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    Home » Holidays » Thanksgiving » Southern Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

    Last updated: Sep 14, 2021 by Melissa Riker · 36 Comments

    Southern Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

    Jump to Recipe
    sweet potato casserole on white plate

    Unbelievably easy sweet potato casserole with a crumbly buttery brown sugar and pecan topping. This Southern Sweet Potato Casserole is one Thanksgiving or holiday dessert recipe you won't want to miss!

    sweet potato casserole recipe on white plate

    When I was a little girl Thanksgiving was one of my favorite days-right up there with Christmas.  It was a magical day full of all of my favorite foods-stuffing, turkey, and of course, classic Southern sweet potato casserole recipe. 

    Today I'm going to let you in on the recipe that rocked my Thanksgiving world!

    • sweet potato casserole in white casserole dish
    • sweet potato casserole in serving spoon in front of casserole dish

    Ingredients

    • canned yams (I recommend Bruce's)
    • sugar
    • milk
    • egg
    • butter
    • vanilla extract
    • brown sugar
    • all-purpose flour
    • pecans

    Step by step

    This really is about as easy of a recipe as can be.

    1. Mash the sweet potatoes up. You can decide how smooth you want them, I like mine a little lumpy.
    2. Add in sugar, milk, eggs, butter, and vanilla.
    3. Pour into a casserole dish.
    4. In another bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, and flour. Mash with a fork until it's nice and uniformly crumbly. Stir in the pecans.
    5. Top the casserole with the crumbly pecan mixture.
    6. Bake 25 minutes in the oven and you're all done!
    A close up of a bowl of sweet potato casserole

    FAQs

    Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

    Yes! You can make this easily ahead of time. Spread the sweet potato mixture into a casserole dish. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    Make up the topping and store separately in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake, sprinkle the streusel on top of casserole and bake as directed.

    How do I know when my sweet potato casserole is done?

    The casserole is done when the topping is golden brown and the center is firm.

    Can I freeze this casserole?

    Yes again!
    If you want to freeze it before baking, you'll need to prep the casserole and topping separately. Prepare sweet potato mixture and spread into casserole dish. Cover with 2 layers of plastic wrap and store in the freezer up to 3 months.
    When you are ready to bake the sweet potato casserole, remove from the freezer and allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Make the pecan streusel topping mixture and place on top of casserole and bake as directed.

    How do I store leftovers?

    Store covered in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

    More Thanksgiving recipes for you:

    • Roast Turkey 
    • Best Turkey Gravy
    • Sausage Cheddar Ball Appetizer
    • Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon
    • Cheddar Chive Mashed Potatoes
    • Traditional Corn Pudding
    • Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie
    • 10 Thanksgiving Hacks to Save Time and Sanity!
    • Setting a Frugal (but Beautiful) Thanksgiving Tablescape

    If you’ve tried this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!

    Print
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    sweet potato casserole in white baking dish

    Unbelievable Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

    ★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews
    • Author: Melissa Riker
    • Prep Time: 10 min
    • Cook Time: 25 min
    • Total Time: 35 minutes
    • Yield: 9 servings 1x
    • Category: dessert
    • Method: baking
    • Cuisine: American
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Unbelievable sweet potato casserole with a crumbly buttery brown sugar and pecan topping. This is one Thanksgiving or holiday dessert recipe you won't want to miss!


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 40 oz can yams (I use Bruce's brand), drained
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup milk
    • 1 egg
    • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
    • ½ cup chopped pecans

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    2. Pour yams in a large bowl and mash until desired smoothness. (I leave some lumps.)
    3. Add granulated sugar, milk, egg, 3 tablespoons of butter, and vanilla. Mix until thoroughly blended.
    4. In a smaller bowl combine brown sugar, flour, 2 tablespoons of butter and mash with a fork until crumbly. Stir in pecans.
    5. Pour yam mixture into an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. Top with brown sugar mixture. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until top is golden brown and bubbling.

