I grew up on sweet potato recipes and this cozy bake still wins at my table. We mash soft spuds, fold in butter, then finish with a pecan crunch. It fits 1 Pot Meals energy, plays nice with 2qt crockpot recipes, and sits with Baked Casserole Recipes, Baked Dishes For Dinner, classic Baked dishes, and even Air Fryer Recipes.
Table of Contents
- 1 Key Takeaways
- 2 Easy Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
- 3 Ingredients for Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
- 4 How to Make Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
- 5 Tips for Making Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
- 6 Making Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole Ahead of Time
- 7 Storing Leftover Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
- 8 Try these Side Dish next
- 9 Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
- 10 Nutrition
1 Key Takeaways
I am Lila from Lila Cooks and I make this casserole when the table needs comfort. You get a fluffy mash and a crisp top. The bake sits on weeknights and holidays with zero fuss. Find me at https://www.lilacooks.com for more cozy plates.
Prep stays short. The method stays clear. The taste hits sweet and nutty with a hint of vanilla. Kids eat it without a pep talk and grownups sneak seconds.
The dish plays well with roast chicken and with a green salad. I serve it in potlucks when I want a sure hit. Clean plates tell the story before anyone speaks.
2 Easy Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
We love sweet potato recipes for their warm color and soft bite. Sweet potato recipes save many weeknights at my place. I mash the potatoes while the oven warms. Butter melts into the mash and the kitchen smells like maple and cinnamon.
The top carries chopped pecans that toast as the mash sets. Each spoon picks up a little crunch and a little cream. Friends call this an easy sweet potato casserole and they are right. The steps stay light and the payoff stays rich.
I post this on Lila Cooks since readers ask for simple comfort. I point them to the recipe page on https://www.lilacooks.com and they write back with photos. Plates glow. Families lean in. The plan works without stress and dinner lands on time.
3 Ingredients for Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potatoes Soft flesh brings body and natural sugar. I pick firm skins and bright orange centers for the best mash.
Unsalted butter Gentle richness that rounds the mash. I let it sit at room temp so it blends smooth.
Maple syrup Clean sweetness and a deep scent. A small pour goes far and keeps the flavor balanced.
Milk or cream A splash loosens the mash and adds a soft finish. Whole milk fits most nights. Cream turns it into a feast.
Eggs The mash holds together and bakes with a gentle custard feel. I beat the eggs until streak free.
Vanilla extract A tiny hit that wakes up the maple and the sweet potatoes. The scent signals comfort from the first whiff.
Fine salt The mash needs salt so the sweet notes sing. I season the cooking water and the mash for depth.
Cinnamon Warm spice that pairs with pecans and maple. A light shake keeps the flavor clean.
Pecans Roughly chopped for crunch. They toast in the oven and bring a buttery snap in each bite.
Brown sugar Soft sweetness for the topping that turns into crisp bits. It hugs the pecans and adds color.
All purpose flour The topping needs structure. A small scoop binds the sugar and butter into tender crumbles.
Melted butter Moisture for the topping and extra flavor. I stir until clumps form that hold their shape.
Mini marshmallows Optional and fun. They puff and bronze and make kids grin. I add them for parties.
4 How to Make Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
Step one Heat the oven to three hundred fifty F and butter a baking dish. Set a pot of salted water on high heat. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into chunks.
Step two Boil the chunks until a fork slips in easy. Drain well. Steam off extra moisture so the mash stays light.
Step three Mash the potatoes in a large bowl. Fold in butter maple syrup milk beaten eggs vanilla salt and cinnamon. Taste and adjust. The mash should feel plush and hold soft peaks.
Step four Spread the mash into the dish. Mix pecans brown sugar flour and melted butter with a pinch of salt. Stir until clumps form that squeeze and hold.
Step five Scatter the clumps over the mash. Bake until the top looks toasty and the edges bubble. Add marshmallows near the end for a golden cap.
Step six Rest for ten minutes. Spoon and serve warm. Call it southern sweet potato casserole if that makes your crew smile.
5 Tips for Making Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
Pick similar sized potatoes so they cook at the same pace. Dry them well after boiling so the mash stays fluffy and not loose.
Salt the water and the mash. Season in layers gives clean flavor. A bland base never recovers. Small pinches make a big shift.
Keep the topping in clumps. Big and small chunks bake into a mix of textures. Sweet potato dishes love that contrast. Readers call this their favorite of all casserole ideas.
6 Making Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole Ahead of Time
I make this a day early when guests fill the weekend. Spoon the mash into a dish. Chill the topping in a bag. Cover both and keep cold.
On bake day pull the dish and the topping from the fridge. Let them sit to lose the chill. Spread the mash. Add the clumps. Bake until toasty. Fans call this make ahead sweet potato casserole the hero of busy seasons.
Travel plan works too. Wrap the dish tight and tote it to a potluck. Warm it in the host oven. The room will smell like maple and cinnamon within minutes.
7 Storing Leftover Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
Store leftovers in a tight container in the fridge for three days. Reheat in the oven so the top crisps again. A short blast brings back the snap.
For the freezer spoon portions into small containers. Leave headspace for expansion. Thaw in the fridge then warm in the oven. The texture stays kind to you.
I fold cold scoops into breakfast bowls with yogurt and nuts. Recipes with sweet potatoes fit every part of the day. The dish keeps you fed with very little work.
8 Try these Side Dish next
9 Cozy Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet Potato Recipes Cozy Pecan Casserole
Ingredients
For the mash
- 4 large sweet potatoes peeled and cut in chunks
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1 or 2 tablespoons maple syrup to taste
- 1 or 4 cup milk or cream
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 or 2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 or 4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the pecan topping
- 1 cup pecan halves roughly chopped
- 1 or 3 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 or 3 cup all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- Pinch of salt
Optional finish
- 1 or 2 cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 F. Butter a 9 by 13 baking dish.
- Boil the sweet potatoes in salted water until tender then drain well.
- Mash with butter maple syrup milk eggs vanilla salt and cinnamon. Taste and adjust the sweetness and salt.
- Spread the mash in the dish.
- Stir pecans brown sugar flour melted butter and a pinch of salt until it clumps. Scatter over the mash.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes until the topping looks set and toasty.
- For a marshmallow finish pull the dish from the oven scatter marshmallows over the top and return to the oven for 5 minutes until golden in spots.
- Rest 10 minutes. Scoop and serve warm.
10 Nutrition
One serving brings a balance of carbs fat and protein that feels steady. The mash carries fiber and beta carotene. The topping adds crunch and a touch of sugar.
For lighter plates use milk and a smaller pour of maple. For fuller plates use cream. Both paths taste great. I log the meal and move on with a smile.
Readers ask for sweet potato casserole recipes that fit busy life. This one fits the list of sweet potato recipes that I reach for again and again. The pan leaves the table empty most nights and that simple fact makes me happy.
Leave a Comment