This Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole is my favorite easy and hands-off way to make my family’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish. It’s sweet and crunchy, topped with pecans and marshmallows, and perfect to serve alongside roasted turkey.

crockpot sweet potato casserole in slow cooker

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Why I Love This Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole

Once I realized I could make our favorite sweet potato casserole in a crockpot, I was sold. This is the way I make it every holiday now, and it couldn’t be easier or tastier.

  • Easy. This classic sweet potato casserole is a breeze to make in the Crockpot, and it will free up your oven for the rest of the meal. It’s a great alternative to oven-baked and so simple to prep.
  • Sweet. The combination of sweet potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and mini marshmallows makes this casserole irresistible.
  • Crunchy. Pecans add a nutty flavor and delightful crunch to this casserole.

Variations on Slow Cooked Sweet Potato Casserole

There are so many ways to jazz up this classic casserole. Try swapping the marshmallows for a pecan streusel topping by combining chopped pecans, brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon. Sprinkle this over the casserole during the last hour of cooking.

You could also drizzle the casserole with a maple syrup glaze or add a pinch of nutmeg to the potatoes as they cook for even more holiday flavor.

For a more savory casserole, add herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage to the sweet potatoes and sprinkle them with grated cheddar or Parmesan cheese during the last hour of cooking.

lifting up forkful of sweet potato casserole from crockpot
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How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover crockpot sweet potato casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in a 350°F oven until warmed through.

How to Freeze

Freeze sweet potato casserole in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

This crockpot sweet potato casserole is great to serve as part of your Thanksgiving or holiday dinner. Try it with a festive main, like Roast Turkey, Smoked Turkey Breast, Prime Rib Roast, Pineapple Ham, or Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin.

up close white bowl of crockpot sweet potato casserole
Recipe Card

Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

4.51 from 318 votes
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: Becky Hardin
featured crockpot sweet potato casserole
This Crockpot sweet potato casserole recipe is such a simple way to make everyone's favorite Thanksgiving side dish! Be sure to make extra as it will disappear quickly!
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Ingredients 

  • cups brown sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted (¾ stick)
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 4 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3 cups mini marshmallows divided
  • 1 cup chopped pecans divided

Instructions 

  • Stir the brown sugar, butter, water, cinnamon and vanilla together in a crock pot then add the sweet potatoes and stir to combine once again.
    1½ cups brown sugar, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons water, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 4 pounds sweet potatoes, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    how to make crockpot sweet potato casserole
  • Cover with the lid and cook on high for 3 ½-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours or until the sweet potatoes are tender, stir every hour to prevent burning.
  • Stir in 2 cups of the marshmallows and ½ cup of the pecans then sprinkle the top with the remaining pecans and marshmallows.
    3 cups mini marshmallows, 1 cup chopped pecans
    how to make crockpot sweet potato casserole
  • Cover once again and let the marshmallows melt on high for another 10-15 minutes.
    how to make crockpot sweet potato casserole
  • Uncover and let the sweet potatoes cool for about 20 minutes before serving.

Video

Becky’s Tips

  • Cut the sweet potatoes into evenly sized cubes so that they cook through evenly.
  • Pecans are traditionally used, but walnuts work great too.
Storage: Store crockpot sweet potato casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Calories: 777kcalCarbohydrates: 138gProtein: 7gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 302mgPotassium: 1174mgFiber: 11gSugar: 81gVitamin A: 43262IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 157mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole Step by Step

Make the Sauce: Stir 1½ cups of brown sugar, 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons of water, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract together in a crockpot.

how to make crockpot sweet potato casserole

Cook the Potatoes: Add 4 pounds of peeled and cubed sweet potatoes and stir to combine once again. Cover with the lid and cook on high for 3 ½-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are tender. Stir every hour to prevent burning.

how to make crockpot sweet potato casserole

Add the Toppings: Stir in 2 cups of the marshmallows and ½ cup of the pecans, then sprinkle the top with the remaining ½ cup of pecans and 1 cup of marshmallows.

how to make crockpot sweet potato casserole

Melt the Marshmallows: Cover once again and let the marshmallows melt on high for another 10-15 minutes. Uncover and let the sweet potatoes cool for about 20 minutes before serving.

how to make crockpot sweet potato casserole
How long does it take to cook sweet potato casserole in a crockpot?

