Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Sweet Potato Casserole is a Thanksgiving classic that should be on every holiday table. This sweet, creamy casserole is made with a crunchy pecan topping, adding the perfect mix of textures. Learn how to make sweet potato casserole for every holiday, and you can even make this easy recipe ahead of time to cut down on prep time. Everyone will love this Thanksgiving side dish!

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole is a Thanksgiving classic, and this crunchy pecan-topped casserole is super easy and super tasty!

Here is another SUPER easy casserole recipe that’s perfect for any family gathering. Sweet Potato Casserole is a traditional Thanksgiving dish, but why stop there? I think it would be great for Christmas and other holidays too. I like that this recipe isn’t sticky. The sweets stay on top, and the sweet potato is warm and creamy on bottom. And the crunchy topping with the sweetness of the brown sugar is really a perfect combination.

This Make Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole can be made ahead of time to make your holiday preparations easy! Just follow the recipe and store in the refrigerator, then reheat it when you’re ready to eat. This recipe really couldn’t be simpler, and making it the day before just adds to the ease of holiday cooking.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping is the perfect mix of sweet, creamy, and crunchy. This recipe needs to be on every Thanksgiving and Christmas table, but it’s just as good to eat all throughout fall and winter.

This Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping is a Thanksgiving classic. Make this easy casserole recipe for every holiday meal!

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

This recipe is soooo good. I love the mix of the creamy sweet potato with the sweet and crunchy pecan topping. It creates one tasty side dish that everyone will devour. The crunchy topping is a mixture of brown sugar, butter, flour, cinnamon, and chopped pecans. It had the perfect flavor and really adds something to this easy sweet potato casserole!

Free up some oven space this holiday and try this slow cooker sweet potato casserole or Instant Pot sweet potato casserole instead.

Make Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole

This make ahead sweet potato casserole is the perfect easy holiday recipe. I made this the night before and reheated it when we were ready to eat. It made things so much easier since I didn’t have to make the whole thing right before the big meal. Along with my make ahead mashed potatoesand make ahead turkey gravy, holiday meals can really be hassle free!

  1. Make the casserole according to instructions, without baking.
  2. Cover it with aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator.
  3. When ready to serve, bake the casserole for 40 minutes at 350°F.

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (5)

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (6)

How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole

If you don’t know how to make sweet potato casserole, then you’re in the right place. The full recipe is detailed below, but it really couldn’t be easier. This easy casserole recipe is so perfect for holidays because you can make it without hassle and have a delicious dish ready to serve!

How to make sweet potato casserole:

  1. Heat the sweet potatoes on the stove & bring to a boil
  2. After you boil the potatoes, drain them & mash them into butter
  3. Add the sugar, salt, eggs, milk, and vanilla & mix well
  4. Pour the mixture into a baking dish
  5. Combine the ingredients for the topping and heat in a separate saucepan
  6. Pour the topping over the sweet potatoes but do not mix together (this creates the crunchy top to the casserole)
  7. Bake for 40 minutes at 350°F

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (8)

How long can you keep a sweet potato casserole?

You can store a sweet potato casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.

Can you freeze a sweet potato casserole?

You can freeze a sweet potato casserole for later use, but follow these tips to make it the best it can be after freezing:

  • Make the casserole without the topping to freeze. When you’re ready to eat the casserole, reheat it and make the crunchy pecan topping fresh to add on top.
  • Let the casserole cool to room temperature before freezing.
  • Lay a piece of plastic wrap directly over the casserole, then wrap a layer of aluminum foil on top.
  • Freeze the casserole for up to 1 month.

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (9)

This sweet potato casserole with pecan topping is the perfect holiday side dish. It’s one of the top Thanksgiving side dishes, so it should definitely be on every table. And since it’s so easy to make ahead of time, you can start preparing the day before to make your holiday meal hassle-free!

Watch the Video and See the recipe card below for details on how to make Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping. Enjoy!

Try these recipes to complete your holiday meal:

  • Homemade Cranberry Sauce
  • Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
  • Instant Pot Turkey Breast recipe
  • Turkey Stuffing recipe
  • Sweet Potato Souffle Cups
  • Corn Pudding Recipe
  • Dinner Rolls from Scratch
  • Crockpot Pecan Pie

Recipe

Sweet Potato Casserole

4.50 from 34 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 30 minutes minutes

Total: 40 minutes minutes

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

This Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping is a Thanksgiving classic. Prep this make ahead sweet potato casserole the night before and bake it before your holiday meal!

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

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Ingredients

  • 3 15 ounce cans of sweet potatoes. drained.
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs well beaten
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Topping

  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1.5 cups chopped pecans honey roasted or regular

Instructions

  • Pour the butter over the sweet potatoes in a large bowl and mash.

