This Easy Sweet Potato Casserole is a nut-free take on a classic holiday side dish. Made with fresh steamed sweet potatoes and topped with a buttery streusel, it's sure to be a family favorite every year!
An easy Sweet Potato Casserole for Thanksgiving or any time of the year!
The sweet potato casserole is the quintessential Thanksgiving side and is pretty much on every holiday table.
A day where family and friends gather to count their blessings...
and a day to partake in a fabulous feast of turkey with some of the most amazing sides and desserts!
Watch how to make it:
Although, this sweet potato casserole shouldn't just be seen on a holiday, once or twice a year.
It's so good, it definitely needs to make an appearance on the family dinner table frequently.
I love serving it with pork dishes, like my smoked Porchetta, and pairing it with fresh green beans for an easy, fast, and healthy side.
Not surprisingly, this casserole is a really good side with barbecue too.
Why people don't serve sweet potato casserole more often with barbecued food is beyond me!
I've made my Instant Pot BBQ chicken and smoked meatloaf to go with this casserole and everyone agrees it's a perfect match.
Difference between yams and sweet potatoes
Depending on where you live, you may notice the names of these root vegetables are used interchangeably.
So, what's the difference between the two?
- Sweet potatoes originated in South America, have a thin/smooth skin, with a moist and sweet flesh and tapered ends. They are rich in beta-carotene, fiber, complex carbohydrates, and are considered to be a highly nutritional food source.
- Yams are from the Caribbean/African, have a rough/scaly skin, a dry and starchy flesh, and are irregularly shaped. Like sweet potatoes, they also have a high nutritional value.
Garnet sweet potatoes have a red skin with an orange flesh and are the ones most commonly found in grocery stores.
Plus, they are the ones I used in this recipe!
Use sucanat sugar for a less sweet side dish
A sweet potato casserole is the one holiday side dish that can be sickly sweet.
When topped with the usual suspect of marshmallows, it can easily taste like a dessert and not a side.
I try to avoid this super sweet flavor by playing up the natural sweetness of the potatoes without taking it over the top.
Here are a couple of ways I reduce the amount of sweetness in a potato casserole:
- Always use half of the usual amount of sugar called for in a recipe
- Substitute Sucanat cane sugar for the white or brown sugar
What exactly is Sucanat? It's a minimally processed cane sugar with a strong, rich molasses flavor.
It contains vitamins and minerals that aren't found in the more processed varieties.
It also doesn't taste as sweet as regular sugar, but if Sucanat is not available in your area, just use brown or white sugar.
A perfect make ahead recipe for the holidays
The holidays can get crazy busy, so make ahead recipes are a huge time saver.
Leave the streusel topping off and store the unbaked casserole one of two ways:
- In the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- In the freezer for up to 2 months.
Thaw the frozen casserole in the refrigerator a day or two before using.
Remove it from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking to take the chill off.
Make the nut-free, brown sugar topping to cover the top of the casserole and bake!
Popular TEA Holiday Recipes:
Smoked Turkey ~ Try a different kind of turkey this year for the family's holiday dinner.
Sweet Potato Rolls ~ Don't forget to save a little of the cooked sweet potatoes for these rolls, made extra yummy with a special topping!
Homemade Cranberry Sauce ~ Here's another recipe that's always on the holiday table, but made in a savory/sweet way.
Leek Risotto ~ Creamy, cheesy risotto is the ideal side to any meal.
Easy Fruit Cobbler ~ A family favorite dessert made with only 6 ingredients and on the table in less than an hour.
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a comment and a rating below to let me know! I LOVE to hear from you!
