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A wooden spoon removing a scoop of sweet potato soufflé from a white casserole dish.
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5 from 2 votes

Sweet Potato Casserole

My family's Southern Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe is the perfect balance between creamy sweet potatoes and crunchy, caramelized pecans for the best sweet-savory mix. The best part? It’s an easy, make-ahead dish guaranteed to be a hit!
Author: Nikki Lee
Servings: 12 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

Ingredients

Mashed Sweet Potato Mixture

  • 3 pounds sweet potatoes 5 medium sweet potatoes or about 4 cups when cooked and mashed
  • ½ cup salted butter softened or (melted, if the sweet potatoes aren’t warm)- 1 stick
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup whole milk
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • ¾ cup white granulated sugar
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon salt or to taste

Brown Sugar Pecan Topping

  • 1 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 ⅓ cup pecan pieces or chopped pecans I do a mixture of both
  • ⅓ cup melted butter
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour

Instructions

Baked Sweet Potatoes

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking dish with parchment paper or foil.
  • Wash and clean sweet potatoes. Using a fork or knife to poke holes into the sweet potatoes, set them on the baking sheet, and roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until puffed up and soft inside when pierced with a fork (cook time will vary based on size of potatoes).
  • Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and let set until cool enough to handle.

Prep Oven and Baking Dish

  • Turn the down to 375 ℉ and spray with cooking spray (or butter/grease) a 9 X 13 or 2-quart baking baking dish. (When baked in a 9 X 13 pan, the layers are thinner; this is how I bake mine)

Mashed Sweet Potato Layer

  • Scoop out the flesh of the sweet potatoes and place in a large bowl. To the bowl add sugar, milk, butter, beaten eggs, vanilla, and salt. Beat with a mixer until smooth (do not overbeat as they will become mushy). This can also be done by hand if your sweet potatoes are very soft. You just want a nice smooth texture.
  • Transfer sweet potato mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.

Brown Sugar Pecan Crumb Topping

  • In a small bowl combine brown sugar, flour, pecan, and melted butter until a crumbly mixture forms. Sprinkle pecan crumb mixture over sweet potatoes.
  • Bake for 35 minutes, until sweet potatoes are bubbly and the topping is golden brown. Allow the casserole to cool and set for 10 - 15 minutes.

Notes

Cook Time Note: The casserole bakes in 35 minutes. The cooking time does not include baking the sweet potatoes. The time will be less if you use canned or boiled potatoes.

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing Instructions

Storage: Cover with foil or plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.

Make Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole

Prepare the sweet potato mixture a day ahead for up to 48 hours and store it in the fridge. Add the pecan topping just before baking. You can also assemble the entire dish and refrigerate it overnight, then bake it the next day.
Freezing: This casserole freezes well! You can freeze sweet potato casserole before or after baking.
  • Before baking: Assemble the casserole, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake as directed.
  • After baking: Let the casserole cool completely, then wrap and freeze. When ready to serve, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven at 350°F until warm.
Reheat: Warm the whole casserole in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until heated through. You can also microwave individual portions. If the pecan topping is getting too soft, place it under the broiler for a couple of minutes to crisp it up again (keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn).

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 446kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 259mg | Potassium: 643mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 22250IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 2mg

Find it online:

www.soulfullymade.com/sweet-potato-casserole/