11 Easy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipes Everyone Will Love

Searching for the perfect sweet potato casserole recipe can feel like a high-stakes holiday mission. You want something that’s creamy, flavorful, and crowned with the perfect topping, a dish that will have everyone at the table asking for the recipe. It’s the quintessential comfort food side dish, a star of the Thanksgiving and Christmas table.

The pressure is real. Do you go with gooey, toasted marshmallows or a crunchy, buttery pecan streusel? Should it be light and fluffy like a soufflé or dense and rich? With so many variations, from old-fashioned family classics to modern savory twists, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of options and worry about choosing the wrong one.

The perfect sweet potato casserole balances a creamy, flavorful sweet potato base with a delicious topping that suits your crowd’s preference. Whether you love the nostalgic sweetness of marshmallows or the satisfying crunch of a brown sugar pecan streusel, the secret lies in using well-cooked, mashed sweet potatoes and a harmonious blend of warm spices to create a truly unforgettable side dish. After testing countless variations for our own holiday tables, we’ve perfected these 11 recipes to guarantee success in your kitchen.

Searching for the Perfect Sweet Potato Casserole?

The perfect sweet potato casserole balances a creamy, flavorful sweet potato base with a delicious topping. Whether you prefer gooey, toasted marshmallows or a crunchy brown sugar pecan streusel, the key is using well-cooked, mashed sweet potatoes and the right blend of spices. Acknowledging the pressure of making the “perfect” holiday side dish is the first step. That’s why we’ve created this curated list of 11 easy-to-follow recipes that cater to every preference, from classic marshmallow lovers to those who prefer a crunchy pecan topping. After testing countless variations for our own holiday tables, we’ve perfected these 11 recipes to guarantee success in your kitchen.

The Great Debate: To Boil or To Bake Your Sweet Potatoes?

For the richest flavor in a sweet potato casserole, bake the sweet potatoes, as this method concentrates their natural sugars. For a quicker preparation with a very smooth, moist texture, boiling is the better option. Understanding the pros and cons of each method is crucial for achieving your desired texture and flavor.

Our test kitchen found that baking yields a richer, deeper, more concentrated sweet potato flavor and a slightly fluffier texture, but it does take longer. Boiling is a fantastic time-saver, is incredibly simple, and yields a very moist potato, but you must drain them thoroughly to avoid a watery casserole. We’ll tell you when to use each method for the recipes below.

11 Easy Sweet potato Casserole Recipes Everyone Will Love

Get ready to discover your new favorite holiday side dish. This list features 11 distinct sweet potato casserole recipes, ensuring there’s a perfect option for everyone at your table. From the gooey, toasted marshmallow classic to a steakhouse copycat and even a convenient Crockpot version, each recipe includes detailed instructions, pro tips, and a visual guide to guarantee success. Every recipe on this list has been rigorously tested to ensure it’s not only delicious but also easy to replicate for home cooks of all skill levels.

1. The Ultimate Classic Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

This is the nostalgic, comforting sweet potato casserole that many of us grew up with. A creamy, buttery, spiced sweet potato base is topped with a generous layer of miniature marshmallows and baked until they are puffed, gooey, and perfectly golden-brown.

• Ingredients: 4 cups mashed sweet potatoes (from about 3 lbs fresh), 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, pinch of salt, 3 cups miniature marshmallows.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, combine mashed sweet potatoes, sugars, eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Mix until smooth.
  3. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
  4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are lightly bubbly.
  5. Remove from oven and top evenly with miniature marshmallows.
  6. Return to the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the marshmallows are puffed and golden brown. For a more toasted top, broil for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully.

Pro-Tip: For perfectly even browning, toss the marshmallows with a tablespoon of melted butter before topping the casserole.

Pin this classic recipe for your next Thanksgiving feast!

2. Irresistible Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping

For those who prefer a crunchy and nutty contrast to the creamy filling, this pecan streusel-topped casserole is the ultimate choice. The combination of brown sugar, butter, and pecans creates an addictive, crumbly topping that perfectly complements the sweet potato base.

