The Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecans

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This is the best Sweet Potato Casserole with pecans you’re going to find! Sweet and rich, it’s the perfect side dish for your holiday table!

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole in a clear serving dish on a white and yellow fabric napkin next to the blue casserole dish on a wooden table

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

This easy and delicious side dish is the best Sweet Potato Casserole recipe around. I have been making it for Thanksgiving dinner for years and every year I am reminded that it is my job to bring it again next year.

With a crunchy streusel topping and fresh sweet potatoes, this is perfect for both a special occasion and whenever sweet potatoes are in season. It will fit right in with your roast turkey, cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole on Thanksgiving day and your ham and eggnog during Christmas dinners. 

This classic dish is vegetarian, so a great side for anyone at your Thanksgiving table who is looking for a meatless option. It’s also a hearty side dish that is easy to double or triple depending on how many people you plan to serve. 

Like most of us, I have tried many, MANY sweet potato recipes over the years, but I don’t think I could stray from this simple recipe for Thanksgiving dinner. It truly is amazing and you will find yourself eating it for breakfast the next morning. I always do!

This easy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans recipe is packed with vitamin C, but is also one of the new recipes that your family will love. It will easily become one of their favorite side dishes. A dessert-like side dish that will be a big hit! 

Recipe Notes:

  • This classic Thanksgiving side dish will be fine at room temperature for several hours, through the end of your holiday meal. 
  • You can add a gooey marshmallow topping side by side with the crunchy brown sugar pecan topping with the instructions below!

Sweet Potato Casserole with pecans in a clear casserole dish on a white and yellow fabric napkin on a wooden table

How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecans

Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecans Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed
1/2 cup melted butter
1/3 cup milk
1 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 cup chopped pecans

Supplies Needed:

Large mixing bowl
Potato masher
9×13-inch casserole dish
Small bowl
Nonstick spray

An overhead picture of Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans with a metal spoon inside and a clear oval bowl of a portion of it on a white and yellow napkin with pecans

How To Cook Sweet Potatoes

There are several ways to make sweet potatoes, so choose your favorite. You can bake them in the microwave, cook them in the oven, or on the stove. 

How To Cook Sweet Potatoes In The Microwave

Step 1: Take your unpeeled potatoes and prick each one with a fork multiple times. This will allow the steam to come out during cooking. 

Step 2: On a microwave-safe plate, place one or two potatoes. Microwave one potato for five minutes or two potatoes for 7 minutes.

If they are not fork tender, add another minute until they are. The exact timing will depend on the size of each potato.

Step 3: Allow them to cool and then continue with the recipe below. 

How To Cook Sweet Potatoes In The Oven

Step 1: Puncture your unpeeled potatoes with a fork multiple times each to allow the steam to release during cooking. 

Step 2: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet (or several baking sheets if you have many potatoes) with aluminum foil.

Step 3: Bake them in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until they are all fork tender. Allow them to cool and then proceed with the recipe below.

Sweet potato chunks being boiled in a pot for Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecans

How To Cook Sweet Potatoes On The Stove

Step 1: In a large stockpot, bring enough salted water to cover the potatoes to a rolling boil. 

Step 2: While the water is heating, peel the whole sweet potatoes with a vegetable peeler or a sharp knife. Chop them into 2-inch chunks. 

Step 3: Drop the sweet potato chunks into the boiling water, reduce the heat to medium-high, and allow them to boil for 20-25 minutes or until they are fork tender. Drain the water and continue with the recipe below. 

A clear serving dish of Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans on a write and yellow fabric napkin

Sweet Potato Casserole Directions:

Step 1: Cook your large sweet potatoes in your favorite method. You can cut them up and boil them in a large pot of water or bake them in the oven until fork tender.

Step 2: Once they are ready, scoop them out into a large bowl and mash them into a sweet potato puree with a potato masher. 

Step 3: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Sweet potatoes, eggs, vanilla, and sugar in a mixing bowl for Sweet Potato Casserole With PecansStep 4: Add the butter, milk, white sugar, vanilla, and eggs to your mashed sweet potatoes in the large mixing bowl and stir to combine all of the ingredients. 

Step 5: Pour your sweet potato mixture into the prepared casserole dish and spread it out evenly.

Brown sugar topping in a blue casserole dish for Sweet Potato Casserole With PecansStep 6: In a small bowl, mix together your brown sugar and flour. Mix in your 1/3 cup of softened butter until the topping ingredients have become crumbly. Stir in your crunchy pecans.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans in a blue casserole dish with a metal spoon inside on a wooden tableStep 7: Sprinkle the brown sugar and pecan topping over the sweet potato filling and make sure that you cover the entire casserole.

Step 8: Bake for 25 minutes until the top of the casserole is golden brown and bubbly around the crunchy topping.

Serve hot and enjoy!

How To Store Leftover Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecans

Store any leftovers in the casserole dish under aluminum foil or plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole with pecans in a clear serving dish in front of a blue casserole dish with the rest of the casserole

Can I Double This Classic Sweet Potato Casserole?

I have made this dish at least 15 times during the holiday season and I have altered it bit by bit over the years (the original is from Allrecipes). I usually make this to feed approximately 20 people, so I typically use closer to 8 cups of sweet potatoes.

If you double the recipe, you can cut the white sugar to about 1 1/2 cups (the sweet potatoes are already very sweet, so it tastes almost the same with less sugar).

