Since I have been making sweet potato pies lately, I have strayed away from making another favorite sweet potato dish – southern sweet potato casserole. This year, I made both – the pie for my father-in-law and the sweet potato casserole recipe for Reggie and the boys.
Sweet potato casserole is a classic Southern comfort food dish. It has also become a Thanksgiving staple in my home. I’m a recipe minimalist/don’t have time for complicated recipes. That is why I’m sharing my super quick and easy take on this Southern favorite.
I remember being introduced to the sweet potato casserole dish over a decade ago around Thanksgiving. Cynthia, a women’s ministry leader in my fellowship of churches, was famous for her old fashioned sweet potato casserole. While I didn’t get this exact recipe from her, it’s close. I (along with family and friends who have tasted this dish) think that the version I developed is also delicious.
The beauty of this recipe is that it minimizes long prep times without sacrificing flavor. The key is in the sweet potato itself. Microwaving the whole sweet potato saves times by eliminating peeling and boiling. Then again, you can’t really go wrong with mashing together a combination of sweet potatoes, butter, vanilla and flavorful spices. (No electric mixer necessary!)
Customize Your Casserole:
Many people include chopped nuts (i.e. walnuts or pecans), marshmallows or even pineapple in their casserole topping. I stick to a simple brown sugar topping though because “my guys” don’t really like those other options. If you are feeling adventurous or want to experiment, try adding some pecans or walnuts for a nutty crunch. Marshmallows, pineapple or a drizzle of maple syrup over the top before baking makes this sweet dish even sweeter. There are many possibilities!
Southern Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 medium sweet potatoes
- 6 tbsp butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp butter, room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F Lightly butter the inside of a 1.5 quart glass baking dish.
- Microwave the sweet potatoes (with the skin on) until they are soft to the touch. This will take approximately 10 – 15 minutes depending on your microwave’s temperature and the exact size of the potatoes.
- Place the sweet potatoes in a colander in the sink and run cold water over them as you gently peel off the skins.
- In a large bowl, mash the sweet potato with a potato masher. Add the 6 tbsp butter, white sugar, milk, eggs, pumpkin spice, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Mash everything together until the mixture is smooth.
- Using a large spoon, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure that everything is well-mixed. Use a small spoon to taste the sweet potato mixture to see if it is at your desired sweetness and consistency. (If not, feel free to add additional sugar, butter and milk…to taste.) Spread the mixture into the buttered baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients (brown sugar, flour and 3 tbsp butter) using a fork or your fingers. When the mixture is crumbly, sprinkle the topping over the sweet potato mixture in the baking dish. Set the bowl aside.
- Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- You can double the casserole batch. This is perfect for large gatherings or you can save the other half for later.
- This is also one of those recipes that I sometime make ahead of time. When I am making multiple dishes for a large meal, I simply assemble the casserole the day before (or the morning of). Then, I bake it just before serving.
- Pumpkin spice can be hard to find, so I sometimes make my own with this CDKitchen recipe
Although this recipe is quick enough for busy weeknights, I primarily make it for holiday gatherings or potluck meals – not just for the four of us in my household. (We need to have our butter and sugar in moderation!)
For more delicious Thanksgiving recipes, you can read my 9 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes and Mom in the City’s 9 Best Recipes For Thanksgiving Desserts posts.
Meanwhile, if you found this recipe helpful, please share it. Thanks!