Sweet potato casserole with pecan or marshmallow topping

The short answer: this sweet potato casserole serves 10 to 12 and starts with about 3 1/2 pounds of sweet potatoes, mashed with brown sugar, butter, milk, 2 eggs, vanilla and cinnamon.

• Top with pecan streusel or mini marshmallows
• Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes
• Set when the center is hot and slightly puffed
• Swaps and a make-ahead plan
• Next step: Plan it with the Holiday Season Bundle ($15.99).

Prep time: 15 minCook time: 2 hr 30 minTotal time: 2 hr 55 minServings: 10 to 12 servingsTotal includes 10 min of resting, chilling or rising.

This sweet potato casserole serves 10 to 12 and starts with about 3 1/2 pounds of sweet potatoes. Roast or boil the potatoes until soft, then mash them with brown sugar, butter, milk, 2 eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Spread the mash in a 9x13-inch dish, cover it with a pecan streusel or mini marshmallows, and bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes. It's set when the center is hot and slightly puffed.

I love cooking for the holidays, and this is the side dish that people quietly go back for. It's sweet enough to feel like a treat and simple enough to make a day ahead. Below you'll find the base recipe, both classic toppings and a make-ahead plan.

Ingredients for sweet potato casserole

For the filling

Pecan streusel topping

Marshmallow topping: about 3 cups of mini marshmallows.

How to make sweet potato casserole, step by step

1. Cook the potatoes. Roast whole, pricked sweet potatoes at 400°F for 45 to 60 minutes, until very soft. Or peel, cube and boil them for 15 to 20 minutes, then drain well.
2. Heat the oven. Set it to 350°F and butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.
3. Mash. Scoop or tip the hot potatoes into a large bowl and mash until smooth. You should have about 4 cups.
4. Mix the filling. Stir in the brown sugar, melted butter, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Taste it now, before the eggs go in, and adjust the sugar or salt.
5. Add the eggs. Beat the eggs and stir them in until the mixture is even.
6. Spread it out. Smooth the filling into the dish.
7. Make the topping. For streusel, rub the flour, brown sugar, salt and cold butter together until crumbly, then stir in the pecans. Scatter it over the top.
8. Bake. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the center is hot and the topping is browned.
9. Marshmallow version. Bake the casserole plain for 25 minutes. Add the marshmallows and bake 8 to 10 minutes more, until puffed and golden. Watch closely, since they brown fast.
10. Rest. Let it stand 10 minutes before serving.

The filling contains raw eggs, so bake it all the way through. FoodSafety.gov lists 160°F for egg dishes and 165°F for casseroles and reheated leftovers. An instant-read thermometer in the center takes the guessing out of it.

Pecan streusel vs marshmallow topping

Can't choose? Put streusel on one half and marshmallows on the other. Add the marshmallows only for the last 8 to 10 minutes.

Sweet potato casserole swaps

• Less sugar: Cut the filling sugar to 1/4 cup. Roasted sweet potatoes are naturally sweet.
• No eggs: Leave them out and bake just until hot. The casserole will be softer and more like a mash.
• Dairy-free: Use plant butter and oat or almond milk.
• Orange twist: Add 1 teaspoon orange zest and swap 2 tablespoons of the milk for orange juice.
• Canned sweet potatoes: Use about three 29-ounce cans, drained well. Cut the brown sugar to 1/4 cup, since canned yams are often packed in syrup.

If you want a stovetop side with a glossy syrup instead, our candied yams recipe is the one to make. For dessert, see sweet potato pie.

Make ahead, storage and reheating

This is one of the most helpful dishes to make before the holiday.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says to refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and reheat them to 165°F. The FoodSafety.gov cold storage chart gives casseroles with eggs 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 2 to 3 months in the freezer. Freeze it without marshmallows, then add a fresh layer when you reheat.

How much sweet potato casserole to make

Planning the rest of the table? Our list of Thanksgiving side dishes pairs well with this one, and mashed potatoes can share the same stovetop time. For a cold, creamy fruit side on the same table, add our classic ambrosia salad.

Plan the sides before oven day

Sides go smoothly when each one has a slot on the schedule. These printables keep the menu, the shopping and the recipes in one place. If the menu needs another baked side, compare corn casserole before assigning oven space.

• Meal Planner & Grocery List: Thanksgiving Edition, $4.99. Put the casserole on the make-ahead timeline and add sweet potatoes, pecans and eggs to the list.
• Holiday Season Bundle, $15.99 (was $25.94). It packs six holiday printables into one download, from gift budgeting to weekly meals.
• Family Recipe Binder, $6.99. Save your family's topping of choice on a recipe page.

Shop the full holiday collection or browse every printable in Printables. Want a freebie? Join our list and we'll email the Holiday Budget Starter Kit, three US Letter pages.

More holiday sides

• How to make green bean casserole
• How to make stuffing
• Cornbread dressing
• Christmas side dishes
• How to plan Thanksgiving dinner

Want a second orange side on the table? Try one of our butternut squash recipes, most of which can be made ahead.

Have more sweet potatoes to use up? Our sweet potato recipes include baked, mashed, roasted and air fryer ideas, plus how long to bake a sweet potato.