Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows and Pecans

Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans is a must-have Thanksgiving side that’s full of wonderful texture and flavor. From the crunchy pecans to the toasty sweet marshmallows this one is a favorite in our home. It’s also easy to make, and can be made ahead of time making this an overall winner!

There are many ways to prepare sweet potato casserole, and while everyone seems to have their own version, I think this is the best recipe.

It’s not overly sweet, is so easy to make, and the array of different textures make this sweet potato casserole one that’s loved by my family.  

Despite how stuffed everyone is, they always have room for seconds of this casserole!

Serve this with turkey breast, garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce, and some brussels sprouts for a perfect Thanksgiving meal!

How to make it

Each number corresponds to the numbered written steps below.

1. Preheat your oven to 375f and set the rack to the middle level. Chop 1 cup of pecans. Using a fork, pierce holes in 3 pounds worth of sweet potatoes and microwave until soft (approximately 10-12 minutes).  Alternatively, the sweet potatoes can be baked for 45-60 minutes (or until soft) at 375f.

2. Check for doneness by inserting a knife through the potatoes.  If the knife goes through with no resistance, they’re done.  Once they’re cool enough to handle, remove the sweet potato skins along with any fibrous material on the ends.  Roughly chop the sweet potatoes and place them into a large bowl.
3. To the sweet potatoes, add 1/2 cup of milk, 1/4 cup of melted unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a 1/4 cup of brown sugar.  Blend the ingredients until incorporated and give a taste test making any adjustments to spices as needed.  Then, add two eggs and beat the mixture on medium speed until smooth.  Note: We forgot and put the eggs in before the taste testing in pic 3 below.  Though we think the flavor is spot on, be sure to mix first, then taste test before adding the eggs.

4. Using a spoon or spatula, fold in half of the chopped pecans.
5. Spread the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish and top with 1 1/2 cups of mini marshmallows, the remaining 1/4 cup of brown sugar, and the remaining chopped pecans.

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the marshmallows are lightly toasted and golden on top.  Enjoy!

Top tips for sweet potato casserole with pecans and marshmallows

• The sweet potatoes. The recipe calls for 3 pounds of sweet potatoes and we recommend buying larger-sized sweet potatoes if possible as the smaller ones tend to be more fibrous. To make things easier, we recommend microwaving the sweet potatoes instead of baking as baking will take roughly an hour.  
• Sweetness. Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet so if you’d like to reduce the amount of brown sugar used, you can certainly do so.  Additionally, the marshmallows are optional, but we enjoy their texture and think the toasted tops really add visual appeal to the sweet potato casserole.
• Eggs. The eggs help to bind and hold the sweet potato mixture together making this more of a casserole than just mashed sweet potatoes.  That being said, if you prefer to omit the eggs you can definitely do so. Also, when mixing the ingredients, hold off on adding the eggs until you’ve given the mixture a taste test in case you’d like to add any additional cinnamon, vanilla, etc.
• Make ahead.  This sweet potato casserole can be made up to 1 day in advance and kept in the refrigerator until ready to bake.

More of our favorite holiday side dishes

In addition to the turkey and sides we mentioned above, here are some other great holiday side dishes.  And don’t forget to save room for amaretto pumpkin pie and apple crostata!

• Maple roasted carrots – with maple syrup, butter, and parsley.
• Baked artichoke hearts – with seasoned breadcrumbs, lemon, and garlic.
• Baked cauliflower – with cheese and breadcrumbs.
• Mac and cheese – creamy baked mac and cheese with smoky breadcrumbs.

If you’ve enjoyed this sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans or any recipe on this site, give it a 5-star rating and tell us about it in the comments below.

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