Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole is a crowd-pleasing, naturally sweet, and savory side dish that elevates any holiday feast. This creamy, comforting casserole combines the earthy sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes with a buttery, crunchy pecan streusel topping, making it an essential part of your festive spread. It’s a fantastic way to add vibrant flavor and a touch of indulgence to your Thanksgiving table without too much fuss.
Key Ingredients for Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole
To create this unforgettable Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole, gather these essential ingredients:
- Sweet Potatoes: 3 lbs (about 6-7 medium-sized) sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks. Look for bright orange, firm sweet potatoes for the best flavor and texture.
- Unsalted Butter: 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus 4 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter for the topping. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content.
- Granulated Sugar: 1/2 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste depending on the sweetness of your potatoes and personal preference).
- Brown Sugar: 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, for the topping. This adds a caramel-like sweetness and richness.
- Milk: 1/2 cup whole milk. You can use half-and-half or heavy cream for an even richer casserole.
- Eggs: 2 large eggs, lightly beaten. These act as a binding agent, giving the casserole a custardy texture.
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
- Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- Ground Nutmeg: 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg.
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt (or to taste).
- All-Purpose Flour: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, for the topping.
- Pecans: 1 cup chopped pecans, for the topping. Toasting them lightly before adding enhances their flavor.
How to Make Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole
This Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole offers a delightful blend of creamy sweetness and a crunchy, buttery pecan streusel that will become the star of your holiday meal. It’s surprisingly easy to prepare, combining straightforward steps with incredibly satisfying results. You’ll love its simple elegance and decadent taste. With a preparation time of approximately 30 minutes and a baking time of 30-35 minutes, it’s a manageable addition to any busy Thanksgiving kitchen.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Prepare the Sweet Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the peeled and chopped sweet potatoes on a baking sheet. Roast for 25-30 minutes, or until fork-tender. This method enhances their natural sweetness and reduces moisture compared to boiling. Alternatively, you can boil the sweet potatoes in a large pot of salted water until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain well.
- Mash the Sweet Potatoes: Transfer the cooked sweet potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Add the 1/2 cup melted butter, granulated sugar, milk, beaten eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mash thoroughly with a potato masher until smooth and creamy. For an extra smooth consistency, you can use an electric mixer. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Prepare the Pecan Topping: In a separate medium bowl, combine the 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, and 1 cup chopped pecans. Cut in the 4 tablespoons of cold unsalted butter using a pastry blender, a fork, or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbles.
- Assemble the Casserole: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread the mashed sweet potato mixture evenly into the prepared dish.
- Add the Topping: Sprinkle the pecan streusel topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly around the edges. Keep an eye on the topping to prevent burning; if it starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the casserole to set slightly.
Why You’ll Love This Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole
You’ll truly adore this Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole for its heartwarming blend of creamy, velvety sweet potato and the satisfying crunch of its buttery pecan streusel. It’s an absolute game-changer for your holiday spread, offering a delightful counterpoint to savory dishes and a beautiful splash of color. Not only is it incredibly flavorful, surpassing any store-bought version, but making it at home also saves you money without compromising on quality or taste.
The magic truly lies in those toasted pecans and the hint of cinnamon and nutmeg in every bite, creating a comforting aroma that fills your home. Unlike a simple candied sweet potato dish, this casserole offers complex textures and a balanced sweetness that’s neither cloying nor bland. We urge you to whip up this magnificent dish yourself this holiday season; your taste buds (and your wallet!) will thank you!
What to Serve Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole With
Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole is incredibly versatile and pairs beautifully with a variety of classic holiday dishes. Its sweet and savory profile makes it an excellent complement to rich meats and savory sides.
- Roasted Turkey or Ham: The sweetness of the casserole provides a perfect contrast to the savory notes of a perfectly roasted turkey or a glazed ham.
- Green Bean Casserole: For a complete classic Thanksgiving lineup, serve it alongside a creamy green bean casserole.
- Cranberry Sauce: The tartness of homemade cranberry sauce cuts through the richness of the sweet potatoes beautifully.
- Dinner Rolls: Soft, warm dinner rolls are perfect for soaking up any extra bits of that delicious sweet potato mixture.
- Braised Collard Greens: A smoky, slightly bitter green like collard greens offers another layer of flavor and texture contrast.
- Cornbread Dressing/Stuffing: The classic savory stuffing provides a hearty, herbaceous balance to the sweet casserole.
- Sparkling Cider or Wine: A crisp sparkling cider or a semi-dry Riesling would complement the flavors without overpowering them.
Top Tips for Perfecting Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole
Achieving the perfect Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole is easier than you think with a few expert tips:
- Roast, Don’t Boil, Your Sweet Potatoes: While boiling is quicker, roasting sweet potatoes brings out their natural sugars and deepens their flavor significantly. It also prevents the casserole from becoming watery. If you must boil, ensure they are very well drained.
- Don’t Over-mix the Topping: When making the streusel, mix until just combined and crumbly. Over-mixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to a tough topping rather than a crisp, buttery one.
