Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole

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This easy Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is loaded with brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and topped with toasty marshmallows and cinnamon streusel! It’s the best sweet potato side dish to compliment to your Thanksgiving meal!

Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows Is One of My Favorites

My favorite part of any holiday meal is always the sweet potato casserole. Always. It’s basically earmarked for me. And depending on the number of people joining us for the meal, we may even need to make me my own separate one. At the very least, about half of the casserole is mine. It just is. 🙂 If you take my casserole, you might get some seriously dirty looks. I love it. And it makes sense – it’s like dessert that’s called a side. My kind of side!

A scoop of Loaded Sweet Potatoes being taken with a wooden spoon

This Easy Casserole Is Made With Fresh Sweet Potatoes

Growing up, we always made a more traditional sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and used canned sweet potatoes. It’s what I’ve been making for years, so of course I’m a fan.

But lately I’ve been thinking it’d be fun to switch it up. Plus, I’ve been really enjoying fresh sweet potatoes these days and wanted to incorporate them into a new sweet potato casserole. So I decided to ramp up my traditional version and make it even better with fresh sweet potatoes and a combination of marshmallows and streusel. If it’s possible to make sweet potato casserole better, it’s definitely with streusel!

Loaded Sweet Potatoes with a serving removed in a white oval casserole dish on a wooden table
Overhead view of Loaded Sweet Potatoes in a white oval casserole dish on a wooden table

How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole

To make this sweet potato casserole, you’ll start off by making the homemade mashed sweet potatoes. Peel and chop up the sweet potatoes and boil them in water until they’re nice and tender. Drain the potatoes and mash them until they’re how you like them. I’m a fan of a pretty smooth mashed sweet potato, but feel free to leave some chunks, if you like.

Next, add your milk, butter, eggs and seasonings. I’ve used plenty of brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, plus some vanilla extract for the ultimate in flavor! Plenty of sweetness and plenty of spice. Just the way sweet potato casserole should be!

To take things to the next level, it’s time for the topping! While you could always just go with marshmallows on their own, the streusel really ramps things up. A little more sweet, a little more cinnamon and nutmeg and a lot more yum!

The casserole is baked in the oven prior to adding the topping, then the topping is added for the last 10 minutes or so.

Can Sweet Potato Casserole Be Made Ahead Of Time?

One of the great things about so many Thanksgiving casseroles is that they can be prepared ahead of time – this one included. The sweet potatoes can easily be prepared and combined and added to the casserole dish a couple days ahead. Just cover the dish and store in the fridge until you’re ready to prepare it. You can either bring the casserole to room temperature before heating it, or put it right in the oven. Just keep in mind that if you put it straight into the oven, it might take a little more time to heat through.

Even the streusel can be made ahead and then added to the casserole when the time comes. Score!

This Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is loaded with all that’s good and it makes the best Thanksgiving side dish! It’s a great way to spice up the more traditional sweet potato casserole and incorporate fresh, homemade mashed sweet potatoes. The sweet marshmallows and streusel are totally delicious! I hope you enjoy it!

A scoop of Loaded Sweet Potatoes being taken with a wooden spoon

More Casserole Recipes You Might Like:

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Classic Green Bean Casserole
Overnight Cinnamon Apple French Toast Casserole
Overnight Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole

Print
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A scoop of Loaded Sweet Potatoes being taken with a wooden spoon
Recipe

Sweet Potato Casserole

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 10
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Complete with plenty of warm spices and a gooey marshmallow streusel topping, this easy Sweet Potato Casserole is a Thanksgiving must-make. It’s super easy to prepare with fresh sweet potatoes!


Ingredients

For the Sweet Potato Filling

  • 3 lbs fresh sweet potatoes (45 large sweet potatoes), peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) milk
  • 1 cup (225g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup (56g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

For the Marshmallow Streusel Topping

  • 1/3 cup (44g) all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup (75g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  • Pinch of ground cloves
  • 3 tbsp (42g) salted butter, melted
  • 23 cups marshmallows

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
  2. Put the sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring the water to a boil and boil until the potatoes are fork tender, about 8 minutes.
  3. Drain the potatoes and return to the pot. Mash the potatoes until they are your desired level of smoothness.
  4. Add the milk, brown sugar, butter, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and salt to the potatoes and stir until well combined.
  5. Pour the potatoes into a 9×13 casserole dish. At this point you can cover the dish and refrigerate for up to two days before cooking, or you can put them in the oven right away. Heat them until cooked through, 25-30 minutes (might take less time if you’re cooking them right away).
  6. While the potatoes are cooking (or you could also prepare this ahead of time), combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves for the streusel topping.
  7. Add the melted butter and stir until well combined.
  8. When the casserole is heated through, remove it from the oven and top it with the marshmallows and streusel. I like to add some marshmallows, then the streusel, then the remaining marshmallows.
  9. Bake for another 10-15 minutes. If you want to brown the marshmallows a little more, turn the oven to the broil setting at 400°F until they’ve browned to your liking. Serve casserole warm.

Notes

  • Makes 8-10 servings.
  • To Make Ahead: After transferring filling to casserole dish, cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. If you bake without bringing it to room temperature, initial cook time will be closer to 30 minutes. Dry topping ingredients can be combined in advance as well and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
  • To Store & Reheat: Keep cooled casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat large portions in a 350°F oven until warmed through. Individual servings can be warmed up in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.
  • To Freeze: Baked casserole filling can be frozen before topping is added. Let cool completely, then tightly cover with two layers of clear wrap or foil and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge and bake for 5 minutes or so to warm up filling before adding streusel and marshmallows. This way, you won’t have to choose between a cold filling and an over-browned topping.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Slice
  • Calories: 323
  • Sugar: 37.9 g
  • Sodium: 102.7 mg
  • Fat: 9.9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 56 g
  • Protein: 4.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 60.4 mg

Categories

Enjoy!

Lindsay
About Lindsay

I'm a wife and a mom to twin boys and a baby girl! And I've got a serious sweets addiction! Bring on the treats!

Scripture I’m Loving

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29