RECIPE
Easy Sweet Potato Casserole {with streusel topping}
Ingredients
- 6 cups sweet potatoes , peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 6 large potatoes)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter , melted
- ¼ cup sugar (I use Sucanat cane sugar)
- 2 whole large eggs , beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup whole milk
For the streusel topping :
- ¼ cup unsalted butter , melted
- 1 cup dark brown sugar (I use Sucanat cane sugar)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch freshly ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Steam the sweet potato cubes until fully cooked, about 20-25 minutes. Place cooked potatoes in a large bowl and mash. Set aside to cool down.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and milk. Stir well, then fold in the cooled sweet potatoes. Place mixture in a 9 X 13 baking dish and set aside.**At this point, the casserole can be tightly covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 3 months**
- Preheat oven to 350F/176C degrees and make the topping mixture.
For the streusel topping:
- In a small bowl, mix together the butter, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg until thoroughly combined.
- Drop streusel by spoonfuls over the sweet potato mixture, then bake at 350F/176C degrees for 30-40 minutes. Serve immediately or at room temperature.
Recipe Notes & Tips:
- Prior to baking and adding the streusel topping, casserole can be tightly covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Thaw frozen casserole in the refrigerator for 1-2 days before using.
- Take casserole out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking to take the chill off.
- Store cooked leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Can add nuts if desired: just add ¾ cup of your favorite chopped nuts to the streusel topping.
Lisa
This was great! I made it today with our Thanksgiving dinner. Next time, I will make one change. I will use salted butter with the sweet potatoes. I'll still use unsalted for the streusel topping. This is definitely a keeper for holiday meals. One more thing is that I bake the sweet potatoes in their skins. When cooled enough, I remove the skin and mash the sweet potatoes. I often have thumb pain, and it's difficult to peel the uncooked sweet potatoes and cut them up.
Christie
This recipe is absolutely delicious and picky family eater approved! We all loved it and they have already requested that I make it again. (I don’t mind it’s so easy!) Thank you for sharing.
Gee
is it possible to substitute yams or sweet potatoes. I just have everything on hand except sweet potatoes
Karrie
If you have true yams (brown tree-like bark skin), than no those can't be substituted for sweet potatoes because they are more starchy like a white potato. Sometimes grocery stores will put signs up that say "yams" for sweet potatoes, so if that happened and your "yams" look like sweet potatoes (thin smooth skin of orange/red color), then they can be used. Enjoy the recipe!
Susan
Have a granddaughter with EGG and NUT allergies. Do you have an idea for an egg substitute for this recipe? Holiday meal planning is such a challenge to find good recipes that work with her issues
Karrie
Hi Susan, the eggs act as a binder and add a little moisture to the casserole. They can be easily omitted and you can add a little extra milk or cream (or even a little orange juice) if the mashed sweet potatoes are too thick. Flax eggs can be used as an egg substitute too and might work for your other recipes. Mix in a small bowl 1TB ground flaxseed and 2 1/2 TB water, stir for 30 seconds, then set in the refrigerator until thickened (10 minutes) or can be stored overnight (covered) until ready to use. Hope this helps and please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy holidays to you and your family!
Jodi
Can you just used canned sweet potatoes and mash them?
Karrie
Hi Jodi, You can but you might have to decrease the sugar in my recipe if the canned sweet potatoes are packed with sugar added.
Niki Griffin
Great dish, very easy. I substituted whipping cream for the milk and added crumbled bacon over the top before baking, huge hit with my entire table guests. Would recommend to a friend.
Hannah
Excellent- made for my kids school potluck, and came home with an empty dish! Delicious 🙂
Laney B.
Can I put marshmallow in with the streusel or on top of the streusel?
Karrie
You can, but it will be very sweet. To balance the sweetness of the marshmallows, try reducing the brown sugar to 1/2 cup in the streusel.
Beth
do you think orange juice could be used instead of milk?
Karrie
Go for it! I haven't tried it in this recipe, but don't see why it wouldn't work since sweet potato and orange flavors work well together. Please let me know how it turns out for you!
Luana
Can i use evaporated milk instead? and if so same amount?
Karrie
Yes you can! Just use a ratio of half evaporated milk to half water. Recipe calls for a 1/3 cup whole milk, so fill a 1/3 measuring cup half way with the evaporated milk and then fill it the rest of the way with water.
