Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
On those busy oven days, this mouthwatering Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole is a true Southern lifesaver! Fresh cubed sweet potatoes are tossed with brown sugar, butter, a splash of fresh orange juice, and pumpkin pie spice, then slow-cooked until fork-tender. Give them a quick mash and stir in a generous splash of heavy cream before folding in mini marshmallows and sprinkling the top with chopped candied cinnamon-sugar pecans. Finish with a few more marshmallows and let them melt into the sweetest, ooey-gooey topping. It’s pure Southern comfort in every bite!

Easy Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Sweet potato casserole is a must-have on our holiday table. It’s right at home alongside our Easter or Christmas ham, and Thanksgiving dinner just wouldn’t be complete without it. You’ll always find a dish of it tucked in close proximity to the turkey.
Like most families, we have our fair share of favorite holiday side dishes, and this sweet potato casserole is one that always brings back fond memories of family gatherings and all the good food we share from year to year. There’s just something special about those tried-and-true dishes that make the holidays feel like home.
I especially love serving this version straight from the slow cooker. It stays warm and cozy on the table, ready for everyone to dig in, and if my family has anything to say about it, it’ll be scraped clean right down to the very last spoonful!
Key ingredients you’ll need to make crock pot Sweet Potato Casserole: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card and quantities.)
- Fresh Sweet Potatoes – Four pounds of raw cubed sweet potatoes.
- Sugar – Light brown sugar for sweetness.
- Butter – Salted butter or unsalted butter adds a rich flavor to the taste.
- Liquid – Orange juice adds a hint of citrus.
- Cream – Heavy cream gives the mashed sweet potatoes a creamy texture.
- Spices – Pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon and
- Flavoring – Vanilla extract enhances the flavor.
- Toppings – Mini marshmallows and candied pecans for crunch. You could also use toasted chopped pecans, if that’s your preference.

How to Make Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
- Prepare Crockpot – Spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray.
- Prep Sweet Potatoes – Scrub, peel and cube sweet potatoes, placing them into a large mixing bowl.
- Season – Add the brown sugar, melted butter, orange juice, pumpkin pie spice and salt.
- Transfer Mixture to Crockpot – Mix until coated then pour evenly into the slow cooker.
- Lock Lid in Place – Cover and cook on high for 3 1/2-4 hours or until fork tender.
- Mash Potatoes – Uncover then add the cream and vanilla. Mash using a potato masher. Stir well to combine.
- Mini Marshmallows – Stir mini marshmallows into the sweet potato mixture.
- Garnish – Sprinkle the top with chopped pecans and the remaining mini marshmallows.
- Melt Marshmallows – Replace lid cooking on low just until the marshmallows are softened and slightly melted.
Kitchen Equipment to Make Sweet Potato Casserole
- One 6 quart or similar size slow cooker.
- Sharp knife and cutting board.
- Large bowl.
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
- Large spoon.
- Potato masher or hand mixer.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions
- How Long Does it Take to Cook Sweet Potato Casserole in Crockpot? This recipe takes around 3 1/2-4 hours to cook on the high setting.
- Candied Pecans – To add a little crunch to this sweet potato casserole I chop candied cinnamon sugar pecans that I make myself every holiday season. You can buy candied pecans already made at most grocery stores.
- Nuts – You can adapt the topping to your own taste using toasted walnuts, almonds or chopped toasted pecans.
- Spices – Pumpkin pie spice doesn’t taste like pumpkin. It’s a spice blend that includes ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves or allspice and ginger.
- Melting the Marshmallows – You can expect the mini marshmallows to melt from the warm cooked sweet potato puree, but they don’t brown as they would under the broiler in the oven. If you know that your crock is oven safe, you may be able to do so after slow cooking the sweet potatoes in the crockpot. Please only do so if the manufacturer’s guidelines confirm that the insert that you’re using is oven safe. Check and follow the manufacturers safety recommendations.
- Pastry Torch – You could also use a pastry torch to toast the tops of the marshmallows.
Storage and Leftovers
- Leftovers – Store leftover crockpot sweet potato casserole in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating – Reheat individual portions in the microwave or transfer the mixture to a baking dish sprayed with cooking spray and reheat in a preheated 350°F oven.
- Freezer – You can freeze leftover sweet potato casserole for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in an oven safe dish in a preheated 350°F oven until heated through.

