Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole

Crockpot sweet potato casserole with a marshamallow and peacan topping is a delicious Thanksgiving side dish made right in the slow cooker. Just a few simple ingredients are all you need for this easy recipe.

During the holidays, your oven gets enough use, so free up that valuable oven space by making this sweet potato casserole in the crockpot instead. Diced sweet potatoes are tossed with a mixture of butter, cinnamon, and vanilla and topped with pecans and marshmallows for the perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving dinner.

This slow cooker sweet potato casserole recipe would also be delicious with some classic Thanksgiving sides like these fluffy potato dinner rolls, a spoonful of fresh creamed spinach or a heaping helping of my red skin potato salad recipe. And if you’re serving turkey for your big holiday meal, it doesn’t get much easier than my 5 minute gravy to drizzle over the top. Yum.

For traditional Thanksgiving side dish made in the oven, try my baked sweet potato casserole. But if, like me, you want to save that precious oven space for something else, this slow-cooker version is the way to go.

So, let’s get to the crock pot recipe!

Ingredients 

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

• Fresh Sweet Potatoes — Peeled and dice into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Brown Sugar — Light brown sugar is added to enhance the sweetness of the potatoes. You can use dark brown sugar if that’s what you have on hand — it has a deeper molasses flavor than light brown sugar. White sugar works in a pinch, but it won’t have that same rich caramel flavor.
• Butter — I used unsalted butter, but salted butter is fine, too.
• Cinnamon — Ground cinnamon is the perfect spice to pair with sweet potatoes. Yum!
• Water — Just a little water is all you need to combine with the butter, sugar, and cinnamon to make a sauce to pour over the potatoes.
• Vanilla Extract — Pure vanilla extract makes the sweet potato casserole smell and taste heavenly!
• Pecans — To add some nutty flavor and crunch to the top. They’re a nice contrast to the soft potatoes. I used pecan halves, but you can use chopped pecans if you prefer. Walnuts could work, too.
• Mini Marshmallows — Soft, gooey, melty sweetness over the top of your sweet potatoes.

Equipment You’ll Need

To make this easy sweet potato casserole for your Thanksgiving menu, you’ll need the following kitchen tools:

• 4 quart or 6 quart slow cooker
• measuring cups and spoons
• cutting board and knife for dicing the potatoes
• crock pot liner (optional, for easy clean-up)

How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole in a Crock-Pot

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below. 

Step 1: Dice about 4 large sweet potatoes (2 pounds worth). Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the diced sweet potatoes in the bottom of the crock pot.

Step 2: Mix together the brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds, or until everything is melted.

Step 3: Add the melted butter and sugar mixture to the slow cooker, and stir to combine everything. Top the potatoes with half of the pecans.

Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 5 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 5 hours, or until potatoes are fork tender.

Step 5: Stir the sweet potatoes. Then top with a cup of miniature marshmallows and the remaining pecans. Cover again for just a few minutes to melt the marshmallows. Serve warm.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these crockpot sweet potatoes along with your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes, like green bean casserole, creamed corn, and stovetop mac and cheese. They all pair perfectly with turkey breast or pecan praline glazed ham to round out your meals this holiday season.

Storage and Freezing

Refrigerator: After your Thanksgiving meal, store leftover sweet potato casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

Freezer: While best enjoyed fresh, you can also freeze this side dish for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop or in a 350°F oven until heated through.

Additions and Variations

Swap nuts with granola. Does someone in your home have a nut allergy? Swap the pecans with a nut-free granola for a variation on the crunchy topping.

Add extra spices. A pinch of nutmeg or ground ginger would be delicious. The cinnamon could also be swapped out for pumpkin pie spice, which contains all three!

Mash them up. Prefer mashed sweet potatoes? No worries! You can use a potato masher to mash them up after slow cooking and right before adding the mini marshmallows and the rest of the pecans.

Drizzle with maple syrup. It’s a scrumptious pairing with sweet potatoes. If you go this route, you may want to cut back on some of the brown sugar in the recipe so that it isn’t overly sweet.

Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole FAQ

More Crockpot Side Dishes

Have several crockpots you want to use when cooking for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Here are a few more of my favorite slow cooker side dishes for your holiday table.

• Crockpot Glazed Carrots
• Green Bean Casserole (in the slow cooker or oven)
• Crockpot Fried Apples
• Crockpot Corn on the Cob