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Best Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 129 reviews
  • Author: Charlotte
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

This Best Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole is a comforting, classic side dish featuring creamy mashed sweet potatoes enriched with butter, brown sugar, and pecans, topped with toasted mini marshmallows and crunchy pecans. Perfectly baked to golden perfection, this casserole offers a delightful balance of sweet and nutty flavors with a pleasant texture that is ideal for holiday dinners or cozy family meals.

Ingredients

Scale

Sweet Potato Base

  • 2 1/2 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter (preferably Kerrygold for richness)
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

Topping

  • 2 cups mini marshmallows (optional but recommended)
  • 1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped
  • Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Generously spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, ensuring the bottom and sides are coated to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
  2. Boil Sweet Potatoes: Place the peeled and cut sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are fork-tender and easily pierced. Drain in a colander and let cool for about 5 minutes to make mashing easier without breaking apart completely.
  3. Mash and Mix Sweet Potatoes: Transfer the cooled sweet potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Add brown sugar, unsalted butter, salt, and vanilla extract. Mash the mixture to your desired consistency, preferably leaving it slightly chunky to maintain texture. Fold in 1/4 cup of finely chopped pecans evenly throughout the mixture.
  4. Assemble Casserole: Evenly spread the sweet potato mixture in the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of chopped pecans evenly over the surface, then arrange the mini marshmallows on top in a single layer, spacing them slightly for optimal puffing and browning during baking.
  5. Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes until the marshmallows are puffed up and golden brown. Keep a close eye during the final few minutes to avoid burning as marshmallows can quickly go from golden to charred.
  6. Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow it to set slightly, making it easier to portion and serve.

Notes

  • Using pure vanilla extract enhances the flavor over imitation vanilla.
  • Leaving the sweet potato mash slightly chunky adds pleasant texture to the dish.
  • Spraying the baking dish thoroughly prevents sticking and simplifies cleanup.
  • Keep a close watch on marshmallows during baking to avoid burning.
  • Optional marshmallows can be omitted or replaced with a streusel topping for a less sweet variation.
  • This dish pairs wonderfully with roasted meats and green vegetable sides for holiday meals.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes plus 15-20 minutes boiling
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: sweet potato casserole, holiday side dish, marshmallow topping, pecan sweet potatoes, classic casserole, old fashioned sweet potato casserole

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Find it online: https://tastyadventureguide.com/best-old-fashioned-sweet-potato-casserole-recipe/