More Southern Side Dish Recipes to Make
The ham and turkey seem to get all of the praise at the holidays, but I have to admit I’m all about the delicious side dishes. If you’re looking for more holiday inspiration check out these recipes too:
- I’m beginning to drool just thinking about my Mom’s Corn Pudding Soufflé.
- Simply Delicious Deviled Eggs.
- Homestyle Green Beans and Potatoes cooked together in one big pot.
- Southern No Knead Yeast Rolls are a must to stuff with leftover turkey and ham.
- Homemade Cranberry Apple Fruit Chutney is mouthwateringly delicious.
- To save time, this recipe for make ahead Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole will save the day
- If you’re looking for a fun way to serve dressing this year try this Bundt Pan Cornbread Dressing sliced like cake and drizzled with gravy. It’s so pretty on the table and incredibly tasty to be so easy to make.
- You may also like this recipe for Sweet Potato Rolls from Handle the Heat.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 lb raw sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 4 Tbsp butter melted
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows divided
- 1 cup candied cinnamon sugar pecans roughly chopped
Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray.
- Place the cubed sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Add the brown sugar, melted butter, orange juice, pumpkin pie spice and salt.
- Mix until coated then pour into the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 1/2-4 hours or until fork tender.
- Uncover, add the cream and vanilla. Mash using a potato masher. Mix well.
- Stir 1 cup mini marshmallows into the mashed sweet potato mixture. Sprinkle the top with chopped pecans and the remaining marshmallows.
- Cover and cook on low for 10 minutes just until the marshmallows are softened and slightly melted.
- Keep warm until serving.
- You can substitute 1 cup of pecans in place of candied pecans, if desired.How To Toast Pecans: Spread pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place into a preheated 350°F oven and roast for 6-8 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden brown, then cool.
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I’m excited to try the recipe and was wondering if frozen diced sweet potatoes would work?
I haven’t tested it but you likely could adapt it. If you try it let us know how it goes!
Hi Melissa, This looks delicious and what I’ve been looking for, yummy and easy. Do you think it would be okay to peel and dice the sweet potatoes the night before and refrigerate overnight?
You can, sure. Just put them into an airtight container.
Best view i have ever seen !
Hi Melissa, thank you for this recipe. We are planning on trying it on Thanksgiving. Would the recipe still be good if we don’t add the marshmallows? We usually like this dish with only the candied pecans.
Hi, oh yes you can omit the marshmallows of you prefer it.
Big hit at our thanksgiving dinner. I would disagree with the 15 min prep time, those sweet potatoes are hard to cut. But the long cook time really frees up the rest of the time to work on other items. I was not able to find cinnamon pecans so used honey roasted instead. Will be making this recipe again!
There was no pumpkin spice at the store but I did find apple pie spice… will that ruin it?
Hi Brekka, apple pie spice won’t ruin it, but you may consider using a little less as it has a different blend of spices. Use half the amount, taste and adjust. You may also opt to just use all cinnamon.
We’re wondering about the orange juice. Can we leave it out?
You could replace it with apple juice or apple cider, or adjust the other liquid to accommodate. It’s about flavor in this recipe.
What is a good dairy free replacement for the cream?
Dairy and lactose free cream or half and half. You may also be able to adapt using coconut milk. I haven’t tested a dairy free option in this casserole but, if you’ve had success in the past with a similar product, it may work in this as well.
Can this be made ahead a day before thanksgiving? And popped in the oven to warm the day of & then add the topping?
Absolutely, no problem at all.
Could I do steps 1-3 then cover and fridge overnight, and resume with cooking in the morning?
You can, yes!
Hi, do you know if you can use canned yams for this recipe? If so, would there be a time adjustment and what would that time adjustment be for use in the crockpot?
This recipe is designed to be used with raw sweet potatoes. Candied yams have been cooked.
So I’m running behind getting this dish going and I added the cream and vanilla in the beginning. Hope it still turns out ok! Ugh!
Hi Tanya, the cream may brown a bit adding it at the beginning. I hope it still turns out for you.