- Adjust Sweetness to Taste: Sweet potatoes vary in sweetness. Taste your mashed sweet potato mixture before adding the eggs (for food safety) and adjust the sugar content if needed. Some prefer a sweeter casserole, while others like it less so.
- For an Even Creamier Texture: For an extra smooth and luscious sweet potato base, pass the cooked and mashed sweet potatoes through a food mill or use an immersion blender before adding the other ingredients.
- Prevent a Burned Topping: If your topping is browning too quickly before the casserole is fully heated through, loosely tent the baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Substitute Pecans: If you don’t like pecans or have an allergy, chopped walnuts, almonds, or even rolled oats can be used for the streusel topping for a different texture and flavor profile.
- Make Ahead Option: You can assemble the entire casserole (without baking) up to 2 days in advance. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time if baking from cold. You can also prepare the sweet potato base and topping separately; store in the fridge and combine just before baking.
Storing and Reheating Tips
To ensure your Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole remains delicious for days, proper storage is key:
- Refrigeration: Once cooled to room temperature, cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. It will last in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Store the casserole whole to maintain its moisture and flavor.
- Freezing: For longer storage, this casserole freezes beautifully. Allow the cooked casserole to cool completely. You can freeze it whole in the baking dish (if freezer-safe) covered tightly with several layers of plastic wrap and aluminum foil, or portions can be transferred to freezer-safe containers for individual servings. It will keep in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
- Reheating (from Refrigerator): To reheat the entire casserole, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through. For individual servings, microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway, until warmed.
- Reheating (from Freezer): Thaw the frozen casserole in the refrigerator overnight. Then, reheat in the oven as described above for refrigerated leftovers, adding another 10-15 minutes to the baking time, or until heated through. Alternatively, you can bake from frozen, covered with foil, at 350°F (175°C) for 45-60 minutes, then uncover for the last 10 minutes to crisp up the topping.
Final Thoughts
This Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole is a truly special dish, bringing together comforting flavors and textures that embody the spirit of the holidays. Its rich, creamy base crowned with a crunchy, sweet pecan topping is simply irresistible. Make it a cherished part of your family tradition this year—you won’t regret it!
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
- Matcha Cake Recipe
- find more in Pinterest
Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole FAQs
Q1: Can I make Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole ahead of time?
A1: Yes, absolutely! You can prepare the sweet potato base and the streusel topping up to 2 days in advance and store them separately in the refrigerator. Assemble and bake just before serving. You can also assemble the entire casserole, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 2 days before baking.
Q2: What if I don’t have fresh sweet potatoes? Can I use canned?
A2: While fresh sweet potatoes are highly recommended for the best flavor and texture, you can use canned sweet potatoes (packed in water, not syrup), drained very well. Ensure they are plain sweet potatoes and adjust the sugar in the recipe accordingly as canned varieties can sometimes be sweeter.
Q3: Can I make this Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole without nuts?
A3: Yes, you can. Simply omit the pecans from the streusel topping. You can substitute with a different crunchy topping like crushed cornflakes, rolled oats, or even toasted coconut flakes for a different flavor profile, or just use the buttery brown sugar and flour mixture.
Q4: How do I prevent my casserole from being watery?
A4: The best way to prevent a watery casserole is to roast your sweet potatoes instead of boiling them, as roasting removes more moisture. If boiling, ensure they are drained thoroughly and mashed well to remove as much excess water as possible.
Q5: Can I add marshmallows instead of a pecan streusel?
A5: Yes, a marshmallow topping is a very popular alternative! If you prefer marshmallows, omit the pecan streusel. During the last 5-10 minutes of baking, top the casserole with an even layer of mini marshmallows and bake until they are golden brown and puffed up. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
Q6: What if my sweet potatoes aren’t very sweet naturally?
A6: You can taste the mashed sweet potato mixture (before adding eggs) and adjust the granulated sugar content to your preference. A tiny pinch of extra salt can also help to bring out the natural sweetness.
Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the peeled and chopped sweet potatoes on a baking sheet. Roast for 25-30 minutes, or until fork-tender. This method enhances their natural sweetness and reduces moisture compared to boiling. Alternatively, you can boil the sweet potatoes in a large pot of salted water until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain well.3 lbs sweet potatoes
- Transfer the cooked sweet potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Add the 1/2 cup melted butter, granulated sugar, milk, beaten eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mash thoroughly with a potato masher until smooth and creamy. For an extra smooth consistency, you can use an electric mixer. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.3 lbs sweet potatoes, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup whole milk, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- In a separate medium bowl, combine the 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, and 1 cup chopped pecans. Cut in the 4 tablespoons of cold unsalted butter using a pastry blender, a fork, or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbles.1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup chopped pecans, 4 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread the mashed sweet potato mixture evenly into the prepared dish.
- Sprinkle the pecan streusel topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly around the edges. Keep an eye on the topping to prevent burning; if it starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.
- Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the casserole to set slightly.