Easy Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole 

The best, easiest, and most delicious Southern Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe you will ever eat. It’s perfect for the fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other occasions. This old-fashioned recipe starts with a smooth layer of sweet potatoes and is topped with a pecan streusel.

I absolutely love fall and everything associated with the changing weather. The cooler temperatures, falling leaves, bonfires, smores, sweaters, and cozy blankets all seem to make the season perfect. Along with the changing temperature comes my desire to bake fall dishes.

When I think about fall weather, Sweet Potato Casserole, Candied Sweet Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Pie are some of the delicious foods that come to mind.

Make Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole

Prepare the sweet potato filling and spread it into a casserole dish. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Prepare the streusel topping and store it in a zip-top bag in the fridge. When ready to bake, remove everything from the fridge, unwrap, spread the pecan crumble over the top, and bake.

Ingredients

This recipe only requires simple ingredients and comes together in no time. All of the ingredients can easily be found in your local grocery store.

Sweet Potatoes—I use fresh sweet potatoes for the sweet potato mixture. For this recipe, you will cook and mash the potatoes. They are easy to mash with a fork or a potato masher.

Sugar – I use white granulated sugar for the sweet potato mixture and brown sugar for the topping.

Eggs – You will need medium to large eggs, or just use what you have in your refrigerator.

Butter – Everything is better with butter. Use softened butter. It acts as a binder.

Milk – Whole milk is used for this recipe. 

Vanilla Extract – Used for flavoring. Please don’t leave it out.

Light Brown Sugar – This is used for the topping. If you need to swap out dark brown sugar, that will work just fine.

Flour – Used for the topping.

Melted Butter – Melted butter mixes well with the ingredients.

Chopped Pecans – I like to use chopped pecans as a topping. 

How to Prepare Sweet Potatoes

There are two ways to prepare sweet potatoes for this homemade sweet potato casserole. You can boil or bake them. I have done both, but I prefer to bake them. You choose the method that is best for you.

Baked Sweet Potatoes:

Wash sweet potatoes and place them on a sheet pan. Bake at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes to an hour or until soft. The time will depend on how big your potatoes are. Let cool. Remove skins. Place in a large bowl and mash with a fork until they are creamy and no lumps.

Boiled Sweet Potatoes:

I peeled the potatoes, thickly diced them into 2-3 inch pieces, placed them into a pot of cold water, and boiled until tender. I drained the potatoes well and mashed them with a potato masher or a fork.

How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

For complete instructions, see the printable recipe card below. This casserole is buttery, soft, and creamy—the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving—and a great recipe for all your holiday feasts. 

Sweet Potato Filling Mixture:

1. Gather ingredients.
2. Bake Potatoes. Place washed potatoes on a baking sheet and bake. Let them cool to room temperature so you can peel them more easily.
3. Combine. In a large mixing bowl, combine mashed sweet potatoes with sugar, eggs, 1/2 cup softened butter, milk, and vanilla. Spoon into a greased 13″ x 9″ casserole dish.

For the Pecan Crumble Topping:

1. In a medium bowl, make the pecan crumble for the crunchy topping. Combine brown sugar, flour, 1/3 cup melted butter, and pecans.
2. Using a tablespoon, drop the crumble topping over the sweet potatoes.
3. Spread gently over the top.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

If you plan to cook a turkey this year, check out my post on How to Cook a Turkey for tips on a moist turkey every time.

Doubles as a Side Dish or a Dessert

Not only is this side dish popular for the holidays, but it’s also great throughout the year as a side dish for dinner or even for dessert. Yep, dessert. I had the leftovers during the week with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. It satisfied my sweet tooth with pleasure. Wonderful!

For another sweet potato treat, try this Southern Sweet Potato Pie. It’s made with basic ingredients and turns out perfect every time. For an added touch, try it with a dollop of whipped cream.

This recipe makes the best Sweet Potato Casserole and has been a family favorite for years.

Cranberry Stuffing is a must to try for this holiday season. It will not disappoint your guest.

Recipe Variations

• This pecan topping recipe uses pecans or walnuts as nuts. However, if you want a no-nut sweet potato casserole, you can omit the nuts from the topping.
• This is an easy sweet potato casserole without marshmallows, but if you like marshmallows, you can top it with mini marshmallows. Sprinkle the marshmallows during the last 10 minutes of baking.
• Add some shredded coconut to the filling.
• Makes a delicious sweet potato breakfast casserole. I’ve had leftovers for breakfast, and it was amazing.

For more side dish recipes, check out my Southern Cornbread Salad, Crock Pot Creamed Corn, Candied Sweet Potatoes, and Chicken and Dressing.

How to Store Leftover Baked Sweet Potato Casserole

To Store: Classic sweet potato casserole is fabulous the next day. Bring leftovers to room temperature and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To Reheat: This dish warms up nicely in the oven or microwave.

To Freeze: Allow the casserole to cool completely, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and cover with aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for 1-3 months. Thaw completely and reheat in the oven.

What To Serve with Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole

If you’re making this recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas, serve it with Chicken and Cornbread Dressing, Easy Rice Dressing, Roasted Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, Green Bean Casserole, and Collard Greens.

For another sweet potato treat, try this Southern Sweet Potato Pie. It’s made with basic ingredients and turns out perfect every time. For an added touch, try it with a dollop of whipped cream.

Thinking About Holiday Sides?

This dish is one of my favorite recipes during the holiday season. I like to make it for family dinners, Thanksgiving, or Christmas get-togethers. It is usually one of the first items to disappear from the table. I always have a clean dish when dinner is over.

Cranberry Stuffing is a must to try for this holiday season. It will not disappoint your guest.

Recipe FAQs

This casserole works alongside roasted turkey, green bean casserole, homemade cranberry sauce, chicken dressing, and sweet potato pie: the perfect side dish and an easy recipe for holiday dinners.

If you still want more information on the differences between sweet potatoes and yams, check out this post.

More Favorite Sweet Potato Recipes

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potato Pie

More Casserole Recipes

Green Bean Casserole

Corn Casserole

Pineapple Casserole

Cranberry Stuffing

Potato Casserole

Chicken Dressing

Holiday Desserts

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Carrot Cake

Sweet Potato Pie

Buttermilk Pie

Chocolate Pecan Pie

No Bake Pumpkin Pie

Southern Caramel Cake

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