This Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole is my favorite easy and hands-off way to make my family’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish. It’s sweet and crunchy, topped with pecans and marshmallows, and perfect to serve alongside roasted turkey.
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Why I Love This Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Once I realized I could make our favorite sweet potato casserole in a crockpot, I was sold. This is the way I make it every holiday now, and it couldn’t be easier or tastier.
- Easy. This classic sweet potato casserole is a breeze to make in the Crockpot, and it will free up your oven for the rest of the meal. It’s a great alternative to oven-baked and so simple to prep.
- Sweet. The combination of sweet potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and mini marshmallows makes this casserole irresistible.
- Crunchy. Pecans add a nutty flavor and delightful crunch to this casserole.
Variations on Slow Cooked Sweet Potato Casserole
There are so many ways to jazz up this classic casserole. Try swapping the marshmallows for a pecan streusel topping by combining chopped pecans, brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon. Sprinkle this over the casserole during the last hour of cooking.
You could also drizzle the casserole with a maple syrup glaze or add a pinch of nutmeg to the potatoes as they cook for even more holiday flavor.
For a more savory casserole, add herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage to the sweet potatoes and sprinkle them with grated cheddar or Parmesan cheese during the last hour of cooking.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover crockpot sweet potato casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in a 350°F oven until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze sweet potato casserole in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
This crockpot sweet potato casserole is great to serve as part of your Thanksgiving or holiday dinner. Try it with a festive main, like Roast Turkey, Smoked Turkey Breast, Prime Rib Roast, Pineapple Ham, or Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin.
Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ cups brown sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted (¾ stick)
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 cups mini marshmallows divided
- 1 cup chopped pecans divided
Instructions
- Stir the brown sugar, butter, water, cinnamon and vanilla together in a crock pot then add the sweet potatoes and stir to combine once again.1½ cups brown sugar, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons water, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 4 pounds sweet potatoes, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Cover with the lid and cook on high for 3 ½-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours or until the sweet potatoes are tender, stir every hour to prevent burning.
- Stir in 2 cups of the marshmallows and ½ cup of the pecans then sprinkle the top with the remaining pecans and marshmallows.3 cups mini marshmallows, 1 cup chopped pecans
- Cover once again and let the marshmallows melt on high for another 10-15 minutes.
- Uncover and let the sweet potatoes cool for about 20 minutes before serving.
Video
Becky’s Tips
- Cut the sweet potatoes into evenly sized cubes so that they cook through evenly.
- Pecans are traditionally used, but walnuts work great too.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole Step by Step
Make the Sauce: Stir 1½ cups of brown sugar, 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons of water, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract together in a crockpot.
Cook the Potatoes: Add 4 pounds of peeled and cubed sweet potatoes and stir to combine once again. Cover with the lid and cook on high for 3 ½-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are tender. Stir every hour to prevent burning.
Add the Toppings: Stir in 2 cups of the marshmallows and ½ cup of the pecans, then sprinkle the top with the remaining ½ cup of pecans and 1 cup of marshmallows.
Melt the Marshmallows: Cover once again and let the marshmallows melt on high for another 10-15 minutes. Uncover and let the sweet potatoes cool for about 20 minutes before serving.
This side dish takes 3 ½-4 hours on a high setting, or on low for 6-8 hours. Just set it to go while you are prepping the rest of the meal and your Thanksgiving dinner will be a breeze to make!
Yes, it’s best to peel the sweet potatoes as the skins can be quite tough and chewy even when cooked. Cut them into similar-sized pieces so that they cook evenly.
Canned or thawed frozen sweet potatoes can be used in this recipe.
Sweet potato casserole should be set and firm, not loose and runny.
Sweet potatoes tend to absorb water, so if you boil them before making the casserole, they will release that water as they bake/cook, making the casserole watery. We avoid this by cooking them from raw in a crockpot.
If you prefer a thicker casserole, add 2-3 tablespoons of flour to the sweet potatoes to help them thicken up as they cook. You can also stir in some cornstarch towards the end of the cook time.
Yes! You can prep the whole dish the night before and keep covered and refrigerated until ready to cook. Once cooked, the casserole will keep well for up to 5 days in the fridge.
would I halve this recipe for a small 2Qt Crockpot?
Hi Mary, we made this recipe in a 6-qt crockpot, so we would recommend reducing it to 1/3 for the best results!
Thank you!
If I want to make this for a Friendsgiving and have ready before I go how do I reheat once it’s time to eat?
Hi Courtney, reheat on the stovetop or in a 350°F oven until warmed through!
How long do I cook if I use canned sweet potatoes?
Hi Nora, if using cooked canned sweet potatoes, we recommend heating for about an hour just to warm through, then following the recipe from step 3.
Can I use canned yams for this instead?
Sure!
Can I use yams instead?
Hi, if you’re based in the US and using yams, absolutely– they are the same thing! If you’re based outside of the US, yams are a different veg completely and cannot be used instead!
Could you double this recipe in the crock pot? Would it all fit?
That depends on the size of your crockpot!
Can you use frozen sweet potatoes?
We would thaw them first!
How much does it feed ?
Serves six, but you could go a little more with smaller portions!
Hi I was wondering the size chunks the sweet potatoes get cut into? Thank you.
Around half-inch or a little bigger chunks!