Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping — 🍠🙌🧡 This is the BEST sweet potato casserole ever!! The sweet potatoes are tender and creamy, while the streusel topping adds a delightful buttery crunch thanks to the pecans!
Table of Contents
- Classic Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
- Ingredients for This Recipe
- How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
- Recipe FAQs
- Storage and Reheating Instructions
- What to Serve with Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Butter Pecan Crumble Topping Recipe
- More Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Side Dishes:
Classic Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
I love sweet potatoes and have a ton of recipes using them from bread to enchiladas, but I was missing a classic: sweet potato casserole.
It was about time I made it and we loved every bite because this isn’t just any ole sweet potato casserole recipe. The crunchy butter pecan crumble topping really sets it apart.
The mashed sweet potatoes are so tender, creamy, and fluffy while the crumbly, streusel topping adds a buttery, brown sugary crunch thanks to the pecans.
The brown sugar caramelizes in the oven with the butter and the topping is irresistible. I kind of want to put this topping on everything now.
I was tasked with making sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving several years ago. Ironic bc I don’t actually eat the sweet potatoes. I picked this recipe bc I was attracted to the topping. It has been demanded ever since. Every single sweet potato hater in the extended family loves this. IF there are leftovers, prepare for a rumble. — TaMom
Ingredients for This Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy sweet potato casserole with pecan topping:
- Sweet potatoes
- Eggs
- Unsalted butter
- Milk
- Light brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Ground nutmeg and cinnamon
- All-purpose flour
- Fisher pecan halves
I used Fisher Pecan Halves. Fisher Nuts are preservative-free and non-GMO Project Verified, making them an excellent choice for cooking and holiday baking. The resealable bag helps keep the nuts fresh for longer.
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
I’m not even remotely exaggerating when I say this is the best sweet potato casserole recipe! Here’s a rough overview of the recipe steps:
- Prepare the filling: Boil the sweet potatoes in a large pot until fork tender.
- Add the cooked sweet potatoes to a large bowl along with the eggs, butter, milk, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- Once combined (I like to use a potato masher!), turn the sweet potato mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Make the pecan topping: Melt the butter, then toss with the brown sugar, flour, and salt. Stir in the pecans.
- Assemble and bake: Sprinkle the crumble topping over the sweet potatoes. Bake until the top is lightly golden brown, the edges are set, and the center is mostly set.
Recipe FAQs
My sweet potato casserole took 50 minutes to bake at 350ºF because I started with it cold from the fridge (I prepped it the night before). Note that baking times will vary based on the pan used (glass or ceramic baking dishes will bake for longer than metal pans), your oven, climate, ingredient variances, etc. To be safe, start checking your pecan-topped sweet potato casserole at 30 minutes.
4 pounds. My best advice is to weigh your potatoes at the grocery store to see how many you’ll need. The number of sweet potatoes needed will vary depending on their size.
Yes! If you prefer sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top, follow my classic sweet potato casserole recipe instead.
Unbaked casserole will last up to three days in the fridge, while the baked casserole will keep for about a week.
Yes, very easily! Here’s how:
1. Assemble the entire casserole the night before, cover it with foil, and refrigerate it until ready to bake.
2. Baked the prepped casserole straight from the fridge, adding 10 to 15 minutes to the bake time.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
In the fridge: If stored in an airtight container, leftovers will last up to 1 week.
In the freezer: Assemble the sweet potato layer, bake, let cool, then freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat the prepped casserole, thaw overnight in the fridge. Make a fresh batch of topping, sprinkle it over the casserole, and bake until done.
To reheat: Cover with foil so the pecan topping doesn’t burn, then bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 300ºF, or until warm.
What to Serve with Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
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Sweet Potato Casserole with Butter Pecan Crumble Topping
Ingredients
Filling
- 4 pounds raw sweet potatoes, diced into large chunks and boiled
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup milk, I used unsweetened cashewmilk
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, optional
Topping
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ⅔ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 cup Fisher Pecan Halves
Instructions
Make the Filling
- To a large stockpot, add the sweet potato chunks, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Cook over high heat until sweet potatoes are fork tender. Drain well and transfer to a large bowl.
- Preheat oven to 350F and spray a 2.5 to 3-quart baking dish or a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray; set aside.
- To the large bowl with the sweet potatoes, add the eggs, butter, milk, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, salt, optional nutmeg, optional cinnamon, and beat with a handheld electric mixer on medium-high speed until combined and fluffy.
- Turn out into baking dish, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula; set aside.
Make the Pecan Topping
- To a large microwave-safe bowl, add the butter and heat on high power to melt, about 1 minute.
- Add the brown sugar, flour, salt, and toss with a fork or your fingers until moist crumbs form.
