Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

In my family, the Best Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is one that’s served up sweet and salty with a delicious, crunchy streusel topping! You’ll love this mashed sweet potato recipe and the nutty brown sugar crunch on top!

For more holiday side dishes, don’t forget the Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole, and of course Pistachio Salad!

Sweet potato casserole baked in a white dish.


Why this Recipe is Best

Every family has traditions, and in most cases, you can’t shake things up. Ever.

For instance, Thanksgiving. You are either a plain sweet potato or a mini marshmallows topped sweet potato family. There is no middle ground. (of course you could also love candied sweet potatoes)

For years, my family was divided. Depending on who hosted Thanksgiving dinner, we either were served gooey, sweet marshmallow sweet potato casserole….or a sweet potato casserole with a little butter and brown sugar.

Those were the only choices. Until now.

Now I host Thanksgiving myself, and it’s my turn to determine how I want to serve my sweet potatoes. And while I love marshmallow topped, and brown sugar…today’s streusel topped sweet potato casserole are hands down, my favorite.

If you’ve ever been to a Ruth’s Chris restaurant you’ll recognize these potatoes!

  • Sweet and creamy mashed sweet potatoes.
  • Topped with a brown sugar crumble with a crunch for salty pecans.
  • One of the best things about these sweet potatoes is that you can have them prepped ahead of time so that you only need to bake them on Thanksgiving. 

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed for sweet potato casserole with pecan topping.
  • Sweet Potatoes. Choose fresh sweet potatoes that have no root growing off of them.
  • Sugars. You’ll want sugar for the mashed sweet potato and brown sugar for the pecan topping.
  • Vanilla extract. These candied potatoes are almost like a dessert. Using real vanilla extract (or try my homemade vanilla extract) gives even more flavor.
  • Eggs. Helps the casserole fluff up to a delicious texture.
  • Unsalted butter. If using salted butter, omit the extra kosher salt in the recipe.

Easy Instructions

Step by step photos showing how to make sweet potato casserole.

Start by cooking your sweet potatoes.

  • Bake. You can bake them in the oven (my preferred method), at 400 degrees F for an hour.
  • Stove Top. Or you can peel and boil potatoes in a large pot of water (for about half an hour).
  • Microwave. The third way would be to poke them with a fork and microwave the potatoes for about 15-20 minutes. 
  • Instant Pot. OR you can pop them in the Instant Pot! Cook them tender by using my Instant Pot Sweet Potato recipe!

Mash the sweet potatoes.

Once your potatoes are cooked, combine them in a large bowl with the sugar, salt, vanilla extract, eggs, and melted butter. Using a mixer, beat them for about 4-5 minutes until fluffy and smooth.

Bake. Pour this into a 2 qt casserole dish and bake in a 375 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes.

Make the topping. While the potatoes are baking, make your streusel topping. Combine brown sugar with flour, chopped pecans, and melted butter. Stir together with a fork and set aside.

Once your sweet potatoes have cooked, top with streusel (and extra pecans on top if desired) and return to the oven to bake an additional 10-15 minutes. Serve hot.

Making ahead of time

There is nothing worse than trying to figure out what goes in the oven, and when. Fortunately, this sweet potato casserole gets it’s “BEST” rating because of the flexibility. 

Here are THREE options on how to make today’s sweet potato casserole recipe:

  1. First, you could bake as written above, if oven space is not an issue.
  2. Or, you could bake the 25 minutes, top with the streusel and refrigerate until the next day. Then you would only need to pop it back into the oven for about 20 minutes.
  3. You could also bake it as directed for entirety and allow to sit on the table for about 30 minutes (covered with foil to keep hot). This gives you time and space to warm up some dinner rolls and get the rest of your food heated and ready.

Thanksgiving Dessert recipes

While you’re here, how about we take a peek into my dessert archives? I’ve got some of the best Thanksgiving treats you could ever want!

  • Delicious layers of homemade Spice Cake with a Pecan Pie filling. This Pecan Pie cake is topped with a creamy Brown Sugar frosting! Drooling yet?
  • Smooth and decadent, French Silk Pie is a chocolate lovers dream! You’ll love the flaky pie crust, topped with smooth and silky chocolate!
  • Easy to assemble Turkey Rice Krispie Treats decorated for Thanksgiving! Loved by kids and adults!
  • Pumpkin Cheesecake Cake: two layers of delicious pumpkin cake with a creamy cheesecake center. Frosted with cream cheese frosting!
  • Look at those beautiful layers in this Pumpkin Magic Cake! This is a must make recipe for the holidays!
  • Apple Crumble. The comfort of home in an easy, no pie crust recipe!
  • The best (and easiest) Pumpkin Pie recipe you’ll need this holiday season. Make Thanksgiving dessert in no time at all with this delicious pie recipe!
Sweet potato casserole recipe served in white bowls.

Serving Suggestions

So many dinner ideas pair nicely with these sweet potatoes. Here are a few of my favorites!

Favorite Side Dishes

See all Side Dishes recipes

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

4.70 from 322 votes
By: Aimee
In my family, the Best Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is one that’s served up sweet and salty with a delicious, crunchy streusel topping! You’ll love this mashed sweet potato recipe and the nutty brown sugar crunch on top!
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients 

For the Mashed Sweet Potatoes:

  • 4 large sweet potatoes
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted

For the streusel topping:

  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
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Instructions 

  • Cook sweet potatoes in desired manner, until soft. See notes.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 2 qt baking dish with nonstick spray (I use coconut oil spray). Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine cooked sweet potatoes, granulated sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs and melted butter. Beat with an electric mixer for about 4-5 minutes, until fluffy and smooth.
  • Pour into prepared dish. Bake for 25 minutes.
  • While baking, prepare streusel topping by combining brown sugar, flour, pecans, and melted butter in a small bowl. Mix with a fork and set aside.
  • Sprinkle the baked sweet potato mixture with streusel and return to oven for about 10-15 minutes until crumble is lightly browned. Serve immediately or cover with foil and serve in 30 minutes.

Notes

  • For the sweet potatoes you can cook them your favorite way. Bake in a 400 degree F oven for one hour. Or pierce with fork and microwave for 15 minutes (or more depending on size). Or peel and boil them for 30 minutes.
  • Butter– for a traditional Ruths Chris topping, you’ll want to melt the butter. If you prefer more of a crumble, just use softened butter instead.
Make it in Advance: Here are THREE options on how to make today’s sweet potato casserole recipe:
  1. First, you could bake as written above, if oven space is not an issue.
  2. Or, you could bake the 25 minutes, top with the streusel and refrigerate until the next day. Then you would only need to pop it back into the oven for about 20 minutes.
  3. You could also bake it as directed for entirety and allow to sit on the table for about 30 minutes (covered with foil to keep hot). This gives you time and space to warm up some dinner rolls and get the rest of your food heated and ready.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 359kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 72mg, Sodium: 226mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 26g
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!
Big spoonful of mashed sweet potato casserole from a white baking dish.


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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

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Posted on October 14, 2023

Comments & Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Made this for one of our many huge family Christmas get together’s because my 92 year old mom’s oven was not working. I hoped it would be as good as hers. Everybody loves her sweet potato casserole and the pressure was on. Lol. This did not disappoint! My mom texted me the next day and said it was “super”. 😊 Thank you for the simple, timeless recipe! I am making it again today for my husband’s family Christmas tonight. 😋

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