Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Crumble

This sweet potato casserole with pecan crumble is a wonderful take on a classic holiday dish with a crumbly topping and a spiced sweet potato mash. It requires less than 30 minutes of hand-on time. Once the dish is assembled, you can forget about it as it bakes in the oven, leaving you with time to devote to the other components of your dinner.

Sweet potato casserole is a Thanksgiving dinner favorite with its brilliant orange color and crunchy pecan topping. While sweet potato casseroles often include a marshmallow topping, this one has a pecan crumble topping which offers a rich and buttery flavor and a crunchy texture that contrasts beautifully with the sweet potato layer. This dish is also an easy make-head dish that you can reheat in the oven. It is easy to scale up using a larger baking dish if you would like to serve a large gathering.

This sweet potato casserole is the best side dish to serve with other hearty dishes like my Roasted Cajun Turkey, Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes, or Fresh Green Bean Casserole.

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole

This sweet potato casserole is attractive enough to serve for an elegant holiday meal while also being easy enough to make at any time of the year for dinner. The combination of the buttery pecan topping and cinnamon-spiced sweet potato mixture makes this dish a family dinner favorite. 

• Less Than 30 Minutes Hands-on Time: This easy casserole recipe requires around 20 minutes of hands-on time. It is great when you have a large meal to prepare. Simply make a mashed sweet potato mixture with baked sweet potatoes before mixing the crumble ingredients, assembling the casserole, and baking it in the oven. 
• A Make-Ahead Dish: If you have a large meal to prepare for your holiday dinner, you will appreciate the fact that you can make this one ahead of time. You can make the dish from beginning to end, and cover it with plastic wrap before placing it in the fridge. Then, you can warm it up in the oven before serving it with your protein and other side dishes.
• Easy to Scale Up: If you would like a sweet potato casserole that serves more, you could easily scale up this recipe. For example, you can double the mashed sweet potato mixture and crumble topping, and bake it in a larger casserole dish or two 8 x 11-inch casserole dishes.

Ingredients You Need

Note: The full list of ingredients with measurements is provided in the recipe card below.

• Sweet Potatoes – An essential component of this recipe, fresh sweet potatoes have a sweet taste and beautiful color. I don’t recommend canned sweet potatoes as fresh is so much better. But if you’re in a pinch, you can use canned.
• Butter – Unsalted butter adds flavor and ensures that the sweet potato mash is extra creamy. 
• Half-and-half – Half-and-half has a higher fat content than milk but less fat than whipping cream. However, if you don’t have it on hand, you could easily substitute it with whole milk or heavy cream. It will just be more or less rich depending on what you choose to use.
• Eggs – Eggs help the sweet potato mixture bind together and set up during the baking process.
• Honey – Liquid honey enhances the sweetness of the sweet potato mixture in this recipe. However, if you don’t have it on hand, maple syrup would work, too.
• Vanilla Extract – A hint of vanilla is wonderful in this casserole and enhances the flavors in the entire dish.
• Ground Cinnamon – Cinnamon offers a warming quality to the dish.
• Ground Nutmeg – A small amount of nutmeg adds a hint of spice to the casserole.
• Ground Ginger – Robust and spicy, the ground ginger pairs beautifully with the cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Dark Brown Sugar – With a sweet molasses taste, dark brown sugar imparts richness and a depth of flavor to the casserole.
• Pecans – An essential component, the pecans add a sweet, buttery taste and crunchy texture.
• Old-fashioned Oats – Old-fashioned oats enhance the texture of the crumble while adding extra fiber and nutrition. 

TIP: Choose small or medium-sized sweet potatoes which tend to have a sweeter taste and better texture than larger sweet potatoes. They will also roast more quickly in the oven.

How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans

This easy sweet potato casserole recipe requires minimal hands on prep, making it a great choice for Thanksgiving dinner or as a side dish on any holiday table.

1. Bake the Sweet Potatoes: Prick the sweet potatoes all over with a fork and roast them in a 400°F (200°C) oven until they are soft, about 45 to 55 minutes.
   
   TIP: Poking holes in the sweet potatoes will help them bake evenly and prevent them from exploding in the oven. Simply use a fork to poke holes all over each sweet potato before roasting them.
   
2. Allow the potatoes to cool slightly before peeling them and placing their flesh in a large bowl. Mash the sweet potatoes until smooth.

3. Make the Base: Brown the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until it is browned and smells nutty, about 5 minutes.
4. To the bowl of mashed sweet potatoes, add the browned butter, half-and-half, eggs, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, brown sugar, and salt. Stir until combined.

3. Make the Crumble Topping: In a medium bowl, stir the pecans with the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the butter and stir until the mixture is a crumble texture.
4. Assemble the Casserole: Grease an 8 x 11-inch casserole dish. Spread the sweet potato mixture into the dish in an even layer. Sprinkle the crumble on top in an even layer.
5. Bake: Bake in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 40 to 45 minutes until the topping is golden and crisp. Allow the casserole to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Tip: For a more spiced sweet potato mash, feel free to add more cinnamon or ginger to taste.

Expert Tips

• Make the Sweet Potatoes Extra Creamy: If you would like to ensure your sweet potato mash is very creamy, you can use a handheld electric mixer to whip the potatoes instead of using a potato masher.
• Use Fresh Pecans: Nuts can go rancid quickly so make sure you check that the pecans you use are fresh before beginning this recipe, especially if they have been sitting in your pantry for a while. 
• Use Even-Sized Sweet Potatoes: Using similar-sized sweet potatoes will ensure they all bake at the same time. However, if you have sweet potatoes that are different sizes, you can simply keep an eye on them and pull ones that are cooked first out of the oven while the larger ones continue baking.

Recipe FAQs

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

To make ahead, prepare the sweet potato casserole without baking it, then cover it with plastic wrap or foil and store in the fridge for up to 48 hours.

Remove the casserole from the fridge and bake according to the recipe instructions. You may need to bake it a little longer once chilling.

Store leftover sweet potato casserole in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat prior to serving.