This indulgent sweet potato casserole is topped with the most delicious pecan topping and is the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table!

Dessert or casserole? It depends on who you ask! This sweet potato casserole reminds me of a cross between a pecan pie and a pumpkin pie. Even people who hate sweet potatoes will enjoy this easy recipe. I couldn’t stop thinking about the leftovers in my fridge and had to help myself to an extra serving.

The filling is creamy and sweet and the topping adds an extra bit of flavor and crunch. I know once you try it, you’ll want to make it again and again.

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Ingredients

For the filling:

• Sweet potatoes – I chose to use fresh sweet potatoes instead of canned for this recipe. You’ll want to bake or boil them so they can be easily mashed!
• Brown sugar – Is it just me, or is brown sugar the best? It adds some sweetness to the filling and provides so much flavor!
• Milk – Milk helps make the sweet potato mash extra creamy.
• Eggs – Eggs help hold the filling together.
• Vanilla extract – Vanilla extract provides just a hint of vanilla flavor.
• Butter – Just a little butter makes the filling extra-rich.
• Shredded sweetened coconut – Shredded coconut provides a fun texture!

For the pecan topping:

• All-purpose flour – Flour is the base of this pecan streusel topping.
• Brown sugar – More brown sugar sweetens up the topping.
• Butter – Butter is another essential ingredient for forming the streusel.
• Pecans – Chopped pecans are the perfect finish for this casserole!

What I Used For This Recipe

This post contains affiliate links.

• 3-Quart Glass Baking Dish: This 3-quart glass baking dish from Pyrex is perfect for this recipe (and really any casserole!), plus it comes with a lid so you can easily store leftovers.
• Stainless Steel Measuring Cups: I use these measuring cups for just about everything!
• Glass Mixing Bowl Set: Also from Pyrex, I love these glass mixing bowls and use them almost daily.

How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans

This sweet potato casserole is so easy to make! Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Make the filling. In a large bowl, stir together the cooked and mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, milk, eggs, vanilla, butter, coconut, and salt. Spread evenly in a 9×13 baking pan.
3. Make the pecan topping. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, butter, and pecans until it reaches a crumbly consistency. The quickest way to do this is to just use your hands! Spread evenly over sweet potato mixture.
4. Bake. Bake for 35 minutes. Serve hot.

Why are there eggs in sweet potato casserole?

The eggs in sweet potato casserole help bind everything together and make it more of a casserole consistency vs. just being a sweet potato mash!

Are yams and sweet potatoes the same thing?

This question causes a lot of confusion! Real yams are not the same as sweet potatoes, but in the U.S. orange sweet potatoes are often labeled as yams, which is what causes the confusion. Real yams are closer to yucca than sweet potatoes – they have a thick, woody skin and are neutral in flavor, similar to white potatoes. 

Sweet potatoes can come in three different colors – white, orange, and purple – but when we think of sweet potatoes, we most often think of the orange variety. 

The good news here is that you won’t often find a real yam in grocery stores, so you don’t need to worry too much about getting them mixed up!

What to Serve with Sweet Potato Casserole

Of course, when I think sweet potato casserole, my mind immediately goes to Thanksgiving dinner! Below are a few of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes:

• Mashed Potato Casserole
• Green Bean Casserole
• Broccoli Casserole
• Cheesy Brussels Sprouts
• Mom’s Simple Stuffing
• Roasted Root Vegetables
• Crockpot Cranberry Pecan Stuffing

More Sweet Potato Recipes You’ll Love

• Sweet Potato Pie
• Candied Sweet Potatoes
• Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Muffins
• Sweet Potato Home Fries

Do you have any amazing Thanksgiving recipes? I’m always looking for more recipes to try! Follow me on Instagram @simplystacieblog, on Facebook at Simply Stacie, and on Pinterest @SimplyStacie and let me know how you liked this and my other recipes!

Continue to Content

Sweet Potato Casserole

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

This simple Thanksgiving side dish is dessert-like! The filling is creamy and sweet and the topping adds an extra bit of flavour and crunch.

Print

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked sweet potatoes, mashed
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/2 tsp salt

Topping

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup pecans, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a large bowl, stir together sweet potatoes, brown sugar, milk, eggs, vanilla, butter, coconut and salt. Spread evenly in a 9×13 baking pan.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, butter and pecans until a crumbly consistency. Spread evenly over sweet potato mixture.
4. Bake for 35 minutes. Serve hot.

Notes

Tip: Use clean hands to quickly to get the topping to a crumbly consistency.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Pyrex Basics 3 Quart Glass Oblong Baking Dish with Red Plastic Lid -13.2 INCH x 8.9inch x 2 inch
• 
  New Star Foodservice 42917 Stainless Steel 4Pcs Measuring Cups And Spoons Combo Set, Silver
• 
  Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl Set (3-Piece)

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 491Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 550mgCarbohydrates: 58gFiber: 3gSugar: 37gProtein: 6g

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