on Nov 13, 2024 301 Comments I’ve also included recipe variations to make this dairy, egg, gluten, and nut-free if needed. Sweet Potato Casserole is a southern classic. With a rich, buttery taste and crunchy topping, sweet potato casserole makes a perfect side dish or dessert! This Sweet Potato Casserole graces my family table for many special meals and holidays – not only every Thanksgiving but also on Christmas, Easter, and many Sunday suppers! This is the best sweet potato casserole I’ve ever tasted, and it’s been a family favorite for generations. Sweet potato casserole. Do you consider it a side dish or dessert? Or both? I’d love to hear what you think. I’ve heard from several of you, and many of you are like me – it works beautifully for both! My Grandmother and Mama always served it during the holidays -Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and many Sunday suppers. And it has always been one of my favorite parts of the meal! It’s still a tradition in my home that every Thanksgiving, it is served alongside roast turkey, Grandmother’s famous cornbread dressing, and cranberry sauce. It can be made ahead of time, yet it’s so easy to make and ready in 30 minutes!
What is Sweet Potato Casserole?
A southern-style casserole that is a dessert-like side dish. It is made of cooked and mashed sweet potatoes combined with sugar, butter, vanilla, milk, and eggs. My family likes our sweet potato mixture topped with the buttery pecan crumble topping and baked until golden brown. It’s a traditional southern favorite for Thanksgiving and other family meals and holidays. It can also have a marshmallow topping, and I will also share that option.
How to Prepare the Sweet Potatoes
You will need 5 to 6 medium sweet potatoes for a 9×13 casserole. When selecting them, look for potatoes free of blemishes or bruises. You can prepare your sweet potatoes for the casserole by baking or boiling them. The method is based on personal preference. I will say that I love the deep flavor of baked sweet potatoes but have used boiled sweet potatoes from time to time. Both are delicious!
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Preheat the oven to 425º F. Scrub the sweet potatoes until clean and place onto a baking sheet. Prick the potatoes 4 to 5 times all over with a fork and bake until the potatoes are tender -about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and peel.
Boiled Sweet Potatoes
Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 2-inch cubes. The potatoes cook much faster this way when boiling than boiling unpeeled. Add the sweet potatoes to a Dutch oven or large pot. Rinse the potatoes and then add enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil and boil until tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain well.
You can also follow the method described in my Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes.
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
Crumble Topping:
Brown sugar – packed All-purpose flour – For gluten-free, use your favorite gluten-free flour substitute. Pecans – chopped Butter – softened. I use salted butter. If you use unsalted, I recommend adding a pinch of salt.
Storage Tips
We all know that preparing for special holiday meals can be a bit stressful during such a busy time. I like to make it easier by doing some of the meal prep and cooking ahead of time. I use my Make Ahead Thanksgiving and Make Ahead Holiday Appetizers plans to help make my holiday meals less stressful. I think you may find it helpful, too.
1. Make it Dairy-Free
Replace milk with your favorite dairy-free milk option, such as oat milk, almond, or coconut. Replace the butter with coconut oil for an entirely dairy-free option. If you need something just without lactose, you may use ghee. Note that Ghee can still include trace amounts of dairy and should be avoided for dairy allergy.
2. Make it Egg-Free
For an egg-free Sweet Potato Casserole, use 1/2 cup applesauce instead of the eggs called for in the recipe.
3. Make it Nut Free, Gluten-Free Topping
For a nut-free, gluten-free topping, make my easy Oat Crumble topping using gluten-free rolled oats, brown sugar, salt, butter, and vanilla extract. I provide the ingredient amounts in the printable recipe card below.
5. Marshmallow Topping (Instead of Pecan Crumble)
If you desire the optional marshmallow topping instead of the crumble topping, omit the crumble topping and sprinkle with mini marshmallows during the final 10 minutes of baking. This casserole makes a great make-ahead side dish for those special meals since you can easily prep and freeze or refrigerate it. Then, it can easily be baked fresh for serving or baked ahead of time to serve at room temperature.
Make Ahead Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
Prepare sweet potato mixture and spread into casserole dish. Wrap tightly and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Prepare the crumble topping and store it in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, remove all from the refrigerator. Spread pecan crumble on top of the casserole and bake as directed.
Freezing Instructions:
This dish freezes wonderfully! Prepare the sweet potato filling mixture and spread the filling into the casserole dish. It will be warm from the heat of the sweet potatoes. So you will need to cool it completely. Then, wrap tightly and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Add the topping mixture and place it on top of the casserole as directed based on your topping choice. Bake as directed and serve.
Refrigerator Instructions:
If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, cover well with wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Serve cold, room temperature, or reheat and serve.
Recipe Tips
How Do You Know When It Is Done?
You’ll know the casserole is done when the topping is browned, and the center of the casserole is set.
How Do You Keep It From Being Runny?
Make sure that you bake the casserole in the center of the oven at the proper temperature. Cook until the top is browned and the center of the casserole is set. Then, allow to cool uncovered so the casserole does not steam underneath the cover.
Can I Prepare It In Advance?
Yes! It freezes and stores beautifully. I include the details in my “How to Make Ahead and Store this Recipe” section and in the recipe notes. Here’s my recipe for making my Grandmother’s Southern Sweet Potato Casserole. I’ve also included options to make it work for your family if you need a nut-free, gluten-free option. I hope you love it as much as my family does! We enjoy it with glazed ham, squash casserole, deviled eggs, vegetables, and more for Easter. I also enjoy serving this when I have a large family Sunday meal. It’s delicious alongside chicken or pot roast, our favorite vegetable dishes, easy buttermilk biscuits or cornbread muffins, and other favorites. It’s so simple and easy to make ahead, too, that it pairs perfectly with so many meals my family enjoys throughout the year. Southern Sweet Potato Pie Sweet Potato Biscuits Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges Candied Sweet Potatoes Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chili Duchess Sweet Potatoes Sweet Potato Fries If you tried this Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting! Enjoy!Robyn xo From the Add a Pinch recipe archives, originally published 2010.
