you can eat dessert for side dish! You will like it so very much!
Not a sweet potato fan?! This just might be the recipe that will convert you! Try it!

Ingredient’s You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need for the sweet potato filling –

all ingredients for sweet potato casserole recipe

2.5 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into small cubes
½ cup water
2 eggs
¾ cup light brown sugar
4 tablespoon butter, unsalted
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon clove powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg powder
¼ cup pecans, chopped

This is what you’ll need for the toppings –

ingredients for sweet potato casserole toppings on white board

1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup light brown sugar
4 tablespoon plain flour
½ cup butter, chilled cut into cubes
¼ teaspoon clove powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg powder
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
And
2 cups mini marshmallows

How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole?

It’s one of the easiest casserole to make. Simply cook sweet potatoes, mash with spices and rest of the ingredients. Spread on casserole dish.

Make streusel topping with brown sugar, chilled butter, pecans, spices. Sprinkle over sweet potato layer, bake! Serve it as it is or make it a double topping with mini marshmallows spread on top to cover the whole casserole. Bake for few minutes until marshmallows are roasted and gooey.

To Make Potato Filling:

Start by peeling sweet potatoes. Dice into small cubes. Add diced sweet potatoes into a pan, pour ½ cup water and bring it to boil. Once starts boiling cover and cook on low flame until sweet potatoes are cooked through and tender. Will take around 12 to 15 minutes for potatoes to cook.
Drain off any liquids left in the pot. Rest sweet potatoes for few minutes. This will help remove any excess water from the potatoes.
Transfer cooked sweet potatoes into a bowl. Mash it using potato masher.
Add all ingredients – eggs, brown sugar, spices, vanilla and chopped pecans to the bowl.
Beat using hand blender or to mash until fluffy and well blended.
Grease casserole dish with butter on all sides. You can use cooking oil instead of butter to spray over the casserole dish.
Transfer potato filling into prepared casserole/baking dish. Set aside.

picture collage of how to make sweet potato casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole Topping

To Make Streusel Topping (pecan crumb):

Into a food processor add pecans, light brown sugar, chilled butter(cubed), plain flour, spice powder and vanilla extract.
Pulse few times until the crumble mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs.

Bake:

Spread pecan crumb topping evenly over potato filling.
Bake in pre-heated oven at 375 degree Fahrenheit for 25 to 35 minutes until golden brown.

Marshmallow Topping:

Remove baked sweet potato casserole from the oven. Spread mini marshmallows in single layer. Bake in oven for 5 to 10 minutes. If desired you can broil for 1 or 2 minutes. Make sure not to broil longer, marshmallows will burn quickly.
Serve immediately.

Can I Make This Sweet Potato Casserole Ahead Of Time?

Yes you can! Make everything the night before, pop into the refrigerator and it’s ready to bake next day or day after.

Make potato filling, set it on casserole dish. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 1 or 2 days.

The streusel topping or pecan crumb can also be make ahead and stored separately refrigerated.

When you are ready to serve, bring both potato filling and streusel crumb out of the fridge.

Sprinkle pecan crumb on top and bake it pre-heated oven. If using want to add mini marshmallows spread in single layer, bake for 5 to 10 minutes.

easy sweet potato casserole dish with mini marshmallow and pecan crumb topping in casserole dish with text overlay

Can I Freeze Sweet Potato Casserole?

You’ll have a ton of dishes to cook for thanksgiving, even one less dish to prep makes life so much easier.

If you want to prep ahead you can, just assemble sweet potatoes in casserole dish, cover with cling film and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. Streusel topping can also be made ahead and stored separately in zip lock bags refrigerated. Just before serving, sprinkle streusel topping, bake and serve.

If you want to prep it much before and store it for longer you can freeze. Prep sweet potato filling spread into casserole dish, cover it tightly and pop into freezer. The crumble topping should be stored separately in a freezer-proof airtight container or tightly sealed in a freezer bag.

When ready to bake, remove from freezer and thaw it overnight in fridge. Next morning sprinkle with crumble topping and bake.

Can I Use Canned Sweet Potatoes?

Sure, you can!

Canned sweet potatoes or yams are perfect for making casserole. It infact reduces your prep work by a great deal. By all means use canned sweet potatoes in this recipe to make sweet potato casserole.

Pro Tips For Best Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Do not use too much water while cooking sweet potatoes. ½ cup would do and remember to drain off all excess water before mashing sweet potatoes. Any liquids left in sweet potatoes will make the potato filling runny.
Rest cooked potatoes for few minutes to get rid off excess water before mashing.
You can use canned sweet potatoes for convenience, but I haven’t experimented with it!
Feel free to use any of your favorite spice. Choose one or use a mix. I love cinnamon, clove and nutmeg spice mix. It gives the casserole a nice warming fall flavors!
Choose one topping either streusel crumb or mini marshmallows. Double topping is highly recommended if you in mood for holiday indulgence.
If you choose to broil marshmallows, broil only for 1 or 2 minutes. Marshmallows will burn quickly.

CRAVING MORE? YOU MUST TRY THESE SIDE DISHES:

Sauteed Green Beans

Garlicky Sauteed Mushrooms

Melting Potatoes

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce

Honey Glazed Carrots

Roasted Butternut Squash

Hasselback Butternut Squash

or here’s a list of 35+ best Thanksgiving side dishes to choose from.

Don’t forget to Subscribe to CurryTrail Recipes newsletter to get our newest recipes delivered straight to your inbox.

LOVE THIS RECIPE? KEEP IN TOUCH AND DON’T MISS OUT ON ANY OF CURRYTRAIL RECIPES! FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, TWITTER.

HAVE YOU TRIED ONE OF MY RECIPES? I’D LOVE TO SEE WHAT YOU’VE MADE! TAKE A PICTURE AND USE THE HASHTAG #CURRYTRAIL ON INSTAGRAM SO I CAN SEE! I’LL DO A HAPPY DANCE IF YOU TRY MY RECIPE AND SHARE IT WITH US!

Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows And Pecans