Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (2024)

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This easy sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is a family favorite made with just a few simple ingredients! Sweetened condensed milk is used to make it extra creamy with the perfect amount of sweetness. It’s so good you will want a second helping!

Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why You’ll Love This Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
  • What You’ll Need
  • How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
  • Tips and Variations
  • What To Serve With Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
  • Can You Prepare Sweet Potato Casserole Ahead?
  • How To Store Leftovers
  • More Easy Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Get the Recipe

    Why You’ll Love This Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

    What makes this sweet potato casserole with marshmallows truly the best? Here are a few reasons why it’s on our holiday table every year…

    • Easy and Quick: When we’re planning a holiday menu, we always gravitate to simple recipes whenever possible. And this best sweet potato casserole wins every time! It comes together in just a few easy steps with minimal effort.
    • Make Ahead: Prepare this casserole a day in advance, pop it in the oven on Thanksgiving, and worry about something else on your busy day.
    • Marshmallows: Need we say more? This perfectly spiced and sweetened sweet potato casserole comes topped with marshmallows that are melted and gooey with perfectly toasted tops. Absolute perfection!
    • Irresistible Taste: Sweetened condensed milk adds the perfect amount sweetness and creaminess to this sweet potato casserole with marshmallows. With some added warm spices, it’s the perfect holiday side dish!

    Not a fan of marshmallows? Try these fabulous Thanksgiving side dishes for the best green bean casserole or corn casserole – they are real crowd pleasers.

    Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (2)

    What You’ll Need

    Made with simple and inexpensive ingredients, you will want to make this best sweet potato casserole recipe over and over again. Check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.

    • Sweet Potatoes: Peeled and cubed if boiling, or wrapped in foil if you plan to bake them.
    • Butter
    • Sweetened Condensed Milk: This key ingredient makes this sweet potato casserole with marshmallows extra creamy and perfectly sweet.
    • Spices: Choose cinnamon and nutmeg, or a few dashes of pumpkin pie spice.
    • Salt: A pinch of salt will balance the sweetness in this dish.
    • Marshmallows: We use big, fluffy marshmallows, but mini mallows work as well.
    Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (3)

    How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

    This sweet potato casserole recipe comes together in just a handful of steps. For detailed directions, scroll to the recipe card below.

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    Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (5)
    Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (6)
    Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (7)
    • Sweet Potatoes: Peel, cube, and boil the sweet potatoes in a large pot until fork tender. Or bake in the oven and remove the peels.
    • Mash: Use a potato masher, large fork or a ricer to mash the cooked sweet potatoes.
    • Season: Mix in the melted butter, sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, stirring until smooth.
    • Marshmallows: Transfer the sweet potato mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish and top with marshmallows.
    • Bake: Toast the sweet potato casserole at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes, until the marshmallows puff up and turn golden brown. Serve and enjoy!
    Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (8)

    Tips and Variations

    You may think making the best sweet potato casserole your family’s ever eaten is going to be complicated or challenging. But it’s not! Here are a few tips to ensure it turns out perfectly and wows all your guests.

    • Sweetener: If you choose not to use sweetened condensed milk, feel free to use dark brown sugar, light brown sugar or maple syrup with a hearty splash of half and half or heavy cream.
    • Lighter Texture: Want to make this sweet potato casserole a little more airy? Whip an egg and add it to the casserole. This will create an lighty and fluffy bite.
    • Fresh Unavailable? Though I recommend baking or boiling fresh sweet potatoes, you could use drained, canned sweet potatoes if that’s all you can find. They will be sweeter, so sweeten slowly and taste as you go.
    • Watch Closely: Keep an eye on the dish to ensure that the marshmallow topping browns but doesn’t burn. IF it burns, scrape off the burned layer completely – including any charred bits – and apply a new, fresh layer of marshmallows, and toast again.
    • Baked vs Boiled: Either option works, but baked sweet potatoes tend to be more moist than boiled sweet potatoes. Baked sweet potatoes also happen to be easier to prepare since you don’t have to peel them!
    Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (9)

    What To Serve With Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows

    Sweet potatoes are so versatile, they play well with many other side dishes. Here are a few of our favorites:

    • Favorite Holiday Proteins: We love this easy crockpot ham recipe, or impress your guests with baked ham with orange glaze! For the turkey lovers, try this step by step tutorial to make the best Thanksgiving turkey!
    • Vegetables: Serve this dish with homemade green bean casserole from scratch, creamy baked brussel sprouts, or this easy jiffy corn casserole to round out a spectacular meal.
    • Potatoes: What goes with potatoes? More potatoes! Try these garlic mashed potatoes or cheesy potato casserole with crispy topping.
    Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (10)

    Can You Prepare Sweet Potato Casserole Ahead?

