Crockpot sweet potato casserole makes holiday cooking easy. With creamy mashed sweet potatoes and a crunchy pecan topping, it’s a holiday side dish not to be missed!
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Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Crockpot sweet potato casserole is the slow cooker version of the classic baked sweet potato casserole. Using the slow cooker frees up oven space for the turkey and all the other side dishes when you’re cooking up a feast for Thanksgiving or Christmas!
Slow cooked sweet potatoes are mashed then topped with a crunchy pecan, brown sugar and cinnamon garnish. It’s a great make-ahead dish perfect for potlucks and a fuss-free way to bring a traditional holiday side to your dinner table.
Why You’ll Love It
- It’s incredibly easy, and the crockpot does most of the work.
- Can be customized with different add-ins or toppings like making sweet potato casserole with marshmallows instead.
Ingredients Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Sweet potatoes: Peeled and cubed.
- Sugars: I use brown sugar for the topping and white granulated sugar to sweeten the casserole.
- Cinnamon and vanilla: Warm flavors that make this dish extra cozy.
- Salted butter and salt: We’re using salted butter for the topping as well as the casserole with a little added salt to balance the sweetness.
- Evaporated milk: Makes the casserole extra creamy.
- Chopped pecans: For a crunchy topping! Candied pecans would be another great idea.
How to Make Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole
Toss your sweet potato cubes into the basin of the slow cooker. Pour a mixture of sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and salt over the potatoes and stir.
Cover with a lid and cook on high for 4 hours or 8 hours on low.
Mash the potatoes with a potato masher until creamy, and then, using a fork, stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter, followed by the pecans.
Sprinkle the pecan topping over the sweet potato casserole in crock pot and cook for another 20 minutes. Remove the lid and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Canned sweet potatoes can be used in a pinch and depending on if your using cut sweet potatoes or candied yams, the ingredients and slow cooking time may vary.
- Add pecan topping toward the end so the nuts don’t go soggy and lose their crunch.
- If making crock pot sweet potato casserole ahead of time, add topping just before reheating.
- Don’t skip the added sugar, it helps caramelize the pecans.
More sweet potato recipes to try include baked sweet potato fries, sweet potato soup and one pot sweet potato bowls.
More Slow Cooker Side Dish Recipes
Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole
Video
Ingredients
Brown Sugar Topping
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter , melted
- ½ cup chopped pecans , more if desired
Casserole
- 5 medium sweet potatoes , cubed
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup salted butter , slightly melted
- ¼ cup evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Sweet potatoes: Add the cubed sweet potatoes to a large slow cooker or crock pot.
- Add to the crockpot: In a separate bowl, mix 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon salt until smooth. Pour mixture over the potatoes and stir.
- Cook: Cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 8 hours.
- Mash: Mash potatoes until smooth and creamy.
- Make topping: In a medium bowl, mix together 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 3-4 Tablespoons butter with a fork or pastry cutter. Stir in 1/4 cup pecans.
- Topping: Sprinkle the topping over the potato mash, cover and cook an additional 20 minutes. Remove lid before serving and let sit 5 minutes.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Substitutions and Variations
- Add nutmeg in with the cinnamon for added warmth and earthiness.
- Swap the pecans for mini marshmallows. Or use both!
- Substitute sugar for maple syrup in the casserole. Honey works too.
- Omit the nuts for a nut-free version.
Recipe FAQs
Keep stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Certainly. If you plan to freeze leftovers, don’t add the topping yet. Transfer the potatoes to a freezer-safe container and keep frozen for up to 3 months.
Let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat in the crockpot or the oven and add the topping a few minutes before serving.
Alisha
The brown sugar topping on this sweet potato casserole is so good….we loved the sweetness and texture that it added to the casserole. Thinking toward Thanksgiving, this crockpot version is so nice because you can avoid another dish needing to be put into an already crowded oven! – Alisha, recipe tester
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad you enjoyed this crockpot sweet potato casserole! It’s definitely on our menu this year for Thanksgiving, too!