Bowl Me Over

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Me
    • Work with Me
  • Video
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Video
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Video
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Christmas Day Recipes

Make-ahead Sweet Potato Casserole

Published: Nov 13, 2023 by Debra Clark · 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe

This Make-ahead Sweet Potato Casserole is a classic Thanksgiving Recipe and the perfect holiday side dish! It's full of sweet potatoes, crunchy pecans, and a hint of orange. Plus, it can be made ahead of time so you can relax on Thanksgiving day.

Sweet potato casserole in baking dish wiht serving spoon.
Best Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Looking for more ideas? Be sure to check out these terrific Holiday Side Dish Recipes!

Jump to:
  • Why you'll love this recipe   
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions 
  • Equipment
  • FAQ's
  • Things to know
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • Related recipes
  • Serve with
  • Make-ahead Sweet Potato Casserole

Why you'll love this recipe   

✔️ This casserole is always a hit at holiday gatherings!

✔️ The sweet potatoes are cooked to perfection.

✔️  It's the perfect side dish for your holiday meal.

Ingredients to make recipe, with print overlay.
Ingredients for the classic sweet potato casserole.

Ingredients

Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements. 

  • sweet potatoes
  • fresh orange
  • butter
  • light brown sugar
  • cinnamon
  • nutmeg
  • salt
  • pecans
  • mini marshmallows
Photo collage with Instructions to make recipe, with print overlay.

Instructions 

This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!

  1. Spray 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
  2. Peel sweet potatoes, cut sweet potatoes into 2-inch pieces. Place in a large pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium high heat until fork tender, about 20 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat, drain well. Add to a large bowl and mash, set aside.
  4. Zest orange and juice orange in a small bowl, you'll need about ¼ cup juice. Whisk with melted butter.
  5. In a small bowl combine the topping ingredients, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
  6. Layer half of the creamy sweet potatoes in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the brown sugar mixture, and drizzle with half of the butter. Top with half of the toasted pecan topping. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients Top evenly with marshmallows.
  7. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
  8. The day you're baking the casserole, remove it from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature - about 30 minutes. Bake as directed.

Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

  • 9x13 casserole dish
  • small bowl
  • whisk

FAQ's

How long can sweet potato casserole be refrigerated before cooking?

You can make this dish up to two days before you bake it.

Are canned yams and sweet potatoes the same?

No, they are not. yams tend to be sweeter and have more starch than sweet potatoes.

Do you put eggs in sweet potato casserole?

I did not use eggs in this recipe. However, some recipes do call for eggs.

Casserole in baking dish.
Sweet Potato Recipe

Things to know

  • Make sure that you spray your casserole dish well with nonstick cooking spray or grease it with butter or shortening.
  • Though it's tempting to use ready-made OJ, zest an orange. It only takes about a minute and adds so much flavor!
  • I like to use mini marshmallows for the top of the casserole. However, you can use the larger marshmallows also.
  • I like to use a potato masher to break up the large chunks in the sweet potato mixture. But, if you want really smooth sweet potatoes, you can also use an electric mixer or potato ricer.

No oven space? Make this in the slow cooker instead! Layer the ingredients as directed and cook on low for 4 hours.

Variations

  • If you want a little extra sweetness, you can drizzle the casserole with honey or maple syrup before serving.
  • You can also use white sweet potatoes in this recipe if you can't find orange sweet potatoes.
  • Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the butter mixture for a little extra flavor.
  • If you don't like pecans, you could use walnuts or almonds instead.
  • Instead of the marshmallow topping, you could also top this casserole with a crunchy pecan streusel topping instead.

Storage

Refrigerate - Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days. Store them in an airtight container or wrapped tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

Freezer - This casserole can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then bake as directed.

Reheat - Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cover with foil and heat for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.

Make ahead sweet potato casserole in baking dish with serving spoon.
Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole

Related recipes

  • This Campbell's Green Bean Casserole is one of my favorite Thanksgiving Sides. And, it will definitely be on my table this year.
  • Dressing is a must-make for any holiday meal! This recipe for Sausage and Bacon Stuffing is savory, salty and delicious.
  • If you love to serve pumpkin pie at your family holiday gathering, but want an easy recipe with the same flavor, look no further than this No Bake Pumpkin Pie recipe.
  • These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are the perfect way to make this classic Thanksgiving side dish yet still save some space on your stovetop for other side dishes.

