Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
on Nov 09, 2023, Updated Nov 26, 2024
Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is a must for any Thanksgiving table. This delicious family favorite features a crunchy pecan topping and marshmallows on top for irresistible flavor!
This is the best sweet potato casserole!
I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up loving sweet potato casserole. I always found it to be bland and overly sweet.
As an adult I decided that I wanted to create a sweet potato casserole recipe that my family would make for years to come.
Not only does my family love this recipe, but it has gone viral on Pinterest and has been made by thousands of readers like you!
This is a classic favorite dish to make for the holidays and it’s simply divine. You will definitely be back for seconds!
Sweet Potato Casserole is a holiday must make along with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, glazed carrots, and green bean casserole.
Mashed sweet potato filling is topped with a crunchy brown sugar pecan layer AND covered in mini marshmallows that are baked to golden brown perfection.
This combination of salty sweet pecans and sweet marshmallows is what makes this so good!
“This was absolutely the best Sweet Potato Casserole I’ve ever made/had! That layer of pecans was amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!” -Reader Nicole
Ingredients to make sweet potato casserole
- Sweet Potatoes: you will need fresh sweet potatoes for this recipe
- Brown Sugar
- Butter
- Spices: salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and nutmeg
- All Purpose Flour
- Pecan Pieces
- Mini Marshmallows
How to make marshmallow sweet potato casserole
Step 1: Prepare the sweet potatoes by peeling them and cutting them into large chunks. Doing this will allow them to cook faster when you boil them instead of leaving them whole.
Step 2: Place the sweet potato chunks in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook the sweet potatoes until they are fork tender and fall apart easily.
Step 3: Drain the sweet potatoes and add them back to the sauce pan. Mash them with a potato masher.
Add the rest of the casserole filling ingredients: butter, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and nutmeg and mix until well combined.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, make the pecan topping for the casserole. Stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, all purpose flour, salt, and pecan pieces until combined.
Step 5: Grease a 9 by 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Add the sweet potato filling and spread it out evenly in the dish.
Top the sweet potatoes with the pecan crumble in an even layer.
Step 6: Add the mini marshmallows over the pecan topping in an even layer, making sure to cover the entire top of the casserole.
Step 7: Bake the sweet potato casserole at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes, or until bubbly and the marshmallows are golden brown on top.
We are going for those perfect toasty brown marshmallows that make for the most delicious bite!
Joy’s Tip
Make sure to keep a close eye on the casserole towards the end to ensure you get a nice toasty brown top without burning. We want that topping to be nice and golden brown!
While I used to only be a sweet potato and pecan kinda gal, this recipe changed my mind!
The salty crunchy pecan topping with the sweetness of the golden brown marshmallows is simply out of this world delicious.
My kids love this recipe and think it’s so fun to eat marshmallows for a meal!
Storing Instructions
Storing: Leftover casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
How to Reheat: Leftover sweet potato casserole can be reheated in the oven at 350 degrees, or in the microwave until heated through
If you’re asked to bring sweet potato casserole to your family’s Thanksgiving table, bring this. You will wow them all with your incredible cooking skills!
Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows FAQs
Yes, you can prep this ahead of time. Make the sweet potato filling, and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Once you are ready to bake the casserole, add the pecan topping and marshmallows.
The day before Thanksgiving, I will at least boil and mash my sweet potatoes, or make it all ahead to assemble the next day. This dish is a great one to prep ahead of time.
More Thanksgiving Recipes
You can’t go wrong with this classic holiday side dish! It will bring back all the nostalgia of childhood and is sure to impress your friends and family.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Ingredients
For the sweet potato filling
- 4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into large chunks (around 9 cups worth)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
For the pecan topping
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cups finely chopped pecan pieces
For the marshmallow layer
- 10 oz mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into large chunks and place them into a large sauce pan. Cover with water and bring it to a boil
- Boil until the sweet potatoes are fork tender and easily pierced with a fork. They should fall apart easily
- Drain the sweet potatoes and add them back to the sauce pan. Mash with a potato masher. Add the rest of the sweet potato filling ingredients: butter, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and nutmeg and mix until well combined
- In a separate bowl, make the pecan topping. Stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, all purpose flour, salt, and pecan pieces until combined
- Grease a 9 by 13 baking dish with cooking spray
- Add the sweet potato filling and spread out evenly
- Spread the pecan topping evenly over the top of the sweet potatoes
- Add the mini marshmallows over the top in an even layer
- Bake the sweet potato casserole at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes, or until bubbly and the marshmallows are golden brown on top. Watch closely towards the end to get the perfect golden brown without burning
do I have to make the pecan topping? I have someone who can’t have nuts.
You can skip it, it should not affect the cook time, but watch it closely just in case!
Everyone loved this dish at our Friendsgiving. Making it again today for tomorrow. (Thanksgiving)
Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed it Alexis! Happy Thanksgiving!
how much servings will this recipe make?
I put the servings at 12, but those are quite large portions. I would say you would be fine bringing this to a large family gathering (20-25+) as it makes a very large 13 by 9 sized casserole!
If i made this the day of an event , could i heat it in the oven for like 20 minutes before leaving so it’s warm?
That would depend on how far your event was. If it was pretty close I would just bake it right before leaving then it should still be warm when you get there!
Made this last year and will make it again this year. My favorite sweet potato casserole!!!
So glad you enjoyed it Lauren! Happy Thanksgiving!
Love this recipe
So glad you enjoyed it Ruby! Happy Thanksgiving!
I need to make this a day early any tips on doing this?
I would make the whole sweet potato casserole filling and store it in the refrigerator. Then day of all you need to do is put it in the baking dish, make the crumble and top it with that and the marshmallows and bake!
could i do the same for 4 days in advance?
I wouldn’t recommend that as sweet potato casserole typically lasts 4-5 days in the refrigerator. I would suggest making it the day before!
I usually prep everything and get everything in the casserole the day before Thanksgiving and then just bake in the oven the day of.
I made this last Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was such a huge hit that now it’s being requested again! My Aunt said this should qualify as a dessert because it’s so decadent. I made mine with gluten free flour and it worked just fine. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe. It is now a staple for my holiday gatherings!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Sabrina! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Can I half this recipe?
Of course! I would suggest using a smaller dish though.
does putting marshmallows on top still make it gluten-free?
You should always check the label, but most marshmallows are gluten free. Please note that the crumble in this recipe calls for all-purpose flour but that could be substituted with 1:1 gluten free flour blend to make this gluten free.