November 13, 2021

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

This sweet potato casserole recipe is everyone's favorite holiday side dish, topped with marshmallows!

For the longest time I called this holiday side dish "sweet potato PIE"! I mean, we're talking for years. I didn't realize there is actually a pie, similar to pumpkin pie, that is actually sweet potato pie and that THIS (baked sweet potatoes with marshmallows) is indeed Sweet Potato CASSEROLE. My recipe for sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is really easy and a family favorite.

About this Recipe

This ever-so-popular sweet potato casserole graces our Thanksgiving table every year. There are many variations of serving sweet potatoes. This is probably one of the favorites of American households, and can seem more like a dessert than a side dish. But, it never fails to pop up on the dinner table right next to that turkey.

Ben told me he never liked sweet potatoes until he had them this way. He said it was life changing for him. He was 10 years old.

Ingredients

It doesn't take much to make this recipe. Just sweet potatoes, marshmallows, and a few items from your pantry. Below is a list of ingredients you need to make sweet potato casserole.

Here's what you need:

Mini marshmallows (10 oz. bag)
Sweet potatoes (5 medium)
Butter (4 tablespoons)
Brown sugar (½ cup)
Orange juice (3 tablespoons)
Ground cinnamon (½ teaspoon)

If you do not have orange juice on hand, another citrus juice will do. Or, just leave it out altogether -- no worries!

How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the step-by-step on how to make sweet potato casserole. The general steps are as follows:

Peel and dice 5 medium sweet potatoes.
Boil the sweet potatoes in a large pot until tender.
Drain and mash sweet potatoes with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and orange juice.
Spread mixture into casserole dish.
Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and top with marshmallows.
Bake additional 5 to 10 minutes until marshmallows are puffy and golden.

Serving Suggestions

Add-ins: The recipe calls for orange juice, but you can add any citrus juice (or leave out altogether). I also sometimes stir in pecans, and/or more or less of the spices. For a creamier casserole, stir in a little heavy cream.

Topping: We typically use mini marshmallows but you can use any size! If you're not a fan of marshmallows, you can try my pecan streusel topping.

Halve: This recipe yields about 10 servings, but you can halve it into a square dish for a smaller crowd.

Top Tips and Tricks

Do not overcook your sweet potatoes. Boil until just fork tender.
Try roasting your sweet potatoes instead of baking for a deeper flavor. Roast whole potatoes in a 400°F oven for about 1 hour, let cool and peel. Continue with steps for mashing and mixing in the recipe.
For a healthier version, leave off the marshmallows and top with a mixture of cereal or granola. Experiment with your favorite sweeteners instead of the brown sugar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a dessert or side dish?
Sometimes sweet potato casserole IS served in a pie dish with a pie crust. Not my version! This sweet potato casserole is a side dish, not a dessert. Let sweet potato pie be served in the pie dish and keep the sweet potato casserole in the casserole dish!

Let's save Thanksgiving dessert table space for pumpkin pie, pecan pie, chocolate pie, and apple pie!

Why top sweet potato casserole with marshmallows?
We Americans love our sweets. Adding sweet potatoes to the top of this dish is like adding whipped cream or a decadent topping. We like to stir in marshmallows to our jello and "salads", too!

Are canned yams and sweet potatoes the same?
In a nutshell, the canned yams you see in your grocery store are actually the orange sweet potatoes. So in this case, YES, they are the same thing. However, when you get down to the technicalities, real fresh yams are a different root vegetable found in Africa. But, most people are not asking that question and simply want to know about the canned yams here in our stores.

If you use canned yams in this recipe, skip the part of boiling the sweet potatoes because canned yams are already cooked. Just mash them with the rest of the ingredients and bake. Canned yams are also usually sweetened already, so you may want to cut down on the brown sugar.

Storage and Leftovers

Store: Store the baked sweet potato casserole tightly covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Reheat: I find it best to reheat portions in the microwave.

Make-Ahead: You can make the casserole without the marshmallows up to 2 days in advance and store in the fridge until ready to bake. I always recommend waiting to top with the marshmallows until it's time to bake and serve. This creates the best toasty marshmallow topping that will otherwise become soggy while storing.

Freeze: Believe it or not, you can prep the sweet potato casserole ahead of time and store in the freezer. To freeze, prepare the mixture and spread into a casserole dish. (If you're freezing it, I recommend using a disposable foil pan.) Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap without the marshmallows and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw in the fridge overnight, then top with the marshmallows when instructed in the recipe.

What to Serve with Sweet Potato Casserole

Print this recipe or PIN it to save for later. Made this recipe? Leave a star rating and tag me on social media @seededtable so I can see. I love hearing from you!

New photos by Marie Roffey.

This recipe was originally published November 2010 and updated October 2021 with new photos and tips.

Recipe Card

casserole dish of sweet potato casserole with marshmallows

Print Recipe

4.69 from 151 votes