You know that one dish that just screams “holiday comfort” and makes everyone at the table sigh with happiness? For me, that’s a perfect sweet potato casserole with marshmallows. It’s the kind of thing that brings back memories of Thanksgivings past, or just those cozy days when you need something truly soul-warming. My grandma used to make the most incredible version, and I’ve tweaked it just a bit over the years to make sure it’s always just right. It’s so simple to whip up, but it always feels so special, like a warm hug in a dish. The secret is really in how those sweet, tender potatoes meet those gooey, golden marshmallows. It’s seriously the best!
Why You’ll Love This Sweet Potato Casserole
Honestly, this casserole is just a winner! Here’s why it’s become a go-to in my kitchen:
- Super Easy to Make: Seriously, you can whip this up with minimal fuss. Perfect for when you’re juggling a million things during the holidays!
- Crowd-Pleaser Galore: Picky eaters? Big eaters? Everyone loves this dish. It’s a guaranteed hit!
- Perfect Sweet & Savory Balance: The natural sweetness of the potatoes with just a hint of spice and that marshmallow topping is just divine.
- Holiday Ready: It’s the quintessential holiday side, but honestly, it’s delicious any time of year when you need some comfort food.
Gather Your Ingredients for Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Alright, let’s get this party started! Here’s what you’ll need to grab from the store to make this amazing sweet potato casserole with marshmallows:
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes (that’s about 2-3 medium ones), peeled and cut into nice, bite-sized cubes
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar – you can adjust this a smidge based on how sweet you like things!
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, all melted and ready to go
- 1/4 cup milk – whole milk gives a lovely creaminess, but any kind works
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract – don’t skip this, it adds so much flavor!
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg – just a pinch to warm things up
- About 1 cup of mini marshmallows – enough to cover that sweet potato goodness with a bubbly blanket!
These are pretty standard pantry staples, which is why I love this recipe so much. It’s easy to make on a whim!
Essential Equipment for Making Sweet Potato Casserole
You don’t need a fancy kitchen for this one! Just grab a few basics:
- A large pot for boiling the sweet potatoes
- A potato masher (or a sturdy fork if that’s all you have!)
- A good-sized mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- An 8×8 inch baking dish (or something similar)
- An oven, of course!
And that’s pretty much it! All ready to get cooking.
Step-by-Step Guide to Your Perfect Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Alright, let’s make some magic happen! It’s time to turn those simple ingredients into a side dish dreams are made of. Trust me, this is where the real yumminess comes together, and it’s honestly not hard at all.
Preparing the Sweet Potato Base
First things first, make sure your oven is preheating to 375°F (190°C). This is important so it’s nice and toasty when your casserole is ready for its warm hug. While it’s heating up, pop those cubed sweet potatoes into a big pot and cover them generously with water. Let them boil away until they’re super tender – you should be able to easily poke them with a fork, usually about 15-20 minutes. Drain them really well; we don’t want a watery casserole! Now, get them into a big mixing bowl and mash ’em up. A potato masher works great for this, but a sturdy fork does the job too. We’re going for mostly smooth, maybe with a few tiny lumps for character!
Assembling and Baking Your Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Once your sweet potatoes are mashed and glorious, it’s time to add all the good stuff! Pour in that sugar, melted butter, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Give it all a good stir until everything is beautifully combined and has a lovely creamy texture. Don’t overmix, just make sure it’s all happy together. Next, grab your greased 8×8 inch baking dish and pour that delicious sweet potato mixture in. Spread it out nice and even. Now for the grand finale: scatter those mini marshmallows all over the top. Get them into every nook and cranny so you get that gooey goodness in every bite! Pop it into your preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes. You’re looking for the edges to be bubbly and those marshmallows to turn a lovely golden brown. Oh, the smell! It’s seriously heavenly. For more amazing dessert recipes, check out my other posts!
Tips for the Best Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Okay, you’ve got the basics down, but let’s talk about how to make this sweet potato casserole with marshmallows absolutely sing! A few little tricks can take it from good to “wow, who made this?!” First off, don’t skimp on the sweet potatoes themselves. Look for ones that feel heavy for their size and have smooth skin – they’re usually the sweetest and most flavourful. And when you’re mashing, just mash ’em until they’re *mostly* smooth. A few little lumps add character, trust me!
Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
You can totally play around with this recipe! If you want it a little less sweet, cut back on the sugar a bit. For a richer flavor, swap the milk for half-and-half or even a splash of heavy cream. Feeling fancy? Stir in some toasted pecans or walnuts when you add the marshmallows for a nice crunch! And for a dairy-free version, just use your favorite non-dairy milk and butter substitute. Easy peasy!
Serving and Storing Your Sweet Potato Casserole
This sweet potato casserole is just divine served warm! It makes a fantastic side dish alongside roasted turkey or ham, and it’s honestly a star all on its own during any holiday feast. If you happen to have any leftovers (which is rare in my house!), just pop them into an airtight container. They’ll keep nicely in the fridge for about 3-4 days. To reheat, just pop it back in a moderate oven (around 350°F or 175°C) until it’s warmed through. You might need to pop it under the broiler for a minute if you want those marshmallows gooey again!
Frequently Asked Questions About Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Got questions? I’ve got answers! Here are some things people often wonder about making the perfect sweet potato casserole with marshmallows.
What is the best way to get tender sweet potatoes?
The key is boiling them until they’re really fork-tender! Don’t rush this step. You want them soft enough to mash easily without any hard bits left. Make sure you drain them really well afterwards so your casserole isn’t watery. This makes a huge difference in the final texture!
Can I use regular-sized marshmallows instead of mini ones?
Absolutely! If you only have big marshmallows, just break them up into smaller pieces or cut them with kitchen shears. They might melt and spread a *little* differently, but you’ll still get that yummy, gooey topping. Just try to get them somewhat evenly distributed so you don’t have huge clumps in one spot.
My marshmallows are burning too quickly! What should I do?
Oh, that’s a common one! If your marshmallows start browning too fast before the casserole is heated through, just loosely tent the dish with aluminum foil. This protects the tops from getting too dark while the inside finishes cooking. You can always take the foil off for the last few minutes if you want them a little crispier.
Can I prepare this sweet potato casserole ahead of time?
Yes, you totally can! You can make the sweet potato mixture (up to the marshmallow step) a day in advance. Just cover it tightly and keep it in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit out on the counter for about 20-30 minutes to take the chill off, then top with marshmallows and bake as usual. You might need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
How do I stop my sweet potato casserole from being too sweet?
The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of sugar, but you can easily dial that back to 1/4 cup if you prefer a less sweet dish. The sweet potatoes themselves have a lovely natural sweetness, and the marshmallows add plenty of sugary goodness, so it often doesn’t need as much added sugar as you might think! And remember, you can always check out our contact page if you have more questions!
Estimated Nutritional Information for Sweet Potato Casserole
Just a heads-up, these numbers are estimates, okay? The exact amounts can wiggle a bit depending on the brands you use and, you know, how generous you are with those marshmallows! But for a typical serving, you’re looking at something around:
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 50g
- Fat: 15g
- Protein: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
It’s a delicious treat that fits right into your holiday spread!
Share Your Sweet Potato Casserole Creation!
Have you made this dreamy sweet potato casserole? I’d absolutely LOVE to hear all about it! Did it disappear in seconds? Did your family rave? Please drop a comment below and share your experience. And if you snapped a photo, tag me on social media – I live for seeing your kitchen creations! For any questions or feedback, you can always check out my terms of service page, but I’d much rather chat in the comments!
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Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A classic sweet potato casserole topped with melted marshmallows.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Boil the sweet potato cubes in water until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain well.
- Mash the sweet potatoes in a large bowl.
- Add granulated sugar, melted butter, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the mashed sweet potatoes. Mix until well combined.
- Pour the sweet potato mixture into a greased 8×8 inch baking dish.
- Spread the mini marshmallows evenly over the top of the sweet potato mixture.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the marshmallows are golden brown and bubbly.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, you can substitute half-and-half for the milk.
- If you prefer a less sweet casserole, reduce the granulated sugar to 1/4 cup.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 50g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg



