Southern Sweet Potato Casserole

Rich, sweet, buttery and full of marshmallows, a perfect southern classic! Southern Sweet Potato Casserole ain’t just for dinner anymore! Who doesn’t love Candied Yams with marshmallows? 

Southern Sweet Potato Casserole. Photo Credit:Photo Credit: Christine Rooney

Why This Recipe Works…

• The sweet potatoes work perfectly with the spices, nuts, marshmallows and flavorings to make a mouth rocking holiday party! 
• Easy – ish
• Makes enough to use for several days.
• Freezes well

Here’s How You Do It…

Step 1. 

Cut the sweet potato into evenly sized cubes. 

Candied yams with marshamallows

STEP 2. 

Boil the sweet potatoes and then after draining them, mix with the butter and spices. Mash well

southern sweet potatoes with marshmallows

STEP 3. 

Pour the mixture into a baking dish and top with mini marshmallows. Bake. Serve!

Make ahead sweet potato casserole with marshmallows

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s).

WHAT IS SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE?

Sweet Potato casserole is a typical holiday side dish in the United States making use of mashed sweet potatoes usually mixed with brown sugar, marshmallows and pecans. If you want to know more about what goes in to developing a delicious sweet potato, I encourage you to check out this USDA informational post about that. 

CAN SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE BE MADE AHEAD OF TIME?

The answer is a resounding “YES”!

You can make the sweet potato casserole described in this recipe (at the bottom of the post) as much as 2 days ahead and then bake it just before you are ready to serve.

HOW TO MAKE SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE USING CANNED SWEET POTATOES

If you need to use canned sweet potatoes, simply drain the potatoes and then  heat the canned sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

When heated through, mashe with a potato masher and follow the rest of the directions as written.

HOW LONG WILL SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE KEEP?

You should refrigerate sweet potato casserole once you have baked it.

It is OK to allow it to sit out while your guests are still serving their plates but don’t allow to sit out for more than 2 hours.

Place your dish in the refrigerator after that point.

HOW TO REHEAT SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

Simply place in an oven safe dish and heat at 350 for about 20 minutes OR place in a microwave safe dish and heat on high for 1 minute, stir, then heat in 30 second intervals until warmed throughout. 

I encourage you to rewarm in an oven if possible rather than the microwave.

southern sweet potato casserole with pecans

WHAT CAN I SERVE SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE WITH?

Since this casserole is a typical holiday dish, it is perfect with

Cornbread dressing,

Pumpkin Praline Cake,

Baked Turkey and

Crockpot Green Beans! MMmmm… Now, I’m hungry!

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR PERFECT SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

• Be sure to cut the potatoes into as even pieces as you are able.
• It is ok to substitute margarine for the butter if you need to, but I don’t recommend it.
• It is ok to substitute full size marshmallows if you need to, but you might want to cut them into smaller pieces to mix into the sweet potato mixture.
• Do not substitute dried ginger for the fresh. If you can’t find fresh ginger, just leave it out.
• Be sure to use real vanilla not imitation. The imitation will give a fake yucky vanilla taste.
• You can always add more pecans if you want.
• It is fine to make this the day or two before your event.
• I have heard that this freezes well, but I haven’t tried it myself.
• It does make lovely leftovers. We usually can eat on this for several days.
• Reheat in the oven or in the microwave.

More Great Sweet Potato Recipes from Loaves and Dishes…

Roasted Garlic Rosemary Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potato Breakfast Bake

Sweet Potato Cobbler

Easy Sweet Potato Hashbrowns

Southern Sweet Potato Biscuits

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Southern Sweet Potato Casserole

An easy recipe for Southern Sweet Potato Casserole

5 from 4 votes

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Course: Side

Cuisine: American

Keyword: sweet potato casserole, yam casserole

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 310kcal

Author: Wendi Spraker

Ingredients

• 3 lbs Sweet Potatoes peeled and cut into 1” cubes.
• 1/2 Cup packed dark brown sugar
• ¼ Cup whole unsalted butter - melted
• 1 Cup mini marshmallows
• 1 inch fresh ginger - peeled and grated
• ½ cup maple syrup
• 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp real vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract
• ¼ cup finely chopped pecans
• 2 cups mini marshmallows

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375.
• Place the cubed sweet potatoes in a large stock pot and cover with water.  Bring to a boil over high heat. When boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes until all of the potato pieces are fork tender.
• Drain the potatoes and allow to cool slightly.
• Place the potatoes back into the stock pot.  Add the brown sugar, butter, 1 Cup of marshmallows, grated ginger, maple syrup, salt, pepper, vanilla, almond extract and pecans and use a potato masher to mash the potatoes and mix all the ingredients together with the potatoes.
• Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and pour the contents of the stock pot out into the baking dish.  Top with the remaining 2 Cups of mini marshmallows.
• Bake at 375 for 25-35 minutes until the tops of the marshmallows are golden brown.
• Serve warm.

Notes

• Be sure to cut the potatoes into as even pieces as you are able.
• It is ok to substitute margarine for the butter if you need to, but I don’t recommend it.
• It is ok to substitute full size marshmallows if you need to, but  cut them into smaller pieces to mix into the sweet potato mixture so that they melt easily.
• Do not substitute dried ginger for the fresh.  If you can’t find fresh ginger, just leave it out. Dried/powdered ginger has a tendency to taste bitter. 
• Be sure to use real vanilla not imitation.  The imitation will give a fake yucky vanilla taste.
• You can always add more pecans if you want.
• It is fine to make this the day or two before your event.
• This freezes well, but I haven’t tried it myself.
• It does make lovely leftovers. We usually can eat on this for several days.
• Reheat in the oven or in the microwave.

PRO TIP:  Have the butter and the other ingredients ready to mix in right away.  As soon as you drain the potatoes, put them back into the hot pot and add the other ingredients.  The warm temp, helps meld everything together and makes mashing and mixing more easy. 

 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Southern Sweet Potato Casserole

Amount Per Serving

Calories 310 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 3g15%

Cholesterol 12mg4%

Sodium 481mg20%

Potassium 520mg15%

Carbohydrates 62g21%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 35g39%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 19445IU389%

Vitamin C 3.3mg4%

Calcium 71mg7%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

***This recipe first appeared on the pages of Loaves and Dishes on August 16, 2018 and has been updated with “why this recipe works”, step by step photo instructions, more frequently asked questions, nutrition information and video. PHOTO CREDIT:  Christine Rooney***

A VERSE TO SHARE

How do you treat those who are known liars, thieves and cheats? Do you welcome them into your home, forgive them and feed them a meal? How about give them a hug and a pat on the back?

If you are like me, probably not. Like most, you probably steer clear and wish them the best.

Yet, who hears our prayers in the morning? Who invites us in the door and waves their hand to say, “Sit at my table”? Thankfully, our Lord does.

Dear Lord, help me to be more like you. Amen. (I hope you will read the whole passage in your own Bible).

Psalm 5: 7

But I, by your great love,

can come into your house;

in reverence I bow down

toward your holy temple.