Looking for a delicious and easy Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows and Pecans recipe? This candied sweet potato side dish is exactly what you need for your holiday meal. It is easy to make and pairs perfectly with turkey and stuffing.
One of my favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas side dishes is sweet potato casserole with marshmallows. I love how easy and quick this holiday side dish comes together. The toasted crunch of the marshmallows and sweet, potato filling is drool worthy.
This easy side dish recipe used to be my most requested dish from my father who really enjoyed the sweet and savory flavors. For the past 12 years, I have made it a point to make this casserole and now I enjoy it in memory of him.
How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows & Pecans
If you want to make this sweet potato casserole recipe, there are some basic ingredients and supplies you’ll need before getting started.
This recipe will serve about 8 people.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs of sweet potatoes
- Whole milk
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Pecans
- Mini Marshmallows
You will also need these basic kitchen supplies to make this recipe:
- 10 quart or larger stock pot with a lid
- Steamer basket
- Potato masher
- large bowl
- spoon
- 9 x 13 casserole dish
- Oven
How to Cook Sweet Potatoes for Casserole
To cook sweet potatoes for casserole, you simply need to steam them. Steaming sweet potatoes is easy; all you need to do is follow these steps:
- Add your steamer basket to your stock pot
- Fill your pan with 1 1/2 cups of water
- Add diced sweet potatoes
- Place cover on pan
- Turn stove knob to high
- Steam for 15-20 minutes or until fork tender
Making the Casserole
Once potatoes are steamed, drain excess liquid from the pot.
Add sweet potatoes to a large bowl. Add in butter cubes, milk, and cinnamon. Mash with a hand mixer, or hand masher.
When the potatoes are mashed, and creamy, add them to the casserole dish. Top with marshmallows evenly. Add pecans, and brown sugar.
Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
Can You Freeze Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans?
Yes, you can freeze sweet potato casserole if you are planning to make this recipe ahead of time. Here are a few things you can do to save time:
Pre-steam your potatoes and freeze or refrigerate (up to 3 days) them. I do suggest only freezing the steamed potatoes. For the best consistency, add the milk, butter, and cinnamon once the potatoes are defrosted and warmed.
To warm, allow potatoes to thaw. Once thawed, add the to a stock pot with milk, butter and cinnamon and heat. About 5-6 minutes.
Add to your potatoes to your casserole dish and top with marshmallows, pecans, and brown sugar.
Do not freeze this with the marshmallow and pecan topping as it will ruin the consistency.
Can I Substitute Walnuts for Pecans in Sweet Potato Casserole?
You can most certainly use slivered almonds or walnuts in this recipe. The sweetness helps to balance any tart flavors from the nuts.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows & Pecans
Equipment
- Hand Mixer
- Potato Masher
- Stockpot
- Steamer basket
Ingredients
- 3 lbs sweet potatoes peeled, diced
- 1 cup milk
- 8 tbsps butter
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Add your steamer basket to your stock pot
- Fill your pan with 1 1/2 cups of water
- Add diced sweet potatoes
- Place cover on pan
- Turn stove knob to high
- Steam for 15-20 minutes or until fork tender
- Drain excess water from pot.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add potatoes back to the pot (or a separate mixing bowl) along with the butter, milk, and cinnamon.
- Either hand mix or mash the potatoes inside the pot.
- Once potatoes are mashed, transfer them to your casserole dish.
- Spread marshmallows onto casserole evenly.
- Add pecans and sprinkle brown sugar over the top evenly.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 350.
- Enjoy warm.
My favorite part of this recipe is marshmallow and nuts. And I love the step-by-step instructions with pictures.
Sweet potato casserole has got to be, hands down, my favorite Thanksgiving dish of all time. I didn’t quite like it as a kid, but I totally appreciate it now – and your rendition of the recipe looks like absolute perfection!
This is my favorite dish to have at Thanksgiving. After seeing this though, I am craving some now! lol
The flavors are perfect! It’s so good that you added some marshmallows to it. Yummy!
I love sweet potatoes but have never made sweet potato casserole. My sister usually makes it for Thanksgiving so I’ve never even thought about making it. I’ll have to try this recipe!
We have a new favorite for Thanksgiving!
I love the sweet potato casserole. I should try your recipe this weekend for our Sunday family dinner!
I love sweet potato casserole but I am the only one in my house that eats it. That just means more for me. Leftovers are awesome!
My boys would love all the sweetness of this dish. This is a great way to make sweet potatoes.
This is very similar to the casserole my Mom used to make for Thanksgiving. Yum! So delicious.
Wow! This looks positively perfect. It’s beautiful but also delicious.
Sweet potato casserole is seriously my favorite part of Thanksgiving. I love that your recipe includes pecans. I bet that added crunch is divine!
Sweet potato casserole is one of my favorites for Thanksgiving. Adding pecans to the casserole is a great addition!