If you’re a fan of classic holiday comfort food, you’re in for a treat! Learn how to make the easiest Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows. It’s a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing recipe filled with tender sweet potatoes, warm spices, and that irresistible toasted marshmallow topping.
Why You’ll Love This Comforting Casserole
- Fast. Use cooked or canned sweet potatoes to save time. It’s perfect for holiday prep.
Easy. Boil, top with marshmallows, and bake. Foolproof and beginner-friendly.
Classic. This recipe captures that traditional holiday flavor everyone knows and loves.
Comforting. Comforting sweet potatoes topped with gooey, golden marshmallows? Pure holiday magic.
This timeless side dish brings cozy holiday flavors to your table with minimal effort and maximum wow factor.
Why Put Marshmallows On Sweet Potato Casserole?
Marshmallows are placed on sweet potato casserole because they create the perfect blend of texture, flavor, nostalgia, and visual appeal, turning a simple side dish into a comforting holiday staple.
The tradition dates back more than a century, and over time it became one of the most iconic elements of Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
What Does It Taste Like?
Sweet potato casserole strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory. You get the natural richness of sweet potatoes, the warmth of cinnamon and nutmeg, and that iconic layer of toasted marshmallows that melts into a gooey, golden crust. The result is creamy, nostalgic, and comforting in every bite.
Even people who don’t usually like sweet potatoes end up loving this dish!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 4 large sweet potatoes– These form the base of the casserole. The sweet potatoes bake into tender, flavorful layers that soak up the buttery, spiced sauce. Cubing helps them cook evenly and allows the sauce to cling to every piece.
- ½ cup butter– Adds richness and moisture to the casserole. The butter blends with the sugar and spices to create a velvety sauce.
- ½ cup brown sugar– Sweetens the dish while adding warm caramel and molasses depth. It helps the sauce thicken and glaze the potatoes as they bake.
- ⅓ cup milk or heavy cream– Loosens the sauce and ensures it spreads smoothly over the sweet potatoes. Milk makes it creamy, while heavy cream creates a richer, more decadent consistency.
- 2 large eggs– Eggs bind the sauce and help it set into a custard-like coating as it bakes. This keeps the casserole structured and prevents it from getting watery.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract– Adds warmth and enhances the sweetness, giving the casserole a cozy, classic holiday aroma.
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon– Provides the signature warm, spiced flavor that pairs perfectly with sweet potatoes.
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg– Adds subtle warmth and nutty notes. Nutmeg deepens the holiday flavor profile and complements the cinnamon beautifully.
- ½ teaspoon salt– Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- 3–4 cups mini marshmallows– The iconic finishing touch. Mini marshmallows melt into a gooey, golden layer that caramelizes on top of the casserole.
How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
- Prepare the Sweet Potatoes. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into small chunks. Keeping the slices even helps them cook uniformly.
- Par-Cook the Potatoes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add cubed sweet potatoes and cook for 8–10 minutes, or until just fork-tender but not falling apart. Drain gently to keep slices intact.
- Make the Brown Sugar Glaze. In a bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and salt water. This creates a glossy, syrupy glaze that clings to the sweet potatoes.
- Layer the Casserole. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Add the sweet potatoes to the dish. Pour the brown sugar glaze evenly over the top, tilting the dish slightly so the glaze coats everything.
- Bake the Base. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, uncovered. This allows the glaze to thicken and coat the potato slices in a sticky, caramel-like layer.
- Add Marshmallows. Remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle mini marshmallows across the entire surface. Bake for an additional 10–15 minutes until the marshmallows are melted and the tops are caramelized and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving so the glaze thickens and the marshmallows become gooey but stable.
Tips And Tricks
Making this sweet potato casserole is easy, but these helpful tips will ensure perfect results:
- Don’t skip the eggs. They help the casserole hold together and stay fluffy.
- Use mini marshmallows. Large ones brown too quickly and melt unevenly.
- Bake uncovered. This lets the marshmallows toast instead of steaming.
Variations
If you love the classic version but want to switch things up, there are plenty of easy variations that add new flavors, textures, or dietary twists while keeping that nostalgic holiday charm:
- Pecan Crumble + Marshmallows (Half-and-Half)– Can’t decide between marshmallows or a pecan topping? Do both! Sprinkle a pecan streusel (pecans + brown sugar + butter + flour or oats) over half the casserole. Add marshmallows over the other half. Perfect for pleasing everyone at the table.
- Fully Streuseled (No Marshmallows)– If you prefer a crunchier topping, mix 1 cup chopped pecans, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup flour, and ¼ cup melted butter. Bake until golden and nutty. It turns the casserole into more of a dessert-style crisp.
- Orange-Spiced Sweet Potato Casserole– Add 1 tablespoon orange zest and 2–3 tablespoons orange juice. The citrus brightens the dish and balances the sweetness. It’s fantastic for holiday meals with rich mains.
What To Eat With Sweet Potato Casserole
This sweet, buttery, and nostalgic side dish pairs beautifully with a variety of mains and sides that balance its richness and highlight its cozy flavors.
- Spatchcock Turkey– The ultimate Thanksgiving pairing, where the savory turkey and sweet potatoes balance each other perfectly.
- Crock Pot Ham– Sweet maple- or brown-sugar–glazed ham enhances the casserole’s warm flavors.
- Roasted Chicken– A simple, comforting protein that doesn’t overpower the dish.
- Beef Tenderloin– Hearty beef dishes offer a luxurious contrast to the sweetness.
How Long Does It Last?
Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows will typically last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator when stored properly. The marshmallows may soften as it sits, but the flavor remains delicious.
When you’re ready to reheat it, warm the casserole in the oven so the topping can re-toast and regain some of its gooey, golden texture.
Can You Freeze It?
Yes, you can freeze sweet potato casserole, but there’s one important guideline: freeze it without the marshmallows. The sweet potato base freezes beautifully. It stays creamy, smooth, and flavorful once thawed and reheated. However, marshmallows don’t freeze well; they become sticky, watery, and lose their texture.
To freeze, prepare the casserole as usual, but stop before adding the marshmallow topping. Let it cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, or store it in an airtight freezer-safe container. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 2–3 months.
More Simple Sweet Potato Recipes
Pin It!
Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
Learn how to make the easiest Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows.
]]>
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Allow to Rest: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Homemade Sweet Potato Casserole, Sweet Potato Casserole, Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
Servings: 12 servings
Click on highlighted ingredients or Equipment to see exactly what I use to make this recipe
Instructions
-
Prepare the Sweet Potatoes. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into small chunks. Keeping the slices even helps them cook uniformly.
-
Par-Cook the Potatoes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add cubed sweet potatoes and cook for 8–10 minutes, or until just fork-tender but not falling apart. Drain gently to keep slices intact.
-
Make the Brown Sugar Glaze. In a bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and salt water. This creates a glossy, syrupy glaze that clings to the sweet potatoes.
-
Layer the Casserole. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Add the sweet potato slices inside the dish. Pour the brown sugar glaze evenly over the top, tilting the dish slightly so the glaze coats everything.
-
Bake the Base. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, uncovered. This allows the glaze to thicken and coat the potato slices in a sticky, caramel-like layer.
-
Add Marshmallows. Remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle mini marshmallows across the entire surface. Bake for an additional 10–15 minutes until the marshmallows are melted and the tops are caramelized and golden brown.
-
Cool and Serve. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving so the glaze thickens and the marshmallows become gooey but stable.
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Tried this recipe?Follow @twosleevers and Pin it!
If you love this Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows as much as we do, make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook and Instagram so they can try it too! Don’t forget to Pin it so you can make it again soon.
