Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe

This isn’t just a side dish; it’s a luscious dessert in disguise! This Sweet Potato Casserole offers the perfect balance of creamy, spiced sweet potato and a crunchy, buttery pecan streusel topping. Optimized for holiday tables but simple enough for any cozy weekend, this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that will have everyone reaching for seconds.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A True Game-Changer: This recipe skips the super-marshmallow sweetness for a sophisticated, perfectly balanced flavor that truly lets the sweet potato shine, complemented by warm spices.
• Best of Both Worlds: You get the creamy, dreamy texture of the smooth sweet potato base topped with a crunchy, buttery, and deeply satisfying pecan streusel. It’s texture heaven!
• Simple Holiday Hero: While it tastes totally gourmet, the prep is actually straightforward. It’s the kind of dish you can easily prep ahead so you can relax and enjoy your guests.
• Family Favorite: This is the recipe that will get passed down through generations. Seriously, once you make this, it becomes a required item on your holiday table!

Ingredients

All you need for this incredible Sweet Potato Casserole are a few pantry staples, some amazing spices, and the star of the show: the sweet potatoes! Yes, it’s that easy. But first, let’s gather up these ingredients:

For the Sweet Potato Base

• Sweet Potatoes: The core of our dish! Using fresh, large sweet potatoes that are properly peeled and boiled ensures that gorgeous smooth and sweet base.
• Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: A combination of the two gives us a rich sweetness and a hint of that molasses depth brown sugar offers.
• Unsalted Butter: Melted butter makes the base super rich and creamy, blending the spices beautifully into the mash.
• Milk: Just a touch to help us reach that ultra-smooth, luxurious consistency we’re aiming for—not too thick, not too thin.
• Large Eggs: These act as a gentle binder, helping the casserole set up perfectly when baked, so it holds its shape when sliced.
• Vanilla Extract: A secret weapon that amplifies all the other flavors and adds a lovely warmth. Don’t skip this!
• Ground Cinnamon & Nutmeg: These are the essential warm spices that bring that classic, cozy holiday vibe. Use fresh nutmeg if you can—it’s a game-changer!
• Salt: Just a pinch, but it’s crucial! Salt balances the sweetness and makes every other flavor pop.

For the Pecan Topping

• Brown Sugar: Provides the sticky sweetness and deep color for the best streusel crust.
• All-Purpose Flour: This is the structural component that combines with the butter and sugar to create that beautiful, crumbly texture.
• Softened Unsalted Butter: The key to a proper streusel! It needs to be softened (not melted!) so you can easily rub it into the dry ingredients to create crumbles.
• Chopped Pecans: Mandatory for that perfect crunch and toasty, nutty flavor. You can lightly toast them beforehand for even deeper flavor!

Note: The exact measurements for all of these ingredients, along with the detailed cooking instructions, can be found right under this article in the recipe card.

How to Make the Sweet Potato Casserole

Get ready to make a dish that will steal the show! Making this casserole is a breeze, especially since we’re dividing the process into two simple parts: the base and the topping.

Step 1: Prep the Oven and Potatoes

First things first: preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease your trusty 9×13-inch baking dish. Next, place your peeled and chunked sweet potatoes in a large pot, cover them with water, and bring them to a boil. Let them simmer until they are truly fork-tender (about 15–20 minutes). Then, drain them super well—we don’t want a watery base!

Step 2: Mash and Combine the Base

Transfer those beautiful, cooked sweet potatoes to a large bowl and mash them until they are perfectly smooth. Now for the flavor infusion! Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, milk, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix it all up until you have a creamy, dreamy, and entirely irresistible sweet potato mixture.

Step 3: Fill the Baking Dish

Pour the sweet potato mixture into your prepared baking dish and use a spoon or spatula to spread it out evenly. Try not to sneak too many spoonfuls right now!

Step 4: Prepare the Pecan Topping

In a separate, small bowl, combine the remaining brown sugar, flour, softened butter, and the chopped pecans. Use your fingers (it’s the best way!) to really rub the butter into the dry ingredients until you have a wonderful, crumbly streusel texture.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly over the entire sweet potato layer—make sure every corner is covered! Pop the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the topping is a glorious golden brown and looks beautifully crisp.

Step 6: Rest and Serve

This is the hardest part, I know! Once it’s out of the oven, let the casserole rest for a mandatory 10 minutes before digging in. This brief rest allows the casserole to set up so the squares hold their shape, giving you the perfect, creamy slice every time.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Drain Thoroughly: I cannot stress this enough! After boiling the potatoes, let them drain for a good 5 minutes. Too much water in the mash will result in a soupy casserole, and we are aiming for creamy perfection.
• Use Room Temperature Eggs & Milk: Using room-temperature dairy and eggs will help them emulsify and blend much more smoothly into the warm potato mash, giving you a silkier base.
• Don’t Overmix the Topping: Mix the streusel only until it’s just crumbly. If you overwork it, the butter will melt and you’ll end up with a hard crust instead of a crumbly streusel.
• Check for Doneness: If the topping browns too quickly, you can lightly tent the casserole with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes of baking to prevent burning while the sweet potato base finishes setting.

How to Serve

This casserole is traditionally a holiday side dish, but honestly, it’s so good it could be dessert!

• The Classic Way: Serve it warm, straight from the oven, alongside roasted turkey, ham, or chicken. It pairs beautifully with savory elements like green bean casserole and dinner rolls.
• A Dessert Twist: A dollop of fresh whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream takes this casserole straight into dessert territory—it’s like a deconstructed pecan pie!
• Garnish: A simple sprinkle of extra chopped pecans or a dusting of cinnamon can add a lovely final touch right before serving.

Make Ahead and Storage

This is a fantastic dish for meal prepping or holiday planning, which makes your life so much easier!

Storing Leftovers

Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The topping may soften slightly, but the flavor will still be amazing!

Freezing

You can easily freeze this casserole! Once cooled completely, place it in a freezer-safe dish, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating

For best results, reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through. If reheating the whole casserole, cover it with foil and warm it in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until hot in the center (about 15-20 minutes).

FAQs

1. Can I use canned sweet potatoes or yams instead of fresh?

Absolutely! Canned yams can be a great time-saver, especially on a busy holiday. Make sure to drain them thoroughly and then reduce the amount of added sugar slightly, as canned varieties are often packed in syrup. You should also skip the boiling step and just mash them immediately before adding the rest of the base ingredients.

2. I don’t like pecans. What else can I use for the topping?

No problem! You can easily swap the pecans for other nuts like walnuts or almonds. For a nut-free option, you can use rolled oats to create an oatmeal crumble topping, or skip the streusel and top it with a handful of small marshmallows during the last 10 minutes of baking.

3. Can I prepare the casserole ahead of time?

Yes, and this is a major time-saver! You can prepare the sweet potato base completely and pour it into the baking dish. Cover it tightly and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Prepare the pecan topping separately and keep it in an airtight container at room temperature. Sprinkle the topping on right before you bake it to ensure a crisp crust.

4. How can I make this casserole even richer or creamier?

To achieve an even richer, creamier texture, you can substitute the milk with a bit of heavy cream or half-and-half. For a subtle tangy complexity, you can also substitute a portion of the milk with sour cream or cream cheese. This adds richness and a wonderful depth of flavor that some people love!