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The Crock Pot Sweet Potato Hack That’s Breaking Traditional Thanksgiving Rules (And We’re Here for It!)

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Close-up shot of a serving of sweet potato casserole with golden-brown mini marshmallows on top, served on a plate. The warm casserole is placed on the white marble cooktop, ready to be enjoyed

Side Dishes

There’s something about sweet potato casserole that feels like pure comfort, especially when it’s made in the crockpot. This Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is the perfect way to elevate any meal, whether it’s a family gathering, holiday feast, or just a cozy dinner at home.

The sweet potatoes become soft and creamy, surrounded by the perfect balance of cinnamon, brown sugar, and a hint of vanilla, while the crispy pecan topping adds a delightful crunch.

As it simmers away in the slow cooker, the sweet aroma fills the house, promising a dish that’s both decadent and comforting. The beauty of this casserole is its simplicity—just toss the ingredients into your crockpot, and let it work its magic.

No need for constant monitoring, making it ideal for busy days when you want a home-cooked meal without the hassle.

Whether it’s a holiday spread or just a weeknight dinner, this casserole is sure to please.

Why Will You Be Hooked?

Close-up shot of a serving of sweet potato casserole with golden-brown mini marshmallows on top, served on a plate. The warm casserole is placed on the white marble cooktop, ready to be enjoyed

  • Set-It-and-Forget-It: The crockpot makes this recipe a breeze to prepare. I love knowing that with minimal effort, I’m going to get a dish that looks and tastes like I spent hours in the kitchen.
  • Perfectly Creamy and Sweet: The slow cooking allows the sweet potatoes to become incredibly tender, and the flavor is perfectly balanced with brown sugar and cinnamon. It’s indulgent, but not overly sweet, which makes it a hit at any meal.
  • A Crowd-Pleaser: This dish disappears quickly, whether it’s at a holiday dinner or a casual get-together. Everyone loves the warmth and richness of the sweet potatoes paired with the crunchy pecan topping.
  • Customizable to Fit Your Taste: I often add a little bit of orange juice for extra brightness or mix in some marshmallows for a more traditional touch. You can adjust the sweetness or spice level to fit your family’s preferences.
  • Great for Meal Prep: I love that I can make a big batch of this casserole ahead of time and store it in the fridge for a few days. It’s an easy side dish to have on hand for multiple meals.
  • Perfect for Special Occasions: Whether it’s Thanksgiving or a Sunday dinner, this casserole adds a bit of extra comfort and flavor to the table. It feels special without requiring too much effort.

Sweet potato casserole is a dish that brings so much warmth and joy, and this recipe is the easiest way to make it. Give it a try and watch it become a family favorite!

How do you like to prepare your sweet potato casserole? Do you add anything unique to the recipe? Let me know in the comments!

Close-up shot of a serving of sweet potato casserole with golden-brown mini marshmallows on top, served on a plate. The warm casserole is placed on the white marble cooktop, ready to be enjoyed

Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

This easy slow cooker sweet potato casserole blends creamy mashed sweet potatoes with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, topped with melty marshmallows for a classic holiday side dish.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 210 kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot
  • Mixing bowl
  • Potato masher or fork
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients
  

  • 4 sweet potatoes or 29ox can of yams cooked and mashed
  • ¼ cup butter melted
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows

Instructions
 

Prepare Sweet Potatoes:

  • If using raw sweet potatoes, peel and cube them. Boil in water until tender, then mash.
    Close-up shot of raw sweet potatoes being peeled and cubed with a sharp knife on a wooden cutting board, beside a bowl of boiling water for cooking. Uncooked sweet potatoes and a bowl of mashed yams sit on the white marble cooktop
  • If using canned yams, drain and mash them.

Combine Ingredients:

  • Add the mashed sweet potatoes to the slow cooker.
    Close-up shot of mashed sweet potatoes being added to the slow cooker on the white marble cooktop. Melted butter, heavy cream, eggs, brown sugar, and cinnamon are stirred into the mixture with a wooden spoon.
  • Stir in melted butter, heavy cream, eggs, brown sugar, and cinnamon until fully combined.

Cook in Slow Cooker:

  • Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on Low for 4 hours.
    Close-up shot of a slow cooker cooking the sweet potato mixture on Low. The slow cooker sits on the white marble cooktop, filled with the creamy sweet potato mixture

Add Marshmallows:

  • Just before serving, top the casserole with mini marshmallows. Cover again and cook for an additional 3–5 minutes, or until the marshmallows begin to melt.
    Close-up shot of mini marshmallows being sprinkled on top of the sweet potato casserole in the slow cooker. The marshmallows are gently melting on top as the casserole cooks for a few more minutes, all on the white marble cooktop

Serve:

  • Serve the sweet potato casserole immediately while warm.
    Close-up shot of a serving of sweet potato casserole with golden-brown mini marshmallows on top, served on a plate. The warm casserole is placed on the white marble cooktop, ready to be enjoyed

Nutritional Info:

NutritionValue
Calories210kcal
Carbohydrates32g
Fibre3g
Fat8g
Protein2.5g
Sugar15g

Variations for Sweet Potato Casserole:

  1. Pecan Praline Topping
    • Additions: Mix in 1 cup of chopped pecans with the mini marshmallows.
    • Topping: In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, and 1/4 cup chopped pecans. Sprinkle over the casserole before the final cooking step for a crunchy, caramelized topping.
  2. Coconut Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Additions: Stir in 1/2 cup of shredded coconut into the casserole mix.
    • Topping: Instead of marshmallows, sprinkle with extra coconut flakes just before serving.
  3. Maple and Bourbon Flavored Casserole
    • Additions: Replace brown sugar with 1/4 cup maple syrup and add 1 tablespoon of bourbon for a richer flavor.
    • Topping: Add candied pecans or a few extra marshmallows for a fun touch.
  4. Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Substitute: Use coconut oil or vegan butter instead of regular butter. Replace heavy cream with coconut milk and eggs with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tablespoons water).
    • Topping: Use vegan marshmallows.
  5. Spicy Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Additions: Add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika for a spicy kick.
    • Topping: Use candied jalapeños for a sweet and spicy topping or top with spicy caramelized pecans.
  6. Apple Cinnamon Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Additions: Mix 1/2 cup diced apples (such as Granny Smith) into the mashed sweet potatoes for added texture and flavor.
    • Topping: Instead of marshmallows, use a streusel topping made with oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
  7. Caramelized Banana Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Additions: Fold two mashed bananas into the casserole mix.
    • Topping: Drizzle with caramel sauce just before serving.
  8. Gingerbread Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Additions: Add 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/4 teaspoon cloves for a gingerbread-inspired twist.
    • Topping: Top with crushed ginger pop cookies instead of marshmallows.
  9. Chocolate Lover’s Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Additions: Stir in 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips into the casserole mixture.
    • Topping: Add more mini marshmallows and a sprinkle of extra chocolate chips just before the final cook.
  10. Cranberry Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Additions: Mix in 1/2 cup dried cranberries or fresh cranberries for a tart contrast to the sweetness of the potatoes.
    • Topping: Use marshmallows with a sprinkle of orange zest on top for a festive touch.

These variations will help add new layers of flavor to your sweet potato casserole, perfect for any occasion!

Tags:

#crockpot recipes

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