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Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potatoes

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  • Prep 5 min
  • Total 35 min
  • Ingredients 5
  • Servings 8
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Looking for a quick weeknight dinner recipe? This tasty marshmallow sweet potato casserole is a family favorite for a reason—it takes just 5 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of oven time to make one of our best sweet potato casserole recipes with a taste both kids and adults love.

Sweet potatoes and marshmallows are a match made in heaven—and we think you’ll agree! Sweet potato casserole recipes don’t always include marshmallows, but we’re big fans of the classic, comforting flavor combination. Candied sweet potatoes with sweet, fluffy, and ooey-gooey marshmallows just can’t be beat! Known and loved for its sweet and slightly savory taste, this traditional marshmallow sweet potato casserole is the perfect addition to a well-rounded Thanksgiving feast. Try it out and see for yourself!

By Pillsbury Kitchens
Updated Jul 26, 2024
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Sweet Potato Casserole Ingredients

This is the best sweet potato casserole to make at home because it’s super simple with just 5 pantry staple ingredients! Here’s what you’ll need to make your own canned sweet potato casserole.

Canned Sweet Potatoes: This shortcut ingredient saves time without sacrificing flavor—canned sweet potatoes are already peeled, washed, pre-cooked and sometimes cut into small sizes to help reduce prep time! Don’t worry—they taste just as good as fresh sweet potatoes (if not even better).

Melted Butter: Not only is this ingredient a must-have when it comes to flavor—but the melted butter also acts as a binder (and helps keep the toppings in place).

Brown Sugar: Don’t skip the brown sugar! With its delicate caramel-like flavor, it brings out the natural sweetness of your sweet potatoes beautifully.

Salt: Balance out the sweetness with just the right amount of salt. With only a half teaspoon, it won’t feel like much, but this small yet mighty ingredient will really highlight the savory flavors in your casserole.

Marshmallows: Who could forget the soft, fluffy, and perfectly gooey marshmallows? We use large ones in this recipe, but you can substitute mini marshmallows if you’d like. To make this swap, sprinkle 1½ cups of mini marshmallows over your assembled casserole and bake as directed. Keep an eye on the mini ‘mallows and make sure they don’t start browning too quickly!

How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole

Want to learn how to make sweet potato casserole in a few simple steps? Check out this quick summary—then read on for the full recipe.

Prep

While the oven heats , spray your baking dish to prevent your casserole from sticking.

Assemble

Place your canned sweet potatoes in the baking dish, pour the melted butter, and sprinkle brown sugar and salt over the whole dish. Now it’s time to top your canned sweet potato casserole with marshmallows—the star of the show!

Bake

Into the oven it goes—and out comes a mouthwatering sweet-savory side dish you won’t believe took just 35 minutes to make.

Can You Make Sweet Potato Casserole Ahead of Time?

We recommend making this simple sweet potato casserole recipe the day of your big meal, but if you seriously need to save some time, you can make this dish a couple of days in advance and refrigerate it in an airtight food-storage container. Before your feast, top your sweet potatoes with fresh marshmallows and reheat in the oven.

How to Store Sweet Potato Casserole

If you end up with any extra spuds, don’t worry—there’s no need to discard your leftover sweet potato casserole! Store it in the fridge or freezer as directed below.

In the Fridge: Cooked sweet potatoes keep well in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

In the Freezer: Leftover sweet potato casserole can be stored in an airtight container in your freezer for up to 2 months. Marshmallows don’t freeze well, so we recommend removing them from your casserole before freezing—you can always add fresh new marshmallows near the end of your reheating time if you don’t want to skip ‘em !

What Goes with Sweet Potato Casserole?

Sweet potato casserole is a classic Thanksgiving side dish, but it takes a starring role at all kinds of holiday gatherings and year-round potlucks. Planning out a full spread? Here are some easy mains that always impress.

Turkey Pot Pie: Our Classic Turkey Pot Pie is the definition of comfort food. The flaky, buttery crust, creamy sauce, and hearty mix of turkey and veggies make this turkey pot pie a must-make dish for family dinners. Sweet potato casserole is the perfect side to add some color and bring a little sweetness to contrast the rich, savory pot pie.

Honey-Glazed Ham: The sweetness of this casserole pairs perfectly with the subtle honey flavor of a glazed ham. Wherever you serve up our perfectly juicy Easy Honey Ham, it’s usually the main event at the table. No one will guess it takes just 10 minutes to prep!

Ingredients

  • 3 cans (15-oz each) sweet potatoes, drained
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 15 large marshmallows

Steps

  • 1
    Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 12x8-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • 2
    Place sweet potatoes in sprayed baking dish. Pour butter over potatoes. Sprinkle with brown sugar and salt. Top with marshmallows.
  • 3
    Bake at 350°F. for 25 to 30 minutes or until potatoes are thoroughly heated and marshmallows are lightly browned.

