Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar and Pecan Topping

Name: Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar and Pecan Topping
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 45 min
Ingredients: Butter (for greasing pan); 7 pounds sweet potatoes (6-8 medium); 8 tablespoons butter (softened and cut into small pieces); ½ cup all-purpose flour; ½ cup packed brown sugar; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; 1 cup pecans; 6 tablespoons butter (melted); 2 teaspoons kosher salt; ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ½ teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon vanilla; 4 teaspoons lemon juice; ¼ cup packed brown sugar; 4 large eggs; 1 cup half-and-half

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This Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar and Pecan Topping is a delicious fall side dish and a perfect Thanksgiving staple. Made with a creamy and spiced sweet potato filling and topped with a buttery streusel made with brown sugar and pecans, this dish will steal the show at your Thanksgiving dinner. It’s also a make-ahead dish to save you time during the holidays!

Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar and Crunchy Pecan Streusel with spoon, stiped napkin and bowl or pecans.

Move over turkey, make way for the best Sweet Potato Casserole with a Brown Sugar and Crunchy Pecan Streusel. Who goes to Thanksgiving dinner for the turkey anyway? We know this special occasion is all about the sides and delicious pies. This delicious classic sweet potato casserole recipe will instantly become one of your family favorite Thanksgiving side dishes.

I can’t decide what I like most about this casserole dish. Is it because it’s the absolute BEST sweet potato casserole recipe, or is it because you can make it in advance so the only thing to do the next day is to pop it in the oven? Probably both. I love delicious dishes that can save time and I know you’ll love this one too! Some traditional sweet potato casserole recipes call for mini marshmallows for the topping. But this easy sweet potato casserole recipe calls for something better: a crunchy streusel, made with a buttery brown sugar pecan topping. It's just the right amount of sweetness and crunch.

You won’t regret serving this on a special occasion or during a fall meal. It’s tasty, comforting and cozy – the perfect side dish for fall.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar and Pecan Topping with serving on plate next to casserole and striped napkin.

How to Make the best Sweet Potato Casserole

This casserole starts with a creamy, spiced sweet potato mixture. The sweet potato flavor really shines by roasting the potatoes instead of boiling them. I recommend planning ahead to roast these potatoes – you won’t regret it. And because this dish can be made ahead of time, the time to roast potatoes shouldn’t be an issue on Thanksgiving or Christmas day.

After the sweet potatoes are roasted and have cooled slightly, use a spoon to scoop the flesh into a large mixing bowl. Add melted butter, kosher salt, nutmeg, pepper, vanilla, lemon juice, brown sugar, and eggs. Beat with a hand mixer until the ingredients are smooth. You could also use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment to beat ingredients together, or a potato masher to combine ingredients. I like to have a little texture to my casserole, so I leave some potatoes a little chunky. Next, pour in half-and-half and mix until blended. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer with a spatula.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar and Crunchy Pecan Streusel with wood spoon scoping out casserole serving.

Now comes the best part of this dish: the buttery streusel made with brown sugar and pecans that goes on top of the casserole. It’s got a little crumbly crunch that sends this casserole to the next level. The best part is that this pecan topping is quickly made in a food processor. Pulse the flour, brown sugar and kosher salt in a food processor until blended. Sprinkle butter pieces over the flour mixture and pulse until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle nuts over the flour mixture and pulse until combined, but some large nut pieces remain.

Next, sprinkle the pecan streusel over the sweet potato casserole and pop this bad boy into the oven at 375°F for 40-45 minutes to get that topping nice and crispy. Cool for about 10 minutes before serving and be prepared to receive compliments on the best Thanksgiving side ever!

Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans next to wood spoon, striped napkin and container of pecans.

Make-Ahead Tip

When preparing a holiday meal, I like to have as many things made ahead of time or prepped as much as possible. That’s why I love this homemade sweet potato casserole with Brown Sugar and Crunchy Pecan Streusel. You can prepare it the day before you plan to bake and serve it. I’ve made this casserole many times and have found that the topping does not get soggy in the refrigerator. To make ahead, assemble casserole and wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Bake as directed, increasing the cooking time to about 50-60 minutes if baking dish directly from the refrigerator.

How long can sweet potato casserole sit out?

Following USDA guidelines, you should never leave food out of refrigeration for over 2 hours. If the temperature is above 90 °F, food should not be left out for more than 1 hour.

How many sweet potatoes for casserole recipes?

It depends on the recipe! But this recipe calls for 7 pounds of sweet potatoes, which is about 6-8 medium-sized sweet potatoes.

How do you reheat sweet potato casserole?

To reheat a sweet potato casserole, preheat the oven to 350°F. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent the topping from burning, and bake for about 15-20 minutes.

Recipe Card

Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar and Pecan Topping

This Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar and Pecan Topping is a delicious fall side dish and a perfect Thanksgiving staple. Made with a creamy and spiced sweet potato filling and topped with a buttery streusel made with brown sugar and pecans, this dish will steal the show at your Thanksgiving dinner. It’s also a make-ahead dish to save you time during the holidays!

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Course: Side

Cuisine: American

Keyword: casserole, Sweet Potato, Thanksgiving

Prep Time: 1

Cook Time: 45

Servings:

Author: Shannon

Ingredients

Butter for greasing pan

Sweet Potatoes

7 pounds sweet potatoes 6-8 medium

Streusel

8 tablespoons butter softened and cut into small pieces
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup packed brown sugar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup pecans

Filling

6 tablespoons butter melted
2 teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vanilla
4 teaspoons lemon juice
¼ cup packed brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup half-and-half

Instructions

Roasting Sweet Potatoes:

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat oven to 400°F.
Poke sweet potatoes several times with a knife and space evenly on a rimmed baking sheet.
Bake potatoes, turning them once, until they are very tender and can be squeezed easily with tongs, about 1 to 1 ½ hours.
Remove the potatoes from the oven and cut in half lengthwise to let steam escape; cool at least 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.

Sweet Potato Filling:

Butter a 13x9-inch baking dish.
After the sweet potatoes are roasted and have cooled slightly, use a spoon to scoop the flesh into a large bowl.
Add the melted butter, kosher salt, nutmeg, pepper, vanilla, lemon juice, brown sugar and eggs.
Beat with a hand mixer until ingredients are smooth. You could also use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment to beat ingredients together, or a potato masher to combine ingredients. (I like to have a little texture to my casserole, so I leave some potatoes a little chunky.)
Next pour in half-and-half and mix until blended.
Pour the sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer with a spatula.

Pecan Streusel:

Pulse flour, brown sugar and kosher salt in a food processor until blended.
Sprinkle butter pieces over the flour mixture and pulse until coarse crumbs form.
Sprinkle nuts over the flour mixture and pulse until combined, but some large pecan pieces remain.

To Assemble & Bake Casserole:

Sprinkle the pecan streusel over the sweet potato mixture.
Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping gets crispy.
Cool 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

To make ahead, assemble casserole and wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Bake as directed, increasing the cooking time to about 50-6o minutes if baking dish directly from the refrigerator.