The Best Sweet Potato Casserole

I have to share this recipe, it’s the best sweet potato casserole ever! It’s my friend Lisa’s recipe. I grew up with yam or sweet potato casseroles with marshmallows on top. Not one person in my family ate them. I quit making my mom’s recipe.

I thought to myself, on Thanksgiving, yams or sweet potatoes are a must. We hadn’t had them on the Thanksgiving holiday for years until I got this recipe. It’s so good and it doesn’t have marshmallows. I used to eat all the marshmallows on the top, did you do that?

This sweet potato casserole has apples and sweet potatoes/yams covered with a sweet sauce, it’s not too sweet, it’s just right. In fact, it’s perfect. In case you missed this post, How To Bake A Sweet Potato

Items You May Need In The Kitchen:

• Potato Peeler
• Apple Peeler
• 4-Quart Saucepan
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Casserole Dish (9 by 13-inch)

Ingredients

• Sweet Potatoes/Yams: The star of this sweet potato casserole! Sweet potatoes are starchy, root vegetables that are high in many vitamins/minerals, and fiber. Yams are more cylindrical than sweet potatoes with dark thick skin. A yam is a tuber and a sweet potato is a root.
• Baking Apples: For best results, use apples that are nice and firm that will hold up well while baking. Recommended apples: Fuji, Braeburn, Granny Smith, Gala, Honey Gold, or Jonathan.
• Brown Sugar: A mixture of granulated white sugar and molasses. It’s added for flavor and to help maintain moisture. It caramelizes as it bakes, creating a robust rich flavor that makes this casserole truly incredible!
• Salt: Used to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients and to offset the flavor of the sugar.
• Unsalted Butter: Due to the fat content, butter helps to produce a softer sweet potato and enriches the flavor. It browns the sweet potato casserole while cooking. Due to the added salt in this recipe, you don’t need to use butter that contains added salt.
• Cornstarch: A thickening agent. When combined with a liquid it creates a slurry that thickens the sweet potato casserole sauce.
• Lemon Juice: Used to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients; gives the boost of lemon zest flavor we all love! It helps to lock in the moisture in the sweet potato casserole and adds a little tartness.
• Nutmeg: A warm spice that adds a little sweet and nutty flavor to the recipe.
• Cinnamon: Adds a little spice and warmth to the sweet potato casserole.

Instructions – The Best Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Step One: Gather Ingredients

Gather all of the ingredients that you will need to make the sweet potato casserole.

Step Two: Wash Sweet Potatoes – Cut Off Ends

Thoroughly scrub and wash the sweet potatoes/yams. Try to remove as much dirt from the skin as possible. Once washed, cut off the ends to expose the inner flesh of the sweet potatoes/yams.

Step Three:  Place Foil on a Cookie Sheet – Bake Sweet Potatoes/Yams at (400°F) = (204°C) – Appr. 1 1/2 Hours

Place foil on a cookie sheet and spray with cooking spray. Place the sweet potatoes/yams on the foiled and greased cookie sheet. The cooking time will depend on what size of sweet potatoes/yams you purchase. These were rather large sweet potatoes, it took 1-1/2 hours to bake them.

Step Four: Remove Baked Sweet Potatoes/Yams – Allow to Cool

Remove the baked sweet potatoes/yams from the oven and allow them to cool.

Step Five: Peel Sweet Potatoes/Yams – Slice

After the sweet potatoes/yams have had a chance to cool, it is time to peel and slice them to your desired thickness.

Step Six: Peel, Slice, and Core the Apples

Next, thoroughly wash the apples. Using an apple peeler or other tool, peel, slice, and core the apples. Slice down the center of the peeled and cored apple to create apple slices that will be ready to be placed in the casserole dish.

Step Seven: Grease Baking Dish – Layer the Sweet Potatoes/Yams and Apples

Grease a 9×13 inch pan and layer the sweet potato/yams and apples.

Step Eight: In a Saucepan – Combine Water, Brown Sugar, Salt, and Cornstarch – Stir Constantly

It is time to prepare the sauce that will be poured over the layered sweet potatoes/yams and apples in the greased 9×13 in pan.

In a medium to large pot or saucepan, combine the water, brown sugar, salt, and cornstarch, stirring constantly.

Step Nine: Add Butter – Stir Constantly – Add Lemon Juice

Add one cube (1/2 cup) of butter. Continue stirring constantly. Cook until it starts to thicken. Add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice.

Step Ten: Continually Stir Until Mixed Thoroughly

Stir the brown sugar mixture constantly to keep it from burning. Stir until the mixture is thoroughly mixed.

Step Eleven: Pour Sauce Over Sweet Potatoes/Yams and Apples

Next, pour the sweet potato sauce over the sweet potatoes/yams and apples. Try to make sure each piece is covered with the sauce.

Step Twelve: Sprinkle with Cinnamon and Nutmeg (I forgot to add it earlier)

Then sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. It is already starting to smell so good! Is your mouth watering yet?

