Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

Name: Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 45 ounces canned sweet potatoes in syrup, (drained and rinsed well); 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs, (beaten); 1 stick butter, (room temperature); 1/3 cup half and half cream; 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup brown sugar, (packed); 1/2 cup flour; 1 cup chopped pecans; 1/3 cup butter, (melted); 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

by Stacey Published: Nov 6, 2024

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Enjoy spoonfuls of buttery, fluffy sweet potatoes tucked under a nutty brown sugar pecan streusel topping with this Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping recipe! A Thanksgiving tradition, it’s pure sweet potato heaven.

Are you team sweet potatoes + marshmallows? Then you’ll love my Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallow Topping. Don’t want any topping at all? Then my Fluffy Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe is for you!

A forkful of sweet potato casserole to show the fluffy texture of the potatoes.

This classic southern sweet potato casserole has been a favorite in my family for decades. It’s so easy to put together using canned sweet potatoes and bakes up almost soufflé-like thanks to a splash of cream, a little vanilla, butter and a couple of lightly beaten eggs. It’s so melt-in-your-mouth delicious, it could easily double as a side dish or a dessert!

But it’s the crunchy pecan topping that really sets this sweet potato casserole recipe apart. A simple nutty, brown sugar crumble bakes up golden brown and adds the perfect light cinnamon crunch to the clouds of fluffy sweet potatoes beneath!

2 white plates with servings of sweet potato casserole from an overhead view to show the texture of the streusel topping.

What To Serve with Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole often shows up on the traditional Southern Thanksgiving table. It is one of the positively best partners for savory Creole Roasted Turkey or Southern Pecan Crusted Apple Cider Ham and a big spoon of cornbread dressing.

Serve it up hot for a family Sunday dinner! Southern Pecan Chicken, Sautéed Green Beans with Bacon & Mushrooms and Shortcut Pull Apart Rolls are also divine with this casserole.

Special occasions like autumn birthdays, anniversaries and dinner with friends call for this Sweet Potato Casserole and its Pecan Crumble Topping cozied up next to a juicy slice of Pepper Crusted Pork Tenderloin and Pear & Fig Salad with Molasses Vinaigrette.

Recipe Ingredients & Overview

Ingredients for sweet potato casserole including brown sugar, pecans, eggs, butter and cream.

I’ll walk through an overview of ingredients & steps in these next sections along with helpful tips!

Look for specifics at the end of the post in t he recipe card.

canned cut sweet potatoes in syrup– an easy prep short cut, as long as potatoes are drained + rinsed.*
granulated sugar
eggs
butter
half & half cream
vanilla extract– just a tad elevates the flavor; it’s the difference between plain and delicious!
light brown sugar
all purpose flour
ground cinnamon– a hint of cinnamon has always been my secret ingredient for the topping.
chopped pecans

*See below for “how to use fresh sweet potatoes” in this recipe.

How to make easy sweet potato casserole with pecan topping.

How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

Prepare the Potatoes. Using an electric mixer, whip together drained and rinsed sweet potatoes with sugar, eggs, butter, half & half and vanilla extract. Some butter will still be visible in the potatoes. That’s ok. It will melt as the casserole bakes. Spoon sweet potato mixture evenly into an ungreased 8×8 baking dish.

Make the Pecan Topping. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, flour and cinnamon with a fork. Sprinkle this brown sugar mixture evenly over the sweet potatoes. Evenly top with chopped pecans, and gently press topping down into the sweet potatoes. Drizzle melted butter over the topping.

Bake. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 25-30 minutes or until edges and center is bubbling. The center must be bubbling before the dish is removed from the oven. Remove & allow to sit 10-15 minutes before serving.

A finished pan of sweet potato casserole straight from the oven with a serving spoon scooped in the middle to reveal the orange sweet potatoes beneath the crumble topping.

Can I Use Fresh Sweet Potatoes

Absolutely! Using canned sweet potatoes is a nice short cut when there is a lot to be prepared and cooked on holidays, Sunday dinners or special occasions. But if you would rather make your own potatoes, then:

wash, peel, quarter and boil fresh sweet potatoes in a large pot of salted water.
Next, remove skins, then mash and add to recipe in place of canned potatoes, with ¾ Cup – 1 Cup of granulated sugar instead of original ½ Cup.

Make It Ahead of Time

Sweet Potato Casserole is an ideal side dish to make ahead of time. Simply make the casserole without adding the brown sugar pecan topping. Cover tightly and refrigerate for 3-5 days. Remove from fridge, add topping and bake as directed, allowing for 10-15 more minutes of bake time since casserole will be cold going into the oven.

A serving of classic southern sweet potato casserole with a crisp brown sugar pecan topping.

How to Freeze & Reheat Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole can even be made up to 3 months in advance and frozen! Prepare casserole, again without brown sugar pecan topping. Cover tightly with several layers of plastic wrap and freeze.

To reheat, allow casserole to defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Make the topping and add to dish before baking as directed on recipe card, allowing 10-15 minutes extra cook time.

Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-4 days depending how far in advance your casserole was prepared. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or the whole casserole, covered, in a 350° F oven.

A serving of sweet potato casserole on a white plate with a purple napkin, silverware and pecans & herbs as holiday garnish.

Other Thanksgiving Side Dishes You’ll Love