The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Kelly · This post may contain affiliate links · 72 Comments

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

The BEST Sweet potato casserole recipe - velvety smooth sweet potatoes topped with the most amazing sweet, crunchy, pecan and brown sugar streusel. A must have side dish on the Thanksgiving or holiday table.

this recipe!

Jump to Section

A Thanksgiving and holiday favorite

Sweet Potato Casserole with its crunchy pecan topping is a favorite on the Thanksgiving or holiday table. Even when everyone is stuffed – we always reach for just one more serving of this sweet, creamy, and crunchy casserole. It makes the perfect side dish for roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings.

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (2)

Side dish or dessert?

Sweet Potato Casserole is a must have on the holiday table.We always serve it as a side with dinner. Its sweet potato flavor cominglesperfectly with everything on the holiday plate.

The streusel topping makes it sweet enough and delicious enough to be served as a dessert as well. It makes a great alternative to pumpkin pie.

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (3)

This streusel is everything!

The pecan crumble topping on this Sweet Potato Casserole is crispy, crunchy perfection! It’s sweet, it’s crunchy. It’s the perfect texture with buttery brown sugar nubs and chunks of pecans.

As it bakes it forms asyrupy glaze underneath the crunchy top that keeps everything moist anddelicious.

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (4)

What ingredients are in Sweet Potato Casserole

  • Sweet potatoes
  • Granulated sugar – I use white sugar so the delicate taste of the sweet potatoes shines through
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Melted butter – makes it rich and creamy
  • Vanilla extract
  • Salt – salt brings out the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes

And in the streusel:

  • Light brown sugar – for that caramely, pralineflavor that’s so wonderful with pecans
  • Pecans – for that Southern flavor thatcomplements the sweet potatoes perfectly
  • Melted butter – for a streusel with the mostamazing texture
  • flour

How to prepare the sweet potatoes

You can cook the sweet potatoes any way you choose. Myfavorite way of cooking the sweet potatoes is wrapping them each in foil, thenroasting for about an hour. I find it to be the most foolproof method for sweetpotatoes that turn out perfect every time. Here’s why:

  • the flavor intensifies with roasting
  • they don’t become watered down from boiling
  • they don’t get overcooked and dried out in themicrowave
  • the foil catches any sugary drips that come outof the sweet potatoes and seals in moisture
  • the peels can be pulled off easily after baking

Alternatively you can:

  • prick the sweet potatoes with a fork and bake on a foil lined baking sheet until soft, about 1 hour
  • prick the sweet potatoes with a fork and microwave until soft, about 10 minutes
  • peel and cube the sweet potatoes, then boil in a large pot of water until tender (don't overcook or they'll get watery)

How to make the sweet potato filling

Process cooked and peeled sweet potatoes in a food processoralong with the other filling ingredients (eggs, sugar, melted butter, milk, andvanilla) until velvety smooth. This takes about a minute or so in a foodprocessor.

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (5)

Alternatively, you can use a hand mixer and a large bowl. Or mash the potatoes with a potato masher or press through a potato ricer until well mashed.

Spread the sweet potato filling evenly in a baking dish. I used an oval 2 quart dish that measures 11 by 8 inches. The potatoes in the photo below are not spread evenly 🙂

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (6)

How to make the streusel topping

The streusel topping couldn’t be easier. Just combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl, then stir in melted butter with a spoon. Use a gentle hand and mix until everything is moistened and in clumps. Don’t overmix or it will become pasty.

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (7)

Evenly spread the pecan topping on top of the sweet potatoes.

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (8)

How to bake the Sweet Potato Casserole

Bake the Sweet Potato Casserole in the lower third of a 350° Foven for about 30 minutes. The topping should get golden brown. If it starts toget too brown, cover with a piece of foil. The inside temperature of thecasserole should reach about 170° F.

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (9)

Can Sweet Potato Casserole be made ahead?

Preparing the Sweet Potato Casserole ahead of time comes inhandy, particularly for a busy holiday dinner.

Both the sweet potatoes and the streusel topping can be madeup to three days in advance then chilled separately in the fridge. Let rest atroom temperature 30 minutes before baking, then add the topping and bake.

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (10)

My signature holiday dish

This Sweet Potato Casserole is perfect as is. However, Imake an orange scented variation that’s so special and unique - It knockseverybody’s socks off. It’s the first thing to go on the holiday table.

Adding orange zest and a little orange juice gives the sweetpotatoes a lovely brightness. It doesn’t taste orangey. It just elevates the sweetpotato flavor to a whole new level.

To make the orange scented variation, to the sweet potato filling add 1-2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest and substitute ¼ cup orange juice and ¼ cup heavy cream for the milk.

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (11)

Print

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (12)

Sweet Potato Casserole

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 33 reviews

  • Author: Kelly
  • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Sweet potato casserole - velvety smooth, sweet potatoes topped with the most amazing sweet, crunchy, pecan and brown sugar streusel. A must have on the Thanksgiving or holiday table.

Ingredients

Scale

For the sweet potato filling:

  • 3 cups peeled (cooked sweet potatoes, from about 3 pounds (about 1.36kg) sweet potatoes (See Note 1))
  • ½ cup (99g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (113g) butter, melted and cooled
  • ½ cup (113g) milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For the streusel topping:

  • 1 cup (213g) light brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup (71g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (113g) chopped pecans
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
  • pinch of cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat (or reduce temperature after baking potatoes) oven to 350° F.

For the sweet potato filling:

  1. In a food processor, combine peeled, cooked sweet potatoes, sugar, melted butter, milk, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Puree until very smooth, about 1 minute.
  2. Alternatively, use an electric hand mixer to combine well.
  3. Pour into a greased casserole dish (mine was about 12 by 8-inches) and spread into an even layer.

