Best Sweet Potato Casserole
This best sweet potato casserole with sourdough topping is a delicious twist on a classic Thanksgiving side dish. Creamy sweet potatoes are topped with a buttery, sweet sourdough discard crumble, flaky coconut, brown sugar, and crunchy pecans for the perfect combination of flavors and textures. It's a family favorite I make every Thanksgiving and a delicious way to use leftover sourdough discard from my easy sourdough starter recipe. If you grow your own sweet potatoes, learn how to grow sweet potatoes at home with my gardening guide. Serve this casserole alongside my homemade bread stuffing recipe, my recipe on how to make instant pot mashed potatoes, and easy sourdough rolls for a comforting, from-scratch Thanksgiving dinner.
Quick Look: Best Sweet Potato Casserole
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 1 hour
- 🍳 Cook Time: 20 minutes
- 🕒 Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 15
- 📊 Calories: ~156 kcal per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cook Method: Oven-baked in baking dish
- 👩🍳 Flavor Profile: Sweet and savory with creamy sweet potatoes, warm spices, and a slightly tangy, crunchy sourdough topping.
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy – beginner-friendly, mostly assembly and baking.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- A delicious twist on a classic: Creamy sweet potatoes are topped with a sweet, buttery sourdough crumble made with How To Make Butter From Raw Milk, toasted pecans, and flaky coconut.
- A great way to use sourdough discard: Put extra starter to good use in the crunchy topping instead of throwing it away.
- Perfect for Thanksgiving: This family-favorite side dish belongs on your holiday table and pairs beautifully with roast turkey, homemade sourdough stuffing, and dinner rolls.
- Use homegrown or canned sweet potatoes: I love using sweet potatoes from our garden, but canned sweet potatoes work when you need a convenient shortcut.
- Make it ahead: Prepare the casserole in advance so you have one less dish to worry about when you're cooking for a holiday gathering.
Ingredients
For a full list of ingredients needed to make this recipe, see the recipe card below.
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How to Make The Best Sweet Potato Casserole
Step 1: Bake the sweet potatoes. Wash, peel, and bake at 350°F for 1–2 hours, until soft.
Step 2: Mix the filling. Beat the sweet potatoes with the remaining filling ingredients.
Step 3: Spread in a greased 9 × 13-inch baking dish.
Bake the casserole: Add the topping. Gently mix the topping ingredients and spread over the filling. Cover and refrigerate if making ahead. Then bake the casserole at 350°F for 35–40 minutes, until warm and bubbly.
Tips For Making The Best Sweet Potato Casserole
- Bake the sweet potatoes ahead of time to make preparation quicker.
- Use homegrown sweet potatoes for the best flavor, or canned sweet potatoes for convenience.
- Use homemade butter and sourdough discard for the topping.
- Prepare the casserole ahead and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Let the casserole warm through and become bubbly before serving.
Best Sweet Potato Casserole FAQs
Avoid undercooking the sweet potatoes, leaving large lumps in the filling, or adding too much liquid. Be sure to mix the filling well and spread the sourdough topping evenly over the top. Watch the casserole as it bakes so the topping becomes golden without burning.
Baking sweet potatoes is my preferred method because it brings out their natural sweetness without adding extra moisture. This helps create a rich, flavorful filling that pairs perfectly with the buttery sourdough topping. Boiling also works, but be sure to drain the sweet potatoes thoroughly before mixing the filling.
Bake sweet potato casserole uncovered so the sourdough topping can become golden and crisp. If the topping begins browning too quickly before the filling is heated through, loosely cover the casserole with foil for the remainder of the baking time.
Yes! Prepare the sweet potato filling and sourdough topping, assemble the casserole, cover, and refrigerate until you're ready to bake. For the best texture, bake within 3–4 days and allow extra baking time if the casserole is cold from the refrigerator.
Yes! Canned sweet potatoes are a convenient substitute for fresh sweet potatoes. Drain them well before mixing the filling, and check whether they contain added sugar or syrup so you can adjust the sweetness if needed.
Yes! Sourdough discard adds a delicious way to use up extra starter in the buttery topping. You can use unfed sourdough discard from your refrigerator, making this recipe a great addition to your collection of sourdough discard recipes.
Other Delicious Recipes
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Best Sweet Potato Casserole
Equipment
- 1 9" x 13" baking dish
- 1 Large bowl or stand mixer
- 1 Peeler
- 1 Hand mixer/stand mixer
- 1 measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
Filling
- 6 cups baked sweet potatoes
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup butter, melted
Topping
- 1 cup sourdough discard
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup flaxed coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup butter, melted
Instructions
Prepare the Sweet Potatoes:
- Wash and peel the sweet potatoes.
- Bake in a baking dish at 350 degrees until soft, usually 1-2 hours, depending on the size of the potatoes.
Mix the Filling Ingredients:
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the sweet potatoes with the rest of the filling ingredients.
- Mix well with a hand mixer or stand mixer.
- Place in 9" x 13" baking dish.
Mix the Topping Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, combine all the topping ingredients and stir gently.
- Place on top of filling.
- Can be placed in the refrigerator at this point for up to 7 days in an airtight container.
Bake:
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until warm and bubbly.
Notes
- Bake the sweet potatoes ahead of time to make preparation quicker.
- Baking sweet potatoes brings out their natural sweetness and keeps the filling from becoming watery.
- Use canned sweet potatoes for convenience, but drain them well first.
- Prepare the casserole ahead and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Bake uncovered so the sourdough topping becomes golden and crisp.
- Use sourdough discard and homemade butter for a delicious, from-scratch topping.
This recipe is delicious!
Was planning to make this, but the recipe omits the topping ingredients and their measurements.
I am sorry about that, we have updated it to include the topping ingredients. Happy Thanksgiving!