This slow cooker sweet potato casserole is the perfect holiday side dish when stove and oven space is precious. The slow cooker makes for easy prep and hands-off cooking, so you can focus on the big showstoppers like the turkey and pies. And don't worry, our sweet potato casserole slow cooker recipe still calls for one of the best parts of the classic version: the marshmallow topping!
Sweet potatoes and marshmallows are a tried-and-true combination, especially around Thanksgiving—but have you ever wondered how that unlikely pairing came to be? While candied sweet potatoes were being made in America as early as the 1800s, it wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century that the company Angelus Marshmallows promoted a sweet potato casserole recipe using marshmallows as a topping as a way to sell their product—and it picked up steam from there. These days, you’ll have a hard time finding a table in the United States that doesn’t serve this unique dish on Thanksgiving.
First time making sweet potatoes? This slow cooker sweet potato casserole recipe is foolproof, but if you have any questions or want to learn more before you get started, check out our simple how-to guide.
Recipe Ingredients
Sweet potato casserole is such a cozy, crowd-pleasing side dish! Here’s what you’ll need to make it in your slow cooker.
Sweet Potatoes: We love cooking with sweet potatoes, because they’re naturally sweet, rich, and creamy. They’re the perfect base for the warm spices, brown sugar, and buttery toppings that make the holiday season so special.
Brown Sugar: This adds a deeper, richer flavor than white sugar—thanks to its molasses content—and enhances the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: Not only is this spice combo easy to find at grocery stores, but its irresistible seasonal flavor also sets this recipe apart from other traditional sweet potato casseroles.
Other Ingredients: We add butter for richness and marshmallows because it wouldn’t be a sweet potato casserole without them! A little salt to balance the sweet, plus vanilla to bring depth to all the flavors, and this casserole is ready to go.

How to Make Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
This slow cooker sweet potato casserole couldn’t be easier to make. Just follow a few simple steps, and you’ll have a delicious side dish with next-to-no effort. Here’s a quick overview—but check out the full list of ingredients and directions below.
1. Season the Potatoes
Start by melting together brown sugar, butter, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and a splash of water in the microwave to create a rich, spiced sauce. Stir in vanilla to add depth, then toss cubed sweet potatoes with the sauce until they’re thoroughly coated.
2. Transfer to the Slow Cooker
Add the sauced potatoes to your slow cooker, and cook on high for a few hours until the sweet potatoes are tender and full of flavor.
3. Add the Marshmallows
Just before serving, top the potatoes with marshmallows and briefly cover with the slow-cooker lid until they’re soft and slightly melted.
This slow cooker sweet potato casserole is the perfect holiday side dish to bring to parties, too. Start the cooking process at home, and once the potatoes are cooked, just bring the whole slow cooker with you! When you arrive, set it to warm, and add the marshmallows right before it’s time to eat.
Storing and Reheating
Got leftover sweet potato casserole? Don’t let it go to waste! Here’s how to keep it fresh.
Refrigerator
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. We wouldn’t recommend storing your leftover casserole in the freezer as it won’t thaw and reheat well.
Reheating
Microwave individual servings for 1 to 2 minutes until heated through. Then, add a few more marshmallows to the top. The residual heat will melt them perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
TIP FROM THEDoughboy
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Get pre-diced sweet potatoes from the grocery store to make this recipe extra easy-peasy!
Watch Video
Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
- Prep Time 20 min
- Total 3 hr 50 min
- Ingredients 8
- Servings 14
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 3 1/2 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows
Instructions
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Step1
Spray oval 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
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Step2
In large microwavable bowl, mix brown sugar, butter, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and water. Microwave uncovered on High 1 1/2 minutes, stirring once.
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Step3
Stir in vanilla.
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Step4
Add sweet potatoes; stir to coat thoroughly.
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Step5
Pour mixture into slow cooker.
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Step6
Cover; cook on High heat setting 3 1/2 to 4 hours or until fork-tender. Reduce to Warm heat setting until ready to serve.
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Step7
Stir mixture, top with marshmallows, and cover 1 to 2 minutes or until marshmallows melt slightly.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1/2 Cup
- Calories
- 190
- Calories from Fat
- 15
- Total Fat
- 2g
- 3%
- Saturated Fat
- 1g
- 5%
- Trans Fat
- 0g
- Cholesterol
- 0mg
- 0%
- Sodium
- 250mg
- 11%
- Potassium
- 400mg
- 11%
- Total Carbohydrate
- 41g
- 14%
- Dietary Fiber
- 3g
- 14%
- Sugars
- 20g
- Protein
- 2g
% Daily Value*:
- Vitamin A
- 320%
- 320%
- Vitamin C
- 2%
- 2%
- Calcium
- 4%
- 4%
- Iron
- 4%
- 4%
Exchanges:
1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1/2 Fat;Carbohydrate Choice
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