Serve with

  • These Steamed Brussels Sprouts are one of the best holiday side dishes to make when you want a healthy vegetable on the table.
  • If you want a twist on this classic holiday side dish, give these Pan Fried Vegetables a try this holiday season.
  • You can't have Thanksgiving without Cranberry Sauce on the Thanksgiving table.

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️

If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! 

Make ahead sweet potato casserole topped with toasted marshmallows.
5 from 1 vote

Make-ahead Sweet Potato Casserole

This easy recipe is a must-make for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter! The creamy sweet potatoes with the pecan crumble is a family favorite.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time30 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr
Course: Vegetables and Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 433kcal
Author: Deb Clark

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes about 4 medium potatoes
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest plus cup fresh juice from 1 large orange
  • ¼ cup butter melted
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoons salt
  • 2 cups pecan chopped
  • 15-20 marshmallows

Instructions

  • Spray 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
  • Peel sweet potatoes, cut sweet potatoes into 2-inch pieces. Place in a large pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium high heat until fork tender, about 20 minutes.
  • Remove from heat, drain well. Place sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl and mash until creamy. You can also use a hand mixer if you prefer whipped potatoes.
  • Zest orange and juice orange in a small bowl, you'll need about ¼ cup juice. Whisk with melted butter.
  • In a small bowl, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
  • Layer half of the sweet potato filling in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the brown sugar mixture, and drizzle with half of the butter. Top with half of the toasted pecans. Repeat layers with the remaining ingredients.
  • Top the entire casserole evenly with marshmallows.
  • To make ahead, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to two days.
  • The next day, remove it from the refrigerator and set on the counter for 30 minutes prior to baking.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until marshmallows are golden and casserole is bubbling and hot. Enjoy!

Love this recipe? Join the free membership group!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 413mg | Potassium: 518mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 16283IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 2mg

    More Christmas Day Recipes

    • Sliced ham on platter.
      Slow Cooker Ham with Pineapple
    • Roasted Green Beans and Carrots on platter.
      Roasted Green Beans and Carrots
    • Monkey bread in baking dish with glaze being spooned over the rolls.
      Sticky Sweet Pull Apart Cinnamon Rolls
    • A fresh out of the oven cinnamon roll on a spatula that has been made with frozen bread dough.
      Cinnamon Rolls from Frozen Bread Dough

    About Debra Clark

    Hey I'm Deb Clark, and I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over! We live in the sleepy little town of Scappoose, Oregon. And I admit it... I love food! Join me in this foodie journey (even if you've never cooked before!) I will help you learn to be confident in the kitchen! Want to learn more? Let's stay connected, you can email me at debra@bowl-me-over.com and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Lois says

      December 25, 2023 at 8:11 am

      5 stars
      Sweet Potatoes go with any holiday meal. We just love them and you can fix them ahead of time to make the holiday cooking a little less stressful. So good.

      Reply
    Blogger Deb Clark smiling at camera holding a plate filled with a casserole.
    Welcome to Bowl Me Over!

    Hey I'm Deb Clark! I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over. We live in a sleepy little town just north of Portland in the beautiful Pacific Northwest... (read more)

    Everyone's Favorites

    • Spoon filled with chicken spaghetti over casserole dish.
      Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel

    • Ground Beef Casserole in a cast iron skillet with a spoon taking out a big scoop.
      Hobo Casserole

    • Sauce in bowl with spoon.
      Smashburger Sauce Recipe

    • Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole in white dish.
      Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole

    • Quarter Pounder Hamburger with bite taken out. Burger is loaded with cheese, lettuce and tomato.
      How to Cook Frozen Hamburger Patties in the Oven

    • Close-up view of crispy smashed fingerling potatoes with caramelized garlic, herbs, and seasoning for a crunchy golden finish.
      Smashed Fingerling Potatoes

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter

    Footer

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About Me
    as featured in

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2013 - 2025 Bowl Me Over, LLC

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.