You’ll want to make this easy sweet potato casserole recipe for your holiday meal! It’s a little less sweet, and topped with pecans for a satisfying crunch!
When I was a child, we usually ordered our Thanksgiving dinners from Publix. Read this blog long enough and you’ll notice we got a lot of things from Publix. Anyway, the dinner we would usually order included a few sides including stuffing, green bean casserole, and a marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole that everyone seemed to love except me.
For as long as I can remember, I have been staunchly planted in the marshmallow-topping-hater camp at Thanksgiving. It was to the point that for some time as a child I thought I hated sweet potatoes, until I realized the sweet potatoes weren’t the problem, the sweetness levels were. When you add sugar to sweet potatoes, and then top them with more sugar, it just seems more dessert than side dish to me. I know some of you love sweet potatoes with marshmallows (my mom and sister do), and I respect that, but this is a recipe for the rest of us. 😉
FUN FACT – Sweet potatoes are actually edible roots and in the same plant family as morning glories.
I first tried sweet potato casserole like this at a restaurant called The Swanson in Perry, Georgia. The Godfather worked with one of the owners and the place quickly became one of our favorite restaurants in the area. They had beautiful little buttery button biscuits, perfectly crisp fried chicken, and a sweet potato casserole topped with pecans. I was lucky enough to have the chance to speak to the owners about the dish and they shared a general outline of how it was made. I took that outline and worked with it to create a version of sweet potato casserole I liked as our “family” recipe.
To keep it from being too sweet and to allow the beautiful natural flavor of the potatoes (yams) to shine through, I keep all the added sweetness to the pecan topping, and even that is primarily sweetened with a healthy amount of spice so the kitchen smells heavenly as it bakes!
This definitely is a staple at our Thanksgiving feast, but we do make it other times of the year because it’s that good. I hope you enjoy!
If you too have family members that are Team Marshmallow, keep the peace at the table. Halve the topping recipe, top half the casserole with pecans and half with marshmallows. Everyone is happy, and you are a gracious host(ess). Go you!
"Not Too Sweet" Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
A less sweet version of the traditional sweet potato casserole topped with pecans for a little crunch!
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes
- 2 1/2 lbs fresh sweet potatoes, yams
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 c sour cream
- 1 egg
Pecan Topping
- 1 1/4 c unsalted unroasted pecans
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 c packed brown sugar
- 1/4 c flour
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp cloves
Instructions
Prepare the potatoes:
- Cook the potatoes by either roasting at 400 F for 30-40 minutes in the oven. Alternatively, cook the potatoes in the microwave. Pierce the potato skins all over with a fork, place on a microwave-safe plate, and cover with a wet paper towel. Cook at full power for 5 minutes, rotate the potatoes, and cook in intervals of 2 minutes until potatoes are done. Mine took 9 minutes total. **see notes**
- While the potatoes cool enough to handle, prepare your baking dish by greasing with a little butter or nonstick spray. I used a 7" round for a thicker casserole, but you may also use an 8x8" square. If you are doubling the recipe, I would use a 9" pie dish or 9x9" square, tripling the recipe would require a 9x13" baking dish.
- Preheat your oven to 325F
- Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel away the skin and place the still-warm potatoes in a mixing bowl. Add the butter, salt, and sour cream and mash together until you've reached a smooth consistency.
- Mix in the egg then transfer the potato mixture to your prepared baking dish and smooth the top.
- Melt the 3 tbsp butter.
- Roughly chop the pecans and place them into a bowl with the brown sugar, spices, and flour. Stir to combine.
- Add the melted brown sugar and stir to coat.
- Evenly distribute the nut mixture over the potatoes and then bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes until the pecan topping is brown and toasted. Serve warm.
Notes
Holiday Meal Prep Tip: The casserole can be made up to a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake.
Potato Cooking Tip: You may also boil the potatoes. Save time by peeling the uncooked potatoes and cutting into somewhat uniform cubes. Place into boiling water and cook until fork tender. For 1-2 inch cubes, this only takes about 10 minutes. Drain and proceed with the recipe.
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Kristin
Friday 26th of November 2021
This was a highlight of Thanksgiving. I thought I didn't like sweet potato casserole because it's always sickeningly sweet, but this was great. I slow roasted the sweet potatoes for about 2 hours at 275 which makes them extra sweet, and we didn't miss the sugar at all. I also subbed cardamom for cloves in the topping, since it was all we had, and I loved the flavor that the cardamom added. A really great dish. Thanks!
Mary (The Goodie Godmother)
Wednesday 15th of December 2021
This makes me smile so much! I'm so glad you loved the recipe!!!
Doris
Wednesday 24th of November 2021
Can you cook this in a crock pot instead of baking in the oven? Thanks!
Mary (The Goodie Godmother)
Wednesday 24th of November 2021
I haven't tried this, but I bet you could and it would free up oven space! The only thing is that the top won't be quite as crunchy since the crock pot catches steam under the lid.
Mary (The Goodie Godmother)
Friday 12th of November 2021
I am so glad you love this recipe!!! Thank you for sharing your prep tips, especially for making a triple batch!
Meegan
Thursday 26th of November 2020
This recipe is so much better than the traditional! I love how the sweet potato flavor shines through and the pecans add the perfect balance of spice and crunch. My family didn’t miss the marshmallows and extra sugar at all!
Mary (The Goodie Godmother)
Saturday 12th of December 2020
<3 I'm so glad you loved the recipe!!! Thank you for sharing. I hope you're enjoying a beautiful and safe holiday season!
Marcy
Friday 29th of November 2019
These were excellent, a huge hit for Thanksgiving. The name is perfect by the way, thanks for posting!
Mary (The Goodie Godmother)
Saturday 30th of November 2019
I'm so glad this recipe was enjoyed! Thank you for sharing. <3