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    Home » Side Dishes » Southern Sweet Potato Casserole

    Southern Sweet Potato Casserole

    Published: Oct 13, 2022 by Anne Clark · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest pin.

    The best sweet potato casserole is made with creamy mashed sweet potatoes, butter, sugar, vanilla, eggs, and cinnamon then topped with an amazing pecan topping.

    This yummy side dish will be your favorite for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion because it's easy to make and make ahead friendly!

    Baked sweet potato casserole in square aluminum pan. Wooden spoon on white napkin next to casserole dish.
    Jump to:
    • Why We Love This Casserole
    • What Goes In It
    • How to Make It
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storing Leftovers in the Refrigerator
    • Expert Tips
    • More Holiday Side Dishes
    • Recipe

    Here in the south, potatoes are the number 1 holiday side dish!  White or sweet potatoes are the most popular choice. Southern sweet potato casserole is always a top pick! Other classic sides include Cornbread Dressing, Green Bean Casserole, Corn, Macaroni and Cheese, Squash Casserole, and Rolls. 

    Holidays are a time to enjoy all our favorite foods! Sometimes, my family eats Jambalaya for our holiday meal.  So, there's no right or wrong when it comes to what you eat!

    Sweet potatoes are available year round. If you live in Mississippi, you've probably eaten a sweet potato grown in Vardaman, Mississippi - sweet potato capital of the world! Read more about the history of Vardaman's sweet potatoes on Mississippi Sweet Potato's website.

    November and December is what we call the "eating season." Just kidding (or am I?). Nevertheless, the holidays are getting closer, and I'm getting super excited about good food and good times with family and friends! 

    Having said that, sweet potato casserole recipes have been around for a long, long time.  There are many varieties from family to family.  However, we happen to think this is the best recipe 🙂  Pair it with my Southern Cornbread Dressing and Creamy Squash Casserole for an authentic Southern meal! 

    Why We Love This Casserole

    Is sweet potato casserole a dessert or a side dish?  Well, it is a side dish, but it is pretty darn sweet!  The crispy brown sugar topping reminds me of a pecan praline. 

    For this reason, just a spoonful should be all you need 🙂 This casserole makes 9 servings, but with smaller portions, you could get a couple more out of it.

    As mentioned above, there are SO many variations for this recipe.  Some have marshmallows and some have raisins.  Some have sweet potato slices and some have mashed sweet potatoes.  This southern sweet potato casserole uses mashed sweet potatoes and that's why it's so creamy and smooth!

    Some recipes use fresh ingredients and some use canned.  So if you're undecided about which one to choose, I highly urge you to give this recipe a try!

    What Goes In It

    Here, we take a quick peek at the ingredients.

    ingredients measured out on countertop

    Sweet Potato Mixture:

    Sweet potatoes - do not substitute with yams!  The flavor and texture won't be the same.

    Milk, Butter, Eggs - for moisture, flavor, and make the casserole creamy.

    Vanilla Extract, Sugar, Cinnamon - for that delicious flavor combination, nothing beats this combo!

    Streusel Topping Mixture:

    Butter - real butter is best!

    Pecans - use unsalted pecans. 

    Light brown sugar, all-purpose flour - use dark brown sugar if that's all you have.

    How to Make It

    Here's a summary of how to make this southern sweet potato casserole. When you get ready to make it, please follow the Recipe Card at the bottom of the post.

    photo collage of recipe steps

    (1) Peel, chop, boil, drain, and mash sweet potatoes.  Add to a large mixing bowl.

    (2) Add remaining ingredients and mix well with a whisk.

    (3) Pour sweet potato mixture into an 8-inch x 8-inch baking dish.*

    (4) Blend the pecan topping mixture and then sprinkle on top.

    (5) Bake and serve.

    *This recipe can easily be doubled.  Use a 9-inch x 13-inch casserole dish and bake as directed.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What's the Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams

    So, these two are totally different root vegetables!  First, the skins are quite different.  Yams have a dark, bumpy, tough skin while sweet potatoes have reddish-orange, thin, smoother skin.  The flesh differs as well.  Sweet potatoes have a smooth, sweet flesh while yams have a more fibrous non-sweet flesh.  For these reasons, I would not use yams for this recipe.

    Can Sweet Potato Casserole be Made Ahead of Time

    Make the casserole and the topping the day before you plan to eat it.  Keep the topping in a separate container.  Store both in the refrigerator.  Right before you bake the casserole, add the topping and bake as directed.

    Does Sweet Potato Casserole Freeze Well

    It freezes very well! Make the casserole but don't add the pecan topping. Tip - use an oven-to-freezer container. Let it cool completely. Wrap in plastic, then wrap in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to one month. When ready to bake, thaw in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, make the pecan topping, sprinkle on top of the casserole, and bake as directed.