  • Add next 5 ingredients; sugar, salt, eggs, milk, and vanilla. blend well

  • Pour into 9 in. glass baking dish

  • Combine ingredients for topping and crumble with your hands until combined.

  • Sprinkle the topping mixture over the potatoes.

  • Bake @ 350 degrees for 40 minutes

  • This can be made ahead! enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 503kcal (25%) Carbohydrates: 54g (18%) Protein: 3g (6%) Fat: 31g (48%) Saturated Fat: 9g (56%) Cholesterol: 72mg (24%) Sodium: 155mg (7%) Potassium: 127mg (4%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 53g (59%) Vitamin A: 495IU (10%) Vitamin C: 0.2mg Calcium: 62mg (6%) Iron: 0.7mg (4%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (12)

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (13)

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FAQs

How do you keep a sweet potato casserole from getting runny? ›

How can I keep my sweet potato casserole from becoming watery? The sweet potato mixture will set up as it cools, but for an even thicker texture, you can add a spoon of cornstarch or flour to the filling before baking.

Why put egg in sweet potato casserole? ›

The egg is the all-important binder in a sweet potato casserole: it enriches and stiffens the mixture without making it heavy. Make sure to cool the mash slightly before adding the egg so it doesn't scramble, and to stir well so there are no streaks of cooked egg white in the finished dish.

How can I thicken my sweet potato casserole? ›

The solution for watery casseroles is instant potato mash powder or cornflour - slake (mix with a little water) at first or it will go lumpy. Stir well. Alternatively, don't add so much water at first, especially if you're using a slow cooker.

How do you know when a sweet potato casserole is done? ›

you should see it firm, but still paste like. Once it bulges and you start to see cracks, it will be overcooked. You don't need anything of those fancy gadgets for casserole! You can grab a potato masher or whisk and mash them up.

How do you make a casserole less runny? ›

Simply whisk equal parts butter and flour together. Then, roll the thick paste into little teaspoon-sized balls. Add one ball to your casserole at a time, waiting about a minute before adding another one, until you get the right thickness.

Why is my sweet potato casserole soggy? ›

(Another hot tip if you're boiling your sweet potatoes: Don't overcook them! They tend to absorb water, which could make the filling watery.) So, say you do have some undercooked bits of sweet potato. You have two choices: Pick them out or bake your sweet potato casserole long enough to soften the underdone pieces.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

Why do Americans put marshmallows on sweet potato casserole? ›

Most people point to a 1917 pamphlet by the Angelus Marshmallow Company as the first time sweet potatoes and marshmallows came together. This company is believed to be the first to commercially-produce and sell the squishy white marshmallows we know, roast, and snack on today.

What is the purpose of adding a topping to a casserole? ›

Casserole toppings are used for color, variety in texture; protects protein ingredients and identify common toppings.

Why is my sweet potato casserole stringy? ›

Sweet potatoes stored at temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit will shrivel and become dry and stringy. Sweet potatoes may develop an off-flavor and the flesh may become discolored when stored at temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do you thicken a casserole without cornstarch? ›

1. All-purpose flour: You can thicken sauces with all-purpose wheat flour. For every tablespoon of cornstarch, use three tablespoons of flour. Combine raw flour with cold water in a small bowl to form a paste, then add it into the sauce as it's simmering.

What can I use to thicken a casserole? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

Can you eat sweet potato casserole left out overnight? ›

Cooked sweet potato should be kept in the refrigerator and eaten within 5 to 7 days, says Richard. "Cooked food should not sit at room temperature more than two hours before putting it in the refrigerator or freezer (or one hour when the temperature is above 90°F)," she notes.

Can you leave sweet potato casserole out overnight? ›

How long can this sweet potato casserole sit out? Like most foods being served, this should not sit out for more than 2 hours according to the USDA.

Does sweet potato casserole have to be refrigerated after cooking? ›

Cover and refrigerate leftover sweet potato casserole for up to four days. Bring to room temperature, then warm at 325°F until hot throughout before serving.

Why is my potato casserole runny? ›

My sauce is watery

If you stored your potatoes in water to prevent discoloring, be sure to drain them well and pat them dry before adding to your casserole. Some of the waxier potatoes can release more water than starchier ones, so look for good baking potatoes like russet or Yukon golds.

Should sweet potato casserole be firm? ›

Sprinkle the topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture, then pop it into the oven and let it bake for 40 to 45 minutes. You will know it's done when the topping is lightly browned and the center of your casserole is set and firm.

What do I do if my potato bake is too runny? ›

Try letting the dish rest for 10 minutes or so to let the water get absorbed and let the sauce thicken. Try cooking your recipe longer.

Why is my sweet potato souffle runny? ›

Roasting sweet potatoes releases their natural sugars, and using additional sugar (on purpose or accidentally) can cause the souffle to be runny once baked. Use Good Quality Pecans. The pecans are the star of the topping!

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