Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar Topping

Sweet potato casserole! ♡ And let me tell you, friends: this crunchy brown sugar topping will give you life.

Sweet Potato Casserole with a crunchy brown sugar topping with a wooden spoon

You didn’t think I would, but oh yes, in fact, I did.

I am tossing you a Thanksgiving recipe today. THANKSGIVING! And I want you to catch it and love it, okay? It is a deep, rich, sweet potato casserole from scratch with a crunchy brown sugar topping, and it’s comforting and cozy and it’s coming for you right now – ready?

I see two options for you right now. You can fall into a state of shock and awe that it is already borderline time for Thanksgiving (admittedly, this would be my default since usually I don’t even think about Thanksgiving until three days before – WHO AM I RIGHT NOW), OR you can realize the true fact that something this good doesn’t need to just be reserved for Thanksgiving and you can go right on ahead with your best kitchen self and make this happen even BEFORE the clock strikes dinnertime on Thanksgiving Day.

Those are the two options. You can choose.

Watch How to Make This Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole with a crunchy brown sugar topping in a bowl with a fork

You guys, the strange thing about this sweet potato casserole is that it is very much a dessert, but never once in my Thanksgiving career have I experienced this being served as anything other than a completely luscious side dish to accompany the mashed potatoes and gravy, turkey, green bean casserole, and soft white dinner rolls. It just works. It’s that one little pre-dessert side that you might even like more than your real dessert.

This is a recipe that my mom has been making for years, and she got it from one of her friends who has been making it for years before that, and there is a reason is has become a mainstay at Thanksgiving.

First, let’s talk toppings.

Here’s the Topping Situation

I like to Easy Button my life whenever possible, so I just toss those pecans, flour, butter, and brown sugar in my food processor and give it a go-round till it makes that crumbly, streusel-like topping that we know and love.

Brown Sugar Topping for Sweet Potato Casserole in a food processor

Okay, we’ve got the topping.

Now the base.

Now Onto the Sweet Potato Casserole Base

The sweet potato mixture is as easy as mixing up a muffin batter – it starts with sweet potatoes (canned, which I know seems so retro and perfect and that’s because it is – I’ve made this with non-canned sweet potatoes, and the weight of baked or boiled sweet potatoes is just too heavy, trust me on this one), and then eggs, butter, milk, sugar, and vanilla.

It’s that easy. Mix and pour that mixture into a pan, and then top it with your beloved crumble.

Sweet Potato Casserole with a crunchy brown sugar topping

Sweet Potato Casserole with a crunchy brown sugar topping in a dish with a spoon

You’re going to bake this guy for 30-45 minutes to get that topping nice and crispy, and then?

The moment of Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole truth.

Sweet Potato Casserole with a crunchy brown sugar topping in a wooden spoon

YOU’RE A HERO.

The soft and sweet bottom layer + the crunchy and nutty top layer work their magic together to make the best sweet potato casserole that you could ever want for your Thanksgiving side-dish domination.

I can’t wait for you to love this one.

Sweet Potato Casserole with a crunchy brown sugar topping in a dish with a wooden spoon

Common Questions About This Sweet Potato Casserole

Can I use fresh sweet potatoes instead of canned sweet potatoes?

Yes! We actually enjoy the texture of the canned sweet potatoes here, but fresh would work as well. Would recommend baking instead of boiling if you go the fresh route as to not add more moisture.

Why are there eggs in this?

The eggs in the sweet potato casserole are what binds it all together without making the base too heavy. Without them, the casserole wouldn’t be quite as fluffy and scoopable!

What’s the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?

We couldn’t have explained it better than Bon Appetit here. In this recipe, we’re technically using orange sweet potatoes.

Can I prep this in advance?

Yep, that should work just fine! Prep it all as listed, and you can refrigerate for 1-2 days before baking. If you want to make it even better, you could also wait to sprinkle on the topping until it’s time to bake.

How can I make this a vegan sweet potato casserole?

To make this vegan, you can sub the butter for vegan butter, the milk for your favorite plant-based unsweetened/unflavored milk, and omit the eggs.

How can I made this sweet potato casserole gluten-free?

Sub in a gluten-free flour (like almond flour) for the all-purpose flour in the topping.