Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

This easy Sweet Potato Casserole recipe will give you the creamiest, most flavorful, and delicious side dish you've ever tried! The sweet, buttery taste of the sweet potato, combined with the subtle hint of vanilla and the crunchy pecan streusel topping, all make for an unforgettable holiday side dish.

Sweet Potato Casserole is a traditional American dish often served on Thanksgiving. It's a fantastic blend of sweet and savory, with the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes enhanced by a bit of sugar and the contrasting crunch of a pecan streusel topping. It's a hearty and satisfying dish that's also incredibly easy to make at home.

What's special about this Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is the added depth of flavor from the vanilla and a perfect balance of textures. Another side dish you must make is my Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes. Serve Sweet Potato Cream Caramel or Sweet Potato Pie after dinner to impress your family and friends!

❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

Easy to make: This Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is incredibly simple to whip up. With basic ingredients like sweet potato, sugar, and butter and easy-to-follow steps, you'll have a delicious side dish (or dessert!) ready in no time.

Quick: Prepping and baking this recipe is a speedy process. Just mix your ingredients, spread them in a baking dish, and pop it in the oven for a quick bake. In just about thirty-five minutes from scratch, your sweet potato casserole will be ready to serve!

Family favorite: The combination of sweet potato, butter, sugar, and a topping of streusel and toasted pecans makes this casserole a sure hit with the family. It's a treat that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Versatile: This Sweet Potato Casserole is a versatile dish that can be served up all year round. Plus, you can make it ahead and store it, ready for when you need a delicious side dish.

🍠 INGREDIENTS

More details about the ingredients and measurements are in the recipe card below!

Unsalted Butter: This ingredient acts as the fat in our recipe. It enhances the flavor of our sweet potato casserole by giving it a rich, buttery taste.

Sweet Potato: The star of our dish! Sweet potatoes are baked or boiled to create a soft, creamy texture and a sweet taste that is the primary flavor in this casserole.

Sugar: Added to enhance the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes. Sugar also helps to create a pleasing caramelization on top when the casserole is baked.

Vanilla: An essential flavor that provides a warm, aromatic touch to our casserole. It pairs beautifully with the sweet potato and sugar.

Large Egg: This acts as a binding agent, holding all the ingredients together. It also contributes to the rich texture of the casserole.

Milk: This is used to add creaminess to the casserole, contributing to its smooth texture.

For the Streusel:

Brown Sugar: This adds a deep, molasses-like sweetness to the streusel topping. It also contributes to the crispness of the topping when baked.

Butter: Used in the streusel to create a crumbly, buttery texture. It also helps the ingredients bind together and brown nicely in the oven.

Cinnamon: This provides a warm, spicy note that complements the sweet potato beautifully.

Toasted Pecans: These add a delightful crunch to the streusel topping, providing a contrast to the soft, creamy casserole. The toasting process enhances their nutty flavor, which pairs wonderfully with the sweet flavors of this dish.

🔪 INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1

Preheat your oven and prepare your baking dish. Start by preheating your oven to 350F/180C. While your oven is warming up, prepare a baking dish. A size of about 10” x 7”, with a depth of between 4” and 5”, should be perfect for this recipe.

Step 2

Mix the sweet potato mixture. Take a bowl and add your boiled or baked sweet potato to it. To the sweet potato, add the sugar, butter, vanilla, milk, and a large egg. Beat this mixture for a solid three minutes.

Step 3

Prepare the streusel topping. In a separate bowl, prepare the streusel topping. This involves mixing the brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and pecans together.

Step 4

Assemble the casserole. Now, it's time to assemble the casserole. Pour your sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish, making sure to spread it evenly. Then, spread the streusel mixture on top.

Step 5

Bake the casserole. Place the baking dish on the middle shelf of your preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes.

Step 6

Serve your casserole. Once it's done baking, remove your easy sweet potato casserole from the oven and let it cool down. It's best served at room temperature. Enjoy!

👩🏽‍🍳 PRO TIPS

Choose the right sweet potatoes: For the best sweet potato casserole, go for yams or orange sweet potatoes. They're naturally sweet and creamy, perfect for this dish.

Properly cook the sweet potatoes: Whether you choose to boil or bake your sweet potatoes, ensure they're thoroughly cooked for a creamy, smooth texture. Overcooked potatoes can be too mushy and undercooked ones will be too firm.

Balance your flavors: The sweetness of your casserole can be adjusted to your liking. Feel free to reduce the sugar if you prefer a less sweet dish, or increase it for a dessert-like treat.

Bake on the middle shelf: By baking your casserole on the middle shelf, you ensure even heat distribution and perfect cooking. This way, the top won't burn before the inside is fully baked.

Make it ahead: Sweet Potato Casserole is a great dish to prepare ahead of time. Simply store it in the fridge and bake it just before serving. This is a great time-saver for busy holiday meals!

📋 VARIATIONS

Go Nut-Free: If you're allergic to nuts or just not a fan, this variation is perfect for you. Simply exclude the toasted pecans from the streusel topping. Your easy sweet potato casserole will still have a delightful taste and texture, just without the nuts.

Add a Citrus Twist: For a refreshing, tangy take on the traditional sweet potato casserole, try adding the zest of one orange to the sweet potato mixture. This will give your casserole a subtle citrus flavor that balances the sweetness beautifully.

Make it Vegan: You can easily veganize this recipe by replacing the milk with a plant-based alternative like almond or coconut milk and using a flax egg instead of a regular egg. Instead of butter, use a vegan butter substitute. It's a great way to cater to vegan guests without compromising taste.

🍽️ HOW TO SERVE

• Sweet potato casserole also makes a great side dish for a festive holiday meal. Pair it with roast turkey, cranberry sauce, and all your other holiday favorites for a feast that your family and guests will love.
• Want a twist? Try pairing this sweet potato casserole with a juicy roast chicken for dinner. The savory juices from the roast complement the sweetness of the casserole beautifully.
• Sweet potato casserole can also be served as a main dish for a vegetarian meal. Pair it with a fresh green salad and some crusty bread for a satisfying, meat-free dinner.
• For a fun dessert twist, serve a small portion of this sweet potato casserole with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The creamy, cold ice cream is a delightful contrast to the warm casserole.

💬 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

🌡️ STORING

Refrigerate: Store your leftover sweet potato casserole in an airtight container in the fridge. It should keep well for up to four days. Remember to let it cool down before refrigerating.

Freeze: Unfortunately, sweet potato casserole topped with streusel and toasted pecan doesn't freeze well due to the topping. The texture of the topping changes and it loses its crunchiness.

Reheat Instructions: To reheat, preheat your oven to a moderate temperature and warm up the casserole for about fifteen minutes, or until it's heated through. The topping should regain some of its crunchiness during reheating.

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⭐PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW

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📖 Recipe