    Absolutely! This is a great holiday casserole to prepare a day or two in advance.

    Make Ahead: Prepare the entire sweet potato casserole up to 48 hours in advance, but hold off on adding the marshmallows. Instead, wrap the dish tightly with foil and store in the fridge. When you’re getting ready to serve, remove it from fridge and let the casserole rest on the counter for at least 30 minutes. Pop it into the oven with the foil on and cook for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, add the marshmallows, and return to the oven until marshmallows are toasted.

    Get A Head Start

    Even if you’re not prepping the entire casserole ahead of time, sweet potatoes can be cooked up to 4 days in advance with no compromise in taste or texture. Cool cooked sweet potatoes to room temperature and store in the fridge in an airtight container.

    How To Store Leftovers

    This sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is best served fresh, but leftovers can be stored to be enjoyed another day.

    • Fridge: Store leftovers for up to 5 days in the refrigerator by tightly wrapping the casserole dish in plastic wrap. If you only have a few servings left, you can place them in an airtight container instead.
    • Reheat: When you reheat it, the marshmallows will likely evaporate a little. It will still taste delicious, but will look a little different. To reheat, replace plastic wrap with foil and bake in 350°F oven until warm. Or microwave individual servings in a microwave safe dish.

    More Easy Thanksgiving Recipes

    Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

    Sweet Potato Bites

    Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

    Baked Mac and Cheese

      Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (15)

      4.5 from 285 votes

      Print Pin Recipe

      Yield: 10 servings

      Easy Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

      This impressive, but easy sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is a favorite family recipe that is easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. It’s so good you will want a second helping!

      Prep Time25 minutes minutes

      Cook Time15 minutes minutes

      Total Time40 minutes minutes

      Ingredients

      • 2.5 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and diced, or baked and peels removed
      • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
      • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
      • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
      • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
      • ½ teaspoon salt
      • 1 (16 oz) bag large marshmallows, or mini marshmallows

      Instructions

      • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with non stick spray and set aside.

      • In a large stock pot, add sweet potatoes and cover with water. Cover pot with lid, bring to a boil and cook until fork tender, about 15 minutes.

      • Drain potatoes and transfer back to pot. Add butter, sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.Mash away until nice and smooth.

      • Transfer the sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish and smooth out the top into an even layer.

      • Line the top of the casserole with marshmallows and bake until marshmallows are lightly toasted, about 15 to 20 minutes.

      Video

      Notes

      Make Ahead: Prepare casserole up to 48 hours in advance, but hold off on adding the marshmallows. Instead, wrap casserole tightly with foil and store in the fridge. When ready to serve, let casserole rest on the counter for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour. Pop it into the oven with the foil on and cook for 20 minutes. Remove foil, add the marshmallows, and return to the oven until marshmallows are toasted.

      Store Leftovers: Store leftovers for up to 5 days in the refrigerator by tightly wrapping the casserole dish in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container.

      Reheat: When you reheat it, the marshmallows will likely evaporate a little. It will still taste delicious, but will look a little different. To reheat, replace plastic wrap with foil and bake in 350°F oven until warm. Or microwave individual servings in a microwave safe dish.

      Baked vs Boiled: Either option works, but baked sweet potatoes tend to be more moist than boiled and then mashed sweet potatoes. Baked sweet potatoes also happen to be easier to prepare since you don’t have to peel the potatoes.

      Sweetener: If you choose not to use sweetened condensed milk, feel free to use dark brown sugar, light brown sugar or maple syrup with a hearty splash of half and half or heavy cream.

      Lighter Texture: Whip an egg to the sweet potato casserole which creates an airy, fluffy bite.

      Fresh Unavailable? Though I recommend baking or boiling fresh sweet potatoes, you could use drained, canned sweet potatoes if need be. They will be sweeter, so sweeten slowly and taste as you go.

      Watch Closely: Keep an eye on the dish to ensure that the marshmallow topping browns but doesn’t burn. IF it burns, scrape off the burned layer completely including any charred bits and apply a new, fresh layer of marshmallows, and toast again.

