Easy Sweet Potato Casserole - An easy and delicious casserole that comes together with no scrubbing, boiling or baking the sweet potatoes! Topped with a sweet, salty and crunchy streusel, your guests will devour this simple and tasty side dish!
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How often do you and your family eat sweet potatoes? Do you enjoy them throughout the year or just over the holidays? Sweet Potato Casserole is a sweet side dish that tends to make an appearance on dinner tables across the U.S., especially over Thanksgiving.
The sweet potato casserole we're making today is super simple. In fact, there's no need to scrub, boil or bake the sweet potatoes beforehand because the recipe uses CANNED yams.
ARE CANNED YAMS IN GROCERY STORES ACTUALLY SWEET POTATOES?
The answer is yes. . .in grocery stores.
In the real world, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same thing. There are tons of articles out on the Internet that will explain the difference if you're really interested.
But what you need to know for this recipe is you'll be purchasing canned YAMS, which in a grocery store, are normally soft sweet potatoes, but are labeled as yams.? Got that??
I know it's a bit confusing, but you have to trust me on this one. And just to keep you guessing, I'm going to use the terms yams and sweet potatoes interchangeably throughout this post.?
Also, instead of throwing mini marshmallows on top, we're going to whip up a crunchy streusel topping with pecans and brown sugar!
For those of you streusel connoisseurs out there, yes, I know there isn't flour in the streusel, so how can I even call it streusel? I say, call it what you want. . .pecan topping, brown sugar topping, Ritz cracker topping. I, however, am calling it streusel.?
Let's get to making this casserole, shall we?
HOW TO MAKE SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
To prepare this sweet potato casserole, you'll need:
- Canned yams
- Sugar
- Egg
- Butter
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Ritz crackers
- Pecans
- Brown Sugar
If you've never used canned yams before, this is your chance. Drain the sweet potatoes before mashing them. I use a masher to make the job super simple.
This is really the step that saves you the most time since you don't need to peel or boil the sweet potatoes. Pretty awesome, right?
Combine the mashed sweet potatoes with sugar, an egg, butter and cinnamon.
Transfer the potatoes to a greased baking dish.
Its time to mix up that crunchy topping! It's a combination of crushed Ritz crackers, pecans, brown sugar and butter. Sounds heavenly, am I right?
Start sprinkling that delicious topping over the sweet potatoes and pop it in the oven.
After about 20-25 minutes, the casserole topping will have turned a golden brown and the potatoes will be ready to enjoy.
Are you ready to dig in?!
CAN YOU PREPARE THIS CASSEROLE THE NIGHT BEFORE?
You can prepare the casserole the night before but I would wait with the topping until you're ready to place it into the oven.
If you do end up refrigerating it, allow it to set out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before baking.
Because you're starting with "cold" potatoes, you'll need to bake it for about 35-40 minutes. Plan to add the topping about halfway through cooking time.
CAN YOU FREEZE SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE?
Yes! Prepare the sweet potato mixture and spread into a casserole dish. Let it cool completely, wrap it in freezer wrap or aluminum foil and store in the freezer for up to three months.
The day before you want to bake it, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw overnight in the fridge.
Mix up the streusel topping mixture, place on top of the casserole and bake as I instructed above - at 350º Fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes. Plan to add the topping about halfway through cooking time.
HOW LONG WILL SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE LAST IN THE FRIDGE?
You have some leftovers? No problem. Just cover the casserole with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to a week.
HUNGRY FOR MORE DELICIOUS SIDE DISHES?
- Easy Dinner Rolls
- Cheesy Cauliflower & Broccoli Casserole
- Twice Baked Mashed Potato Casserole
- Pineapple Pretzel Salad
- Easy Pea Salad
- Thyme Carrots & Cauliflower
Easy Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 40 ounce canned yams in syrup (drained and mashed)
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup butter (melted)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Dash salt
For Topping
- 1 cup coarsely crushed Ritz crackers (about 25 crackers)
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, combine yams, sugar, egg, butter, ground cinnamon and salt.
- Transfer to a greased 1.5 quart baking dish.
- Combine topping ingredients.
- Sprinkle over sweet potato mixture.
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are heated through and topping is golden brown.
Notes
- Yam Preparation: While canned yams in syrup offer convenience, consider using fresh sweet potatoes for enhanced flavor and texture. Simply peel the dice, and boil the sweet potatoes until tender. Mash them well before proceeding with the recipe. This allows you to control the sweetness and avoid any excess syrup from the canned yams.
- Enhancing Flavor: Experiment with additional spices and flavorings to elevate the taste of the sweet potato casserole. Add a pinch of nutmeg or a splash of vanilla extract to the sweet potato mixture for extra depth of flavor. You can also incorporate orange zest for a citrusy twist that complements the natural sweetness of the potatoes.
- Topping Texture: Achieve a perfect balance of crunch and sweetness in the topping by adjusting the ratio of Ritz crackers, pecans, and brown sugar. If you prefer a finer texture, pulse the topping ingredients in a food processor until finely ground. Alternatively, for a chunkier texture, coarsely crush the crackers and roughly chop the pecans. Ensure the topping is evenly distributed over the sweet potato mixture for a delightful contrast in texture.
wausausue
Oh, Sara! This recipe was DELICIOUS! Instead of a traditional streusel topping, I loved the Ritz crackers. I save recipes I plan to make again in a large three ring binder. I had a recipe for a similar sweet potato casserole from Ruth Chris Steakhouse, but I’m tossing it in the trash! The flavor of your recipe was much tastier (and perhaps a tad bit healthier as it did not use so much sugar).