Step Thirteen: Cover with Foil – Bake in the oven at (350°F) = (176°C) – 30 Mins

Finally, cover the sweet potato/yam mixture with foil and bake in the oven at (350°F) = (176°C) for 30 minutes.

Finished Product

How do I store the sweet potato casserole leftovers?

I store them in an airtight container for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.

Can I freeze the sweet potato casserole leftovers?

Yes, you can. Be sure and let the leftovers cool to room temperature and then store them in an airtight container for up to 2 months in the freezer.

Can I mash the sweet potatoes before baking the sweet potato casserole?

You sure can, that’s what my mother used to do. Just follow the instructions in the recipe card, instead of slicing them, mash the sweet potatoes while they are warm with a potato masher. Plan on the final product to have a different texture, but that’s fine. I love mashed sweet potatoes!

Can I use some canned yams or sweet potatoes in this sweet potato casserole recipe?

Of course, they work great. It’s one less thing you have to boil or steam. Just drain the liquid from the cans. As with mashed sweet potatoes, the texture of the casserole will be somewhat different.

What temperature should a sweet potato be cooked to?

I typically just use a fork to see f they are tender. But if you want a precise indicator, insert an instant thermometer into the thickest part of the potato. The temp should register (210°F) = (98°C) when cooked through.

Can I add a pecan crumble topping, streusel topping, or marshmallows to this sweet potato casserole?

I really love the recipe for this sweet potato casserole as is! If you are interested in adding a pecan crumble topping, I highly recommend making it as follows:

• In a large microwave-safe bowl or in a medium saucepan on the stove, melt 1/4 cup of unsalted butter.
• Add 2/3 cups of brown sugar, 1/4 tsp salt or kosher salt, and 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour.
• Once the mixture has combined and has a crumbly texture, add 1 cup of chopped pecans.
• Spread the mixture over the casserole before baking.

If you are interested in topping it with marshmallows, I recommend using mini marshmallows. Spread the mini marshmallows evenly over the sweet potato mixture before baking. If you’d like to have 1/2 of the casserole covered with the marshmallows, I suggest adding the marshmallows for the last 15 minutes of the baking time to 1/2 of the casserole, uncovered.

Can this sweet potato casserole recipe be prepared ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare this sweet potato casserole 1-2 days in advance. Store in the fridge covered with foil until time to heat and serve.

What pairs well with sweet potato casserole?

• Sliced turkey
• 3-Ingredient Fresh Cranberry Sauce
• Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
• Fresh Cranberry Salad Recipe
• How To Make Turkey Cranberry Roll-Ups
• Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Spread with Crackers

Do you love the taste of baked sweet potatoes? Check out these other delicious recipes and find additional information!

• How To Bake A Sweet Potato
• How to Grow Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Potatoes: Everything You Need to Know

Is there a difference between sweet potatoes and yams?

Over the years I’ve published various recipes given to me in which either sweet potatoes or yams are specified as the key ingredient. It seems like each time I published one of those recipe posts I’d have someone point out I was in error to use one or the other, or they’d say it didn’t matter since they were the same vegetable. Well, today I did some research, and so here goes:

Yes, the two are very similar in size, shape, and even taste. You need to know that the US Department of Agriculture requires sellers to properly label them as one or the other.

Sweet potatoes actually have their origin in Central and South America. Over the years they have gained ground on farms in Southern US states and in particular, California. On the other hand, yams aren’t grown on a commercial basis in the U.S., so they tend to be harder to find in your local store. They are native to Africa and Asia but can be found in South America and the Caribbean.

Tubers or Tuber Roots?

It’s interesting to note that sweet potatoes are from the same family as morning glory and are referred to as tubers, which are plants that have tuber roots underground and vines above ground. Sweet potatoes are considered dicots.

You’ll find yams growing like lilies and certain ornamental grass varieties, so rather than a vine, they come from a true flowering plant. As such, yams are called monocots.

When it comes to using them in a recipe or preparing them individually for a meal, you’ll find those sweet potatoes are easier to peel and have the texture that you typically find in regular potatoes.

Both are sweet, but some people feel that yams have a sweeter taste. Yams have tough and scaly skin, making them a little harder to peel. From a nutrition standpoint, yams are full of potassium while sweet potatoes are known for their vitamin A content.

So there you have it, now you’re prepared to answer that trivia question the next time you’re at a neighborhood party.

My Thanksgiving Tip

I have done this for years, laminate your recipes and grab some cookie sheets. Place all of the measured ingredients on each cookie sheet so those who are helping with the meal can make the recipe with ease.

Final Word

Please let me know if you decide to make this delicious sweet potato casserole. It’s the perfect casserole for a Thanksgiving feast, Christmas dinner, or Easter brunch! I love how the flavors of the sweet potatoes/yams, apples, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg combine to make the most scrumptious sweet potato casserole recipe you have ever made!

The way in which the brown sugar caramelizes as the casserole bakes creates a rich and robust flavor that makes everyone want to go back for more. You will definitely want to take a few copies of this recipe to share when you meet with friends and family! This is one recipe that people will ask for and you will want to share! May God Bless this World, Linda!