Sweet and fluffy with a crumbly and crunchy streusel topping, Beth's famous sweet potato casserole is a must-make dish for holiday meals!
It's a simple side dish that you can make ahead of time, too, for easy prep and enjoyable cooking on any holiday!
Easy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
In the U.S., a pretty big holiday is right around the corner, and while it means I get to spend a day with my family and loved ones embracing the things that fill our hearts and make us most grateful, it's also a massive food holiday... Thanksgiving! As you know, it can easily become a stressful day with pans and pots flying in every direction and a never-ending amount of oven and cleanup time. But I'm all about simplifying Thanksgiving by making some dishes ahead of time and allowing myself a little space to relax and enjoy the day when it arrives.
And this sweet potato casserole lets me do just that. It's a perfect make-ahead holiday dish that is totally satisfying in every way, from the fluffy sweet potato mash to the crumbly and sweet streusel topping. It's a family favorite and absolutely easy to prep a couple days ahead of the big day. I like doing this so that instead of making 17 dishes from scratch in one day, I can just heat up a few things that are pre-made and ready to roll into the oven and onto the table. You will love enjoying this warming, hearty, sweet, and comforting dish around your kitchen table with your family and friends.
How do you freeze sweet potato casserole?
If you want to freeze leftovers for a chilly day down the road when you want something sweet and warming, make sure you let it cool completely, store it in an airtight container, and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight, and bake at 350 degrees F. until heated through, about 15 to 20 minutes.
How do I know when my sweet potato casserole is done?
Sweet potato casserole is seriously impossible to mess up -- that's the beauty of pretty much all casseroles! Bake is at 350 degrees F. for about 35 minutes, until the streusel topping looks crispy. That's it!
What meat goes good with sweet potato casserole?
Turkey, of course! But really, anything goes well with sweet potato casserole. It's sweet yet pairs so nicely with a rich and savory meat. Ham and chicken go nicely with it, as well.
How do you make sweet potato casserole ahead of time?
To make this dish ahead of time, prepare through step 8 of the recipe instructions (get the sweet potato layer ready and put it in the pan). Make the streusel, and keep it separate. Store both parts of the dish covered, separately, in the fridge until you are ready to bake, up to 2 days in advance. Let the dish come to room temperature before baking, add the topping, and bake as directed. You can also bake the cold sweet potatoes 15 minutes and then add the topping and bake for the rest of the 35 minutes.
How to make sweet potato casserole:
- Prepare the sweet potatoes by scrubbing them with water and a scrub brush.
- Trim ½ inch off both ends of sweet potatoes; place them on a wire rack set inside rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake at 400 degrees F. for 40 to 50 minutes or until very tender.
- Cut each in half and slip their skins off.
- Beat potatoes on high for 1 minute.
- Add the salt, sugar, milk, vanilla, and butter, and beat until the mixture is very smooth.
- Add the eggs and beat until light, about 2 minutes.
- Place the sweet potato mixture in the bottom of a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Mix the brown sugar, pecans, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle the topping over the whipped sweet potatoes in the pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees F. for 35 minutes.
- Serve hot or warm.
See! Not so hard!
Good thing my brother married Beth, she's brought so many great things to our family. Including this recipe! We also love her Famous Glazed Yeast Donuts, and the most amazing Soft Gingerbread Cookie Recipe. Plus, she's awesome great as her recipes. We love you Auntie Beth.
Beth's Sweet Potato Casserole
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: Serves 16 1x
Description
Sweet and fluffy with a crumbly and crunchy streusel topping, Beth's famous sweet potato casserole is a must-make dish for holiday meals!
Ingredients
For the casserole:
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes, about 4 medium
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
For the streusel topping:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup lightly chopped pecans
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup melted butter
Instructions
- Prepare the sweet potatoes by scrubbing them clean with water and a scrub brush.
- Trim ½ inch off both ends of each sweet potato, and place them on a wire rack set inside of a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake at 400 degrees F. for 40 to 50 minutes or until very tender. This step can be done 1 to 2 days in advance to save time on cooking day.
- Let the sweet potatoes cool enough to handle. Cut each in half and slip their skins off.
- Place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl or in the bowl of your stand mixer. Beat on high for 1 minute, stopping to scrap down the sides as needed.
- Add the salt, sugar, milk, vanilla, and butter, and beat until the mixture is very smooth.
- Add the eggs and beat until light, about 2 minutes.
- Place the sweet potato mixture in the bottom of a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
- To make the streusel topping, mix the brown sugar, pecans, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter in a small bowl until it comes together like a loose dough.
- Sprinkle the topping over the whipped sweet potatoes in the pan, forming an even layer.
- Bake at 350 degrees F. for 35 minutes or until the topping has gotten a bit crispy.
- Serve hot or warm.
Notes
- You can cook the sweet potatoes ahead of time to save time on cooking day.
- To make this dish ahead of time, prepare through step 8 (get the sweet potato layer ready and put it in the pan). Make the streusel, and keep it separate. Store both parts of the dish covered, separately, in the fridge until you are ready to bake, up to 2 days in advance. Let the dish come to room temperature before baking, add the topping, and bake as directed. You can also bake the cold sweet potatoes 15 minutes and then add the topping and bake for the rest of the 35 minutes.
- If you'd like marshmallows on your sweet potato casserole, you sure can. Just add 2 cups mini marshmallows to the topping when you make it, and bake as directed.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: side
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: sweet potato casserole, sweet potato casserole pecans, best sweet potato casserole
More Thanksgiving side dish recipes
- Deviled Eggs
- Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Apples
- Simple Maple Roasted Butternut Squash
- Easy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Easy Homemade Turkey Gravy
- Katie’s Corn Casserole
- Grandma’s Green Bean Casserole
- Classic Homemade Mashed Potatoes
More sweet potato recipes you'll love:
- Sweet Potato Bread
- How to Bake a Sweet Potato
- The BEST Crispy Homemade Sweet Potato Fries
- Quick and Easy Sweet Potato Biscuits
- Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burgers
- Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchilada Bake
- Quick and Easy Sweet Potato Curry (meatless)
- Healthy Roasted Sweet Potato Breakfast Burritos
- 15 Stunning Sweet Potato Recipes
Sweet potato casserole is a classic, hearty, and sweet holiday dish that goes perfectly with savory meats and sides and comes together so quickly and easily, especially if you prep it ahead of time!
Julie
Made this as our new dish for Thanksgiving and hands down 10/10 requested it as a regular menu item! Thanks Melissa!
★★★★★
Robbin Finnicum
I make these a couple times a year. Always a hit, except I boil my potatoes like I would for mashed...And Always make extra topping!
★★★★★
Beth
I feel so special. It really is an awesome dish. I personally feel like marshmallows make it pretty, but that's just me. I love this family that I chose.
★★★★★
Melissa
We love you Auntie Beth. Thank you for being my favorite sister in law!