• Filling Ingredients: 4 cups mashed sweet potatoes, 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract.
• Streusel Topping Ingredients: 1 cup chopped pecans, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Prepare the filling by mixing mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, sugar, milk, and melted butter until smooth. Spread into the dish.
  3. In a separate bowl, prepare the topping. Combine pecans, brown sugar, and flour. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  4. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture.
  5. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is set.

Pro-Tip: Toast the pecans in a dry skillet for 3-5 minutes before adding them to the streusel. This deepens their nutty flavor and makes them extra crunchy.

Save this crunchy casserole recipe to your “Holiday Sides” board!

3. The “Best of Both Worlds” Marshmallow & Pecan Casserole

Why choose when you can have it all? This definitive recipe combines the gooey sweetness of marshmallows and the nutty crunch of pecan streusel, pleasing every guest at the table and ending the great topping debate once and for all.

• Ingredients: Use the filling from recipe #2 and the streusel topping from recipe #2, plus 2 cups of miniature marshmallows.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare the sweet potato filling and spread it into a greased 9×13 inch dish.
  2. Prepare the pecan streusel topping and sprinkle it over the filling.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes.
  4. Remove the casserole from the oven and carefully top with the miniature marshmallows.
  5. Return to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until the marshmallows are puffed and golden.

Lesson Learned: Don’t add the marshmallows at the beginning! They will burn before the streusel has a chance to get crunchy and the casserole cooks through.

Can’t decide? Pin this recipe and have it all!

4. 5-Ingredient Quick Casserole (Using Canned Yams)

When time is short during the holiday rush, this incredibly fast and easy 5-ingredient recipe comes to the rescue. Using the convenience of canned yams, you can have a delicious, classic-tasting casserole on the table with minimal effort.

• Ingredients: 2 (29 oz) cans of yams (sweet potatoes in syrup), drained; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar; 1/4 cup melted butter; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 2 cups miniature marshmallows OR 1 cup chopped pecans.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. In a large bowl, mash the drained yams with a potato masher.
  3. Stir in the brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon until well combined.
  4. Spread into a greased 8×8 inch baking dish.
  5. Bake for 20 minutes.
  6. Top with either marshmallows or pecans and bake for another 10 minutes, until the topping is golden.

Pro-Tip: For a smoother texture, use an electric hand mixer to whip the canned yams with the other ingredients. It makes a big difference!

Short on time? This 5-ingredient recipe is your holiday savior. Pin it now!

5. Southern-Style Sweet Potato Casserole (Soufflé)

This authentic Southern-style casserole is richer and more custard-like than its counterparts, often referred to as a soufflé. The addition of eggs and evaporated milk creates a decadent, smooth, and slightly puffed texture that’s simply irresistible.

• Ingredients: 4 cups mashed sweet potatoes, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs (beaten), 1/2 cup evaporated milk, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg. Use the Pecan Streusel Topping from recipe #2.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, beaten eggs, evaporated milk, melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg until very smooth.
  3. Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
  4. Prepare the pecan streusel and sprinkle it evenly over the top.
  5. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the center is set and the topping is deeply golden. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Lesson Learned: The addition of eggs and evaporated milk is what gives this version its characteristic rich, custard-like texture, making it different from a simple mashed casserole. Don’t skip them!

Get a taste of Southern tradition! Save this soufflé recipe.

6. Ruth’s Chris Copycat Sweet Potato Casserole

Now you can replicate the famously delicious and decadent casserole from the legendary steakhouse Ruth’s Chris right in your own kitchen. The secret is the unique pecan crust topping that bakes into a crunchy, praline-like layer over the silky sweet potato filling.

• Filling Ingredients: 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla, 4 tbsp melted butter.
• Crust Topping Ingredients: 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup chopped pecans, 1/2 cup melted butter.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Mix all filling ingredients together and spread in a buttered baking dish.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix brown sugar and flour. Add melted butter and mix to combine. Stir in the pecans.
  4. Sprinkle the crust mixture evenly over the filling.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Pro-Tip: The key to the copycat flavor is the distinct crust-like topping, which is different from a simple streusel. Make sure to mix the butter into the flour/sugar mixture before adding the nuts to get the right texture.