- Add the pecans and toss to incorporate.
- Evenly turn topping out over filling.
Bake
- Bake the sweet potato casserole for about 45 minutes (or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours if you’re prepping it in advance), or until top is lightly golden browned, set on the edges, and mostly set in the center. Mine took 50 minutes because I started with it cold from the fridge because I prepped it the night before. Baking time will vary based on pan used (glass or ceramic baking dishes will bake for longer than metal pans), oven, climate, ingredient variances, etc. Start checking at 30 minutes.
- Serve immediately. Extra will keep airtight for up to 1 week in the fridge.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Side Dishes:
All of my Thanksgiving recipes!
Classic Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows — 🍠🙌🧡 Tender and creamy sweet potatoes, the subtle crunch of a buttery pecan crumble, and gooey marshmallows make this comfort food side dish an automatic family FAVORITE!
Savory Sweet Potato Casserole — If you thought sweet potato casserole couldn’t get any better, wait until you taste it topped with candied bacon and pecans!
Easy Homemade Candied Yams — Learn how to make the BEST candied yams which are baked in the most wonderful buttery cinnamon-and-sugar sauce!
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows — 🍠🙌🧡 Sweet, creamy, decadent, and reminiscent of sweet potato casserole but individually portioned! FAST and EASY enough for family dinners or make them for more formal holiday celebrations!
Sweet Potato Bites with Marshmallows and Pecans — Sliced sweet potato rounds are brushed with a maple cinnamon-and-sugar mixture, baked, and then topped with marshmallows and pecans!
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad — Goodbye mayo-loaded, mushy, boring potato salad. Hello to a Mexican-inspired potato salad full of flavor and texture with corn, black beans, peppers, and cilantro!
Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple Casserole — A HEALTHIER and DELICIOUS twist on sweet potato casserole!! The potatoes and apples retain some texture with the perfect amount of crumble topping!
Post is brought to you by Fisher. The recipe, images, text, and opinions expressed are my own. #ThinkFisher
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Fisher nuts. The opinions and text are all mine.
It was a big hit everyone liked it even my picky husband 🥰
Thanks for the 5 star review, Penny, and I am glad it was a big hit even with your picky eater 😊
Absolutely amazing! So delicious, I ate it as a snack for days afterwards. Potatoes were light and just enough sweetness. The streusal topping is out of this world. I’m not a fan of pecans so I left them out and nobody missed them. This is now a regular dish for Thanksgiving or any other time you want a real crowd pleaser!
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad this was absolutely amazing! And that nobody missed the pecans. I am glad this is not only a Thanksgiving recipe for you but other times of the year, too!
My boyfriend said it was better than any dessert at the table!
Avery , I always omit the eggs and it turns out fluffy and delicious. I use half and half instead of milk.
Avery , I always omit the eggs and it turns out fluffy and delicious. I use half and half instead of milk.
I made this the day before I went into labor and it was the *perfect* side dish for my first meal postpartum last Thanksgiving day. It’s fondly added to the rotation this year and brings back so many memories. Thank you!
I have been making this for the last few years and we all love it but it is always too much for our family. This year, I plan on cutting the recipe in half. Any suggestions on how I should adjust the cooking time?
I have been making this for the last few years and we all love it but it is always too much for our family. This year, I plan on cutting the recipe in half. Any suggestions on how I should adjust the cooking time?
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it’s a big hit with your family! If you are baking it in a smaller casserole dish, then really it shouldn’t in theory take that much less to bake through. I would say check at 40-45 minutes but I suspect if you halve the recipe and bake in a 8-inch baking pan or similar sized casserole dish, baking time will be reduced by a bit but not dramatically. Just watch it and use your judgment.
Great, simple recipe! I have been constantly tweaking my sweet potatoes recipes for years, but this is a great base to start with. I always roast my sweet potatoes, then when cooled, remove the skins. If you have a stand mixer I use the beaters to mash them, add eggs, a bit of cream, juice of one orange, a little zest, and spices, then turn out in a casserole dish, top with the original topping recipe, (I used walnuts, as I had some on hand), then baked, I made it for pot luck at church yesterday, absolutely not a bit was left!!!
Great, simple recipe! I have been constantly tweaking my sweet potatoes recipes for years, but this is a great base to start with. I always roast my sweet potatoes, then when cooled, remove the skins. If you have a stand mixer I use the beaters to mash them, add eggs, a bit of cream, juice of one orange, a little zest, and spices, then turn out in a casserole dish, top with the original topping recipe, (I used walnuts, as I had some on hand), then baked, I made it for pot luck at church yesterday, absolutely not a bit was left!!!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this was a hit at the church potluck with not a bit left!