What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Is it sweet potato casserole? Ok good. Because you’re going to love this post then! I have to admit, I haven’t been the biggest fan of sweet potato casserole – I just didn’t grow up with it. We were the cheesy potato side dish kind of family.
BUT, I got married and celebrated Thanksgiving with my husband’s side of the family a few times and his Aunt made a mean sweet potato casserole. I asked her for the recipe and it of course was one of the great Paula Dean’s! I didn’t change too much about her recipe – I added a little black pepper and reduced the sugar a tad, but other than that…this sweet potato casserole is perfect.
It has this insane crunchy topping that’s made with brown sugar, flour, pecans and butter and it seriously makes the dish. Some may think of this as dessert because it is sweet. However, I would argue that it compliments the entire Thanksgiving meal so make pumpkin pie for dessert instead mmmk?
A huge thanks to Aunt Donna for making this side dish – I am now a sweet potato casserole gal.
And so happy that I am!
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- 2-3 sweet potatoes, cooked (you need 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup milk (I used whole)
- Topping
- 1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed (light or dark)
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons softened butter
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees to bake the sweet potatoes. Once they are baked reduce to 325 degrees for the casserole.
- Prick sweet potatoes several times with a fork. Lay on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for about 45 minutes or until tender. Let cool then scoop out insides or peel off skins.
- Add sweet potatoes to a large bowl or a mixer bowl. Add granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper and beat until smooth. Add milk and mix until incorporated.
- Pour into a GREASED 1 1/2 quarts baking dish then sprinkle with topping. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
- To make topping add all ingredients into a bowl and mix with your hands until crumbs form.
Slightly adapted from Paula Dean
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