Craving steakhouse flavor? Pin this famous copycat recipe!

7. Pioneer Woman Inspired Sweet Potato Casserole

This recipe is inspired by the hearty, comforting, and family-approved style of Ree Drummond. It’s a flavor-packed casserole that uses maple syrup for a touch of rustic sweetness and half-and-half for an extra creamy texture, all topped with a generous pecan streusel.

• Ingredients: 4-5 large sweet potatoes, baked until tender; 1/2 cup half-and-half; 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1/4 cup melted butter; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 tsp nutmeg; Pecan Streusel Topping from recipe #2.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Scoop the flesh from the baked sweet potatoes into a large bowl. Mash well.
  3. Add the half-and-half, maple syrup, melted butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix until smooth and creamy.
  4. Spread into a buttered 9×13 inch baking dish.
  5. Top with the pecan streusel.
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and golden.

Lesson Learned: Baking the sweet potatoes whole, as Pioneer Woman often does, gives the filling a fluffier, less watery consistency and a deeper, roasted flavor compared to boiling.

Love the Pioneer Woman? You have to try this recipe! Pin it for later.

8. Savory Sweet Potato Casserole with Herbs

Not everyone loves a dessert-like side dish. This savory casserole skips the sugar and marshmallows, instead focusing on earthy flavors from fresh thyme and sage, a hint of garlic, and a crunchy Parmesan-breadcrumb topping.

• Ingredients: 4 cups mashed sweet potatoes, 1/4 cup heavy cream, 4 tbsp melted butter, 2 cloves garlic (minced), 1 tbsp fresh thyme (chopped), 1 tbsp fresh sage (chopped), salt and black pepper to taste.
• Topping: 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (panko works well), 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tbsp melted butter.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Combine mashed sweet potatoes with cream, melted butter, garlic, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper.
  3. Spread into a greased baking dish.
  4. In a small bowl, toss the breadcrumbs and Parmesan with 2 tbsp melted butter.
  5. Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping over the casserole.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until heated through and the topping is golden and crispy.

Pro-Tip: Use roasted garlic instead of raw minced garlic for a sweeter, more complex savory flavor that complements the sweet potatoes perfectly.

Looking for a less sweet option? Pin this savory herb casserole!

9. Healthy-ish Maple-Sweetened Sweet Potato Casserole

This healthier version of the classic casserole ditches refined sugar in favor of natural sweetness from pure maple syrup. It uses coconut oil instead of butter, creating a delicious, dairy-free option that’s just as satisfying.

• Ingredients: 4 cups mashed sweet potatoes, 1/3 cup pure maple syrup, 1/4 cup coconut oil (melted), 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp cinnamon.
• Topping: 1 cup chopped pecans, 2 tbsp maple syrup, 2 tbsp coconut oil (melted), pinch of salt.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Mix mashed sweet potatoes with 1/3 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup coconut oil, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon. Spread in a baking dish.
  3. In a separate bowl, toss the pecans with 2 tbsp maple syrup, 2 tbsp coconut oil, and salt.
  4. Sprinkle the pecan topping over the casserole.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes until set and the topping is toasted.

Lesson Learned: Coconut oil is a great dairy-free substitute for butter in this recipe, and its subtle flavor pairs beautifully with maple and sweet potato.

A healthier holiday is possible! Save this maple-sweetened recipe.

10. Ultimate Convenience: Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole

Free up precious oven space during busy holiday cooking with this brilliant slow cooker recipe. The sweet potatoes cook to tender perfection in the Crockpot, and the entire casserole is mixed and finished right in the insert for ultimate convenience.

• Ingredients: 4 lbs sweet potatoes (peeled and cubed), 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup milk, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp cinnamon. Use Pecan Streusel Topping from recipe #2.
• Instructions:
  1. Place cubed sweet potatoes in a 6-quart slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-7 hours, until tender.
  2. Do not drain. Add brown sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon directly to the slow cooker.
  3. Mash the ingredients together with a potato masher until mostly smooth.
  4. Sprinkle the prepared pecan streusel topping over the surface.
  5. Place a layer of paper towels under the lid to catch condensation, and cook on HIGH for another 30-45 minutes, until the topping is set.

Pro-Tip: For a crispier topping, you can transfer the ceramic insert of your slow cooker (if oven-safe) to the oven and broil for 2-3 minutes just before serving.

Save your oven space! Pin this genius crockpot casserole recipe.

11. Old-Fashioned Whipped Sweet Potato Casserole

This nostalgic recipe is all about texture. By using an electric mixer to whip air into the filling, you create an incredibly light, fluffy, and smooth casserole that’s reminiscent of a family heirloom recipe or your nanny’s famous soufflé.

• Ingredients: 4 cups mashed sweet potatoes, 1 cup sugar, 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/3 cup whole milk, a pinch of allspice. Optional topping: marshmallows or simple toasted pecans.
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat the mashed sweet potatoes until smooth.
  3. Add the sugar, eggs, melted butter, vanilla, milk, and allspice. Beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is light, airy, and pale in color.
  4. Pour the whipped mixture into a greased baking dish.
  5. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until puffed and set. If desired, add topping in the last 10 minutes of baking.

Lesson Learned: The secret to this “old-fashioned” version is using an electric mixer to whip air into the filling. This creates an incredibly light and fluffy texture, almost like a dessert soufflé.

Just like Grandma used to make. Save this timeless recipe!

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to Perfect Sweet Potato Casserole

Feeling ready to cook? Here’s a quick summary of the most important choices and tips for making the absolute best sweet potato casserole for your table.

• Flavor Profile: Decide if you want a classic sweet dish (marshmallows, pecan streusel) or a savory one (herbs, Parmesan).
• Potato Prep: For the deepest flavor, bake your sweet potatoes. For speed and convenience, boil them.
• Topping Choice: Marshmallows offer a gooey, toasted sweetness. Pecan Streusel provides a crunchy, nutty contrast. You can even use both!
• Make-Ahead Magic: Assemble the casserole (without the topping) up to 2 days in advance. Refrigerate, then add the topping just before baking to save holiday stress.
• Time Saver: Don’t hesitate to use canned yams for a super-fast 5-ingredient version when you’re in a pinch.

People Also Ask About sweet potato recipes casserole

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about making the perfect sweet potato casserole.

Is it better to boil or bake sweet potatoes for a casserole?

Baking is generally better as it concentrates the sweet potatoes’ natural sugars and flavor, resulting in a richer, less watery casserole. Roasting them whole and scooping out the flesh is ideal. However, boiling is much faster and still produces a delicious, smooth result, making it a great option when you’re short on time.

What spices are good in sweet potato casserole?

The most common and complementary spices are warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Allspice, ground cloves, and a touch of ginger also work beautifully to enhance the sweet potato flavor. For savory versions, thyme, sage, and rosemary are excellent choices, often paired with garlic and black pepper.

How far in advance can I make sweet potato casserole?

You can make the sweet potato filling 1-2 days in advance. Prepare the filling, spread it in your casserole dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate. It’s best to prepare the streusel topping separately and store it in an airtight container, then sprinkle it on just before baking to ensure it stays crunchy.

Why is my sweet potato casserole watery?

A watery casserole is usually caused by using boiled sweet potatoes that weren’t drained thoroughly, releasing excess moisture during baking. Using canned yams without draining them properly can also cause this. To prevent it, ensure boiled potatoes are well-drained and even let them steam dry for a few minutes. Baking sweet potatoes instead of boiling is the best way to avoid a watery result.

Final Thoughts

Sweet potato casserole is more than just a side dish; it’s a centerpiece of holiday memories and comfort food joy. Whether you’re a die-hard marshmallow fan or a pecan streusel purist, we hope you’ve found your new go-to recipe in this list. Now you’re ready to bring the perfect, crowd-pleasing dish to the table. Which recipe are you most excited to try for your next gathering? Let us know in the comments below.