This side dish takes 3 ½-4 hours on a high setting, or on low for 6-8 hours. Just set it to go while you are prepping the rest of the meal and your Thanksgiving dinner will be a breeze to make!

Do you need to peel the sweet potatoes before making casserole?

Yes, it’s best to peel the sweet potatoes as the skins can be quite tough and chewy even when cooked. Cut them into similar-sized pieces so that they cook evenly.

Can I substitute canned sweet potatoes for fresh sweet potatoes?

Canned or thawed frozen sweet potatoes can be used in this recipe.

Should sweet potato casserole be firm?

Sweet potato casserole should be set and firm, not loose and runny.

Why does sweet potato casserole get watery?

Sweet potatoes tend to absorb water, so if you boil them before making the casserole, they will release that water as they bake/cook, making the casserole watery. We avoid this by cooking them from raw in a crockpot.

How do you thicken up sweet potato casserole?

If you prefer a thicker casserole, add 2-3 tablespoons of flour to the sweet potatoes to help them thicken up as they cook. You can also stir in some cornstarch towards the end of the cook time.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! You can prep the whole dish the night before and keep covered and refrigerated until ready to cook. Once cooked, the casserole will keep well for up to 5 days in the fridge.

More Sweet Potato Recipes We Love

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.51 from 318 votes (317 ratings without comment)
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19 Comments
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Mary Law
Mary Law
November 19, 2024 8:16 am

would I halve this recipe for a small 2Qt Crockpot?

Samantha Marceau
November 19, 2024 8:24 am
Reply to  Mary Law

Hi Mary, we made this recipe in a 6-qt crockpot, so we would recommend reducing it to 1/3 for the best results!

Mary Law
Mary Law
November 19, 2024 9:06 am

Thank you!

Courtney Gold
Courtney Gold
November 18, 2024 10:34 pm

If I want to make this for a Friendsgiving and have ready before I go how do I reheat once it’s time to eat?

Samantha Marceau
November 19, 2024 8:23 am
Reply to  Courtney Gold

Hi Courtney, reheat on the stovetop or in a 350°F oven until warmed through!

Nora
Nora
November 16, 2024 3:07 pm

How long do I cook if I use canned sweet potatoes?

Samantha Marceau
November 18, 2024 9:04 am
Reply to  Nora

Hi Nora, if using cooked canned sweet potatoes, we recommend heating for about an hour just to warm through, then following the recipe from step 3.

Melissa
Melissa
December 23, 2023 9:35 pm

Can I use canned yams for this instead?

Samantha Marceau
January 2, 2024 1:40 pm
Reply to  Melissa

Sure!

Vicky
Vicky
November 21, 2023 1:51 pm

Can I use yams instead?

Samantha Marceau
November 21, 2023 2:17 pm
Reply to  Vicky

Hi, if you’re based in the US and using yams, absolutely– they are the same thing! If you’re based outside of the US, yams are a different veg completely and cannot be used instead!

Courtney henderson
Courtney henderson
December 11, 2022 11:21 am

Could you double this recipe in the crock pot? Would it all fit?

Samantha Marceau
December 12, 2022 9:11 am

That depends on the size of your crockpot!

Traci
Traci
November 15, 2022 2:51 pm

Can you use frozen sweet potatoes?

Samantha Marceau
November 15, 2022 3:40 pm
Reply to  Traci

We would thaw them first!

Tracie
Tracie
December 17, 2021 7:48 pm

How much does it feed ?

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
December 22, 2021 9:40 am
Reply to  Tracie

Serves six, but you could go a little more with smaller portions!

Nikki Kline
Nikki Kline
November 25, 2021 7:34 am

Hi I was wondering the size chunks the sweet potatoes get cut into? Thank you.4 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
December 1, 2021 12:40 pm
Reply to  Nikki Kline

Around half-inch or a little bigger chunks!