This Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole is all made in the slow cooker for an easy, fuss-free side dish, perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
Perfect for a big holiday meal, like Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas, this delicious side dish pairs perfectly with Thanksgiving Stuffing and Roasted Turkey Breast!
This classic Sweet Potato Casserole is anything but ordinary! Whether you’re making it for the first time or want to change up your usual recipe, this Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is for you!
Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole
With simple ingredients like sweet potatoes, butter, vanilla, and brown sugar, this traditional Sweet Potato Casserole has a ton of sweet and nutty flavor!
Ingredients Needed
Here’s the basic list of ingredients you’ll need in order to whip up Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole. As always, you can find the full list of ingredients located in the printable recipe card below.
- Sweet potatoes
- Chicken broth
- Butter
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Brown sugar
For The Topping
- Brown sugar
- Butter
- All-purpose flour
- Chopped pecans
How To Make Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole
PREP SWEET POTATOES
To make the sweet potato casserole, simply find 5 medium-large sweet potatoes or about 5 pounds.
Peel them and then cut them into even-sized cubes (about 1-2 inches). This doesn’t have to be precise; it just helps them cook evenly.
ADD SWEET POTATOES TO THE CROCK POT
Toss them all into the crock pot, along with some chicken broth and a little butter.
Close the lid and walk away.
After 3 hours, you’ll be able to easily mash the sweet potatoes using a potato masher.
EGGS, BROWN SUGAR, AND VANILLA
Once it’s all mashed up, lightly beat 2 eggs along with some vanilla and pour it right into the crock pot.
Add a little more sweetness with a cup of brown sugar and a touch of vanilla extract.
Give the sweet potato mixture a good stir, and mix thoroughly.
MAKE THE PECAN TOPPING
Quickly whip up the pecan topping by combining the brown sugar, melted butter, all purpose flour and chopped pecans in a small dish.
Sprinkle the brown sugar pecan mixture evenly over the mashed sweet potatoes, cover, and let it cook for another 2 hours.
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole Tips and Substitutions
- The more liquid with the sweet potatoes will give you a softer, more loose casserole texture.
- If you want a firmer sweet potato base, drain some of the liquid before mashing.
- Just make sure to let the casserole sit for a few minutes after you turn off the crock pot before digging in.
- Want to add even more flair? Add some mini marshmallows on top!
Make Ahead and Storage
Mix the Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole up until adding the pecan topping. Make the topping separately and sprinkle it on top of the sweet potatoes when you’re ready to reheat it. Store the casserole and topping in the fridge for 1-2 days before serving. Then, to reheat, turn the slow cooker to LOW heat until heated.
If you have leftover sweet potato casserole, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. You can also freeze sweet potato casserole in individual portions for up to 3 months, BUT it’s better to store it uncooked. In that case, make the sweet potato casserole in a mixing bowl instead of the crock pot and freeze up until the point of baking, excluding the topping until you’re ready to bake. Then, let it come to room temperature before baking and bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes.
Common Questions
Can I substitute canned sweet potatoes for fresh sweet potatoes?
Absolutely! You can buy either canned diced sweet potatoes or canned sweet potato puree instead of whole sweet potatoes! I suggest buying the same number of cans as pounds of sweet potatoes. If using canned, simply skip the first part of cooking the sweet potatoes, and mash them up then add in the eggs and brown sugar.
What can I use instead of a potato masher?
Feel free to use a hand mixer to puree the sweet potatoes inside the crock pot insert! If you don’t have a hand mixer, you can remove the sweet potatoes from the crock pot and use a food processor or blender to mash the sweet potatoes.
What kind of brown sugar should I use?
It depends on how much molasses flavor you want in your casserole. Light brown sugar has a more mild molasses flavor than dark brown sugar, so it really depends on your personal preference!
More Easy Side Dish Recipes
You’re going to love this deliciously sweet and tasty Thanksgiving side dish! Here are a few more cozy side dishes I think you’ll love…
- Cheesy Zucchini Rice with Bacon
- Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
- Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
- Baked Zucchini Squash Casserole
If you want to take your Thanksgiving menu to the next level, this Sweet Potato Casserole is the perfect side dish for you!
Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 5 medium sweet potatoes, about 5 pounds
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup butter, cubed
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup brown sugar
For The Topping
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
Instructions
- Peel sweet potatoes and cut into even 1-2 inch cubes. Place the potatoes into your crock pot and add the chicken broth and sprinkle the cubed butter on top.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are soft enough to mash. (*see notes)
- Use a potato masher and mash the potatoes to your desired consistency.
- Add the lightly beaten eggs, brown sugar and vanilla to the crock pot and stir to combine.
- In a separate bowl combine the topping ingredients and stir to coat. Sprinkle over the mashed sweet potatoes, replace the lid and continue to cook on high for 2 more hours.
- Serve warm right out of the crock pot. Enjoy!
What a brilliant idea
Dear Shawn,
Your video is very helpful for me. it’s very beautiful to see. I like your explanation. thank u for sharing with us.
I would like to try some of the crock pot recipes you have posted, but you never mentioned what size crock pot to use! I have 2 sizes.
Sorry about that! I used an 8 quart for this recipe, but you can also use a 6 quart!
What size crock pot are you using!
This is cooked in an 8 quart, but you could also use a 6 quart!
What size crockpot would you use for the sweet potato casserole recipe? I have a three quart crockpot. Is that too small? I assume that you set the crockpot on high? I have never used a crockpot. Cooking this way is new to me. My crockpot isn’t fancy. Settings are high and low.
A three quart crock pot would be too small for this recipe, but you could always half the recipe and I bet it would work! Most crock pots only have a high and low setting, so you’re good to go!
Can canned sweet potatoes be used, thinking about 3-4 large cans and just start crockpot recipe with mashing and continue from there?
Yes! I think this would totally work and save time in the recipe! Hope you enjoy!
Hi Denise,
Did you try this recipe using the canned sweet potatoes? How was it?
do I have you to use chicken broth? what other liquid can I use other than a savory one?
I suppose you could try using just water! Hope that helps!
I made this as part of our Thanksgiving dinner this year, and my husband and I loved it. I’m going to have to work a little harder to get the topping to look the way yours does, but we’re definitely going to make it again. Thanks so much for the low-maintenance recipe!
Anyone made this the day before and reheated the next day? Also what would you use if you didn’t have a potato masher?
I’ve never made it before and reheated it the next day, but you could also use a hand mixer for the potatoes or a potato ricer.
Love this recipe! Have been following this recipe every year for thanksgiving since I found it!
Yay! So glad you enjoy it Sara!
I made this for my company’s potluck Thanksgiving celebration. I came in 1st place for best dish.
‘nuf said.
Awesome!!! So glad you rocked that contest! I hope you won a cool prize, as well as bragging rights! 🙂
How many will this feed?
I’d say you can feed between 8 to 10 people comfortably.
I made these for Thanksgiving they were a big hit with everybody. My husband isn’t a big sweet potato fan but he loves these even went back for seconds. He said I have to make them for Christmas too. My mother said they were the best sweet potatoes she ever had.
I made this yesterday for Thanksgiving and it was a hit! I wanted something with non-canned potatoes in the crockpot and actually had a hard time finding recipes, so I went for this one 🙂 I was a little nervous that the potatoes would turn out too runny but they were actually perfect! I added some cinnamon and pumpkin spice after mashing. My topping didn’t turn out as pretty as yours, but I didn’t mind. It was great to be able to leave it in the crockpot while we were busy baking everything else. Will definitely make again! Thank you!
Third year in a row making this! 🙂
Awesome!!! Thanks for sharing Liz! That totally made my day! 🙂
I got rave reviews for this at the office pot luck today. I added 4 diced granny smith apples, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper.
A tip for making the topping – mix the pecans, flour and brown sugar together and sprinkle on top. Then drizzle the melted butter over the top to get the nice topping. I mixed everything together and poured it on top like the directions said, but everything sank under the sweet potatoes 🙁
Hi there-
I’m excited to try this! I’m a vegetarian, so would vegetable broth instead of chicken broth do?
And how many servings does this recipe create?
Thanks so much!
Trisha
I’ve been given a bunch of cans of sweet potatoes. Would that work to make this casserole as well?
I would think so – but don’t cook the sweet potatoes at the beginning – the canned potatoes are already cooked.