    Keywords: sweet potato casserole

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag @thehappierhomemaker — we can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mike Davis says

      November 11, 2012 at 8:12 am

      What is Thanksgiving and Christmas with out the sweet potatoe--it just coun't happen here--great giveaway--those baked Chicken fingers look real good

      Reply
    2. Donna Cheatle says

      November 11, 2012 at 7:57 am

      https://www.countrycrock.com/recipes/detail/12951/1/baked-spiced-squash This sounds amazing. We'll be trying this recipe!

      Reply
    3. Diana C says

      November 11, 2012 at 1:10 am

      I love sweet potato casserole and that looks delicious. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    4. Anne Lehnick says

      November 10, 2012 at 11:50 pm

      The roasted cauliflower looks yummy! https://www.crockcountry.com/in-the-kitchen/thanksgiving-sides-that-will-steal-the-show/?fb_comment_id=fbc_235755259885448_964976_241308222663485#f1d104444c

      Reply
    5. Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says

      November 10, 2012 at 10:56 pm

      Melissa, I'd much rather have pecans on top of the sweet potato casserole any day rather than marshmallows. I make a sweet potato dish each Thanksgiving, but my mother calls it Sweet Potato pudding. It's her recipe.

      Reply
    6. Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline says

      November 10, 2012 at 10:09 pm

      Oh, Melissa, what a delicious looking and sounding recipe from you, as usual!

      Reply
    7. Sue Hull says

      November 10, 2012 at 8:36 pm

      Thank you for the wonderful giveaway & Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂

      Reply
    8. Trudy Choate says

      November 10, 2012 at 5:14 pm

      This is a must make recipe.. Thanks for sharing

      Reply
    9. Kathy says

      November 10, 2012 at 3:54 pm

      Looks good to me, have to try it out. Thanks

      Reply
    10. Stephanie Foster says

      November 10, 2012 at 12:20 pm

      The Baked Chicken Fingers look yummy. I'm going to make these for dinner tonight.

      Reply
    11. Jenny says

      November 10, 2012 at 8:48 am

      That casserole looks delicious! Thanks so much for joining in on the Thankful for Our Community Hop! I'm following on Twitter and Facebook.

      Reply
    12. sandra k williams says

      November 10, 2012 at 3:04 am

      my bunch loves sweet potatoes, so i am going to fix yours one day this week. thanks for posting yours, it looks great. i am getting hungry now.

      Reply
    13. lucy says

      November 09, 2012 at 9:55 pm

      I love sweet potatoes and a casserole with all that yumminess looks delishhhh! bring it to my house!!!

      Reply
    14. Crystal says

      November 09, 2012 at 5:20 pm

      Recipe looks yummy!!! Thanks for the giveaway!!

      Reply
    15. Janel@nelliebellie says

      November 09, 2012 at 11:11 am

      I want these!!! I couldn't enter on my own blog. But waha I'll enter on yours!!
      P.S. yummy sweet potatoes!

      Reply
    16. Kelly @ View Along the Way says

      November 09, 2012 at 10:59 am

      Looks DEEEElicious! I have a special place in my heart for sweet potato casserole!

      Reply
    17. Donna Woods says

      November 09, 2012 at 10:59 am

      That recipe sounds wonderful! Fingers crossed for the giveaway - great prize pack!

      Reply
    18. Gwen says

      November 09, 2012 at 9:00 am

      I LOVE this recipe! My mother in law always makes the marshmallow for the kids, but I just don't think you can beat the pecans!

      Reply
    19. Inspire Me Heather says

      November 09, 2012 at 7:52 am

      Thanks for posting your recipe - that looks very, very yummy and I think my family would enjoy that!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        November 09, 2012 at 8:42 am

        Thanks Heather! Please let me know if you try it-it is SO good!!

        Reply
    20. JuneA** says

      November 09, 2012 at 7:43 am

      Melissa, the sweet potato casserole looks yummy, I'll have to try this recipe out! Do you mash the sweet potatoes? I'm going to try to make the cornbread from Country Crock--wish they would have let me comment without using my facebook!!! Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        November 09, 2012 at 7:51 am

        Thanks so much June, Please let me know how you like it if you try the recipe-I could eat this for dessert, it is SO good!! I do mash the sweet potatos but not all the way, I like mine a little chunky. I'll edit the post to clarify that!

        Reply
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