Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole (VIDEO)
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Sweet Potato Casserole is such a classic and traditional dish. Elevated and made even better with a cinnamon filling and buttery cinnamon pecan topping.
Casserole recipes begin to be more popular and in demand on the blog. Since I have a sweet tooth, I wanted to make sure I share my favorite Thanksgiving side dish with you. This recipe always gets rave reviews and I have been making it for about a decade. I also got you covered when it comes to mashed potatoes, here you will find Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, delicious Chunky Mashed Potatoes, and Vegan Mashed Potatoes.
Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Sweet Potato Casserole is my favorite side dish at the Thanksgiving table. When else do you get to eat basically a dessert and call it a side dish? I like using that excuse and add a hefty amount of this creamy goodness to my plate.
There are many Sweet Potato Casserole recipes floating out there, however, once you try this one, you won’t need any other recipe ever. This casserole is loaded, in a good way. The potatoes are boiled and mashed, blended with some brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon to elevate the fall flavors.
The best part of this casserole is the surprise brown sugar cinnamon filling, a delicious, mid layer of cinnamon goodness. The topping is another highlight of this casserole. Made with toasted pecans, sweet marshmallow and more of the delicious cinnamon sugar filling mixture.
What is Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato Casserole is a traditional, North-American side dish that is usually served during Thanksgiving dinner. The casserole consists of mashed sweet potatoes, usually blended with brown sugar, topped with a streusel topping, pecans and marshmallows. The casserole tastes sweet, almost like a dessert.
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How to prepare the potatoes for Sweet Potato Casserole
- First clean, peel and dice the potatoes
- Wash them in cold water to remove some of the starch
- Add diced potatoes to a dutch oven or large saucepan
- Cover with water and boil until tender
Another way to prepare the sweet potatoes is by cooking them in the Instant Pot. You can use my Instant Pot Sweet Potato recipe. The sweet potatoes can also be baked, I just find that method more time to consume and resulting in a bit of dried potatoes.
How to make Sweet Potato Casserole
- Cooking the potatoes – first, decide on a cooking method for the potatoes. Clean, peel and cook the potatoes.
- Toasting the pecans – preheat the oven, measure two cups of pecans, lay them on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for a few minutes. Check on them often to not burn them. Toasting the pecans is optional, but it will add more flavor to the dish.
- Prepare other ingredients – while the potatoes are cooking, gather the ingredients for the casserole. Melt the batter, slightly beat the eggs and measure the sugar and milk.
- Cinnamon filling – while the potatoes are cooking, mix the cinnamon sugar filling and set it aside.
- Pecan topping – once the pecans have been toasted and chopped, use one cup to prepare the pecan topping.
- Assembling – combine all the ingredients for the casserole and layer it into the prepared baking dish.
- Baking – bake for 20-30 minutes is enough. Remove from oven and cover with foil to keep it warm. Spray the foil first with baking spray, to avoid marshmallows sticking to it.
Can you make Sweet Potato Casserole in advance
Yes, the casserole can be made a few days in advance.
You can choose to just assemble it, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and bake when ready. Also, you can bake it, let it fully cool, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it. Cover with foil and warm it up in the oven before serving.
How to store Sweet Potato Casserole
Refrigerate the casserole in shallow airtight containers or resealable plastic bags, if kept in the baking dish, cover tightly with plastic food wrap. Properly stored, the casserole will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
How to freeze uncooked Sweet Potato Casserole
- Assemble the casserole and make it’s not warm.
- Skip the marshmallows, they should be added right before baking for best results.
- Lay a sheet of plastic wrap or aluminum foil directly on top of the casserole in the dish, then wrap tightly and in many layers over the top rim and around the baking dish or the container.
- Freeze for up to 3 months for best results.
- Thaw overnight before baking.
How to freeze cooked Sweet Potato Casserole
- First, cool casserole to room temperature.
- Lay a sheet of plastic wrap or aluminum foil directly on top of the casserole in the dish, then wrap tightly and in many layers over the top rim and around the baking dish or the container.
- Individual servings or leftovers can be added to freezer safe ziplock bags.
- Freeze for up to 3 months for best results.
- Thaw overnight before heating up in the oven or the microwave.
Recipe Step-by-Step Video:
Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole is such a classic and traditional dish. Elevated and made even better with a cinnamon filling and buttery cinnamon pecan topping.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs sweet potatoes peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup pecans chopped and toasted
- 2 large eggs lighly beaten
- 1/2 cup milk room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup pecans toasted and chopped
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the oven rack in the middle of the oven.
- Butter or spray with baking spray a 9x13 inch casserole or baking dish. Set aside.
Add 2 cups of pecans to a baking sheet and roast for a few minutes. Watch closely to not burn them. Remove from oven, cool and roughly chop.
