Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

As much as I love to mix things up when it comes to everyday meals, I love to focus on traditional side dishes for holiday dinners. It’s part of what everyone looks forward to!

Quite often it’s the Turkey or Crockpot Ham with Pineapple that’s highlighted, yet truthfully it’s those comforting side dishes that I crave the most. Crockpot Stuffing, Easy Baking Powder Biscuits, and Homemade Cranberry Jelly – I’m looking at you!

Sweet potatoes are a common food to serve during the fall and winter months, and are also commonly found on the Thanksgiving Table or served at Christmas dinner.

We love to alternate between Candied Sweet Potatoes, and this Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows recipe.

Both of these options combine a flavors of both savory and sweet, for a dessert-like holiday side dish that stands out among the rest.

What is Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows?

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows and Pecans is a comforting dish that combines savory mashed sweet potatoes with the sweetness of brown sugar with a melty topping of pillowy soft marshmallows.

Toasty pecans give the dish some texture and crunch. Plus the flavors of vanilla and cinnamon provide the warm flavors of fall.

While it’s considered a southern dish, the popularity grew giving it a traditional title pretty much everywhere.

Can I Make Sweet Potato Casserole without Marshmallows?

Of course! Simply omit the marshmallows if you so choose. You can also swap the pecans for walnuts, or leave those out too.

I’m an advocate for both, since they bring so much to the dish. Yet, the beauty of tastes and cuisine – we are all different, so technically it’s optional.

If you do want non-sweet sweet potato recipe, consider our Cheesy Mashed Sweet Potato Casserole perhaps.

Now that you know your options, let’s dive into this best sweet potato casserole recipe and why it’s a great addition to your holiday table.

Perfect for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas, or even Easter – it’s also such an easy side dish to make, that you can even serve it for a Sunday dinner.

Here are the simple ingredients required to make Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows and Pecans. As always, the full recipe is on the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. 
   
2. Grease a 9×13 baking dish (casserole dish) with the stick of butter. Set aside. 
   
3. Peel and cube the sweet potatoes, ensuring they are of even size. Peel and cubing before boiling reduces the cooking time.
   
4. Place the sweet potatoes in a large pot. Cover with water. Boil under fork tender. Boil for 7-12  minutes. Drain the potatoes and return to the pot. Turn off the heat.
   
5. Add the butter, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and vanilla extract.
   
6. Mix with a hand mixer (electric mixer) for 2-3 minutes or until smooth and creamy. If you’d prefer a little texture, mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher instead.
   
7. Taste to see if any additional sugar or salt is needed. 
   
   
8. Add 1 cup of the pecans to the sweet potato mixture. Mix with a spoon until combined.
   
   
   
9. Transfer the potatoes to the prepared baking dish. 
   
10. Top with the marshmallows and the remainder of the pecans. 
    
11. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 12 minutes. If the baking dish is quite full, place it on a baking sheet to prevent any spills in the oven.
    
12. Turn the oven to broil at high or 375°F for 1 minute or until the marshmallows are golden brown. Serve warm and enjoy!

Make Ahead Instructions

This easy sweet potato casserole recipe is great for making ahead of time, which. isideal during those holiday dinners when there’s plenty to do.

To do so, refrigerate the casserole (without the marshmallow and pecan topping on it), for up to 48 hours in advance.

Make sure to remove the casserole from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking, because cold sweet potatoes take a lot longer to warm through.

If not, simply cook the casserole (without the topping on) for 15-20 minutes, then add the topping and continue to cook.

What to Serve with Sweet Potato Casserole

Traditional sweet potato casserole pairs wonderfully with Ham such as our Slow Cooker Ham with Pineapple or Pepper Jelly Cranberry Ham.

This classic sweet potato casserole recipe is also great with Turkey. To free up oven space, make sure to try our Smoked Turkey Recipe or this easy Air Fryer Turkey.

A great dessert pairing is our Easy Pineapple Fluff Recipe.

Storage and Reheating

You can store leftover sweet potato casserole in an airtight container or covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To heat up the leftovers of this sweet side dish, you can use the microwave or heat in the oven at 375°F for 10 minutes.

More Holiday Side Dish Recipes