    Is sweet potato pie the same as sweet potato casserole?

    It sure seems that they are the same! Both are sweet and always a treat. But the main difference is a sweet potato pie does not have a topping, and sweet potato casserole usually has a pecan topping or marshmallow topping.

    Storing Leftovers in the Refrigerator

    Store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 days.  I like to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids.  Check out this 18-piece set of glass food storage containers with locking lids. Available now on Amazon.

    Expert Tips

    If you're running short on time, you can use canned sweet potatoes.  Buy three 16-ounce cans, and discard all the liquid.  Mash them up and proceed with the recipe card instructions.

    If you're going to take your casserole somewhere else, try this Lasagna Lugger Combo by Rachael Ray.  It's not just for lasagna 🙂  The set comes with 2 sizes (13x9 and 9x9).  Perfect for when you have 2 different size dishes to transport.  Available now on Amazon.

    Baked sweet potato casserole in square aluminum pan. Wooden spoon on top of casserole with one serving removed.
    Sweet, creamy, and oh so buttery. This one is always a hit during the holidays!

    More Holiday Side Dishes

    • Keto Squash Casserole
    • Easy and Delicious Spinach Parmesan Casserole
    • Roasted Parmesan Potatoes in Oven Recipe - Easy Slice and Bake
    • Homemade Cornbread Dressing

    If you try this recipe, let me know.  I'd love to hear from you!

    Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook for delicious recipe ideas!

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    Recipe

    Baked sweet potato casserole in square aluminum pan. Wooden spoon on white napkin next to casserole dish.

    Southern Sweet Potato Casserole

    Creamy mashed sweet potatoes with butter, sugar, vanilla, eggs, and cinnamon.  Topped with a pecan topping made with butter, pecans, and brown sugar.  This yummy side dish will be your favorite for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion!
    4.80 from 10 votes
    Print Pin For Later Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 9
    Calories: 450kcal
    Author: Anne Clark

    Equipment

    • pot for boiling sweet potatoes
    • potato masher
    • large bowl
    • whisk
    • measuring cup(s)
    • measure spoons
    • 8 x 8 baking dish
    • pastry blender (optional)

    Ingredients

    • 3 large sweet potatoes You will need 3 cups of mashed sweet potatoes so buy more if they are small.
    • ½ cup butter
    • ⅓ cup milk
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
    • ½ to 1 cup white granulated sugar ½ c for less sweet. 1 c for very sweet.
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

    TOPPING

    • ⅓ cup cold butter, cut into cubes
    • 1 cup chopped pecans (unsalted)
    • 1 cup light brown sugar (packed in measuring cup) see notes
    • ½ cup all-purpose flour

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350F.
    • Peel and slice sweet potatoes into chunks. Cover with water in a large pot. Boil for 10-15 minutes or until very tender.
    • Pour off water. Add butter and mash the potatoes. Transfer to a large bowl.
    • In a large bowl, mix the hot mashed sweet potatoes with milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon. Stir well with a whisk and pour into 8x8 dish.
    • Topping: Combine cold butter, brown sugar, and flour. Mix well with fork or pastry blender until crumbly. Stir in nuts. (a pie plate works well for this step).
    • Sprinkle on top of sweet potatoes.
    • Bake uncovered at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until set.

    Notes

    Place brown sugar into a measuring cup.  Press it down with the back of a spoon.  Add more brown sugar and press down again.  Continue until the cup is full.
    Need to make more?  Easily double the recipe and pour into a 9x13 dish.  Bake as directed.
    This casserole can be made the day before you plan to serve it.  Follow recipe steps 1-3.  In a separate bowl, mix the topping.  Store separately in the refrigerator.  When ready to bake, pour the topping on top of the sweet potatoes and bake as directed.
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mykitchenserenity or tag #mykitchenserenity on Instagram!!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 450kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 184mg | Potassium: 269mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 6889IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1mg

    This recipe was originally published in 2020 and was updated in 2022.

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.

    « Pecan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
    Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes »

    About Anne Clark

    Hi! I'm Anne, the founder and content creator at My Kitchen Serenity, a food blog focused on serving the needs of busy moms and dads who are looking for easy and delicious recipes for the family.

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    Hi. I’m Anne and I’m happy to share with you my easy, family-friendly recipes. I’ve been cooking for my family for 30 years, and what I’ve learned is that most busy families appreciate easy homemade meals. Now that the kids are grown, my passion is creating and sharing flavorful food for you and your family to enjoy as well. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] 

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