Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
This Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole is a classic holiday side dish featuring tender mashed sweet potatoes mixed with brown sugar, butter, and vanilla, topped with crunchy pecans and gooey mini marshmallows. Baked to golden perfection, it’s a comforting and nostalgic treat perfect for family gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potato Mixture
- 2 ½ pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup pecans, chopped
Topping
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- ¼ cup pecans, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Sweet Potatoes: Place the peeled and cubed sweet potatoes into a large pot of boiling water. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the potatoes are tender, approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Drain and Mash: Drain the cooked sweet potatoes well and transfer them into a large mixing bowl. Mash the sweet potatoes thoroughly while adding in the brown sugar, softened butter, salt, and vanilla extract until smooth and evenly combined.
- Add Pecans and Assemble: Fold in ¼ cup of chopped pecans into the mashed sweet potato mixture. Spread this mixture evenly in the prepared casserole dish. Then, sprinkle the top with the mini marshmallows and the remaining ¼ cup chopped pecans.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are bubbly and the marshmallows are puffed and lightly golden brown on top.
Notes
- For an extra crunchy topping, you can toast the pecans lightly before adding them.
- If you prefer a less sweet casserole, reduce the amount of brown sugar slightly.
- Make sure to drain the sweet potatoes well after boiling to avoid a watery casserole.
- You can prepare this dish a day in advance; assemble and refrigerate, then bake before serving.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
Keywords: sweet potato casserole, holiday side dish, baked sweet potatoes, marshmallow topping, pecan topping, classic casserole
