Sweet Potato Casserole: Easy Thanksgiving Side

Sweet Potato Casserole is the ideal addition to your Thanksgiving table and comes together in just minutes. A blend of yams, rich brown sugar, and warm cinnamon all topped with crunchy pecans and gooey marshmallows for a comforting side dish bound to be loved by everyone.

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You won’t find a better side dish to sit by the turkey at your holiday table. This family favorite will be the first to disappear, believe me. It’s simply irresistibly sweet, savory, and chewy. But, you don’t have to save it for the holidays. You can also serve this sweet potato casserole at your Sunday night dinner or any family gathering.

If you’re a fan of this sweet potato casserole, you may like these recipes too; Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes, Easy Irish Nachos, or this Pioneer Women Inspired Potato Salad.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy – comes together in just a few minutes
• Comfort food at its best
• Family-friendly
• Perfect for the holidays
• Make ahead option

Equipment Needed

• 8 x 8 baking pan
• mixing bowl
• measuring cups and spoons
• potato masher

Ingredients to Make Sweet Potato Casserole

• 29 oz. can of canned yams, drained or 3 large baked sweet potatoes
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened or melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows

How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease the inside of an 8×8-inch baking dish with non stick cooking spray.
• Place yams or baked sweet potatoes minus the skins in a large mixing bowl and mash using a potato masher or a fork.

• Add brown sugar, syrup, butter, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract.

• Stirring to incorporate.

• Spread the mixture in an even layer in the prepared baking dish.

• Sprinkle with pecans.

• Top with marshmallows.

• Bake for 20 minutes or until marshmallows are toasted.

• Remove the pan from the oven and serve warm.

Variations

• Instead of canned yams, use fresh yams or sweet potatoes. Roast or boil to cook them and then mash. Roasting will give you a slightly more caramel-like flavor. You can also bake the yams or sweet potatoes whole and then scrape out the insides once they are cooked.
• Play around with the combination of spices; add more or less cinnamon, mix in some ginger, and stir in some spice.
• Try walnuts instead of pecans.
• Looking for a nut-free option? Use pumpkin seeds instead. Or just omit the nuts.
• Use your favorite crumble topping instead of the pecans and marshmallows.

Tips and Tricks

• If using canned yams, make sure to drain well. Leave them to drain for a few minutes or blot them with a paper towel.
• Mash the yams really well so you don’t end up with small bits in the casserole.
• If you can’t find mini marshmallows, use large ones and cut them into smaller pieces.
• Toast the nuts for a deeper flavor.
• Choose real maple syrup and not table syrup for the best taste.

FAQs

Is is better to boil or roast sweet potatoes for sweet potato casserole?

Roasting sweet potatoes does make for a sweeter more caramel-like flavor versus boiling them. However, if you follow this recipe all you have to do is pick up a can of yams at the grocery store and eliminate the cooking process altogether.

Why is my sweet potato casserole watery?

If you’ve opted to boil the sweet potatoes or yams you may end up with a watery casserole. It could be the sweet potatoes absorbed too much moisture during this boiling process.

How do you thicken a sweet potato casserole?

If it turns our your casserole is a little too watery, you can mix in some flour to thicken it up or add another cooked and mashed sweet potato.

Do you need eggs to make sweet potato casserole?

No, you do not need eggs to make a sweet potato casserole. Though there may be some recipes that do call for eggs, this recipe does not.

Are yams and sweet potatoes the same thing?

Yams and sweet potatoes are not the same thing though yams can be used in this recipe to create a sweet and savory casserole.

Easily made in advance and stashed in the fridge for a few days, this casserole tastes great no matter when you serve it. You can also prepare the casserole up to 2 days in advance and then just bake it when you are ready. Perfect if you’ve got a to-do list that’s a mile long.

Stash leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days or throw them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Though I have to say they may make a nice breakfast too.