The best sweet potato casserole and the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dinner! Topped with caramelized pecans that add the perfect crunch taking it to the next level!
Pin this sweet potato casserole for later!
I’ll be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of sweet potatoes. It was always that side dish at Thanksgiving dinner that I felt obligated to take a little bit of, but only ate about one bite, or never took any at all. That is, until I found this sweet potato casserole recipe.
This is not exactly like a typical sweet potato casserole, but it has the same original sweet and salty flavors. But my favorite part about it is the carmelized pecan topping. The crunchy sweet pecans are the perfect topping to the mashed sweet potato mixture. With the gooey marshmallows on top, these are perfection. I mean, even my two year old likes them, and its a win when we can get him to eat any vegetables at all.
I first made this casserole last Thanksgiving, when we had a small gathering with my brothers family at their house for Thanksgiving dinner. I felt silly saying yes to making a side dish I never even ate at Thanksgiving dinner, but this dish changed my mind. And my brother who loves sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving said they were amazing too.
I just love coming together for Thanksgiving dinner with family, whether its a big group or a small one, and reminiscing all the things we have to be grateful for, while we eat a giant feast. I hope these sweet potatoes can join your families Thanksgiving celebration this year too!
Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 lbs sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into 2 inch cubes)
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/3 cup milk
For the Topping:
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 6 TBS flour
- 6 TBS melted butter
- 1 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 3-4 cups about 1/2 package mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Boil sweet potatoes for about 20-25 minutes until they are soft (and can be pierced with a fork). Drain.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Mash sweet potatoes in a large bowl to desired consistency. (I like mine with a little texture, decide how smooth you want them)
- Add in the egg, salt, vanilla, brown sugar, white sugar, melted butter and stir to combine.
- Pour into a 9x13 in baking dish.
- In a medium sized bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, butter and chopped pecans and stir well.
- Sprinkle mixture completely over the top of the sweet potatoes.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until the pecans are carmelized.
- Spread marshmallows evenly over the top of the sweet potatoes.
- Bake for another 3-5 minutes or until the marshmallows are puffy and golden brown.
- Serve hot.
For more of my Thanksgiving favorites that I think you’ll love too, try these:
Jody says
Has anyone made this a day or two before? Did it turn out ok? How should it be done? Refrigerate with pecan topping and then bake or wait to add topping right before baking?
Aimee Berrett says
I have reheated it and it does great! I think the marshmallows are best added right before and the topping would probably be too. I’d probably make the mash and the the pecan topping but keep the topping in a baggy or tupperware and sprinkle on when actually baking. Let me know if you try it!
Jody says
Hi Aimee, I did prepare the sweet potato casserole ahead and it came out great! I baked my sweets, skinned them then proceeded as per ur recipe, leaving the topping off until right before putting it into the oven. Did the prep on Monday and baked on Thursday. I bet u could even freeze the mash for a couple of weeks if need be. What do u think?
Aimee says
Jody! Im so glad you liked it! I haven’t tried freezing it, but let me know if you do!
annie says
Can I make this the day before?
Aimee Berrett says
Sorry I didnt get back to you sooner, it might be best with the toasted marshmallows added right before serving, but I have eaten it reheated the next few days and it is always still good as well.
Ellen Garrett says
These are good. I have never been much of a sweet potato fan and especially not the sweet potato casserole but in getting this dish ready for our early Thanksgiving missionary dinner tomorrow I just got converted! YUMMY!
Aimee Berrett says
That’s how I feel about this dish too 😉
Kelly Mills says
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I just made it today and took it to my holiday work party; total success! Everyone loved it! I am definitely making it for my family this Thanksgiving too!
Aimee Berrett says
Oh my gosh, Kelly!! Thanks so much for letting me know! So glad everyone loved it and hope your family will love it for Thanksgiving too!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
I’m a HUGE sweet potato casserole fan at Thanksgiving and this beautiful dish is totally calling my name! Love love the double-whammy of pecan topping and marshmallows!
Aimee Berrett says
Thank you so much Sarah! The pecans are the best part for sure!