This crock pot sweet potato casserole is yams mashed with sweetener, vanilla and spices, then finished off with a brown sugar pecan topping. A decadent side dish that’s perfect for the holidays and super easy to make!
When the holidays roll around, oven space is at a premium for those big elaborate meals. I solve this problem by preparing side dishes in my slow cooker, such as crock pot mashed potatoes, slow cooker creamed corn and this crock pot sweet potato casserole.
I love my slow cooker all year round, but especially during Thanksgiving. That giant, juicy turkey or ham fills up my whole oven, so I use my stove top and other kitchen appliances to take care of the side dishes. This crock pot sweet potato casserole features a creamy mashed sweet potato base, topped with plenty of brown sugar streusel.
You can serve this casserole alongside a tender spiral ham or honey glazed ham for a fabulous meal. Don’t forget the pecan pie cheesecake for dessert! Need more help with your holiday planning? Be sure to check out my Thanksgiving recipes, my Christmas recipes and my complete guide on how to cook a turkey.
Table of Contents
Crock Pot Sweet Potato Ingredients
To make this crock pot sweet potato casserole you will need sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, water and eggs. For the topping you will need brown sugar, flour, butter and chopped pecans.
How Do You Make Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole?
Make this crock pot sweet potato casserole by peeling sweet potatoes and cutting them into 1 inch pieces. Place the potatoes in a crock pot with butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract and water, then toss to combine. Cook the potatoes until they are soft. Add eggs, then use a hand mixer or a potato masher to mash the sweet potatoes to make the base of the casserole. Next, mix together brown sugar, flour, butter and pecans in a separate bowl to make a streusel. Sprinkle the streusel over the mashed sweet potatoes. Cover the crock pot, and continue to cook until the topping has set. Serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
- I prefer to use fresh sweet potatoes for this casserole, but you can use canned sweet potatoes in a pinch. Just make sure they don’t contain any added sugar.
- I recommend using a 6 quart crock pot for this recipe. You can also cut the recipe in half and cook it in a 4 quart pot.
- If you prefer a crunchier streusel topping, you can place a clean dish towel over the top of the crock pot before you put the lid back on. This will prevent any condensation from dripping down into the topping.
- Leftover crock pot sweet potato casserole can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat individual portions in the microwave.
Quick Tip
Be sure to cut your potatoes into similar sized pieces so that they cook at the same rate.
Recipe FAQs
I don’t recommend making this entire casserole in advance, but you can definitely do some of the prep work ahead of time. The sweet potatoes can be cut and peeled up to a day in advance. You can also prepare the streusel up to 8 hours in advance, just store it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
For this crock pot sweet potato casserole, the sweet potatoes cook in 3-4 hours. The streusel topping cooks on the sweet potatoes another 2 hours.
No, sweet potato pie and sweet potato casserole are not the same. Sweet potato pie is a dessert and sweet potato casserole is a side dish. While they do have some similar flavors they have different purposes. Also, sweet potato casserole has a streusel topping while sweet potato pie has a pie crust.
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Flavor Variations
While this dish is great as is, you can add other flavors to make it your own!
- Flavorings: Amp up the flavor of your sweet potatoes by adding extra spices such as nutmeg, cloves or allspice. Feel free to stir in a little orange zest, or swap out the water for orange juice.
- Toppings: Sometimes I like to add a cup of mini marshmallows to the top of my casserole during the last 5 minutes of the cooking time.
- Nuts: Feel free to swap out the pecans for almonds, walnuts, oats or coconut. You can also omit the nuts if you have an allergy.
Once you see how good this slow cooker sweet potato casserole is, you’ll find yourself making it year after year!
More Side Dishes You’ll Enjoy
Baked Mac and Cheese
50 mins
Cranberry Salad
11 mins
Southern Cornbread Dressing
1 hr 15 mins
Crispy Brussels Sprouts
30 mins
Honey Roasted Carrots
35 mins
Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole Video
Love This Recipe?
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Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
For the casserole
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- cooking spray
For the topping
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup flour
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Coat a 6 quart crock pot with cooking spray.
- Place the sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract and water in the crock pot. Stir to combine.
- Cover the pot, then cook the potatoes on high heat for 3-4 hours or until tender.
- Uncover the pot, let the potatoes cool slightly. Add the eggs and use a hand mixer or potato masher to mash the potatoes.
- In another bowl, mix together the streusel ingredients until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the sweet potatoes.
- Cover and cook for 2 hours on high.
- Let stand for 5 minutes, then serve.
Notes
- I prefer to use fresh sweet potatoes for this casserole, but you can use canned sweet potatoes in a pinch. Just make sure they don’t contain any added sugar.
- Be sure to cut your potatoes into similar sized pieces so that they cook at the same rate.
- I recommend using a 6 quart crock pot for this recipe. You can also cut the recipe in half and cook it in a 4 quart pot.
I cooked the sweet potatoes ahead of time, but then forgot to spray the crockpot. Do I need to take the potatoes out and spray? Thanks
I think it should be ok without spraying but I haven’t tested the recipe this way.
I meant to ask, it’s cooking in the last 2 hrs and I’m taking the slow cooker to the in-laws. Do I keep it on warm until dinner?
Yes it’s fine to leave it on keep warm!
Do you recommend using salted or unsalted butter? Thank you!
Either works, I’ve tested it both ways!
Everyone loved! Could have been a dessert!
Is there a fair amount of liquid when release lid before adding eggs? Feeling like it’s too much?!
There should be some liquid, otherwise the potatoes won’t mash easily!
Sounds delicious but not sure about adding eggs, doesn’t feel right. Has anyone made this recipe as is and did it work out for you?
The eggs help to thicken the potato mixture. You can leave them out, the potatoes just won’t be quite as thick!