Melissa
Hi! I’m planning to make this for a Friendsgiving party tomorrow and am excited to try it! I just have a quick question. I’m planning to “pre-make” it today and bake it tomorrow before I leave for my friends house- but how do you recommend re-heating it once I get there? I assume I should put the topping on at my house before going there as well but please confirm (not sure if that part will burn with re-heating or not)!? Thank you!
Karrie
Hi Melissa! If you cook it right before leaving, you can cover it with foil after it comes out of the oven, wrap towels around the casserole dish, and place in a cooler. It should keep it warm enough, but if not, then reheat the foil covered casserole in a 325-350F oven for 10-15 minutes (longer if casserole is colder). The topping shouldn't burn as long as the foil is on top. Can be reheated at lower oven temperatures and will just take a little longer to heat through. Can also be reheated in microwave, but the topping won't be crisp. Hope you have a wonderful Friendsgiving party and enjoy the casserole!
Katie
Hi! I’m looking forward to making this for Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving! This may be a dumb question (I’ve never made sweet potato casserole before) but is pure vanilla in your recipe the same as pure vanilla extract? Also, is it possible to make the streusel topping without any flour and just include the other ingredients it calls for? Thank you so much!
Karrie
Hi Katie, Yes, that is supposed to say "vanilla extract" so thank you for pointing it out and it is now corrected in the recipe. Without the flour, the topping would be too buttery and sweet and won't crisp up. If trying to go gluten free, you can substitute the wheat flour with oat flour (can finely grind whole oats in a blender or food processor). If you leave the flour out all together, it might work better to just mix together the brown sugar with the cinnamon and nutmeg, then evenly sprinkle it over the casserole and drizzle with the butter (reduce butter to 2 tablespoons and add more if needed). Please let me know how that turns out for you and hope you all enjoy! Happy Friends/Thanksgiving!
Soctt
Sweet potato casserole is one of my favorite dishes. And this one is by far the best I have ever had. I couldn’t believe how easy it was compared to some of the other ones I’ve done over the years. I used half yellow flesh sweet potato and half white flesh potato and it came out great. Didn’t have dark brown sugar so I used light brown but it still came out amazing. Can’t wait to try it again with the dark brown sugar. I’m so glad I forgot to pick up marshmallows and pecans while prepping for thanksgiving this year. Three cheers for Karrie and her amazing recipe.
Diana
Can you use light brown sugar for the topping? Thanks.
Karrie
Yes Diana, you can use light brown sugar for the topping. The only difference between the two is light has less molasses than dark.
Kathy Cunningham
Made this. Very good. It will be my go to recipe .
Judi Murphy
Took this to a church function and everyone wanted the recipe!
Lisa
Do you use a potato masher to mash or an electric mixer? Thank you!
Karrie
I've used both, so feel free to use whichever one you like best, Lisa 🙂
Michelle Lynn
This recipe is excellent! We needed a casserole that was nut free & this was so easy to make! Like another reader, I baked the sweet potatoes first then mashed with the other ingredients, including a little cinnamon. This has been requested often by my husband (who is normally finicky) & son. I will he making this for years to come!
Colleen Emmons
I’m excited to try this recipe in a couple days. We need a nut free option, so thank you! I do have a question. Some toppings occasionally call for oats. Would this be an acceptable add to the topping? Thanks!
Karrie
Can't wait for you to try this recipe Colleen and I say go for it on adding the oats to the topping! Please let me know how you like the casserole and Happy Thanksgiving 🙂
Mary
Can you make this in the crockpot so it’s hot for a potluck at work?
Karrie
Hi Mary, I've never tried it in a crockpot, but I just did a little research and other people have cooked a sweet potato casserole with a streusel topping successfully in a crockpot. People did have problems with a sugar topping burning on high, so you might want to first cook it on high for 1-2 hours, then switch it to low for another 1-2 hours. Please let me know how it turns out for you and Happy Thanksgiving!
