Best sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans

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Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows and Pecans is a Thanksgiving dinner classic. It’s creamy, perfectly spiced, and topped with both marshmallows and pecans. 

This Sweet Potato Casserole recipe serves 10-12 and costs about $6.12 to make, about $0.51-$0.62 per serving. This classic Thanksgiving side dish is the perfect complement to our Instant Pot Turkey Breast and Instant Pot Turkey Gravy. 

Best sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans

Thanksgiving is an all-time favorite holiday where we come together to be with family and eat delicious food. What could be better than that? You take care of getting your family together, and we will take care of gathering the recipes for you! Our Thanksgiving Dinner Planning Guide does all the hard work for you. 

Now that the planning is done, you can enjoy all the yummy food. This Sweet Potato Casserole is the BEST because it is sweet and savory, the BEST of both worlds. The pillowy soft marshmallows and toasted pecans over the tender sweet potatoes is the definition of total comfort food.

Our step-by-step directions make it super easy to put this Sweet Potato Casserole together for your Thanksgiving meal or a family dinner at any time of the year. 

Best sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans

Are yams and sweet potatoes the same thing?

Yams and sweet potatoes are similar in appearance. Sweet potato is reddish-brown while yam is browner in color. However, a sweet potato has a softer texture, and yam is more firm. 

Which are healthier potatoes or sweet potatoes?

Both potatoes have health benefits, and they are very close to what they offer. The sweet potato has more vitamins, while the plain potato has more protein. Both are great options in moderation. 

How many calories are in a sweet potato casserole?

This dish has about 292 calories per half-cup serving. 

How much will this Sweet Potato Casserole recipe cost to make: 

RECIPE COST: $6.12

PRICE PER SERVING: $0.51-$0.62

Best sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans

To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained

3 pounds sweet potatoes – $2.64

1⁄2 cup unsalted butter – $0.80

3⁄4 cup brown sugar – $0.36

1⁄2 cup milk – $0.08

2 large eggs – $0.20

1 teaspoon vanilla extract – $0.17

1 teaspoon salt – $0.01

1⁄4 cup pecans – $0.71

2 cups mini marshmallows – $0.44

1⁄4 cup pecans, chopped – $0.71

How do you make sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans from scratch: 

STEP ONE:  First, peel and cut sweet potatoes into cubes. Then add them to a large pot and boil them until tender.

STEP TWO: Next, drain the potatoes and add to a large bowl. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and spray the baking dish with cooking spray.

STEP THREE: Mash the potatoes with a potato masher and add remaining ingredients. Stir to combine and then stir in the pecans.

Best sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans

STEP FOUR: Next, spread the mixture into the dish evenly. 

STEP FIVE: Sprinkle with marshmallows and pecans. Make sure they’re in an even layer. 

STEP SIX: Finally, bake for 25-30 minutes. Serve. 

Best sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans

Cook’s Tools:

  • large pot
  • measuring cups
  • liquid measuring cup
  • measuring spoons
  • mixing spoon
  • large bowl
  • 9×13 baking dish
  • potato masher

How long is it good for:

Serve: As with most recipes with dairy products in them, you shouldn’t leave this Sweet Potato Casserole out for longer than 2 hours. 

Store: Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Just note that the marshmallow will sort of melt in the refrigerator. 

Freeze: If you’re going to freeze the casserole, we suggest freezing it before it’s baked and without the marshmallows. 

How to get the kids involved with this recipe:

Ages 2-3: Let them sprinkle the marshmallows and pecans on top of the sweet potato mixture. They will love doing this!

Ages 4-5: Have your little one mash the sweet potatoes. They will have fun using their muscles to do this! 

Ages 6-8: Teach them how to peel the potatoes. Using proper knife safety, let them help cut the potatoes into cubes. 

Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe. 

Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!

Best sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans

More Side Dish Recipes:

  • Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
  • Corn Muffins
  • Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs
  • Easy Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
  • Fresh Green Beans Almondine
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • Large Batch 1-Hour Dinner Rolls
  • Grilled Potatoes in Foil
  • Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
  • Orange Cranberry Sauce
  • French-Bread Stuffing
  • Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
  • Oven Roasted Potatoes

Best sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans

Sweet Potato Casserole

Recipe Cost 6.12

Serving Cost 0.51

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows and Pecans is a Thanksgiving dinner classic. It's creamy, perfectly spiced, and topped with both marshmallows and pecans.

Servings: 12 people

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 55 mins

Total Time 1 hr 15 mins

  • large pot

  • measuring cups

  • Liquid measuring cup

  • Measuring spoons

  • mixing spoon

  • large bowl

  • 9x13 baking dish

  • potato masher

  • 3-4 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into cubes
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
  • ½ cup milk anything but skim
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup pecans chopped

TOPPING:

  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
  • ¼ cup pecans chopped

PREP OVEN AND PAN:

  • Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 13x9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

BOIL SWEET POTATOES:

  • Add the cubed sweet potatoes to a large pot and cover them with water.

  • Bring to a boil on the stovetop and cook for 10-15 or until fork tender.

MAKE SWEET POTATO MIX:

  • Drain the sweet potatoes and add them to a large bowl. Mash them with a potato masher.

  • Add butter, brown sugar, milk, eggs, vanilla, and salt to the sweet potatoes. Mix until well combined. Stir in the pecans.

ASSEMBLE:

  • Evenly spread the sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish.

  • Sprinkle with marshmallows and pecans.

BAKE AND SERVE:

  • Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes or until the marshmallows are golden brown.

  • Serve immediately.

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 284mg | Potassium: 442mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 16386IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 1mg

Why do people add marshmallows to sweet potatoes?

It's basically a dessert disguised as a side dish In fact, they're just the right amount of sweet. Not only is nonsensically coating them with a blanket of marshmallows a disservice to an already great and healthy ingredient, but doing so essentially tips the scale from a side dish to a dessert.

Why does sweet potato casserole have marshmallows?

According to Saveur, it was 1917 when the first instance of sweet potatoes baked with a coat of marshmallows appeared in a recipe booklet commissioned by Angelus Marshmallows. Since then, the dish found its way into more and more culinary publications, allowing for nationwide recognition.

Should I put eggs in my sweet potato casserole?

Should I Put Eggs In My Sweet Potato Casserole? Yes, sweet potato casseroles are best with eggs. Eggs add structure to the dish so that it's more than just a sweet potato mash. It's important to make sure the sweet potatoes have cooled enough before you mix in the eggs, otherwise they'll just scramble in the bowl.

Why is it called Daigaku Imo?

Daigaku Imo literally means “college potato.” The name comes from the fact that the dish was sold and popular among people in college areas in Tokyo in the early 1900s. Ever since, Daigaku Imo has been, although a simple and old-fashioned taste, one of the all-time favorite sweets loved by Japanese people.