Peel, cube and wash sweet potatoes. Add the cubed potatoes to a dutch oven or large sauce pan. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil for about 15 minutes, when pierced with a fork, the potatoes should be tender.
- Drain cooked sweet potatoes, mash and set aside to cool off a bit.
- While the potatoes are cooking, in a small bowl, using a fork mix together the softened butter, flour, sugar and cinnamon until soft crumbs form. Set aside.
- Combine all the ingredients from the "Pecan Topping" section except marshmallows. Stir and set aside.
Combined the slightly cooled mashed potatoes with the ingredients from "For the Potatoes" section: brown sugar, melted butter, 1 cup chopped pecans, lightly beaten eggs, milk, salt, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir to combine until smooth.
- Add half of the mashed sweet potatoes mix to the prepared pan, distribute evenly and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Sprinkle half of the Cinnamon Filling mixture on top of the mashed potatoes.
- Add the remaining sweet mashed potato filling, distribute evenly and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Sprinkle the Pecan Filling mixture on top of the mashed potatoes.
- Sprinkle the mini marshmallows if using.
- Sprinkle the remaining Cinnamon Filling mixture on top.
Bake for 30 minutes, until the filling is hot and the topping has browned.
If the marshmallow start to brown too quickly, spray some foil with baking spray and cover the casserole, greased side down, careful to not touch the toppings.
- Serve warm.
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Casseroles start to become more popular this time of year. A great sweet potato casserole is always a plus and goes over well at any gathering.
I am so excited to make this. We are HUGE sweet potato lovers in our house.
I am drooling! Sweet potato casseroles are my favorites! I tried to make it once and burned it somehow, so I’ll have to try again. Normally I load up when we go to Golden Corral.
These look ripe.trying it this weekend. Btw love your blog!
You had me at you can freeze for up to 3 mos. I love sweet potato casserole especially around the holidays. I could prepare this and have some left over around February, long after the holidays.
Holy moly! This sounds sooo good! I love sweet potato anything. This would even be amazing for Thanksgiving!
I wish I had everything on hand to make this recipe right now. It looks so yummy, and perfect to make for dessert for my family.
This looks so delicious! Sweet potato is my husband’s favorite Thanksgiving dish and I know he would love to try this
My mom makes this for Thanksgiving each year and cannot imagine our table without it, even though I don’t usually eat it. I tend to like my sweet potatoes in savory dishes.
Sweet potato casserole is one of my absolute favorites! This one sounds great!
This recipe definitely takes sweet potato casserole to a whole new level. It looks absolutely delicious!
Oh my word, this is absolutely amazing. I can only imagine how good this tastes. I’m bookmarking! Thank you.
This looks amazing! I need to make some of this for the holidays. I don’t think we have ever had a casserole like this for our holiday parties.
This is one of my fave fall side dishes. No one likes it but my dad and I. Guess there will be leftovers for me!
Yum! This would be a great recipe for thanksgiving!
Looks amazing! I love sweet potato, the perfect comfort food this fall season! This is a great side dish recipe for Thanksgiving!
Oh yum, this looks soooo good. Sweet potato casserole is one of my favorites. We do one similar to this every year for Thanksgiving, soooo good.
A good comfort dish for the season as the weather begins to get colder! I really love casseroles because they’re so easy to put together! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
I have tried this recipe and its amazing! The Cinnamon Filling is absolutely amazing! The only way I will make sweet potato casserole going forward!
I am going to make this for holidays. It looks fabulous!
This is EVERYTHING! I’m definitely making this for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. That looks sooo good.
I could definitely go for some sweet potato casserole and this looks sounds really good. Now would be a great time to make it too.
Is it Thanksgiving already??? I really like this recipe. It will be great for Thanksgiving dinner.
This is my favorite side dish come Thanksgiving! I love how yummy it is! It balances the sweet and savory.
Believe it or not, I’ve never had a sweet potato before! But this recipe looks and sounds too yummy to pass up!
One of my all time fall favorite recipes! Yours sounds especially good. We’ll be giving it a try for sure.
This looks so good! I need to give this a try. I love making casserole dishes, and this one looks amazing.
Looks good. Something new to try. I love sweet potatoe anything!
One of my favorite meal ideas for this season. Looks amazingly sweet!
Sweet potato casserole is my husband’s absolute favorite. I am going to save this recipe! It looks intense.
Sweet potato casserole is a must at our Thanksgiving dinners. Sometimes it even shows up for Christmas. This recipe looks delicious too!
I have had sweet potato casserole once before and I fell in love! I am the only one who likes it in my household though. Thank you for the tips on how to freeze it. Now I can make it and save some for later.
This is my all time favorite side dish! I eat my weight in sweet potato casserole every year!
Oh wow, that looks like a dessert! So yummy! My husband would probably marry me all over again if I made this for him.