Can I Add A Sweet Marshmallow Topping To This Sweet Potato Recipe? 

My father-in-law likes mini marshmallows on top of the sweet potatoes, so even though the casserole calls for all pecan mixture, the casserole I bake for their house (we go to two houses each Thanksgiving) is half pecan crumble topping and half marshmallow topping.

Should you choose to go the marshmallow route, put the pecan streusel on one half of the creamy sweet potatoes and leave the other side of the sweet potato base empty of a topping.

After it has baked for 15 minutes, top the empty half with marshmallows for the last 10 minutes.

A clear serving dish with The Best Sweet Potato Casserole inside

Can I Turn This Into A Make-Ahead Side Dish?

I typically make this dish the day before I plan to serve it. Make the entire sweet potato mixture, put it in your prepared baking dish, cover it, and refrigerate.

The next day, take it out of the fridge, put together the brown sugar mixture, spread it on top, and bake your casserole when ready. 

And if you’ve wondered what to pair with these, here is what to serve with sweet potatoes

Are You Looking For More Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas? Here Are Some Of My Favorites:

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole with pecans in a clear serving dish on a yellow and white towel with more pecans

Pyrex Basics 3 Quart Glass Oblong Baking Dish with Red Plastic Lid -13.2 INCH x 8.9inch x 2 inchPyrex Basics 3 Quart Glass Oblong Baking Dish with Red Plastic Lid -13.2 INCH x 8.9inch x 2 inchPyrex Basics 3 Quart Glass Oblong Baking Dish with Red Plastic Lid -13.2 INCH x 8.9inch x 2 inchPyrex Basics Clear Oblong Glass Baking Dishes, 2 Piece Value Plus Pack SetPyrex Basics Clear Oblong Glass Baking Dishes, 2 Piece Value Plus Pack SetPyrex Basics Clear Oblong Glass Baking Dishes, 2 Piece Value Plus Pack SetFisher Nuts Chef's Naturals Chopped Pecans, 24oz, Naturally Gluten Free, No Preservatives, Non-GMOFisher Nuts Chef’s Naturals Chopped Pecans, 24oz, Naturally Gluten Free, No Preservatives, Non-GMOFisher Nuts Chef's Naturals Chopped Pecans, 24oz, Naturally Gluten Free, No Preservatives, Non-GMOWatkins All Natural Original Gourmet Baking Vanilla, with Pure Vanilla Extract, 11 ounces Bottle, 1 Count (Packaging May Vary)Watkins All Natural Original Gourmet Baking Vanilla, with Pure Vanilla Extract, 11 ounces Bottle, 1 Count (Packaging May Vary)Watkins All Natural Original Gourmet Baking Vanilla, with Pure Vanilla Extract, 11 ounces Bottle, 1 Count (Packaging May Vary)Premium Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowls with Airtight Lids (Set of 5) Nesting Bowls for Space-Saving Storage, Easy-Grip & Stability Design Mixing-Bowl Set Versatile For Cooking, Baking, & Food StoragePremium Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowls with Airtight Lids (Set of 5) Nesting Bowls for Space-Saving Storage, Easy-Grip & Stability Design Mixing-Bowl Set Versatile For Cooking, Baking, & Food StoragePremium Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowls with Airtight Lids (Set of 5) Nesting Bowls for Space-Saving Storage, Easy-Grip & Stability Design Mixing-Bowl Set Versatile For Cooking, Baking, & Food StoragePotato Masher, Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Potato Masher for Making Mashed Potato Banana Bread, Pumpkin Puree and Vegetables 1 PcPotato Masher, Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Potato Masher for Making Mashed Potato Banana Bread, Pumpkin Puree and Vegetables 1 PcPotato Masher, Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Potato Masher for Making Mashed Potato Banana Bread, Pumpkin Puree and Vegetables 1 Pc

 

Yield: Serves 10

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole with pecans in a clear casserole dish on a white and yellow fabric napkin on a wooden table

If you are looking for the best sweet potato casserole recipe, you've found it! This vegetarian sweet potato casserole will be a hit each and every Thanksgiving!

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 cups sweet potatoes,ย cooked and mashed
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs,ย beaten
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup butter,ย softened
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and set it aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together your mashed sweet potatoes, butter, milk, white sugar, vanilla and eggs.
  3. Pour your sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
  4. In a small bowl, mix together your brown sugar and flour. Mix in your 1/3 cup of softened butter until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in your pecans.
  5. Sprinkle the brown sugar topping over the sweet potatoes and bake for 25 minutes.
  6. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

  • If doubling the recipe, you can cut the white sugar to about 1 1/2 cups (the sweet potatoes are already very sweet, so it tastes almost the same with less sugar).
  • Should you choose to put marshmallows on half, leave that side empty of a topping until it has baked for 15 minutes and then top with marshmallows for the last 10 minutes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 480Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 177mgCarbohydrates: 63gFiber: 4gSugar: 44gProtein: 5g

This calculation is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a doctor or dietitian. This calculator is a guide, but makes no guarantee of being exact or fully accurate.

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole in a clear serving dish next to a blue casserole dish on a wooden table

Two pictures of the best sweet potato casserole in a clear serving dish on a wooden table

Sweet Potato Casserole in a casserole dish on a wooden table in front of the larger casserole

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