Tips from the Pillsbury Kitchens

  • tip 1
    Canned sweet potatoes, marshmallows, and a few pantry items make this an easy side dish to throw together.
  • tip 2
    No large marshmallows? Use 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows so there’s no question everyone will get their fair share of the golden, gooey topping. Sprinkle mini marshmallows to cover potatoes and bake. Keep an eye on them so they don’t start to brown too quickly.
  • tip 3
    If the marshmallows start browning too quickly, loosely cover the baking dish with foil for last 10 minutes of baking time. The shiny nature of foil deflects the heat, slowing down the overall browning of ingredients that are high in sugar or fat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Some Variations to This Easy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe?

Sweet potatoes are delicious when roasted, boiled, mashed, and even slow-cooked. There are so many ways to make the colorful root vegetables shine! If you’re a fan of this marshmallow sweet potato casserole recipe, check out our similar sweet potato dishes.

Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole: Set it and forget it until it’s time to chow down—this delicious Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole is a major time saver when you’re whipping up a whole spread all at once. In just a few simple steps, you’ve got sweet potato perfection!

Brown Sugar-Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole: Inspired by Southern sweet potato pie, this Brown Sugar-Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole is always a big hit at holiday gatherings. The brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice are major players that make this sweet side dish really sing!

How Should I Reheat Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows?

End up with extra sweet potato casserole? This side will make a great addition to tomorrow’s meal, especially when it’s reheated alongside other tasty leftovers! Reheat your sweet potato casserole in the oven or microwave until hot and steaming, and enjoy. Don’t forget to top it with fresh marshmallows!

What Are the Best Sweet Potatoes for Sweet Potato Casserole?

We recommend using canned sweet potatoes as directed in this easy sweet potato casserole recipe—but if you really want to use fresh ones, make sure you pick a fitting kind. There are hundreds of varieties of sweet potatoes, ranging in color from white to deep orange and even purple. Here are some types you might come across, and what they’re best used for.

Beauregard:This is the most common variety of sweet potato. Identified by its dusky red skin, this versatile spud is great for mashing, baking, boiling, and frying. It’s a popular choice for sweet potato casserole due to its classic sweet taste!

Jewel: This sweet potato is another of the most common types. With a copper skin and deep orange flesh that’s moist, tender, and moderately sweet when cooked, the Jewel is also a go-to choice for this sweet potato casserole.

Garnet: Named for their red-purple skin, Garnets have an orange flesh with a moist, heavy, and pumpkin-like quality when baked. They’re a popular choice for sweet potato pie.

Covington: These rose-skinned sweet potatoes have a super sweet orange flesh that’s best suited for side dishes and desserts. The Covington is a major favorite in the South!

O’Henry: Slightly less sweet and a bit denser and heavier than other varieties when baked, the cream-colored O’Henry sweet potato tastes best in soups and stews.

Purple: Purple sweet potatoes are known for their firm, lightly sweet flesh with a slight tartness that lends itself well to highly seasoned, roasted savory dishes. We’d recommend choosing a sweeter option for this sweet potato casserole .

Can I Use Fresh Sweet Potatoes for This Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe?

This easy sweet potato casserole recipe uses canned sweet potatoes as a helpful shortcut for busy cooks—but if you’ve got more time on your hands, you can start with whole sweet potatoes instead! Keep in mind that you’ll need to pre-cook fresh sweet potatoes before proceeding with this recipe. Check out our tips above on the sweet potato varieties we’d recommend using for sweet potato casserole.

The microwave comes in handy here. Just pierce your sweet potatoes with a fork and cook them in the microwave for 8 to 12 minutes, turning them over once halfway through the cooking time. Let them sit for one minute and then add your seasonings!

How Long Should I Bake Sweet Potato Casserole For?

This is the best sweet potato casserole for those short on time—it only needs 25 to 30 minutes in a 350°F oven. When your casserole is done, the sweet potatoes should be fully heated through, and the marshmallows should be lightly browned. If the marshmallows start browning too quickly, loosely cover the baking dish with tinfoil for the last 10 minutes of baking time. The shiny nature of foil deflects heat, slowing down the browning process of ingredients high in sugar or fat!

Nutrition Information

240 Calories, 6g Total Fat, 1g Protein, 44g Total Carbohydrate, 20g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
240
Calories from Fat
60
Total Fat
6g
9%
Saturated Fat
3 1/2g
19%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
15mg
5%
Sodium
250mg
10%
Potassium
210mg
6%
Total Carbohydrate
44g
15%
Dietary Fiber
3g
13%
Sugars
20g
Protein
1g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
200%
200%
Vitamin C
10%
10%
Calcium
2%
2%
Iron
6%
6%
Exchanges:
0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 3 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
3
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • Of all the sweet potato recipes out there, this one is the dish that probably comes to mind when you hear the word “sweet potato casserole.” Candied with brown sugar and topped with fluffy marshmallows, it deserves a starring role in your Thanksgiving dinner. Want to learn even more about how to make the perfect sweet potato casserole? Right this way.
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