This casserole looks like it is so amazing. I am definitely going to have to give this a try.
I have tried this and i loved it! Its so good and the layers really work, making it again for Thanksgiving and probably Christmas too. This will become my go to recipe.
I am happy that you loved the recipe 🙂
This casserole is delish. I made it this weekend and the whole family loved it, its rich creamy and loaded!
Happy that everyone enjoyed it!
This recipe looks incredible! Is it possible to follow instructions but omit pecans? I love them but some family members don’t.. 🤔
yes! You can omit pecans, or replace them with chopped macadamia nuts or almond, also granola works well 🙂
Awh. I would like to try something new and I saw this. I will be cooking this today!
I hope you love it 🙂 its delicious!
I am a huge fan of casserole and I gave this one a try this weekend, can’t be happier. The recipy is great and the dish is just poor heaven. I will make it once again for thanksgiving but prob. a large portion)))
I am very happy that you enjoyed it 🙂 thanks for the feedback!
Love your site, I tries the sweet potatoes casserole over the weekend and we really loved it! Thanks for the recipe
its such a popular recipe on the blog, I am happy that you enjoyed it!
This turned out amazing super rich and delish!!!
happy that you liked it 🙂
I made this dish over The Weeknd and can truly say it’s delicious, full and very rich. We love sweet potatoes dishes and this one is among the top on the list to try
I hope you make it for Thanksgiving again!
This loaded sweet potato casserole looks like such a lovely dish to add to any holiday gathering for Thanksgiving this year or even Christmas. I cannot wait to try to make this dish.
This recipe is great, i love sweet potato casserole and this one was amazing! Thanks
I am happy that you liked it!
This is so yummy, me and my wife made this over the weekend, and want to tell you that it was delicious! We will remake this for thanksgiving for sure!!!
Hi Sebi, I am very happy that you liked it!
Loved it, tasty and delicious!
Is this recipe 783 calories per serving? How many servings in this recipe?
There are 8-12 servings in this recipe, between 600-750 calories.
I made this for Friedsgiving and everyone couldn’t have enough, this is so so so good! I finally found a recipe that is a keeper!! Thank you!!!
Hi Irina, happy that you liked it. Thank you for the feedback!
Can this be made without the pecans?
yes!! sure! Just skip them!
Can I leave out the pecans or substitute them for oats or granola of some kind? I can’t eat pecans. But I would really love to make this recipe for thanksgiving.
Yes! You can leave them out or use granola, that is a great substitute!
This looks delicious!!! Can you use canned sweet potatoes instead? How much would you use??
Hi, I am sorry, but I haven’t tried the recipe with canned sweet potatoes.
I’m new to cooking and I’ve been nominated to cook sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving this year. I picked this recipe for all the obvious reasons. Just wondering if anyone can help me out with how many sweet potato’s I should get for the recipe and what size pan I need. Many Thanks! Have a Happy Gobble Gobble Day!
Hi Jenni, thank you for choosing this recipe. I have mentioned in the instructions that I used a 9×13 baking dish. To help you out I used about 7 potatoes, but they differ in size, so its easier to go by pound, the recipe calls for 3lbs. When you buy them, just weight them in the produce section if you are not sure how many to get. Good luck and happy Thanksgiving!
How can I make this without ANY nuts? (Anaphylactic nut allergies)
Just skip or replace them with toasted sun flower seeds, pumpkin seeds or even granola!
I used 2 large cans of sweet potatoes and omitted the pecans. Oven at 350 degrees and left in the oven for half an hour with the cinnamon sugar topping on top. Then marshmallows on top until slightly browned and it turned out perfect. Thanks so much for this recipe. I made it for Thanksgiving dinner and it was a hit! Will definitely be making it again.
Happy that you loved it Jana, thank you for the feedback!
My daughter and I made your recipe for Thanksgiving and it was FABULOUS! This is the only recipe I will be using for sweet potatoes going forward! Thank you for sharing it!
I am so so happy that you loved it!!! 🙂 thank you for the feedback!
I tried this recipe for the 1st time for Thanksgiving yesterday. Absolutely loved it and so did my family. This is definitely an add on for family get togethers. Simple to make especially for a 1st timer like myself.
I am very happy that you guys loved it, its a favorite in my family!
Made this recipe on thanksgiving and it was pure heaven, rich flavorful and very delicious! Highly recommend this!!!
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was amazing!! The only thing I did different was I substituted cinnamon sugar for some of the cinnamon it calls for (because I ran out) and it turned out great! I’m making it again today😊
Its my turn to bring the sweet potato casserole to the family thanksgiving feast. I i think i’ll do this recipe, but minus the pecans. I love pecans but my boyfriend is allergic.
I made this for Thanksgiving dinner and it was a huge success. My family loved it. The next time I make it i will make it Gluten free so I can eat more of it.