Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe (2024)

Published: Nov 4, 2020 · Modified: Jun 9, 2021 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

This Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping recipe will be a great addition to your Thanksgiving table! It is also the perfect side dish to any meal, any time of the year.

Original post: June 2018 | Updated: November 2020

Why This Recipe Works

Sweet Potato Casserole is one of those classic dishes that originates in the Midwest but is enjoyed by people in every region. It is SO easy to make and it is SO delicious.

This dish is typically made for Thanksgiving dinner, but goes great with any holiday or any-day meal. How can you go wrong with buttery, sugary sweet potatoes topped with crunchy pecans and gooey marshmallows?

It’s a sweet potato lover’s dream come true! The prep for this recipe is minimal, cook time is short and you can easily prep it ahead of time and bake just before serving.

Check Out A Web Story On This Holiday Side!

Enjoy making Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping for your holiday meal by watching this easy tutorial.

How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole

Step 1

Boil 5 peeled and cubed sweet potatoes in a large saucepan for about 20 minutes, or until fork tender.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Drain the cooked sweet potatoes and mash them using a potato masher or hand mixer.

If you use a hand mixer, be sure not to over-mix or the potatoes will become gluey. Add the eggs, 1/4 cup butter, milk, pumpkin pie spice and brown sugar.

Mix well and spread the mixture in an even layer in the prepared baking dish.

Step 3

Combine pecans, butter, flour and brown sugar in a large bowl and mix well.

Spread the pecan topping over the sweet potato layer.

STEP 4

Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven.

Add mini marshmallows in an even layer 5 minutes before time is up.

Recipe Notes

• This sweet potato casserole with marshmallows recipe calls for 1 cup of brown sugar total, but replace some or all of it with maple syrup, honey or agave nectar, if desired.
• To make this recipe nut-free, replace the pecans with crushed pretzels! Or just go with a crumble topping, including the brown sugar flour mixture and topping with the butter.
• Some of my readers are not fans of the marshmallows on top (it might be a Minnesota thing?), so feel free to omit, if desired.
• Replace the fresh sweet potatoes with canned, if desired, but fresh is always best!

What To Serve With Sweet Potatoes

In need of ideas about what to serve alongside this tasty orange food? Check out this roundup of 20 delicious ideas: what to serve with sweet potatoes.

Can I Make This Dish In Advance

Yes! That is one of the things I love about this recipe. Prep Sweet Potato Casserole up to 2 days before baking, but leave the marshmallows off when you get to that part in the baking process.

This will save you 30 minutes, which is valuable time, especially if you are making this side dish on a holiday!

How To Freeze Sweet Potato Casserole

You can absolutely freeze sweet potato casserole! Layer the baking dish as directed, minus marshmallows. Seal tightly and store in the freezer for 3 to 4 months.

When ready to bake, allow to thaw completely (preferably overnight in the fridge) and bake as directed.

Sweet Potatoes vs Yams

I was confused for so many years after cutting into a sweet potato only to find white flesh. Was it really a sweet potato or was it a yam? It is rare to find an actual yam in a U.S. grocery store. What you are seeing when you go to the store are two varieties of sweet potatoes. Crazy, right?!

“Yams” at the store are actually sweet potatoes with brown skin and dark orange flesh. “Sweet potatoes” at the store are sweet potatoes with lighter skin and also lighter flesh.

This variety is more firm in texture and not as fluffy when cooked. When you purchase sweet potatoes for this dish, you will want to purchase the “yam” variety! No more potato confusion, phew!

FAQ About Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potato Recipes

If you can’t get enough of the tuberous root vegetable, check out these delicious recipes:

• Perfect Baked Potatoes
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Healthy Lunch Bowl with Sweet Potatoes
• Baked Potato Chips

Mac and Cheese Recipes for Thanksgiving – 13 Delicious Ideas!

Mac and cheese is a Thanksgiving staple! Read on for some scrumptious mac and cheese recipes for Thanksgiving that you can make this year! You’ll find a ton of options to choose from in this roundup.

Thanksgiving Recipes

• MyMom’s Mashed Potatoesrecipe is the BEST and goes great with any main dish, any time of year. You’ll never need another mashed potato recipe again!
• Done in just 30 minutes with a delicious glaze that everyone will love, Instant Pot ham recipe makes dinner or your next holiday meal easy!
• This is the best hash brown casserole recipe and it only requires 4 ingredients, 1 dish and 1 hour in the oven. Great for breakfast or a dinner side!
• Caramel Pecan Bars are a delicious replacement for pecan pie. These bars are packed with caramel and pecans and are easier than pie to make so you can get to enjoying them quicker!
• ThisCrockpot Mac and Cheese recipe is creamy and cheesy and just plain DELICIOUS. This comfort food comes together quickly and easily.
• Tater Tot Hotdishis the perfect holiday comfort food. Whether it’s the main dish or a side, everyone at the table will be satisfied.
• If you want to have low carb options available, try thisCauliflower Stuffing recipe! It’s an easy, healthy side dish for your next holiday meal and it is low carb, gluten freeanddelicious!

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