Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole is a classic Southern holiday side dish that’s perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. This beloved recipe features creamy mashed sweet potatoes topped with a rich, buttery streusel crumb topping loaded with crunchy pecans. The nutty pecans add the perfect texture and elevate the flavor to irresistible levels. Whether you’re serving roast turkey, baked ham, or another festive main course, this sweet potato casserole with pecan topping is a must-make dish for your holiday table.

Ingredients to Make Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Sweet potatoes are a side dish that I seem to gravitate to fairly often. They have a natural sweetness and provide many of the important nutrients that our bodies need, including fiber. While that’s certainly beneficial, we simply love the versatility and taste of sweet potatoes in pretty much any form. While I’m not implying this is a health food option, it does take take a bit of the food guilt out of indulging from time to time, doesn’t it? This easy sweet potatoes casserole has a crumbly pecan topping that makes it almost like a dessert!

Checkout this quick list of ingredients you’ll need to make Sweet Potato Casserole with evaporated milk: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)

• Potatoes – Raw sweet potatoes form the base of the casserole.
• Liquid – Evaporated milk adds moisture and gives this dish a decadent flavor.
• Sugar – Light brown sugar for sweetness.
• Butter – Salted or unsalted butter for richness.
• Whole Eggs – Large eggs stabilize the sweet potato mixture.
• Seasonings – Pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon and salt. Pumpkin pie spice doesn’t taste like pumpkin. It’s a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cloves.
• Streusel Topping – All purpose flour, pecans, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon, salt and cold butter.

How to Make the Best Southern Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

• Prep the Sweet Potatoes – This recipe uses raw potatoes that need to be baked prior to making the filling. Once baked until fork tender, allow them to cool just enough to make them easy to handle.
• Scoop the Sweet Potatoes – Add sweet potato flesh to a medium-size mixing bowl with the evaporated milk, brown sugar, melted butter, eggs, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Using an electric mixer, whip until smooth.
• Prepare Casserole Dish – Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray. Pour sweet potato filling evenly into dish. 
• Make the Pecan Topping – Mix together the flour, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Using a pastry blender cut butter into crumbs until it resembles peas. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle on top of the filling.
• Oven – Bake per the cook time in the recipe until the topping is golden brown. Serve warm.
  
  

Kitchen Equipment to Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping

• I bake this in a 2-quart baking dish. (11×7-inch) You can use a 13×9-inch dish, but it will be thinner and will bake quicker.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Large bowl, medium bowl and small bowl.
• Sheet pan for baking the sweet potatoes.
• Nut chopper or sharp knife and chopping board.
• Pastry blender for making the topping.
• An electric hand mixer or a stand mixer for making the filling. You can also use a potato masher to mash the sweet potatoes.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Pumpkin Pie Spice – I use pumpkin pie spice in this recipe and the spice combination works beautifully. Pumpkin pie spice doesn’t taste like pumpkin. It’s a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cloves. You can use ground cinnamon, instead in the same amount. Pumpkin pie spice pairs equally well with sweet potatoes and gives another use for the spice blend in my kitchen.
• Use Large Sweet Potatoes – When choosing sweet potatoes err on the side of larger rather than smaller. Scrub the skins with a vegetable scrubber and leave the peel intact. It is helpful to place them onto a sheet pan and pierce the top with a knife to allow steam to escape while baking.
• Should the Sweet Potatoes be Baked or Boiled? I recommend that you bake your own sweet potatoes for this sweet potato dish. It makes them super easy to peel and less nutrients are lost. Plus, it’s a whole lot easier to do than peeling and boiling them, which may add unnecessary moisture to the filling. If you choose to boil them, use a large pot and make sure that you drain them well.
• Can I Use Canned Sweet Potatoes? Canned sweet potatoes often include additional sugar. You could adapt this recipe using canned sweet potatoes in a pinch, but you may need to adjust some of the other ingredients as well. When in doubt, follow the recipe as is and bake your own for the best outcome.
• Milk – I really love the rich flavor of evaporated milk in this recipe. You can also use whole milk or heavy cream.
• Nuts – You could use walnuts in place of pecans.
• Maple Syrup – You can add a splash of maple syrup to the sweet potato mixture.
• Marshmallows – You can skip the crumble and top this with mini marshmallows.

Storage and Leftovers

• Make-Ahead Tip – For a time saver, you can fully assemble this sweet potato casserole one day in advance, then cover it with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until baking. When doing so, give it 20 minutes or so on the counter to warm to room temperature prior to baking. You may also need to extend the bake time by 5-10 minutes.
• Leftovers – Store leftover Sweet Potato Casserole covered with foil or in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating – Reheat in single servings in the microwave or lay foil on top and reheat in a 325°F oven just until heated through.
• Freezer – You can store leftovers in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.

 

More Sweet Potato Recipes to Make

• Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes are made entirely on the stovetop.
• Ham and Sweet Potato Hash can be served for breakfast brunch lunch or supper.
• The family will flip for this Sweet Potato Cornbread. 
• Sweet Potato Fries are a terrific change from classic french fries.
• Candied Yams are another holiday favorite.
• Sweet Potato Biscuits are scrumptious stuffed with ham or turkey.
• Short on oven space? Make this Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole.
• My recipe for Southern style Sweet Potato Pie is the only one you’ll ever need.
• You may also enjoy this unique twist on potato salad using sweet potatoes called  Southwestern Sweet Potato Salad from Julie’s Eats and Treats.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Casserole Dish
• Cheese Grater
• Spatula
• Chopping Board and Knives