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 456kcal, Carbohydrates: 82g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 39mg, Sodium: 267mg, Potassium: 538mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 53g, Vitamin A: 16492IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 159mg, Iron: 1mg

      © Jessica

      Cuisine: American

      Category: Side Dishes

      Categories:

      • Casseroles
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      • Diet
      • Fall
      • Family Recipes
      • Gluten Free
      • Holidays
      • Recipes
      • Side Dishes
      • Thanksgiving
      • Vegetable Sides
      • Videos

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      Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (2024)

      FAQs

      Why put egg in sweet potato casserole? ›

      A really good sweet potato casserole filling should be light and moist, not dense. If it's dense, then you may not have added an often overlooked ingredient—an egg. An egg adds lift, structure and volume and makes the filling more custard-like.

      Why do Americans put marshmallows on sweet potato casserole? ›

      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.

      How do you make sweet potato casserole not watery? ›

      Maple syrup, a dash of cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla all make an appearance for an incredible flavor. It's hearty and satisfying. Eggs and cream help stabilize the dish and prevent it from becoming too runny (a common complaint with many sweet potato casserole recipes).

      Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

      The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

      Why is my sweet potato casserole so watery? ›

      Why is my sweet potato casserole watery? If you overcook your sweet potatoes, they may begin to absorb too much liquid, making them watery. It's important to cut your potatoes into equal-sized pieces so that they all cook at the same rate. Make sure to remove them from the steamer as soon as they are fork-tender!

      Can I leave eggs out of sweet potato casserole? ›

      Eggs (or not!)

      – I've made this sweet potato casserole with and without eggs, both ways are delicious. The eggs act as a binder and gives the casserole a light and fluffy texture. Without eggs, the casserole doesn't have as much structure but it still silky smooth and tastes delicious.

      Why do African Americans eat sweet potato pie? ›

      After emancipation, when African American cooks gained more access to their own equipment and refined ingredients, they continued the tradition of baking with yams and sweet potatoes — especially the pie. These deep roots became the foundation of a strong tradition in African American food culture.

      What do Americans call sweet potatoes and marshmallows? ›

      Sweet potato casserole, which generally has marshmallows on it, is a sickeningly sweet dish, typically eaten at Thanksgiving, which starts with sweet potatoes and then adds brown sugar, vanilla and marshmallows, among other things.

      Are candied yams and sweet potato casserole the same thing? ›

      You may not want to substitute true yams in your Candied Yams recipe since their flavor isn't the same as the sweet potatoes in the dish. They can be substituted for sweet potatoes in more savory dishes.

      How do I know when sweet potato casserole is done? ›

      Bake until mostly set in the center and golden on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot.

      How can I thicken my sweet potato casserole? ›

      All-purpose flour will help thicken the sauce and give some structure. Maple syrup balances the sweetness and adds flavor. All granulated sugar can be too sweet.

      Can I use canned sweet potatoes instead of fresh? ›

      Canned or frozen sweet potatoes may be substituted for the fresh form in any recipe calling for cooked sweet potatoes as the starting point. Canned sweet potatoes are generally smaller in diameter because of their better canning qualities.

      Should sweet potatoes be soaked in water before baking? ›

      TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: The main secrets to achieving that incredible crispy texture, is to soak the cut sweet potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes. This helps remove the starch from the sweet potatoes so they´re not limp & soggy.

      Why is it better to boil sweet potatoes? ›

      If you want to eat sweet potatoes and maintain blood sugar balance, Sapola suggests boiling rather than roasting them. This method will take the glycemic index impact down a few points and maybe even challenge your cooking creativity.

      Should I wash sweet potatoes before baking? ›

      Sweet potatoes grow in the ground, and skipping the cleaning step means dirt or grit can end up in your sweet potato casserole. Before cooking or cutting sweet potatoes, wash the skins and give them a scrub with a clean vegetable brush.

      Does egg thicken casserole? ›

      The proteins in eggs coagulate or set at different temperatures. This results in thickening but it means that eggs must be cooked gently and heated carefully or they will scramble rather than thicken a sauce or other mixture.

      What is the purpose of eggs in a baked goods recipe? ›

      Eggs play an important role in everything from cakes and cookies to meringues and pastry cream — they create structure and stability within a batter, they help thicken and emulsify sauces and custards, they add moisture to cakes and other baked goods, and can even act as glue or glaze.

      What is the purpose of putting an egg in mashed potatoes? ›

      Adding egg yolks to a pot of mashed potatoes is an easy, dairy-free texture and taste upgrade that doesn't require any special techniques. The yolks harbor all the flavorful fats and emulsifying components and will thus effectively unify the fat and water in potatoes, translating to a smoother, uniformly creamy pot.

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