Melanie Cormier
Made this for Thanksgiving and it was such a hit I will make it for Christmas 🌲
Just what I was looking for
So easy, and just the right amount of sweetness--it had the quality of a fresh hot cinnamon roll before you put any glaze on. Exactly what I was looking for to duplicate the dish I remember from childhood. It will be my go-to recipe from now on, thank you for posting it.
Eileen
Easy to prepare and it was a hit! Hubby and son approved.
Natasha
I just made this Sweet Potato Casserole for Thanksgiving, using our CSA sweet potatoes I’ve been stocking up for this occasion. I actually spread the topping evenly across the top and it made a nice crust. We decided it was like a sweet potato creme brûlée! It was just delicious! Thank you for sharing this!
Karrie
Happy Thanksgiving Natasha!! I just finished making it now too and can't wait to eat it! Thank you and really appreciate you taking the time to review it 🙂
Allie
I love this recipe! I made it last Thanksgiving and am making it this year as well!! Thank you so much! ☺️
Cheri
Can you substitute gluten-free flour?
Karrie
Hi Cheri, I haven't tired making the streusel topping with gluten-free flour, but I did a little research...you can sub out the gluten free flour for the all-purpose flour in equal amounts and add 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum (if it's not in your gluten-free flour). Please let me know if it turns out for you and Happy Thanksgiving!!
Rahul
My wife loves sweet potato. Made this for lunch today and she loved it. The streusel topping is like an icing on the cake. This will definitely be on the permanent list! Thank you!!
Stacey Kester
I made this for the first time on Thanksgiving this past week. It was really really good, I tripled the crumb topping recipe and made sure it had a good thick layer of topping and everyone was really happy with it, my sister in law who has hated sweet potatoes her entire life finally got talked in to taking a bite and she absolutely loved it and even took leftovers home. So it's officially become a new holiday meal staple!
Karrie
THANK YOU Stacey!!! I'm so excited you all loved the casserole and it makes me extremely happy that your SIL is now a reformed sweet potato hater! YAAAAAYYYYY!!!
Ana Patricia
Thank you so much for this recipe! I was looking for a nut free sweet potato casserole recipe and this was perfect! So much so that I have to make a 2nd one because the one I made earlier today will be gone before anyone gets here tomorrow lol
Happy Thanksgiving!
Karrie
Thank you very much Ana and so happy you like the recipe! Really appreciate you taking the time to leave a review and hoping you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Cathy
Can I make this for Thanksgiving two days ahead and not freeze?
Karrie
Yes Cathy, you can make it a couple of days ahead of using, just cover it tightly and store in the refrigerator. Take the casserole out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking to get the chill off. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Aimee
I love sweet potato casserole and this one's the best!
Kathy
Loved this recipe. The nut free option is so good. I cooked the sweet poatoes whole in the oven and then just peeled and mashed. So much easier than trying to cut the raw ones, added a little cinnamon to the mashed sweet poatoes. Half my family wanted marshmellows on top along with the strudel. It turned out great. Enjoy. We are making this again!
Ben
This casserole is delicious and the easiest one I've ever made!
Paige
I just want to say this is seriously the BEST Thanksgiving sweet potato side dish!!! I stumbled upon it last Thanksgiving when at the last minute I realized I’d need more food, so an hour before dinner I searched for an easy, quick sweet potato recipe that used what I had on hand. (This is awesome because it doesn’t call for nuts) I threw this together and it ended up being the best tasting thing on the table and was a hit! I’ll make it every year now
Mary D.
I really love this recipe and have served this casserole several times with pork chops. it's one of my family's favorite sides!
Heather Wells
I'm making and have made this for Thanksgiving! And yes, the music is a 10. Has a beat, and I can dance to it! Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for this blog!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Love all the sides that go along with turkey dinner! I've never used sucanat before so will keep my peepers open for it next time I'm in the grocery - thanks for the 411 That topping sounds delicious...I'll take a big serving with lots of that on there....hehehe. Love the video...almost didn't want it to end cos I was listening to that beat, lol! Happy Thanksgiving! XOXO