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Easy Sweet Potato Casserole

A baked easy sweet potato casserole in a white dish topped with a crunchy pecan streusel.

Make this simple sweet potato casserole quickly for a comforting holiday side dish. This recipe offers instructions for both a pecan streusel topping and a classic marshmallow topping.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus 2 tablespoons for topping
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar (for topping)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (for topping)
  • 1 cup chopped pecans (for topping, optional)
  • 1 bag (10 ounces) miniature marshmallows (for topping, optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Place the cubed sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until very tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain well.
  3. Transfer the cooked sweet potatoes to a large bowl. Add the milk, granulated sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt. Mash or use an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
  4. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  5. Prepare the topping: If using pecans, combine the brown sugar, flour, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, and chopped pecans in a small bowl. Mix until crumbly. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the sweet potatoes.
  6. If using marshmallows, skip the pecan mixture and sprinkle the marshmallows evenly over the sweet potato mixture.
  7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. If you used the pecan topping, bake until the topping is golden brown. If you used marshmallows, bake until they are puffed and lightly browned.
  8. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • You can prepare the sweet potato base a day ahead and store it covered in the refrigerator. Add the topping just before baking.
  • For a richer flavor, substitute evaporated milk for regular milk.
  • If you want both toppings, bake the casserole with the pecan topping for 20 minutes, then add the marshmallows and bake for the final 5-10 minutes until melted.

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