For the streusel topping:

  1. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans (breaking up brown sugar clumps as needed).
  2. Pour in melted butter and stir until mixture is evenly moistened. Use a gentle hand and mix until everything is moistened and in clumps. Don’t overmix or it will become pasty.
  3. Sprinkle mixture evenly over sweet potato mixture in baking dish.
  4. Bake in the lower third of a 350° F oven for about 30 minutes. The topping should get golden brown. If it starts to get too brown, cover with a piece of foil. The inside temperature of the casserole should reach about 170° F.
  5. Serve warm.

Notes

To cook sweet potatoes:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Wash sweet potatoes, then prick in several places with a fork.
Wrap each in foil and bake until cooked through and soft, about 60 - 75 minutes.

Peel potatoes. The peel should pull right off. Let cool slightly before mixing with eggs.

Alternatively you can:

• prick the sweet potatoes with a fork and bake on a foil lined baking sheet until soft, about 1 hour

• prick the sweet potatoes with a fork and microwave until soft, about 10 minutes

• peel and cube the sweet potatoes, then boil in water until tender

To make an orange scented variation:

Add 1-2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest to the sweet potato filling.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert, Side Dish
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: American

Enjoy, friends!

Follow me on INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for all the latest content and recipes!

Subscribe to FOODTASIA’S NEWSLETTER to receive fresh recipes straight to your inbox.

You might also like:

The BEST Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe! (VIDEO) (2024)

FAQs

Why put egg in sweet potato casserole? ›

A really good sweet potato casserole filling should be light and moist, not dense. If it's dense, then you may not have added an often overlooked ingredient—an egg. An egg adds lift, structure and volume and makes the filling more custard-like.

How do you make sweet potato casserole not runny? ›

Maple syrup, a dash of cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla all make an appearance for an incredible flavor. It's hearty and satisfying. Eggs and cream help stabilize the dish and prevent it from becoming too runny (a common complaint with many sweet potato casserole recipes). Make it as smooth or chunky as you like!

What variety of sweet potato is best for casserole? ›

Jewel. With copper skin and deep-orange flesh that's moist and tender when cooked, the jewel is a go-to potato for traditional baking and casseroles.

How can I thicken my sweet potato casserole? ›

If you are not adding eggs, you can thicken your sweet potato casserole by adding a bit of flour or cornstarch. You will need about 2-3 tablespoons of flour and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

What makes sweet potato casserole runny? ›

If your sweet potato casserole turned out “watery”, its usually because you forgot to add eggs; you didn't let your casserole have enough time to set up after baking or you used fresh sweet potatoes and didn't boil them long enough before mashing.

How do you keep a casserole moist? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

Can I use canned sweet potatoes instead of fresh? ›

Canned or frozen sweet potatoes may be substituted for the fresh form in any recipe calling for cooked sweet potatoes as the starting point. Canned sweet potatoes are generally smaller in diameter because of their better canning qualities.

What goes with sweet potato casserole? ›

You guys, the strange thing about this sweet potato casserole is that it is very much a dessert, but never once in my Thanksgiving career have I experienced this being served as anything other than a completely luscious side dish to accompany the mashed potatoes and gravy, turkey, green bean casserole, and soft white ...

Can you eat sweet potato casserole left out overnight? ›

Once they've been cooked, however, they should go in a shallow airtight container or zip-top bag in the fridge. They'll stay good there for about five days. Tip: You shouldn't leave cooked sweet potatoes at room temperature for more than two hours, as this can promote bacteria growth and cause foodborne illness.

What's the difference between sweet potato pie and sweet potato casserole? ›

The difference is that sweet potato casserole can either have a toasted marshmallow top or a crunchy brown sugar/nut top and is made with brown sugar in the casserole. Sweet potato pie is made with white sugar, has nothing on top, but can be served with whipped topping.

How many sweet potatoes make 4 cups? ›

Depending on the size of your spuds, you'll need four to six sweet potatoes to get four cups.

How does Ina Garten bake sweet potatoes? ›

directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425*F.
  2. Cut sweet potatoes in wedges or like french fries.
  3. Place wedges on large baking pan or cookie sheet. ...
  4. Now sprinkle over brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. ...
  5. Spread out in a single layer. ...
  6. Place back in oven and bake another 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy on the outside.

Are candied yams and sweet potato casserole the same thing? ›

No, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.

Does egg thicken casserole? ›

The proteins in eggs coagulate or set at different temperatures. This results in thickening but it means that eggs must be cooked gently and heated carefully or they will scramble rather than thicken a sauce or other mixture.

What is the purpose of eggs in a baked goods recipe? ›

Eggs play an important role in everything from cakes and cookies to meringues and pastry cream — they create structure and stability within a batter, they help thicken and emulsify sauces and custards, they add moisture to cakes and other baked goods, and can even act as glue or glaze.

What is the purpose of putting an egg in mashed potatoes? ›

Adding egg yolks to a pot of mashed potatoes is an easy, dairy-free texture and taste upgrade that doesn't require any special techniques. The yolks harbor all the flavorful fats and emulsifying components and will thus effectively unify the fat and water in potatoes, translating to a smoother, uniformly creamy pot.

Why is my sweet potato casserole so runny? ›

Why is my sweet potato casserole so wet/watery? You've added too much liquid. Make sure to strain off all the cooking liquid after cooking sweet potatoes. After you let the sweet potatoes cool down a bit, see if more liquid needs to be strained off.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Last Updated:

Views: 5972

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Birthday: 1992-06-28

Address: Apt. 413 8275 Mueller Overpass, South Magnolia, IA 99527-6023

Phone: +6824704719725

Job: District Real-Estate Facilitator

Hobby: Letterboxing, Vacation, Poi, Homebrewing, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.