Sweet Potato Casserole

This Sweet Potato Casserole recipe with marshmallows is a classic holiday side dish made with mashed sweet potatoes topped with sweet marshmallows and candied pecans! An old fashioned family favourite recipe that’s easy to make ahead!

 

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

There’s almost no dish quite as quintessentially “holiday” than a delicious Sweet Potato Casserole with marshmallows on top! We’ve loved this easy sweet potato casserole recipe for years for so many reasons – it’s a super simple recipe that’s easy to make (even for beginners!) and it can be made in stages, even made up to 2 days ahead of time to save time on the day of your holiday gathering. It’s the perfect side to serve with your holiday turkey, stuffing, gravy, and all your family’s favourite holiday dishes!

1. Choose the Best Sweet Potatoes:

• Color & Texture: Look for sweet potatoes with a rich orange colour. The skin should be smooth, firm, and free of any soft spots or blemishes.
• Size: Opt for medium-sized sweet potatoes instead of large ones because they tend to be sweeter and creamier. Large sweet potatoes can be more starchy than small or medium ones.

2. Bake the Sweet Potatoes First:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F.
• Wash and scrub the sweet potatoes thoroughly. Prick them several times with a fork to allow steam to escape and ensure even cooking.
• Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
• Bake for about 45-55 minutes, or until a knife or fork can easily pierce through the thickest part of each sweet potato.

Troubleshooting Tip: If your sweet potatoes are undercooked after the suggested time, extend the baking time in 10-minute increments. Remember, sizes vary, so adjust accordingly.

Time-saving Tip: This step can be done up to two days ahead of assembling the casserole. Simply bake the sweet potatoes and after they’re cooled, transfer them to an airtight container or bag and store them in the fridge until ready to use.

3. Achieve the Right Consistency:

• Once baked and mostly cooled, peel the skin off the sweet potatoes. It should come off easily with your fingers. You can also slice the sweet potatoes in half and scoop out the soft flesh into a bowl.
• Use a potato masher or a fork to mash the sweet potatoes. We don’t recommend a hand mixer as this can make them gluey, so for an ultra-smooth texture, use a potato ricer (paid link). This will give you the perfect creamy texture with no lumps!

4. Mixing in Other Ingredients for Flavour and Texture:

• To the mashed sweet potatoes, add the rest of the filling ingredients. Mix until well combined.

Troubleshooting Tip: If your mixture seems too dry, add more butter or a touch more cream to reach the desired creamy consistency.

5. Assembling the Casserole:

• Grease a casserole dish with butter or non-stick spray.
• Spread the mashed sweet potato mixture evenly in the dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.

Time-saving Tip: If you want to save time on the day of your holiday gathering, simply cover your dish with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Add the marshmallows and pecans just before baking.

6. Adding Marshmallows and Candied Pecans:

• Evenly distribute marshmallows over the mashed sweet potatoes, ensuring the surface is mostly covered. Don’t add too many marshmallows. They’ll expand in the oven so it’s ok if there are bits of sweet potato peeking through.
• Sprinkle the candied pecans over the marshmallows, spacing them out so each serving will have a few.

Troubleshooting Tip: If you’re worried about the marshmallows or pecans burning before the casserole is heated through, don’t cover the dish with aluminum foil! The aluminum foil can stick to the marshmallows, making a huge mess. Be sure to keep your oven at the temperature indicated in the recipe so the marshmallows don’t over-brown.

We love sharing our favourite holiday meal ideas with you, our dear readers. If you’re looking for more where this came from, check out our FREE No Fail Holiday Meals Email Course where we share ALL our best tips, tricks, and recipes for simplifying your holiday meals! Did we mention it’s FREE?! Sign up below:

And if you’re looking for even MORE Holiday Entertaining ideas and recipes, check out our e-cookbook with even MORE holiday meal solutions you’re going to LOVE – available NOW in The Busy Baker Shop!

When it comes to holiday side dishes we’ve got you covered with ALL the classic recipes and a ton of new favourites too! Here’s our roundup of must-make holiday sides for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner – they’ll all go great with this sweet potato casserole recipe!

• Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
• Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Best Ever Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Maple Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
• Rosemary Dill Roasted Potatoes
• Garlic Parmesan Oven Roasted Potatoes
• Spicy Roasted Sweet Potatoes

• Green Bean Casserole (Vegan and Non-Vegan Option)
• Roasted Green Beans with Cherry Tomatoes
• Rainbow Carrots
• Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
• Balsamic Honey Glazed Carrots
• Easy Brussels Sprouts Gratin with Bacon
• Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
• Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts

• Kale Salad with Butternut Squash
• Crunchy Broccoli Salad
• Pear Salad with Walnuts, Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Arugula
• Healthy Spinach Arugula Salad
• Grapefruit and Arugula Salad with Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette
• Pomegranate Salad with Kale and Quinoa
• Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms

• Quick Dinner Rolls – Ready in one hour!
• Homemade Dinner Rolls
• Easy Homemade Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls
• Sausage Stuffing
• Homemade Stuffing
• Butternut Squash Stuffing
• Cranberry Bacon Stuffing (Quick Stuffing Recipe)

Here’s a list of the kitchen equipment you’ll need to make this easy sweet potato casserole recipe with marshmallows (paid links):

• a large baking sheet
• a chef’s knife
• measuring cups and spoons
• liquid measuring cups
• a potato ricer or potato masher
• a silicone spatula
• a large baking dish
• small prep bowls

Here’s a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make this homemade sweet potato casserole recipe (paid links):

• 4 pounds sweet potatoes approximately 5 to 7 medium sweet potatoes
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup pecans
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

1. Almonds or Walnuts: Swap candied pecans for a mix of candied walnuts and almonds.

2. Coconut: Add shredded coconut to the topping or into the sweet potato mash.

3. Chocolate Chip: Add some semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips on top with the marshmallow topping.

4. Savoury Herb: Add some fresh rosemary, thyme, and garlic to the filling and bake as directed.

5. Creamy and Cheesy: Incorporate some cream cheese or mascarpone cheese into the filling for a rich and velvety texture.

6. Crunchy Streusel Topping: Combine flour, brown sugar, butter, and chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds). Sprinkle on top of the sweet potato mixture before baking, in place of or in addition to the marshmallows.

7. Gingersnap Crunch: Add some crushed gingersnap cookies on top along with the pecans and marshmallows.

8. Caramel: Drizzle some caramel sauce over the marshmallow topping after baking.

We hope you love this sweet potato casserole with marshmallows as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite side dish for the holidays? We’d love to know!

• Chicken Breasts with Stuffing
• Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
• Spicy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
• Maple Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Cranberry Bacon Stuffing (Quick Stuffing Recipe)
• Homemade Stuffing
• Sausage Stuffing

Watch the video below to see exactly how we make this recipe. You can find many more deliciously simple recipe videos on our YouTube channel!