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.

    Best Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows - Super Easy Recipe! (4)
    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 do Americans put marshmallows on sweet potato casserole? ›

      According to an article from Saveur Magazine documented by the Library of Congress, the first recipe of mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows dates to 1917, when "marketers of Angelus Marshmallows hired Janet McKenzie Hill, founder of the Boston Cooking School Magazine, to develop recipes for a booklet designed to ...

      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.

      How do you make sweet potato casserole not watery? ›

      Eggs and cream help stabilize the dish and prevent it from becoming too runny (a common complaint with many sweet potato casserole recipes). Make it as smooth or chunky as you like!

      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 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.

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

      No, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.

      Why is my sweet potato casserole soupy? ›

      If your sweet potato casserole turned out “watery”, its usually because you forgot to add eggs; you didn't let your casserole have enough time to set up after baking or you used fresh sweet potatoes and didn't boil them long enough before mashing.

      How to tell when sweet potato casserole is done? ›

      Sprinkle the topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture, then pop it into the oven and let it bake for 40 to 45 minutes. You will know it's done when the topping is lightly browned and the center of your casserole is set and firm.

      What is the difference between yams and sweet potatoes in cooking? ›

      Sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family, while yams belong to the lily family. Yams aren't as sweet as sweet potatoes, and they are starchier and drier. Their texture and flavor are more similar to potatoes or yuca.

      How do you add moisture to a casserole? ›

      Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

      The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

      Why is boiling not good for sweet potatoes? ›

      Despite their sweet taste, these potatoes have an intermediate glycemic index (GI) level, meaning they are digested and absorbed fairly slowly, leading to a more gradual increase in blood sugar levels. But, a lot of these benefits, including nutrients and taste, can be lost by boiling sweet potatoes.

      Is it better to bake or boil sweet potatoes? ›

      Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.

      What pairs well with sweet potatoes? ›

      If you're serving your oven baked sweet potatoes as a side dish, pair them with your favorite protein or vegetarian chili. For a topping, stick to butter, Greek yogurt, or sour cream, or try adding a dollop of cilantro lime dressing, tzatziki, chipotle sauce, pesto, guacamole, or a drizzle of tahini sauce.

      Should you soak potatoes in salt or sugar water? ›

      Why use salt water for soaking potatoes? There's moisture naturally found in potatoes, and moisture is drawn to higher concentrations of salt. (This is a process called osmosis.) So, if you put the potatoes in a salt water bath, that will help draw out some of their moisture, resulting in crispier fries.

      Is it better to peel sweet potatoes before or after boiling? ›

      There is not much difference between boiling sweet potatoes with the skins on versus peeling them, but you will get a boost of fiber and potassium if you keep the skin on. The skin also adds a subtle texture to each bite. If you're looking for a smoother mash, peel the potatoes first before boiling.

      What do Americans have on baked potatoes? ›

      North America. Many restaurants serve baked potatoes with sides such as butter, sour cream, chives, shredded cheese, and bacon bits.

      Why do people put marshmallows in brown sugar? ›

      Even in a supposed airtight container, unless all of the air has been vacuumed out and sealed, there is enough moisture loss for brown sugar to harden. The solution is introducing moisture to the container. An easy way to do this is with a couple of marshmallows.

      Is sweet potato and marshmallow good? ›

      This sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is gooey and delicious! It's a family favorite for holidays that you can bake ahead and reheat. This sweet potato casserole with marshmallows toes the line between side dish and dessert — and we wouldn't have it any other way.

      Who invented candied yams with marshmallows? ›

      But it wasn't until Angelus Marshmallow enlisted the help of renowned Boston cook Janet McKenzie Hill to publish some marshmallow-themed recipes that the dish became what it is today, according to The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets.

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