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
- Butter Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
- Ingredients in Sweet Potato Casserole
- How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
- Recipe FAQs
- Storage and Reheating Instructions
- What to Serve with Sweet Potato Casserole
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Butter Pecan Crumble Topping Recipe
- More Easy Sweet Potato Side Dishes:
Butter Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
I love sweet potatoes and have a ton of recipes using them, 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.
This is an easy sweet potato casserole recipe that’s especially perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s a no-frills side dish just like the one you grew up eating, and anyone can make it!
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 in Sweet Potato Casserole
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: Peel, chop, and 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.
- Mash to combine (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.
The butter pecan topping will be golden brown and the center should be set (it will never be firm like a cake, but it shouldn’t be runny or have lots of jiggle to it).
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 refrigerator, 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 Sweet Potato Casserole
Pin This Recipe
Enjoy AverieCooks.com Without Ads! 🆕
Go Ad Free
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.
©averiecooks.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
More Easy 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.
This recipe is similar to what I have used in the past however this year our stove/oven stopped working on Monday. What would your recommendation be for settings and times for a crock pot?
That’s a good question but because I’ve only made this the way I wrote it I’m not sure what to advise for a crockpot.
Could I substitute the sweet potatoes for canned yams? And how much about should I use? First Thanksgiving without my mom, I’m looking for shortcuts where I can! Btw, this recipe is almost like hers! ❤️
I’ve never done that so I really can’t say for sure. If you feel like the texture of the canned yams is pretty similar to a home-cooked mashed sweet potato, then it’s probably ok.
This looks amazing and I want to use for our Thanksgiving meal but I’m worried that it may be too sweet. I’m thinking about leaving the sugar out of the filling. Or maybe just reducing sugar for both filling and topping. Any thoughts or suggestions so I don’t mess it up? Thanks!
Honestly yes, it’s sweet. But it’s sweet potato casserole and those are inherently sweet. I would make as written because while it is sweet, everyone seems to love it as is. Read through all the comments!
Do you think it will taste the same with walnuts instead of pecans??? Thank you.
It will not taste the same but I don’t think it will taste bad. However, pecans are much more traditional and what I would use.
Can margarine be used instead of butter. I have a family member who can’t eat butter.
I have never tried it with margarine so I can’t say for sure how the results will be. I would think pretty close, but haven’t done it that way so can’t be sure.
This dish looks amazing! I bought all ingredients to make for my sister’s family get-together. Has anyone attempted to make this in the crock pot? I plan on making in the 9×11 pan, I was just wondering. It would be easier for travel and to keep warm, as I’ll be driving 2 hours to family’s house. Or could I reheat in the oven in the 9×11?
In my opinion I would make it as written and then just cover with foil and reheat in a low oven as necessary. Enjoy!
Has anyone ever tried this with butternut squash?
I personally have not and the recipe is written to use sweet potatoes and not sure if butternut will hold up as well after being mashed…I worry it could get a little stringy.
Thanks for the insight! :) Can’t wait to try your recipe.
Can I use Crisco instead of non stick spray for the pan?
I never have but I’m sure it would be fine.
I would probably use canned sweet potatoes. What about substituting almond milk for milk? Think that would work?
Probably will be okay, not as creamy tasting, but I haven’t tried it personally other than the way I wrote the recipe.
Send me your recipes.
You have to subscribe via email, I can’t do it for you. HUGE BOX at the top of your screen where you can subscribe.
What can I replace the eggs with
Not sure as I have never tried.
I made this last year for Thanksgiving and it was a big hit. I will definitely make it again this year.
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you! Glad you’ll make it again!
How many cans of canned sweet potatoes can I use?
Not sure – haven’t made it using canned potatoes.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, I cover this all in the blog post. You may want to re-read.
Hello! I’m making this for a potluck lunch at work. Planning on preparing tonight and finishing it off in the oven at work tomorrow. I’ve read several things saying to wait to put the topping on and it’ll be fine over night. Thoughts?!
You can put it on in advance. I did for these photos and all was well :)
I do not see in the instructions where to use the two tablespoons granulated sugar.
Along with the other sugar, step 3