Sweet potato casserole with pecans and marshmallows is a classic Thanksgiving side that everyone loves. It’s fluffy and not too sweet with the right amount of crunch thanks to pecans.

 

If you’ve been following our Thanksgiving recipes, you know we have many tasty options such as homemade stuffing, spiced turkey and of course, a delicious turkey gravy with some homemade cranberry sauce. Today’s recipe is another delicious addition to the table: sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans!

About this recipe

Sweet potato casserole is one of the most common dishes served at Thanksgiving. The combination of sweet potatoes, pecans and marshmallows is great for fall especially for gatherings and parties. Make this dish for your party and everyone will come back for seconds!

This recipe is a keeper because it has it all: sweet and savory creamy mashed sweet potatoes whipped with cinnamon and maple syrup, with a dreamy topping made of brown sugar, marshmallows and pecans. You’re going to love it!

Ingredients

To make this recipe, you need a handful of ingredients:

• Sweet potatoes – They can vary in size, we need almost 1.5 pounds of sweet potatoes for this recipe. You can boil or roast them to make the casserole.
• Egg – We are going to use one large egg as a binding agent.
• Spices – Cinnamon and ginger add a lot of flavor to this dish. Make sure to use dried powdered ginger since it has a more sweet and subtle flavor.
• Maple syrup – To sweeten this casserole and add more flavor, I used maple syrup. You can also use honey, granulated sugar, brown sugar or even stevia.
• Topping: You need a combination of marshmallows, brown sugar and pecans. I used mini marshmallows and chopped pecans, but it’s also possible to use regular marshmallows and whole pecans.

Instructions

Cook the sweet potatoes

You can use two different methods to cook your sweet potatoes:

• Stove top: Wash and peel the sweet potatoes. Cut them into cubes and place them in a large pot. Cover the sweet potatoes with water and bring it to boil over medium heat. Cook for about 15 to 20 minutes until fully cooked. Drain the water and let the sweet potatoes cool.
• Oven: Wash the sweet potatoes and pierce them several times with a fork. Rub some olive oil all over the sweet potatoes and wrap them in foil. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 30 to 40 minutes until fully cooked.

Prepare the casserole

• Once the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel them and place them in a bowl. Mash the sweet potatoes using an electric mixer, a potato masher or a fork.
• Add in the egg and the maple syrup or any other sweetener of your preference. Season with cinnamon and ginger then fold in the marshmallows. Save about 1/2 cup marshmallows for the topping.
• Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and top it with the remaining marshmallows, pecans and brown sugar.
• Bake it for about 30 minutes. Serve sweet potato casserole warm or at room temperature.

Serving suggestions

Sweet potato casserole is usually served as part of a Thanksgiving spread alongside mashed potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. It’s a nice addition and the color gives the table nice fall vibes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storage and freezing instructions

Store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To serve, heat the casserole in the oven at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes.

To freeze, simply store the sweet potato casserole in an airtight container for up to 3 months. The night before serving, thaw the frozen casserole in the fridge overnight and, when ready to bake, heat it in the oven at 325 degrees F for about 30 minutes.

Notes and tips

• You can cook sweet potatoes on the stove or in the oven. Both methods work, but the stove top is quicker.
• I folded the mini marshmallows in the mashed sweet potatoes but you can also simply add the as a topping with brown sugar and pecans.
• You can toast the pecans ahead of time in the oven or in a pan for a crunchier texture.

More Thanksgiving recipes

Side dishes

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Basics

Baked Sweet Potato Recipe

Side dishes

Roasted Acorn Squash

Vegetarian

Mediterranean Stuffed Acorn Squash

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