By Becky Hardin
Published Sep 14, 2023
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.
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 .
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 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
Video
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.
Equipment
- Crockpot
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.
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.
More Sweet Potato Recipes We Love
- Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Candied Sweet Potatoes
Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
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
Notes
- Cut the sweet potatoes into evenly sized cubes so that they cook through evenly.
- Pecans are traditionally used, but walnuts work great too.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
