Sweet, crunchy, and the ultimate Thanksgiving side dish, this Sweet Potato Casserole with Walnuts is a must make recipe! Mashed sweet potatoes and a crunchy brown sugar topping come together for a simple and easy side dish!
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Once November rolls around, I start craving this sweet potato casserole! It's a staple on our Thanksgiving dinner table.
Hot take though, the sides are better than the turkey, right? Do we really go into Thanksgiving looking forward to the turkey? No! We go in excited for the rice dressing, sweet potato cornbread, the mashed potatoes, the Italian stuffed mushrooms, or the stuffing!
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Is Great!
- It can be made ahead of time! Thanksgiving morning gets crazy! Make this casserole entirely ahead of time and bake the morning of.
- It is a classic Thanksgiving side dish! Thanksgiving is not the same without some sort of sweet potato dish! Serve it alongside Italian Sausage stuffing too!
- Sweet potatoes are so good for you! This is kind of a healthy side dish, right?
Ingredients In Sweet Potato Casserole With Walnuts
- Fresh Sweet Potatoes. You will need about 5 potatoes, or 3 cups of cooked sweet potatoes.
- Butter
- Eggs. To hold the casserole together and make it light and fluffy.
- Granulated Sugar. For a little extra sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract. Pure vanilla extract is best.
- Milk
- Walnuts. Traditionally pecans are used, but I don't often have pecans on hand. Walnuts are the perfect substitution.
- Light Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Cinnamon
History of Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole has morphed through the years, but it originated in the south and was topped with a sweet crumble and pecans.
Ruth Chris Steakhouse made sweet potato casserole popular as the restaurant chain became popular.
This recipe is just a little different. Instead of pecans, we are using chopped walnuts. Nuts give this casserole a crunch and a texture you wouldn't otherwise have.
Equipment
Preparing the Sweet Potatoes
There are so many ways to cook sweet potatoes. Here are just a few ways to get perfectly cooked potatoes.
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes come out perfect every time.
- Pierce the potatoes and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes to one hour or until soft.
- Peel the potatoes and place them in a pot of boiling water for 20-25 minutes or until fork tender.
- Pierce the potatoes and place them in the microwave. Microwave them for 2-3 minutes at a time. Check the potatoes for doneness and add another 2-3 minutes until they are soft and cooked through.
Step By Step Instructions
Wash the potatoes and cook them until soft and fully cooked through.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease the baking dish with butter. Set that aside.
In a medium bowl, add the topping ingredients. With a fork, mix all the ingredients together until a crumble forms. Set the bowl aside.
When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel the potatoes, and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, eggs, milk, butter, and vanilla to the bowl and mash all the ingredients together.
Pour the sweet potato mixture into the bowl. Crumble the brown sugar topping over the sweet potato mixture.
Bake for 40 minutes or until the topping is golden brown. Serve immediately.
Variations of Sweet Potato Casserole with Walnuts
- Use maple syrup instead of granulated sugar in the potato mixture! Make sure it's pure maple syrup as that is the best quality.
- Change up the veggies! Butternut squash, acorn squash, or even pumpkin would work as the vegetable in this casserole.
- Change the topping! Pecans can be using instead of walnuts, but you can also remove the topping completely and add marshmallows instead.
- To make this even more rich and decadent, use half and half or heavy cream in the potatoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Make sure to drain the sweet potatoes before using them. You want to have 3 cups of mashed sweet potatoes for this recipe.
Yes! You can make the sweet potato filling and place it into the greased casserole dish. Cover with aluminum foil and freeze for up to three months. Take the casserole out of the freezer the day before you need to bake it. Top with the brown sugar and walnut topping right before baking.
Place leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The leftovers are another great part of Thanksgiving! They will stay fresh for 4-5 days when kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Other Recipes To Try
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📖 Recipe
Sweet Potato Casserole With Walnuts
Ingredients
- 5 Sweet Potatoes Cooked and Peeled
- 4 tablespoon Butter Softened
- 2 Eggs
- ½ cup Sugar
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla
- ½ cup Whole Milk
For the Topping
- 1 cup Chopped Walnuts
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- ½ cup Flour
- 4 tablespoon Butter Softened
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
Instructions
- Wash the potatoes and cook them until soft and fully cooked through.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease the baking dish with butter. Set that aside.
- In a medium bowl, add the topping ingredients. With a fork, mix all the ingredients together until a crumble forms. Set the bowl aside.
- When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel the potatoes, and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, eggs, milk, butter, and vanilla to the bowl and mash all the ingredients together.
- Pour the sweet potato mixture into the bowl. Crumble the brown sugar topping over the sweet potato mixture.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until the topping is golden brown. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes come out perfect every time.
- Pierce the potatoes and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes to one hour or until soft.
- Peel the potatoes and place them in a pot of boiling water for 20-25 minutes or until fork tender.
- Pierce the potatoes and place them in the microwave. Microwave them for 2-3 minutes at a time. Check the potatoes for doneness and add another 2-3 minutes until they are soft and cooked through.
Liz
This was the perfect fall recipe! Even my toddler liked it and he's picky lol. Thanks for the recipe!
Finley
We loved this casserole so much. It really tastes like fall! The potatoes are so filling and buttery and the topping is perfectly sweet with a bit of crunch. Definitely going to include this with our Thanksgiving spread this year.
Minnie
I love this casserole! The sweet potatoes were fluffy, and the walnut topping added a lovely crunch. Will add this to our Thanksgiving menu!
Rachel
Made this one weekend. I'm sure this recipe is a Thanksgiving winner—It is sweet, crunchy, and downright delicious. Cant wait to make it again during the holidays.
Dina
I've never thought of adding walnuts to sweet potato casserole, but it adds a delightful crunch. My family can't get enough of it!